Low calories or low carbs..what worked better for you?
ianisha
Posts: 18 Member
Need to know results from people who tried them.
2
Replies
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you lose weight through a calorie deficit - doesnt matter if you are low carb or not...low carbers lose weight if (and because) they are eating at a deficit.13
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Calorie deficit...
Not the same as 'low cals'. Low carb is an option if you aren't fussed for carbs2 -
I do what I can realistically maintain for the rest of my life. I do not see myself ever cutting any one food group from my diet.20
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why some people swear by low carb diets? They don't count calories just restrict their carb intake,50-100 gms7
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No, they eat huge steaks, lots of cheese and butter17
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I lost weight counting calories, not by limiting carbohydrates.5
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i did low carb years back and i lost a bunch of weight pretty easily. i was stoked because it was an easy diet for me to do.
but then i did it again a few years later, the same as i had remembered - no carbs, no calorie counting. i was eating a lot of cheese and mayo and not counting calories as i was under the impression i didnt have to as long as carbs were in check. didnt lose weight, actually probably gained some, got really depressed about it and convinced myself i couldnt lose weight.
eventually i started counting calories and ditched the low-carb methodology, and voila, im losing weight! while i mightve been doing the low-carb diet correct before, i was probably eating too many calories, so i didnt work.
i dont think the low-carb lifestyle is a long term solution for me. i know it works well for others, but after having been there and done that calorie deficit is literally the only way to go.11 -
How do you define "low cal"? How do you define "low carb"?
I don't recommend "low cal," but I lost 95 lb cutting/controlling calories.
I sometimes find cutting cals easier if I keep carbs around 100 g, but it's not necessary, just a way I find easy to eat.3 -
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I've done both but lost the most cutting calories (currently down 89 pounds on mfp). Low carb is not sustainable for me. I get so I would give anything for a potato. On low carb eventually I got so sick of high fat food that I stopped eating. Thus the deficit comes into play. The initial loss I believe is mostly water. When I broke the diet I gained about 7 pounds the first few days as I became unbelievably thirsty. While bacon and eggs and all the other high fat foods sound wonderful I missed the toast. I missed the baked potato with my steak etc. With low cal I can eat anything as long as I watch the portions.8
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No, they eat huge steaks, lots of cheese and butter
I've lost nearly 50lbs eating fast food 1-2x a week, and not cutting any food group from my diet. Calorie deficit, regardless of HOW you go about it (i.e. just counting calories, low carb, high fat, etc), will cause you to lose weight.
In my LIMITED experience, I find that carbs generally don't fill me up as much and I find that I am happier when I hit protein and fat goals as far as satiety goes. But I still eat like 50% carbs lol. So when I need to cut some calories from a meal, like at a restaurant or cook out, I will actually tend to cut high carb items first (hello double patty cheeseburgers, yum!) and enjoy the extra protein without the extra calories from the second bun (for example).
All still calorie deficit, however. Don't lose the forest (CICO) for the trees (macros) at this stage.7 -
You can low carb all you want to, but you won't lose weight unless you're taking in less calories than you expend. Low carb is not magic, it does not defy the laws of energy balance.6
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Both. A calorie controlled low carb diet works best for me.
Low calorie on its own (high carb, lower fat) doesn't work as well. I always found I was hungrier that way, which lead to me giving up and eating everything in the house, or going out any buying masses of sweets and chocolate.
Low carb, this time, keeps me feeling full. A calorie deficit means I'm losing weight. So, it's a win, and sustainable so far.
Of course - it's not sustainable for everyone, and a lot of people find it just doesn't work.
I find a higher carb calorie deficit unsustainable. Whatever works for you!13 -
Calorie deficit. Lost over 20 kg. Plus work out 5/6 times a week.1
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Calorie deficit is why/how you lose weight. I love carbs to much, to follow a low carb diet, but have still successfully lost weight. But restricting calories to low, is also unnecessary and very unhealthy.
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Low calorie. That is essential.
I love carbs and eat them alllll the time. I couldn't imagine cutting carbs. But I do know that protein and fat keep me full longer, so I try to keep those numbers up high.3 -
In the short run, low-carb might help you lose faster initially, but studies show mixed results in the long run compared to calorie restriction. Adherence is tough in the long run, and you have to be committed to nutrition. I tried low-carb once and it wasn't for me; I couldn't stick with it long and I gained the weight back eventually. I prefer mild calorie restriction and a plant-based diet. But many people have had great results on low-carb diets, and it can give hope to people who struggle to lose weight in other ways, so you do you.5
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