Why our program ROCKS!!!
I get a lot of questions about the fat-burning state, one of the main features of the Optimal Health plan that I use and that my clients love because of the “predictable transformation” they achieve!
Ketosis refers to a metabolic state where your body is burning fat instead of its preferred fuel of carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates exist in two forms when you are eating normally – “free” or accessible carbs, and stored carbs called glycogen. When your body needs fuel, it will burn the free carbs first (like when you eat a bagel or drink a glass of OJ – full of sugar/carbs). When all the free carbs are gone, your body will burn the stored carbs (glycogen). In humans, glycogen is made and stored primarily in the cells of the liver and the muscles, and contains carbs and water stored together. Once the glycogen and stored water is gone, your body turns to fat.
In the first week of this program, you will lose a lot of weight. Most of that will be as a result of using up the glycogen, because every gram of stored carbs ALSO stores 3 grams of water. If the glycogen is used, the water is released. Result? Large weight loss.
This is ALSO why, if you have a high carb meal at some point, your weight goes UP UP UP. Every extra gram of carbs will be stored with an extra 3 grams of water. This is why if you eat 1 lb of chocolate, your weight goes up by 4 lbs (at least! 1 lb carbs + 3 lbs water).
On a side note, when your body burns fat as fuel, ketone bodies are produced and are released in your urine, sweat, and saliva – this is the reason some people experience a sweet taste in their mouth. Additionally the brain loves ketones, so sometimes people have a euphoric “runners high” type feeling. The more fat that is burned, the higher the concentration of ketone bodies. Since this is a “mild” ketosis most people do not experience the taste in their mouth, but many do get that little energy “high”.
The program produces a MILD ketogenic, or “fat-burning” state. For diets that invoke a SERIOUS ketosis, like the Atkins diet, your carbs are limited to less than 20g per day (not what we would consider balanced). On our most popular program, we are eating between 80 and 100g of carbs daily – JUST enough to keep your brain functioning well, and JUST enough to put you into mild ketosis.
You will KNOW that you are in ketosis IF you have been 100% ON PLAN for 3 days. This is because your body only stores enough glycogen to provide fuel for 3 days. Once the glycogen is GONE, after 3 days, you will be in mild ketosis.
Bottom line? To be in ketosis, you need to be 100% on plan. If you aren’t, you will still lose weight (because you’ll be eating fewer calories every day than normal) – but it will be much more slowly, and you will be hungry. The more CARBS you eat over 100g, the less BODY FAT your body will metabolize as fuel. And since fat carries 3500 calories per pound of energy, it is high octane fuel!
Happily, once you’re in ketosis, your hunger dissipates, and you get the best of both worlds: faster weight loss AND reduced hunger.
Note that if you eat a really high fat diet – cheating on nuts or cheese or something else (and yes, even if it’s no carbs) – you WILL stay in ketosis, BUT your body will metabolize the FREE fat from the nuts because it is more easily accessed than your stored body fat. Again, this means slowed weight loss, or even weight gain.
Note also that alcohol is metabolized as FAT, so if you have a glass of wine, you may still stay in ketosis, but your body will use the wine as fuel instead of your body fat. Result? SLOW weight loss.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. How fast do you want to get to your target weight? How willing are you to stay on plan in order to support that goal of a healthy BMI?- This information is from our amazing Nutrition support Department.