[Ian]

Here's some information I wanted to share about good and bad carbs,
insulin control, and their effects on weight loss.

What are the bad carbs?

If you want to keep the healthiest blood chemistry, try hard to avoid eating these foods. Some of the foods with "bad" carbohydrates include those such as white bread, chips, snacks and other baked or fried foods that have been mechanically processed. These carbs bad for you because during processing, much or all of the dietary fiber is removed from them, and your body cannot process these new complex carbs with efficiency.

What are the good carboydrates?

These are the carbs we should focus on eating. They come in more natural forms such as whole grain wheat bread, fruit like strawberries and peaches, and vegetables such as carrots, green beans or squash.

What's the "secret" to burning more fat?

Please forgive me if I get a bit scientific here, but that's why this method could be called a secret. Most people don't know about how it works. The problem your body may have with burning fat during workouts is caused by the insulin hormone. This chemical is produced by your body, and it makes it very hard to burn fat. When you eat carbs in your meal before a workout, your body produces insulin. This is more extreme when you eat the "bad carbs" such as those I listed in the section above.

The solution is to limit carbohydrates (especially bad ones) before your workout, so that you've flipped on the fat-burning switch. After your workout, eat a balanced meal with good carbs and plenty of protein to stop your body from burning muscle along with fat.

I welcome any corrections or additions to this information. I'm sure I haven't
covered every aspect of this area, so if you want to say anything, say it! :grin:

[NeedtoLose]

The Southbeach diet taught me alot about good carbs and bad carbs and why it is important to eat foods with a low GI. This is important for everyone! I will never look at food the same as I used to.

If you are interested in getting more information on the South Beach diet, I recommend reading the book or visiting this site...
http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/forum/index.php

It has lots of great info and recipes.