How #100 can make you lean....

I alluded to the number 100 and how it applies to your fat loss. Now, I'll finally reveal how it can help you lose weight.

I'm not a dietician, but I do make it my business to keep up with fat loss experts and any research that I can get my hands on. Not all of the "experts" agree on everything, and for someone looking for the simple facts on improving body composition (less fat, more muscle), that came make things very complicated.

With all the clutter of misinformation on the Internet, we have to start narrowing it down to what experts agree upon. One common theme I have seen on different trustworthy sites and books is that if you eat less than 100 grams of carbs you will lose fat. I believe Mark Sisson from www.marksdailyapple.com coined it "effortless fat loss". Doesn't sound bad, huh?

As a coach and trainer I try not to ask my clients to do anything I've never done. I've adhered to strict paleo for months, I've set parameters to a sustainable dietary lifestyle and not strayed from my path, but until last week I had never recorded my carbohydrate intake. Since I had suggested it to friends and clients, I felt it was time.

I went for 10 days as a test period, not knowing how much/little I would be switching things up. I was pleasantly surprised that my standard diet fit well within 100 grams of carbohydrates. My low number was 48 and my high was 98. On my low day I ate my normal meat, fruit and veggie diet, being mindful of anywhere sneaky carbs could sneak in (ex: marinades, dressings, etc). On my highest day I had a chipotle bowl with rice and a snickers bar, in addition to my healthy stuff.

So what happened to my body composition? I lost 7lbs easily! The weight went a little too fast in my opinion. I can't explain how/why I dropped so fast compared to my standard diet, but my guess is that my extra attention to portion control for accurate measurable results left me eating smaller portions than my normal GB size servings.

My goals don't include weight loss, so I won't be continuing this experiment but I would recommend this lifestyle for anyone as an alternative to calorie counting or what might be considered a super restrictive diet. It offers loose parameters with solid results and who can argue with that? I might add that I don't think that this is the healthiest diet, I lean towards strict paleo for that, but I do think it's a huge step in the right direction.

Please post questions here or on Facebook if I've left out any detail that you're looking for but understand that the beauty of this plan is the simplicity.

Stay tuned for more, and remember to #findfitnessanywhere :)

GB