July 29, 2025

352: Why Cutting Carbs Actually Makes You Gain Weight

Have you found yourself standing in your kitchen after another "failed" diet day, staring down that bag of chips, feeling like you've lost control again? The guilt, the frustration, the voice in your head saying "Why can't I just stick to it?"

Stop. You are NOT broken.

We see this story play out with our clients over and over again. They spend years trapped in the exhausting cycle of cutting carbs, losing a few pounds, then gaining it all back (plus more).

They feel tired, cranky, and defeated - convinced they're just destined to struggle with weight loss forever (plus a growing list of other health problems, too.)

But here's what we discovered that changes everything: Your body NEEDS carbs to burn fat effectively. When you cut them out, you're literally fighting against your biology.

But here's the thing: When we stop restricting and started nourishing our bodies with the right kinds of carbs, the result is happily losing weight and gaining the energy that's needed to fully enjoy life. No more lost moments. No more saying "I can't" to the things you want to do. No more regrets.

Together Jarrod and I have personally lost over 75 pounds and kept it off for years - all while eating the exciting, delicious WFPB meals that we love, and that love our bodies back.

In this latest podcast episode, we're exposing the biggest lie in weight loss and sharing the exact strategy that helped us break free from diet prison forever. This isn't another quick fix - it's enjoyable, sustainable weight loss that works WITH your body, not against it.

Friend, you deserve to feel energized, confident, and free to live your God-given calling. ❤️ Your people are waiting for you! And we're here to show you exactly how to get your body to the place where you can fully show up for them.

Ready to finally end the diet cycle for good, feel good, and fully live your dreams? Then let's get to it! 🎧

Send us a text

💃🏻 Ready to learn how to actually enjoy eating whole plant foods so you can finally feel great and fully experience life? Inside Accelerator, we'll take you by the hand & walk you step-by-step through our proven 5-Step WFPB Framework so you can heal naturally & actively live your God-given dreams. Join the Waitlist Here... the Doors are Opening Soon!

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00:00 - The Carb Restriction Trap

03:32 - Your Body Needs Carbs to Thrive

04:37 - Five Tips for Weight Loss Success

07:04 - Carbs Are Your Secret Weapon

08:08 - Accelerator Program Information

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Before you know it, you're standing in the kitchen staring down a bag of chips or a huge pot of bowling pasta, resulting in the fact that you've eaten through more than you ever would have if you hadn't tried to restrict the carbs in the first place.

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If this sounds familiar, know that you are not alone.

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The question is does your body actually need carbs?

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And the answer is a resounding hey sister, welcome to the Power on a resounding behind and finally have the energy to do all the things you want to do.

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Hi, we're Jared and Anita Roussel Christ followers, healthcare professionals, parents of four and big fans of great tasting food.

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We, too, tried exercising more, eating natural and clean foods, but we still found ourselves struggling with what we thought were changes that come with age or bad genes, and we weren't finding answers the traditional route.

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So we dug into the research and created our secret nutritional weapon sustainable plant-based living.

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The truth is, you can eat more whole plant foods and it's not hard.

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You just need the way that's realistic and delicious so you never feel deprived.

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If you're ready to enjoy your meals, no longer be held back by your health struggles and actively live your life, then you're in the right place.

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So grab your favorite plant-based cup of happy pop in those earbuds and let's get started.

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Hello, friend, and welcome to this episode of the Power on Plants podcast.

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We're a husband and wife team who love showing you how to heal naturally and finally feel good so you can fully enjoy living your God-given dreams.

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I'm Anita, a nurse and certified integrative nutrition health coach.

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And I'm Jared, a certified lifestyle medicine physician assistant, and on this episode we're busting one of the biggest myths in the world of weight loss the idea that you have to cut out carbs to get weight loss results.

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Now, if you've ever tried to lose weight, we know what that's like.

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There was a time when Jared and I found ourselves lacking energy every single day, not feeling good and carrying extra pounds, but thankfully, together we lost over 75 pounds without ever having to go on a miserable diet, and I promise you that if we can do it, you can too and without ever feeling deprived.

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Now, why is it that so many times you find yourself feeling like you're missing out when you're on a diet?

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Here's one of the big reasons, and it's most likely something you've heard people say a million times You're going to have to cut out the rice and ditch the pasta and ban the potatoes.

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So you try it.

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You say goodbye to your old favorite comfort foods that actually make you feel satisfied with your meals, and for a while you feel pretty proud of yourself and your accomplishments.

