Is it better to be on a high carb,low fat diet or a low carb,high fat diet?
jodidari
Posts: 95 Member
If you've tried either can you tell me how it has worked for you and examples of foods you ate. I'm currently just trying to lower the amount of carbs i take in but i'm wondering if that plus my regular fat and protein levesl will result in me feeling low on energy.
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Unless you have a medical reason to watch carbs or fats, it's personal preference0
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Depends if you're doing it for medical reasons or preference, but in terms of weight loss, it's better to be in an overall caloric deficit. The problem with low fat is that our body needs fat (essential macronutrient).0
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I eat high carb ( not low fat or anything)
And works perfect for me. I do watch the fact that i get as much as possible proteins
Others do low
You have to do what is good for you how you like to eat and how you want to eat in the future when you maintain your weight
The only thing important is your calorie deficit to lose weight ( when you dont have any medical issues like diabetics etc)
So creat a deficit by weighing all your food and eat a balanced diet ( and what you want only smaller portion)
That is how it worked for me. But everybody is different..
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Whichever has the menu you prefer and are likely to stick to. would you find it easier to cut back on bread and cereals, or cheese and bacon? As everyone above me has said, just get your calorie deficit planned and stick to it.
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Why does it have to be one of those? I do moderate carbs and fat and protein. It's whatever diet appeals most to you and makes it easier for you to be satisfied at a sensible calorie level.0
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Carb level is mostly a personal preference. Fats are required for proper nutrient absorption for fat soluble vitamins. Plus, fats can greatly help the digestive tract.
I would recommend setting your protein and fat goals based on your weight (I do 0.35g fat per lb at goal weight and 0.6-0.8g protein ber lb at goal weight). Then, set the carb level based on your personal goals, allergies, and reaction to carbs.0 -
Carb level is mostly a personal preference. Fats are required for proper nutrient absorption for fat soluble vitamins. Plus, fats can greatly help the digestive tract.
I would recommend setting your protein and fat goals based on your weight (I do 0.35g fat per lb at goal weight and 0.6-0.8g protein ber lb at goal weight). Then, set the carb level based on your personal goals, allergies, and reaction to carbs.
Yup
A whole heap of this0 -
Carb level is mostly a personal preference. Fats are required for proper nutrient absorption for fat soluble vitamins. Plus, fats can greatly help the digestive tract.
I would recommend setting your protein and fat goals based on your weight (I do 0.35g fat per lb at goal weight and 0.6-0.8g protein ber lb at goal weight). Then, set the carb level based on your personal goals, allergies, and reaction to carbs.
^This. Fats can go as high as .45g per pound or higher, but I tend to go lower, and stick with the lower protein figure, because I like carbs.
In the past, I took a different approach because I was working out less and it worked best then. It's all preference once you meet these minimums.0 -
Whatever works for you. High carb is not ideal because carbs are typically less filling than protein and fat, unless they're also high in fiber. Low fat isn't so great either because your body needs fat, and fat is filling. Low protein is probably a very bad idea altogether.
But after that.. yeah. do what works for you. For me it was 40% carb 30% fat 30% protein when I was losing (now I'm closer to 20-22% protein).0 -
If the choice is the two? High fat. More satiety.
That said, is there a reason for the dichotomy?0 -
It's interesting to me to see fat promoted as being satiating.
The reason that's interesting is because at one point for me it was, and then ... it stopped being that way.
I'm not saying this to be argumentative, but I'd like to put the idea out there that what's satiating might vary from person to person. Even at that, what a particular individual finds satiating might change depending on their current activity level.
(I'm assuming my new-found carb satiety and dissatisfaction with fat is due to taking up running. It could be down to some other factor of which I'm not aware.)
The take-away from this rambling mess of a post? If your macro balance isn't working for you? Don't be afraid to tweak it. If you feel yourself getting hungry at some point during the course of your diet/life -- don't be afraid to play with your macros. I've already adjusted mine twice to respond to periods of hunger, and it's worked really well for me.0 -
I'm sure it is personal. But I've never thought of a low fat diet as satisfying. but again, all personal.PeachyCarol wrote: »It's interesting to me to see fat promoted as being satiating.
The reason that's interesting is because at one point for me it was, and then ... it stopped being that way.
I'm not saying this to be argumentative, but I'd like to put the idea out there that what's satiating might vary from person to person. Even at that, what a particular individual finds satiating might change depending on their current activity level.
