Low carb... Is it a diet fad?
Replies
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Low carb isn't neccesarily no carb. Low carb doesn't automatically mean a ketogenic diet.
I eat low carb... I eat rice, dark chocolate, starchy vegetables, some fruits, lentils and even occasionally wheat products (though I do find them hard to digest so I tend to avoid them). I find protein and fats are more satiating, so for me, it works and is sustainable.
I don't think it's a fad, I just think what works for some may not work for all.0 -
bluefish86 wrote: »Low carb isn't neccesarily no carb. Low carb doesn't automatically mean a ketogenic diet.
I eat low carb... I eat rice, dark chocolate, starchy vegetables, some fruits, lentils and even occasionally wheat products (though I do find them hard to digest so I tend to avoid them). I find protein and fats are more satiating, so for me, it works and is sustainable.
I don't think it's a fad, I just think what works for some may not work for all.
Agreed- my comment was moreso aimed at the poster Nage who was talking about ketogenic diets.0 -
JackieMarie1989jgw wrote: »bluefish86 wrote: »Low carb isn't neccesarily no carb. Low carb doesn't automatically mean a ketogenic diet.
I eat low carb... I eat rice, dark chocolate, starchy vegetables, some fruits, lentils and even occasionally wheat products (though I do find them hard to digest so I tend to avoid them). I find protein and fats are more satiating, so for me, it works and is sustainable.
I don't think it's a fad, I just think what works for some may not work for all.
Agreed- my comment was moreso aimed at the poster Nage who was talking about ketogenic diets.
No worries... my comment wasn't aimed at you specifically. I just wanted to clarify as the two tend to get lumped together quite a bit. My point was only that you can continue to have carbohydrates on a low carb diet... they're just restricted.
Any diet that involves cutting calories will restrict one macro-nutrient or another.0 -
No Fad. The only way to convert from a typical sugar-burning American, to a fat-burner.
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"What do I think? Everyone should give Ketogenics at least a legitimate 3 month shot. No carbs for 3 months. It's a challenge a lot of people can't accomplish. Why? It separates those who are dedicated to changing their body, and those who buy Fitbits then eat pancakes, burgers, and drink beer all weekend long."
This statement is purely opinion and does not contain one basic fact.
I do not "do" low carb or Ketogenics. I AM dedicated to changing my body. I have lost 36 lbs and was able to go off all of my blood pressure medications and my A1C is no longer in the prediabetic range . So, yes I have changed my body.
By the way.. I have a Fitbit, and other than the beer, gimme those pancakes and burgers!0 -
It's a fad if you treat it like a fad. If you use it like a tool that helps you manage your calories it's a good tool for some (not for me personally), but if you expect to lose any real weight eating at a calorie level that exceeds your maintenance you will be sorely disappointed. It's a fiction if you buy into all the magic properties sometimes attributed to it as a set in stone fact instead of a personal variable. Some people, for example, tend to feel less hungry on low carb diets, and assume that's the case for everyone. It's not. It's a tool just like any other tool (IF, using smaller plates, increasing your activity, eating or not eating breakfast...etc) that some people use to make it easier to eat fewer calories than their body burns. And just like any other tool, it works for some and doesn't for others.
Pros:
- Improves blood sugar for some people
- Improves hunger for some people
- Improves blood panel for some people
- Easier to stick to for some people
Cons:
- Makes blood sugar worse for some people
- Makes hunger worse for some people
- Makes blood panel worse for some people
- Harder to stick to for some people0 -
It doesn't really matter if it is a fad or not.
What matters is does it work for you and fit in happily with your lifestyle. That will vary depending on the person.
Personally, I feel a balanced diet will probably suit the majority of people the best but it is clearly not the only way of being successful or even the best way for some people.0 -
Do you see the irony in someone who needs to cut back even on fruit to not go over his 20 g of carbs saying the others are depriving themselves of good food?Just be warned, you'll get the usual Keto fans posting all sorts of fantastical claims for low carb if you start a low carb thread.
The average person here loses weight fine by just counting calories and without all the restrictions of keeping in ketosis. They don't bother posting about a cult diet fad.
Truth, I'm guilty of promoting the eating style that I believe in, study extensively, and follow currently.
And while CICO is great for weight loss, it does nothing to address the real reason anybody wants to lose weight, health.
Can you lose weight and become healthier with CICO?