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But then something bad happens.

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You start feeling tired and cranky and maybe even a little foggy thinking.

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Then, no matter how hard you try, you aren't able to accomplish much due to your low energy and before you know it, you're standing in the kitchen staring down a bag of chips or a huge pot of boiling pasta, resulting in the fact that you've eaten through more than you ever would have if you hadn't tried to restrict the carbs in the first place.

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If this sounds familiar, know that you are not alone.

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The question is does your body actually need carbs?

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And the answer is a resounding yes.

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Your body absolutely needs carbs, not just to survive, but to thrive, especially on your weight loss journey.

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But why is this true?

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It's because your body was created to use carbs as its main energy source.

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Your brain, your muscle, your entire system requires and runs on them.

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And also, when you cut out healthy whole food carbs like brown rice, potatoes, oats and fruit, you're missing out on so many phytonutrients like fiber, and vitamins and minerals, as well as that wonderful feeling of being really satisfied after a meal, and that matters.

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This is one of the big reasons that diets do not work long term, and so here's what you find actually happens when you deprive yourself of carbs, your body starts craving them even more.

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That's why so many people end up in the kitchen eating way more than they planned.

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It's not a lack of willpower, it's biology.

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You're probably thinking, then how do I eat carbs and still reach my weight loss goals?

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Here are some tips you can start using today.

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First, choose whole unprocessed carbs, like whole plant foods instead of processed.

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That means spend your days enjoying brown rice instead of white, as well as quinoa, oats, sweet potatoes, beans, lentils and all the fruit and veggies you love, rather than grabbing that bag of chips or loaf of white bread.

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And I'll say this is where, once again, finding your new favorites will help you achieve incredible wins, and that's because, when you fill your plate with these whole plant foods, you are eating loads of fiber, which is only found in whole plant foods.

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This is what helps you to feel full and keeps your blood sugar steady.

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Second, pair your carbs with fiber and protein.

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Now, this is extremely simple to do.

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Because you eat carbs in their whole form, you're naturally getting fiber and plant protein as well.

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For example, a baked sweet potato with black beans and salsa is a powerhouse snack, or even a full meal that can keep you satisfied for hours.

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Yes, it is, and it's absolutely delicious, which is the thing that we love, because we know our food's got to taste good if we're going to keep eating it long term.

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And the third tip is to prep your whole food plate based carbs ahead of time.

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Some examples of this are making a big batch of brown rice or roasted potatoes at the beginning of the week and then storing them in the refrigerator so that you always make sure to have some healthy, satisfying meal options ready to go.

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This one tip alone will make it so much easier for you to reach for the good stuff when hunger strikes.

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Notice, then, how your body feels after eating whole plant foods.

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If you are hungry, eat, but be sure to fill your plate with beautiful arrays of whole plant food carbs.

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Don't be afraid of them.

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And then notice how you feel after a meal with whole grains or starchy vegetables.

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Chances are you'll find yourself feeling energized and satisfied, not sluggish or stuck.

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And tip number five is leave the carb guilt behind for good, because whole food, plant-based carbs are not your enemy.

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In fact, what they really are is your secret weapon for lasting weight loss and vibrant health and living the active life you're going to love.

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It's when you stop fearing carbs in the form of whole plant foods and instead embrace them that you find it so much easier to stick to your weight loss goals.

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All right, let's recap all five tips.

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Cutting carbs might seem like the answer to lasting weight loss unless you've tried it before, and then you know for sure that it doesn't bring lasting results.

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By intentionally avoiding whole plant carbs, you are actually setting yourself up for cravings, overeating and lots of frustration.

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That's because your body needs healthy whole food carbs to feel its best and to let go of the weight in the way that actually lasts.

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If you want to learn more about how to eat healthy whole food, food plant-based carbs, and still reach your goals, you are in the right place.

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Stick with us and we'll show you how to power up your plate with the foods you actually love no deprivation required, so that you can enjoy eating whole plant foods for life.

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And if you need someone to walk you through the process, step-by-step, showing you exactly how to make losing weight with whole plant foods quick, delicious and exciting, you're going to love, our course, weight Loss Revolution.

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It's the life-changing weight loss program that we're including with our accelerator coaching program, and you can get onto the wait list at poweronplantscom forward slash accelerator.

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That's power on plants dot com.

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Forward slash accelerator.

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And until next time, friend, know that you are loved and you are prayed for, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

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Thank you.