(I'm assuming my new-found carb satiety and dissatisfaction with fat is due to taking up running. It could be down to some other factor of which I'm not aware.)
The take-away from this rambling mess of a post? If your macro balance isn't working for you? Don't be afraid to tweak it. If you feel yourself getting hungry at some point during the course of your diet/life -- don't be afraid to play with your macros. I've already adjusted mine twice to respond to periods of hunger, and it's worked really well for me.
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Fat's not satiating for me (and according to studies seems to be on average the least satiating macro). If I had to choose between the two (and thank goodness I do not), HC and LF would be more satiating.
I find lots of the carbier things I eat, like fruit and beans and potatoes/sweet potatoes to be quite filling. Butter and oils are tasty for me (why I wouldn't do low fat, also I like having a variety of meats and nuts and avocado and of course cheese, etc.), but not filling at all. I don't find an equal amount of full fat dairy more satiating than skim. I overate manchego last night and sadly wasn't even particularly full afterwards.0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »It's interesting to me to see fat promoted as being satiating.
The reason that's interesting is because at one point for me it was, and then ... it stopped being that way.
I'm not saying this to be argumentative, but I'd like to put the idea out there that what's satiating might vary from person to person. Even at that, what a particular individual finds satiating might change depending on their current activity level.
(I'm assuming my new-found carb satiety and dissatisfaction with fat is due to taking up running. It could be down to some other factor of which I'm not aware.)
The take-away from this rambling mess of a post? If your macro balance isn't working for you? Don't be afraid to tweak it. If you feel yourself getting hungry at some point during the course of your diet/life -- don't be afraid to play with your macros. I've already adjusted mine twice to respond to periods of hunger, and it's worked really well for me.
This is a really good point as well.0 -
Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
I'm sure it is personal. But I've never thought of a low fat diet as satisfying. but again, all personal.PeachyCarol wrote: »It's interesting to me to see fat promoted as being satiating.
The reason that's interesting is because at one point for me it was, and then ... it stopped being that way.
I'm not saying this to be argumentative, but I'd like to put the idea out there that what's satiating might vary from person to person. Even at that, what a particular individual finds satiating might change depending on their current activity level.
(I'm assuming my new-found carb satiety and dissatisfaction with fat is due to taking up running. It could be down to some other factor of which I'm not aware.)
The take-away from this rambling mess of a post? If your macro balance isn't working for you? Don't be afraid to tweak it. If you feel yourself getting hungry at some point during the course of your diet/life -- don't be afraid to play with your macros. I've already adjusted mine twice to respond to periods of hunger, and it's worked really well for me.
It's weird. When I first started losing weight, I was a volume eater, low starch, high protein, lower fat to get that volume. All good.
Then I got HUNGRY.
I cut back on the volume, upped my fat and BAM ... I felt great, the hunger went away, and I stayed that way for a good long time.
Then I got HUNGRY again, and I was craving things like popcorn and oatmeal.
So I cut the fat back to a minimal number and added some starchy carbs back to see how things went.
They're going really well. I feel fuller on a bowl of protein oats and pumpkin than the full-fat cottage cheese and pumpkin with nuts I had been eating instead.
A bowl of air-popped popcorn keeps me full for a long time.
It's really weird, because I never used to be like this with starches.
At some point as my body gets more used to running, this might all change again. I'll be ready. It won't be anything new, that's for sure!0 -
For me, it is low carb high fat.
I crave carbs and sugars. I can't moderate them successfully but elimination seems to work fantastically. My sugar cravings are basically eliminated which is quite amazing. Sugar was big for me. If I didn't have sugars every few hours I felt poorly. It's quite freeing to no long crave sugar.
I have autoimmune issues and sugar increases my inflammation. I am much healthier without sugar, and in much less pain.
I have insulin resistance in the form of prediabetes. Eating low carb keeps my blood sugars in check quite well.
(And by sugar, I mean foods that convert to sugar - glucose - in the blood)
LCHF all the way.
