Millions find themselves in a familiar battle as we kick off the new year. Sure, we may be dealing with global conflicts and political tensions, but the fiercest war for many is fought in our homes. Each January, New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking, or get sober often come with the best of intentions but quickly fall apart. If you’ve made it through the first week, kudos—you’re already ahead of most! But for those taking on the low-carb, high-fat diet trend, it’s a long, tough road ahead.
Regarding eating, we’re all after three main nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. These are the building blocks of our diet, and we need them to survive. Ideally, we should get them balanced, but then we have the low-carb, high-fat diet, or what some call “Keto.” As the name suggests, it’s about reducing carbs and loading up on fats. But what about protein? That seems to get lost in the shuffle, leaving some unanswered questions. Still, the message is clear: reduce carbs and replace them with fat.
Here’s the kicker: it all boils down to fat. The idea behind cutting carbs is that carbs convert into fat during digestion and metabolism. So, to avoid storing fat, we cut down on carbs and load up on fats. But hold on a second—if fat is ultimately stored in the body, won’t eating more fat just make us gain weight too?
In a perfect world, we’d be eating a mix of all three macronutrients—carbs, fats, and proteins. But let’s be honest: we’re a carb-loving country. Bread, pasta, rice—they’re our go-to comfort foods. The problem? These carbs often leave us hungry again soon after, pushing us to snack more, and before we know it, we’ve overindulged. Those extra carbs, unfortunately, get stored as fat in our bodies.
On the other hand, Fats tend to fill us up faster, so we eat less of them. However, when you combine fats with carbohydrates, going overboard is easy. No wonder carbs get the side-eye in the weight loss world. They’re often seen as the bad guys, but that doesn’t mean the answer is simply cutting them out completely.
The journey to better health is a marathon, not a sprint. The road may seem steep, but every step counts. If you’re struggling, know you’re not alone—many face this battle. Whether cutting carbs, trying to find balance, or aiming for healthier habits, the key is moderation.