G-Flux: Can You Really Eat More and Still Lose Weight?

We all know that in order to lose weight, we must create an energy imbalance i.e. we need to use more calories than we take in. It was widely held, for many years, that it didn't matter how this energy imbalance was achieved. Weight can be lost regardless of where the calorie deficit came from.

There are two schools of thought as to how this energy imbalance can be achieved. One, cut down on the number of calories we eat or, two, increase the number of calories we burn. Most modern day diets are based on cutting the number of calories we consume.

However, newer research is showing that the best way to lose weight is to eat more and to exercise more. The "exercise more" part of the equation has never been a very popular idea. Most people can accept the "eat more" part but are against the idea of increasing their level of activity.

We see this marketing ethos everywhere we look in the diet and fitness industry. They claim that you can lose weight without strenuous exercise or get in shape with only a few minutes effort a day. We all know that this is untrue.

More and more evidence is coming to the fore supporting the theory that more food and more exercise is a far superior approach to losing weight or more precisely losing fat. One of the industry's most respected nutrition experts, Dr. John Berardi, says...

"The best bodies are always built on higher levels of physical activity."

This theory is known as the G-Flux which is short for Energy Flux. Amazingly, great benefits are realized even where there is an energy balance (calories in equal calories out). People are seeing increases in metabolic rate and nervous system activity and these benefits are showing increases in lean mass (more muscle) and decreases in fat levels. So even though no energy imbalance has been created, many people are seeing weight loss.

For example if an individual eats 2000 calories a day and burns 2000 calories a day there probably would be no change in weight. However, if the principles of G-Flux are used to increase this person's caloric intake to 3000 a day and increase their calorie expenditure to 3000, it would normally be assumed that there would still be no change.

Wrong! Research is showing that because metabolism has been boosted through G-Flux fat loss occurs and lean mass increases. The weight may not change but body composition certainly does and if we have have an improved body composition, we are likely to lose more fat.

To summarize, G-Flux is based around exercising more so that you can eat more because your metabolism has improved, lean mass increases and body fat percentage falls. By following two steps we have the basics of what G-Flux is all about.

1. By following a specific exercise program which includes strength training, interval training and aerobic/cardio activity, you increase your calorie expenditure.

2. You can then increase calorie intake to keep up with your energy expenditure thus maintaining your weight but improving your body composition and your overall shape. You can also let your calorie intake fall just below your energy expenditure to lose weight and improve metabolism and lean mass. In some cases you may also want to gain weight but still improve body composition by exceeding energy expenditure with calorie intake.

So simply put. it allows you to "diet" by consuming 3000 calories a day as opposed to more conventional diets which restrict calorie intake to 1500 calories a day

The benefits of losing weight this way are.

1. You don't have to face the psychological problems of cravings, hunger pangs, snacking and overeating all of which are a huge problem with modern diets.

2. There is not the reduction in vital vitamins and minerals often associated with more conventional low calorie diets. This ensures better overall health.

3. Better metabolism results from increased nervous system activity

4. More muscle is gained, less fat is present and therefore the change is more likely to be permanent.