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Eh, I just eat a mix. Overall, I find starchy foods filling (pasta keeps me full for a long time, for example) and sugary things not very filling, so I eat somewhat less of those. Mainly I eat what I like, with the caveat that on days I am going to train, I eat a higher protein goal and really try to meet it.0
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I'm not a fitness expert, but all I do is watch my calorie intake. I have lost 62.5 pounds and have maintained my current weight of about 160 since February this year doing so. In my experience, weight loss is most about input vs. output. If you are putting in more than your burning, you gain weight. If your burning more than your putting in, you lose weight. The calorie recommendations on MFP have been fairly accurate for me. My son has done the same thing and has lost over 130 pounds in about 13 months.
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I'd say neither. Just find what works best for you. You don't need to drastically restrict one particular macro-nutrient to lose weight. Instead eat a well balanced diet that includes the foods you enjoy.0
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I used to be high protein low carb. I lost weight but I was often hungry. I now eat a high carb plant based diet. I try to limit my fats but I often go over my goal. I've lost weight using both methods but feel more energized and clear headed on the plant based high carb diet and I'm really rarely hungry.0
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I am good on ~100 grams of carbs. Better for me if that comes in the form of multigrain bread, baby potatoes, lentils, beans, and the veg I like (and a very few fruits, like raspberries and bananas. I have IBS, so I can't eat most fruits without paying for it). The more fiber in my carbs, the better. Rice sometimes, but potatoes are better, calorie-wise.
I love pasta, but it doesn't fill me up, and it's bad for my guts. (Brown pasta usually uses inulin fiber, which is terrible for my guts. And it doesn't taste great imo.)
I've done lower carb than that in the past, worked then, not so well now for hunger, not sure why.
Veg: fiber where I can get it. Asparagus, newly rediscovered broccoli (my lowest calorie days are when I have broccoli for some reason), green beans, brussel sprouts. Tomatoes and red or orange peppers for antioxidants. Zucchini. Lots of onions and garlic.
Re fats, I am probably moderate-high. I like butter and oil, 2% Greek yogurt, cheese, 10% cream in my coffee, avocados, nuts, fatty fish like mackerel, sirloin steaks. (Trying to eat more chicken and pork to cut down my sat fats.)
Lots of protein is an absolute must to keep hunger down, for me. I've tried veggie-only days and wind up eating 1.5 times my maintenance calories.0 -
For me, it is low carb high fat.
I crave carbs and sugars. I can't moderate them successfully but elimination seems to work fantastically. My sugar cravings are basically eliminated which is quite amazing. Sugar was big for me. If I didn't have sugars every few hours I felt poorly. It's quite freeing to no long crave sugar.
I have autoimmune issues and sugar increases my inflammation. I am much healthier without sugar, and in much less pain.
I have insulin resistance in the form of prediabetes. Eating low carb keeps my blood sugars in check quite well.
(And by sugar, I mean foods that convert to sugar - glucose - in the blood)
LCHF all the way.
yeah, it is weird, for some foods I can include them in reduced amounts and stick to my diet (I'm particularly good with beer), but others like popcorn and crisps (potato chips in USA) I can't even have any or I won't be able to stop - so total prohibition of some things works better for me.
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Why does it have to be one of those? I do moderate carbs and fat and protein. It's whatever diet appeals most to you and makes it easier for you to be satisfied at a sensible calorie level.
I agree 100% I love a certain type of food (beef, chicken, shrimp fish) that has a lot or fat and protein and no or low carbs. I typically have 80-120 grams of fat a day and 150-180 grams of protein a day as long as it fits in my calorie goal.0 -
For me, it is low carb high fat.
I crave carbs and sugars. I can't moderate them successfully but elimination seems to work fantastically. My sugar cravings are basically eliminated which is quite amazing. Sugar was big for me. If I didn't have sugars every few hours I felt poorly. It's quite freeing to no long crave sugar.
I have autoimmune issues and sugar increases my inflammation. I am much healthier without sugar, and in much less pain.
I have insulin resistance in the form of prediabetes. Eating low carb keeps my blood sugars in check quite well.
(And by sugar, I mean foods that convert to sugar - glucose - in the blood)
LCHF all the way.
It's interesting how people with autoimmune issues have different responses. I have three autoimmune conditions, and I have absolutely no inflammatory response to sugar or starch.
We both have celiac and ... do you have Hashimoto's too? I think I've seen you post that you do, but I could be mistaken.