Yes
Can you lose weight and become healthier with Ketogenics?
Yes
Then why do Ketogenics?
Because for a fat person who has no idea what portions or dieting is, telling them to go low-calorie and low-fat usually means to go high-carb high-sugar. Which wrecks havoc on the body's hormone system and fat burning ability. Low-fat leads to hunger, which leads to going over your calorie restriction, which leads to just giving up. Not to mention how wrong most people are at counting calories or estimating weight or portion sizes of food.
Telling people not to eat carbs is simple and effective, without any of the usual pitfalls most people fall into. Many Ketoers suggest not even counting calories, to focus strictly on counting carbs, and that the calories, and the weight, will take care of itself.
Yes, you can lose weight just fine by counting calories and being strict to that. But I think there's a better way that leaves you feeling better and not completely deprived of good food.
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Except there's no anti-keto fanatics here. I don't see anyone saying "stay away from it, high carbs are better for you!" everyone says it works just fine, no better or worse than other approaches.
There is however at least two people who say keto is better because it does all those amazing things for them and one of them implies people who don't do keto aren't dedicated enough to their health and don't "have what it takes" and probably eat pancakes, burgers and drink beer all weekend long.
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A low carb diet is a medical necessity for some people.
A ketogenic diet is a medical necessity for some people.
A low fat (and thus usually higher carb) diet is a medical necessity for some people.
Thus how can any of these be considered fads or "fiction"????
I find that I do best at this point in my life on a lower carb diet. In the past I felt best with a higher carb intake. Things change.0 -
I eat lower carb because I have PCOS therefore my Consultant recommended it.
I would only say if a medical issue caused it to do it, because I am a firm believe in CICO for weight loss.
I love carbs.
It makes me absolutely miserable, but the weight drops off I guess. I think thats really due to less calories though.0 -
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High good carbs here and losing weight.
Lots of beans, plain oatmeal, barley, lentils, chick peas, quinoa, sweet potatoes, brown rice and even wheat pasta.
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toad_allyinlove wrote: »Low carb is it fact or fiction? Fad or good? What do you guys think? Pro's or con's?
What do I think? Everyone should give Ketogenics at least a legitimate 3 month shot. No carbs for 3 months. It's a challenge a lot of people can't accomplish. Why? It separates those who are dedicated to changing their body, and those who buy Fitbits then eat pancakes, burgers, and drink beer all weekend long.
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Crap. I have a Fitbit, I eat pancakes and burgers and I drink beer. I guess I'm not dedicated to changing my body? Oh wait, I've been here for 3 years, lost 30 lbs, am successfully maintaining, am healthier and more active than I've ever been in my life. Yeah, that's not dedication. Probably just dumb luck.
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Wetcoaster wrote: »2013 NSCA Personal Trainers Conference: Looking Back at my Debate with Dr. Jeff Volek
by Alan Aragon
http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2013/03/13/2013-nsca-personal-trainers-conference-looking-back-at-my-debate-with-dr-jeff-volek/I went on to examine the common methodological limitation of low-carb versus low-fat comparisons failing to match protein intake. As such, the advantage of greater thermic effect, satiety, and lean mass retention will strongly favor the groups whose protein is optimized, or at least adequate. Low-fat/high-carb treatments often fall short of adequate protein intake, and the disadvantages are inherent.
The argument Alan Aragon makes against low-carb is that low-carb has the unfair advantage of being also higher-protein..... Hmmm.... Interesting argument
Keto isn't high protein, is it? In fact, most keto adherents restrict to moderate protein because too much will be converted to carbs and take them out of keto. Low carb diets can be high protein though, but not a ketogenic one.0 -
You will never get conclusion really. I saw low carb threads and pretty much same persons came on and debate the same things over and over again.
I think the best thing is to find the way that suit yourself the most but IN MY OPINION calorie counting works for everyone if you take it seriously I guess.
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I'm not doing low carbs or high carbs. Just reduced the amount of calories I eat by reducing the size of my portions of all the things I ate before.
I have lost over 30lbs, increased my strength work. Have gone from running 5k to running 100km and am currently training for a 70 mile run.
