Derrick Osei Owusu, CEO of Fit & Fine Gym, Dome, Accra, has advised the public to control their carbohydrates intake, especially those fighting obesity.

The Ghanaian international fitness trainer spoke to Nana Romeo on Accra 100.5 FM’s Ayekoo Ayekoo.

Osei Owusu explained carbohydrate sources like rice balls, banku, and yam, among others, increased the store of glucose in an individual’s body.

He noted glucose – the simplest form of sugar – was the substance from which an individual drew “all their energy,” warning too much of it hampered one’s weight-loss journey.

“If you’re able to reduce your carbohydrate intake, you’d have minimal glucose in you. If you eat in portions with minimal carbs, the glycogen in you is very less. In that case, when you come to the gym, by 15, 20 minutes all the glucose store in you would be depleted. And by God’s design, when the glucose in you is finished, your body mechanism goes to target excess fat and it uses that as energy whiles you’re working out. That is where weight-loss occurs,” he explained.

The celebrity fitness coach emphasised “what you eat” is as important as “what you do inside the gym”.

He said checking one’s carbohydrate consumption without even working out but “going about your day” could still aid weight-less overtime.

For people desirous of a flat-tummy, Osei Owusu urged, “Cut down your carbs and up your protein.”

He identified “egg white, beans, fish, mushrooms, red meat,” were a rich sources of protein.

“Because of the saturated fat in the yolk, I don’t encourage people to eat too much of it,” he footnoted.

“And for the red meat I’d rather you did steak.”

The fitness entrepreneur cautioned against the habit of eating so much carbohydrates for the feeling of satisfaction.

“If I was to eat while I work on my weight, eating a little portion of rice with three egg whites and fish on it will still satisfy me because the egg white and fish are enough,” he said.

For those who want to gain weight, he advised the opposite.

The security consultant revealed since he was personally interested in building muscle and not losing weight, he was in the habit of eating bananas to replenish his energy store, which keeps his body from consuming the fat in him whiles he exercises.