Carbs don’t make you fat,
YOU make you fat
Written by: Yolanda Schmidt
I can’t emphasise enough how it grinds me when I hear you are starving yourself and cutting carbs to make weight. Carbs don’t make you fat, YOU make you fat, by over indulging in over sized portions. The access to food is not limited, you do not need to eat it all at once.
Now I’m by no means a nutritionist, although I will share the little knowledge I have. It’s believed that fat accumulates in fat cells, instead of being used as energy, when your body is deprived from good sources of fats, grains and proteins. The ratio between the latter is important.
Fighters, you are the the worst culprits! Fight prep after fight prep I see fighters fluctuate by ten kilograms between their walk around weight and their fight weight. What’s more so, is that, a large amount of the time, this happens within days of the weigh in. Friday you weigh in at 60 kilograms and by the following week you are closing in on 70 kilograms. While the dangers of weight fluctuations will be a separate blog post topic, this one is about how the cutting of carb is affecting you.
You do not need to cut out carbs completely to lose weight.
Carbs are NOT the food source that make you fat! Firstly, it is unlikely that one eating plan will work the same for two different people. The same as no two cars will run with the same fuel efficiency. Many factors influence its consumption. How you drive it, maintain it, how often, and what the environmental conditions are, all impact its efficiency.
The same goes for your body. How you treat it, recover it and train it will affect you. You need to find the carbs, yes I said carbs, that will work for you. You require energy to train and for daily activities. Protein is not going to give it to you, it simply keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
… Carbs are NOT the food source that make you fat!
You must eat well to perform well.
Your carb intake is to be tailored around your training schedule, and it will not be the same as that of a person who is sedentary. Alongside this, the quantity and quality of carbohydrates you consume can cause your weight gain or weight loss. For example, oats and sweet potato versus breads and other flour based products.
Moreover, cutting carbs drastically can lead to high cortisol levels, which in turn leads to adrenal fatigue and metabolic problems. Thyroid problems can also stem from this excessive carb cutting. Particularly when you eat them, then cut them, and then eat them again. Your body is being sent on a roller coaster ride.
So, it’s fight week and every fighter around me is feeling mentally and physically drained. Yes, of course you are, as your glycogen storages have been depleted for two weeks, this in turn affects your concentration and coordination.
Consistency is key to weight loss.
Additionally, it’s the times of day you eat, frequency, portion and balance of nutrients (fats, proteins and carbs).
While I do agree that limiting starchy carbs does lead to a drop in water weight, but fighters are cutting this out in excessive amounts, and too soon. Look
at the Thai’s, their staple food is rice! Try your starchy carbs around the metabolic window, which is before and after training. Your window is 45min to 1 hour (depending on your body, it can be more). Even carb cycling, where you have a few days of low carb and then a refuel day of higher carbs, to replenish your muscle glycogen levels is more beneficial than completely cutting out carbs.
… Consistency is key to weight loss
These excessive carb cuts are messing with your metabolism and organ function. Seek advice from a nutritionist to see what can work for your body, and do so safely.
“You have one body, take care of it.”
Written by Yolanda Schmidt 
Muaythai Fighter : 32 Fights (25W-6L-1D-9KO)
WKN Australian title, WMC NSW State Title, WKA Australian Title, Thapae Stadium title, 2x MTA Gold medalist (2014, 2015), 2x IFMA Bronze medalist (2015, 2016), Australian Female Muaythai Fighter of the year 2015, Australia’s most inspirational fighter of the year 2016
