What I have learned is carbs are digested and your body processes them much quicker than protein, fats, ect. After you've eaten these foods, your pancreas detects a rapid rise in blood sugar and pumps out a correspondingly high level of insulin. That results in a rapid plunge in the blood sugar level. The insulin ends up doing its job a little too well- the blood sugar level drops so low that NEW CRAVINGS are created requiring MORE quick carbohydrate fixes. In order to satisfy so many cravings, of course, we take in WELL BEYOND the nutrition we require. We OVEREAT, (usually more of those carbs that gave us the cravings in the first place!) and this leads to more fat, more insulin resistance, more hunger, and more weight gain- a vicious cycle.
Carbs do NOT make us fat. Overeating due to cravings brought on by eating carbs makes us FATTER. They say don't eat carbs, relieve yourself of the cravings, and you will eventually eat less. (take in less calories)
3,500 calories equal 1 pound. Take in or burn 3,500 calories and you lose a pound. Eat 3,500 more calories than you burn, you gain a pound. Calories in vs. calories out....that's what it's all about! (of course, in the most healthy, balanced way!)
I am a huge carb addict. I don't think I can ever get over my problem with cravings and overeating until I conquer my addiction. My problem is, I can't stick to the low carb/no carb way long enough (I am an addict, after all!). So just eating low carb foods for me is a waste of money. It's like giving an alcoholic just a little beer a day. My cravings will just not go away this way.
I wish there was something I can do, but just trying to eat less calories makes me crave them even more. I can't seem to shake this addiction. I try exercising, doing mind tricks, drinking more water, everything under the sun, but all I can possibly manage to do is maintain. But this just isn't good enough for me. I so badly want to conquer this and live a normal life of eating.