Is 'No Carbs After 7 PM' Just A Gym Myth?

By Russ Howe


If you have asked any fit friend for tips on how to lose weight recently you might have heard them saying that you shouldn't eat any carbohydrates after 7 o'clock. Today we are going to delve into this theory and reveal the simple truths behind this commonly misunderstood gym myth.

Due to the fact that everybody has different opinions in the health industry, it is common to find people who are totally lost on how to achieve their personal goals. People tend to hear several contradicting pieces of information and usually find it impossible to fully commit themselves to a diet or workout routine because there is always somebody in their life telling them that they should be doing something else.

However, despite the big strides we have made in scientific research over the last two decades, the basic five principles of losing weight remain largely the same.

The problem for many people is that there is so much hype out there from companies trying to get you to purchase their products and diet plans, they find it hard to discover the basic, proven facts.

Thanks to the rise of celebrity culture over the last ten years, there has been a rise in the belief that carbohydrates are your enemy if you are trying to lose body fat. This has led to many ill-fated carb cutting diets to hit the scene, creating countless yo-yo dieters in the process. This belief stems from that culture. Can your body tell when the time is when you eat a meal?

No, it can not. This belief is just a general term which has now lost it's meaning completely. It's a very loose stereotype and many people falsely believe it to be true.

So, what are the facts behind this statement?

Recent scientific studies point out that individuals who consume a large intake of carbohydrates which remaining largely inactive will find it much easier to store body fat than people who try to consume their carbohydrates around periods of activity.

So why does this myth exist?

Usually this is the type of headline you would see written on a celebrity gossip magazine, promising quick results for minimal effort. The reason they use such a general term is because their publication is mainly aimed at individuals who work 9-5 jobs and don't exercise regularly.

The masses who buy these magazines tend to fit their generalization of what an office worker does with their evening. However, most people are not like this. It would be ridiculous to work through a twelve hour day and then refuse to provide your body with some nutrients simply because of what time the clock said.

No two people's lifestyles are exactly the same, so it is ridiculous to give everybody some kind of deadline for their last meal of the day. It depends entirely on your lifestyle and your daily timetable. Simply aim to consume your main carbohydrate intake around periods where you are remaining quite active.

So how do you use this to your advantage?

Simply structure your main intake of carbohydrates around your busiest period of the day. Whether that's a hectic few hours with your children, a gym workout or a busy period of housekeeping is up to you. Also, if you wanted to know how to build muscle and didn't know where to start, this is actually one of the main principles in building a leaner physique.

Ultimately, your muscles cannot see the clock and don't recognize the theme tune to your favorite soap opera. They cannot tell what time of day it is and they do not care. If you are trying to figure out how to lose weight and were feeling a little confused about this myth, you now know the scientific facts behind it and why it doesn't apply to everybody.




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