While I don't tend to overdo my sugar consumption, I don't find that going over the sugar goal on MFP from eating fruit, veggies, dairy, and my nightly cookies causes me problems with my psoriatic arthritis or my other conditions.0 -
It would also depend on goals, a ketogenic diet (act of cutting carbs and replacing with fat) is excellent if your goal is to lose weight/recomp but it isn't for the faint of heart. The cravings, lack of energy, and severe decrease in motivation the first week or two is terrible. Although I ran a strict CKD (Cycled ketogenic diet) and it worked very well for me, I lost approx 13lb in a little over a month with no additional cardio. I then transferred to a traditional diet as of last month, and lost around 5-6lb but I am now back-tracking as I lost too much and I feel a bit flat in comparison.
Anyways, to sum it up - if your goal isn't competition/photoshoot/health don't bother, it is more beneficial to short-term weight loss but not for optimal muscle gain.0 -
Unless you have a medical reason to watch carbs or fats, it's personal preference
This^
No medical issues for me so I don't do low carb.
Low carb will not be a lifestyle change for m, if it will be for you, then carry on. I don't want to get to goal and have no idea how to keep the weight off, so my method of weight loss is to manage portions.0 -
It depends on the person.
Fiber hangs out longest in the stomach. It will keep many people full for longer periods than other things. Yet, many people find that fats or proteins work better for them. I'm fairly typical and find that fiber works best for me.
I eat a low-fat diet by design and a high-carb one because that's how it worked out. Going low-fat and not liking protein foods very much, high-carb is kind of a given. So, for me, high-carb is best.
As far as health goes, most people will be best served with a good balance. For weight loss, it doesn't matter. You can lose weight on any diet, as the members of this board prove daily.
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PeachyCarol wrote: »For me, it is low carb high fat.
I crave carbs and sugars. I can't moderate them successfully but elimination seems to work fantastically. My sugar cravings are basically eliminated which is quite amazing. Sugar was big for me. If I didn't have sugars every few hours I felt poorly. It's quite freeing to no long crave sugar.
I have autoimmune issues and sugar increases my inflammation. I am much healthier without sugar, and in much less pain.
I have insulin resistance in the form of prediabetes. Eating low carb keeps my blood sugars in check quite well.
(And by sugar, I mean foods that convert to sugar - glucose - in the blood)
LCHF all the way.
It's interesting how people with autoimmune issues have different responses. I have three autoimmune conditions, and I have absolutely no inflammatory response to sugar or starch.
We both have celiac and ... do you have Hashimoto's too? I think I've seen you post that you do, but I could be mistaken.
While I don't tend to overdo my sugar consumption, I don't find that going over the sugar goal on MFP from eating fruit, veggies, dairy, and my nightly cookies causes me problems with my psoriatic arthritis or my other conditions.
I think you are much better at moderating sugars than I have been over the last 10+ years. I think I over did the sugars, on a fairly constistent basis, and maybe that's why I had more issues with my autoimmune stuff.
And yes, I do have hashi's too, as well as ITP and possibly something like MCTD but it has calmed down a lot. My autoimmune arthritis in my upper body, caused by whatever unknown reason, is basically gone now. Thankfully it was inflammatory so there has been no long term damage.hamlet1222 wrote: »For me, it is low carb high fat.
I crave carbs and sugars. I can't moderate them successfully but elimination seems to work fantastically. My sugar cravings are basically eliminated which is quite amazing. Sugar was big for me. If I didn't have sugars every few hours I felt poorly. It's quite freeing to no long crave sugar.
I have autoimmune issues and sugar increases my inflammation. I am much healthier without sugar, and in much less pain.
I have insulin resistance in the form of prediabetes. Eating low carb keeps my blood sugars in check quite well.
(And by sugar, I mean foods that convert to sugar - glucose - in the blood)
LCHF all the way.
yeah, it is weird, for some foods I can include them in reduced amounts and stick to my diet (I'm particularly good with beer), but others like popcorn and crisps (potato chips in USA) I can't even have any or I won't be able to stop - so total prohibition of some things works better for me.
Sometimes it's best not to poke the sleeping bear. 0 -
Carb level is mostly a personal preference. Fats are required for proper nutrient absorption for fat soluble vitamins. Plus, fats can greatly help the digestive tract.
I would recommend setting your protein and fat goals based on your weight (I do 0.35g fat per lb at goal weight and 0.6-0.8g protein ber lb at goal weight). Then, set the carb level based on your personal goals, allergies, and reaction to carbs.
This was really helpful0
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