Eat Carbs, Stay Slim!

As women, we typically have a love-hate relationship with carbs; we love to eat ‘em, but we hate what they do to our bodies! 

Many health “experts” have told us that carbs are the enemy and that the key to losing weight and achieving a slim, sexy, healthy body is to follow a low-carb diet.  

But the truth is, you can still munch on carbs and maintain a fit body if you eat the RIGHT kinds of carbs!

Not All Carbs Are Created Equal

When you think of “carbs” what are some of the first things that come to mind?  Foods like bread, pasta, crackers, cereals and cookies, right? 

Well, these kinds of processed carbs are not the ideal carbs to fuel a healthy body—these guys will only spike your blood sugar levels, impair your digestion, and make you feel tired, sick and fat!  Yes, these guys are the “enemy” J  And therefore they should be eaten in moderation.  OR if you’re truly dedicated to eating clean and achieving a healthy body, NOT AT ALL.

So what are “healthy” carbs?  Fruits, vegetables and whole grains (not your processed junk food!)  Whole fruits, vegetables and grains are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber and therefore are the best sources of fuel to energize and transform your fabulously fit body for the long haul.

So you see, the best way to help you battle the bulge is not a carb-free diet (which doesn’t work in the long run anyway because you end up with serious cravings resulting in carb binges!) Rather, a diet consisting of wholesome and energizing carbs is the key to looking lean!

Combine Carbs with Fats and Proteins for Slimming Effects

The best way to achieve a fit body and set your body in fat-melting mode is to not only eat healthy carbs, but to eat them with some healthy fat and protein (yes, you need to eat fat to lose fat, but I’ll save the details about that for another blog post). 

When you eat healthy carbs with fat and protein, you create a fuel mix that helps you stay fuller for longer, banish hunger pangs, stabilize blood sugar levels, curb cravings, and boost your fat burn.  With the right fuel combination you’ll eat fewer calories because your body will be satiated and energized until it’s time to eat your next healthy, balanced meal.  So you won’t feel the need to graze on junk food all day!

When you eat carbs by themselves, they elevate your blood sugar levels, ultimately resulting in a blood sugar crash and that’s when the serious hunger pangs and sugar cravings kick it!  When your blood sugar levels are low, your body wants food NOW and it does want to wait for you to make a nice, healthy salad with healthy protein and fat on top! 

Instead, you reach for the quickest, easiest (and usually the unhealthiest) thing you can get your hands on—crackers, pretzels, chips, cookies and candy!  And the carb craving cylce begins!  Sound familiar?!

Don’t put yourself in this carb-crashing-crisis; plan to balance your carbs with healthy fats and proteins!

My Super Six Carb Combinations

Here are six of my favorite snacks and meals that contain a healthy mix of carbs, proteins and fats!

• Green apple slices with creamy almond butter
• Mixed berries with plain yogurt, crushed nuts and a dash of stevia
• 1 fresh banana blended with 1 cup of almond milk and 1 tbsp almond butter
• 1 cup cooked oatmeal with fresh blueberries, slivered almonds and 1tsp of real maple syrup
• 1 cup brown rice (cooked) topped with jumbo shrimp, garlic, spinach and tomatoes sautéed in organic butter
• 1 cup fresh greens topped with1 cup of mixed beans (kidney, black beans and white beans), salsa, guacamole and sliced chicken breast seasoned with Mexican seasoning.

Try these recipes, and let me know what you think by leaving a comment.  I would love to hear from you!

And if you have any healthy, balanced recipes to share, please post them.  We can always use healthy, fresh meal ideas!

To eating carbs, staying slim and achieving a fit body,

Melissa Koerner