DIET DILEMMA: THE TRUTH ABOUT EATING CARBS AND GETTING SHREDDED

There are only three macronutrients, Yet one of them continues to befuddle nearly everyone. You know which one: To carb or not to carb, that is the question.

Depending on who you ask, carbohydrates are either a fantastic energy source or the macro most responsible for making us fat. A must-have for hand- training individuals or a no-go for anyone who wants to get super lean.

So, what gives? Can you eat carbs and still be lean and slender? One nutrition expert, who consults some of the finest athletes in the U.S. Military and first responders, answers this burning question to help end the carb conundrum once and for all.

FEATURED EXPERT: SUSAN LOPEZ, RD, CSSD, LD

Susan Lopez is a tactical performance dietitian who specializes in working with some of America’s bravest — from military athletes to firefighters, police officers, and first responders. Lopez is a military veteran and special operations spouse whose unique experience and knowledge help elite war fighters and community heroes stay fit and healthy. She is also the team dietitian for Bravo Sierra.

This is a question we get on a daily basis: “Do I need to stop eating carbs to get shredded?”

The short answer is no. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy, particularly during high-intensity bouts of training when energy needs to be supplied quickly to the muscle cells. Carbohydrates should be consumed according to one’s physical training demands.

Most people consume more over processed carbohydrates than they need for a bunch of reasons. These foods are cheap, easy to source, easy to digest, and, let’s be honest, are often delicious. Even “healthy” carbohydrates contain calories and can contribute to overeating, which is the main reason we gain weight over time.

To lose weight — body fat ideally — we need to obtain a calorie deficit. For most of us, that means eliminating calories from foods that we consider the culprits behind our weight gain, most of these being high in carbohydrates (fat and sugar, too!). By eliminating a food group that appears to contribute to weight gain, we inadvertently also create a calorie deficit.