There’s nothing innately wrong with carbs, Atkins gave them a bad rap but the real “problem” we have with carbs in this country is the ones we eat generally are not in food that has anything of nutritional value in it and are consumed on the couch. Carbs that have proteins and vitamins and consumed in a period when you will burn the energy are perfectly fine. It’s the trail mix conundrum, trail mix tends to be lots of carbs but also lots of protein, if you eat the trail mix on the trail doing trail type stuff it’s perfectly healthy, if you eat it on the couch it gives you a fat ass (though at least you’re getting some protein so you’re doing better than doritos).
Interesting point. I have been doing tae kwon do for 3 years. It is a very vigourous workout. At the same time, I was doing Weight Watchers. I lost maybe 5 pounds. I cut out carbs on January 3, 2012 and have lost 33 pounds. I think Taubes point is valid , that it is not simply an issue of “eat less, exercise more.” The chemical impact of what we eat on our bodies is important. The normal diet of American is heavily carbohydrate. Even Weight Watchers reduces fat but not carbs. The day’s calorie intake is reduced, but it is still proportinally high in carbs. That is why I wasn’t losing weight. Perhaps I am more Insulin sensitive or something but removing carbs has worked for me.