Low carbs may work for you, but really, unless there is a medical reason or you just don't think you can handle reducing the portions of your normal food there is no reason to not just eat what you eat now, just less of it and make sure you hit your macros.0 -
What do I think? Everyone should give Ketogenics at least a legitimate 3 month shot. No carbs for 3 months. It's a challenge a lot of people can't accomplish. Why? It separates those who are dedicated to changing their body, and those who buy Fitbits then eat pancakes, burgers, and drink beer all weekend long.
<snip>
Ketogenics will absolutely lead to weight loss, fitness love, and eventually massive physical athletic benefits.
It's exactly this kind of evangelistic my-way-or-the-highway misinformed drivel that does Keto waaaaaay more harm than good.
What "massive physical athletic benefits" would we be talking about here, exactly, that are exclusive hallmarks of a keto lifestyle?
And as to your first ridiculous statement? I've lost 76 lbs in under a year simply by moderating the amount of what I eat. I never "eat pancakes, burgers, and drink beer all weekend." Yes, I do wear a Fitbit and log over 10 miles a day. I would say that definitely makes me "dedicated to changing" my body in a way that's manageable, healthy, and sustainable for the rest of my life, and has given me "fitness love" in a manner that has everything to do with exercise and CICO and absolutely nothing to do with deprivation. In other words, a method FOR ME that is sustainable for life. 0 -
Just be warned, you'll get the usual Keto fans posting all sorts of fantastical claims for low carb if you start a low carb thread.
The average person here loses weight fine by just counting calories and without all the restrictions of keeping in ketosis. They don't bother posting about a cult diet fad.
Truth, I'm guilty of promoting the eating style that I believe in, study extensively, and follow currently.
And while CICO is great for weight loss, it does nothing to address the real reason anybody wants to lose weight, health.
Can you lose weight and become healthier with CICO?
Yes
Can you lose weight and become healthier with Ketogenics?
Yes
Then why do Ketogenics?
Because for a fat person who has no idea what portions or dieting is, telling them to go low-calorie and low-fat usually means to go high-carb high-sugar. Which wrecks havoc on the body's hormone system and fat burning ability. Low-fat leads to hunger, which leads to going over your calorie restriction, which leads to just giving up. Not to mention how wrong most people are at counting calories or estimating weight or portion sizes of food.
Telling people not to eat carbs is simple and effective, without any of the usual pitfalls most people fall into. Many Ketoers suggest not even counting calories, to focus strictly on counting carbs, and that the calories, and the weight, will take care of itself.
Yes, you can lose weight just fine by counting calories and being strict to that. But I think there's a better way that leaves you feeling better and not completely deprived of good food.
LOL ..yea because eating 75% of your diet in fats is soooo much healthier than a balanced approach that meets all macros and hits micronutrient requirements..
OP - Low carb is just a way of eating to get into a deficit….if you have a medical reason or food allergy then you should avoid carbs, other than that there is no reason to avoid/demonize one macronutrieint…
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toad_allyinlove wrote: »Low carb is it fact or fiction? Fad or good? What do you guys think? Pro's or con's?
What do I think? Everyone should give Ketogenics at least a legitimate 3 month shot. No carbs for 3 months. It's a challenge a lot of people can't accomplish. Why? It separates those who are dedicated to changing their body, and those who buy Fitbits then eat pancakes, burgers, and drink beer all weekend long.
If you can overcome the first month of hurdles, change your mindset and outlook on what food is and what it means in your life, Ketogenics will absolutely lead to weight loss, fitness love, and eventually massive physical athletic benefits.
Um....yea not so much. It's just another way of eating, not the be-all, end-all of eating. Many of us can achieve "massive physical athletic benefits" without cutting carbs. I eat carbs and am also VERY dedicated to changing my body. And have done so.
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Ketogenic diets aren't very good when it comes to adding muscle. mTOR pathway is disrupted. And many athletes rely on trying to put on some muscle mass for elite level sports.
Is it a fad? Nope, the traction Ketogenics is gaining for weight loss, as well as athletic performance, is tremendous. I think it will be the dominant eating diet in the next 10 years, and low-fat high-sugar high-carb will be considered one of the most harmful in human diet eating history.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I don't know of too many in strength training or body building that even attempt ketosis, particuarly since it doesn't allow for IGF-1 release, nor high amounts of leucine, which are the two main systemic ways to counter the downgrade effects of AMPK on mTOR. Low/lower carb diets are used but they also contain large amounts of protein particularly BCAAs from what I've seen. Of course, if you are running a drug stack you can always add in IGF-1 but that is one of the worst things to add to a stack since it has a high affinity to a lot of cells you don't want to target including cancer cells.
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Another vote for "if it works for you".
And would add for the OP that it may not be for you if you don't digest fat and protein well, like maybe if you don't have a gall bladder.
Also, fairly recent study stated that less protein seems to be good for middle aged people, while more protein is better for the older people...that "things change" deal.He and his colleagues showed that high protein consumption is linked to increased risk of cancer, diabetes and death in middle-aged adults, although this was not the case for older adults who may benefit from moderate protein consumption. Also, the effect is much reduced when the protein comes from plant sources.However, in those aged 65 and over, the effect was nearly the opposite - high protein intake was linked to a 60% reduced risk of dying from cancer and a 28% reduced risk of dying from any cause, with similar effects for moderate protein intake.
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/273533.php0 -
Fact or fiction? It's a real way to eat. I am not sure what you mean with that.
I don't think it is a fad. That would imply it is short lived and it was not an uncommon way to eat up into the 50s. Atkins has been around a few decades.
It can be good for those who need to reduce carbs for health reasons or enjoy eating that way.
Pros and cons are going to vary between people. I eat low carb and have for some months now. For me the pros are:- Improved blood glucose
- Improved autoimmune issues (pain reduction)
- Improved cognitive functions
- Improved energy
- Fewer headaches
- No more reactive hypoglycaemia
- Better skin
- Reduced appetite and cravings
- Easy to eat at a slight deficit and lose weight
- More regular
- Excellent food
- Improved blood lipids
The cons would be:- Inconvenience
- Ummmm......
OP just putting a disclaimer here that this is great for this poster but does not apply to you or the rest of the population ...0 -
I've only seen one recently that was a high-carb zealot. Why is that relevent? Nutrition is a science not a theological debate and there is certainly enough evidence to support both low carb and high carb diets as being safe and effective. As long as it works and it's not harmful then use the tool that works for you.0 -
Fact or fiction? It's a real way to eat. I am not sure what you mean with that.
I don't think it is a fad. That would imply it is short lived and it was not an uncommon way to eat up into the 50s. Atkins has been around a few decades.
It can be good for those who need to reduce carbs for health reasons or enjoy eating that way.
Pros and cons are going to vary between people. I eat low carb and have for some months now. For me the pros are:- Improved blood glucose
- Improved autoimmune issues (pain reduction)
- Improved cognitive functions
- Improved energy
- Fewer headaches
- No more reactive hypoglycaemia
- Better skin
- Reduced appetite and cravings
- Easy to eat at a slight deficit and lose weight
- More regular
- Excellent food
- Improved blood lipids
The cons would be:- Inconvenience
- Ummmm......
OP just putting a disclaimer here that this is great for this poster but does not apply to you or the rest of the population ...
I think that was covered by the statement:
"It can be good for those who need to reduce carbs for health reasons or enjoy eating that way."
and
"Pros and cons are going to vary between people. I eat low carb and have for some months now. For me the pros are..."0 -
bluefish86 wrote: »Fact or fiction? It's a real way to eat. I am not sure what you mean with that.
I don't think it is a fad. That would imply it is short lived and it was not an uncommon way to eat up into the 50s. Atkins has been around a few decades.
It can be good for those who need to reduce carbs for health reasons or enjoy eating that way.
Pros and cons are going to vary between people. I eat low carb and have for some months now. For me the pros are:- Improved blood glucose
- Improved autoimmune issues (pain reduction)
- Improved cognitive functions
- Improved energy
- Fewer headaches
- No more reactive hypoglycaemia
- Better skin
- Reduced appetite and cravings
- Easy to eat at a slight deficit and lose weight
- More regular
- Excellent food
- Improved blood lipids
The cons would be:- Inconvenience
- Ummmm......
OP just putting a disclaimer here that this is great for this poster but does not apply to you or the rest of the population ...
I think that was covered by the statement:
"It can be good for those who need to reduce carbs for health reasons or enjoy eating that way."
and
"Pros and cons are going to vary between people. I eat low carb and have for some months now. For me the pros are..."
i felt the need to make it more clear0 -
you mean all the people saying it is a way of eating that will work but is not magical….those anti keto fanatics…?0 -
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OP - no it is not a fad, but it is based around the principles of CICO that all successful ways of eating are..
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