Carb Addict!!
mamakate2kh
Posts: 42 Member
I love carbs. I know it's my biggest problem. I tried quitting them cold Turkey and it made me binge on bread three days later.. Any other carb addicts or former carb addicts out there that have some advice for me or can tell Me a better way to replace my carb craving.
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Replies
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My advice: it's ok to eat carbs. I LOVE my carbs, I'm eating them, and I'm losing weight. There's nothing wrong with eating bread and carbs... The important part is for you not to go over your daily calories to lose weight.
Unless of course, there's a reason why you're trying to avoid carbs. Why don't you want to have any?3 -
i tried going cold turkey from cold turkey once
didnt work. i was back S'ing D at subway for a club sandwich withing hours0 -
Do you have a medical reason to limit carbohydrates? I love carbs too -- I find them to be very filling and a great source of energy. So I eat them and just make sure I log the calories.1
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Is there a specific reason you need to give up carbs?
I love carbs and will never give them up. As long as you're honest with yourself and you log them, why stop?0 -
Is there a medical reason for "quitting" carbs? If not, then work on moderation. Plenty of people lose weight while eating high or moderate carbs.
Maintenance will also be about managing the number of calories you eat. You won't be able to go back to 100% of your "normal" eating habits. To keep the weight from coming back you need a lifestyle change. For me, that's not a low carb diet.0 -
Carbs are fine, but if you are going over calories or think you would feel more satisfied eating less of them, a better approach tends to be cutting back, not cutting out. Looking at your diary is the key to this.
For example, why not make sure you are eating a good amount of vegetables with most meals for at least some of the carbs, and as for things like bread and pasta just watch the serving size and maybe increase fat and protein (see what you are low on, often it is protein for women)? I used to eat too much pasta just because I'm bad at understanding how much pasta the dry will turn into and once I made it I'd eat it. Now I measure out a serving (or sometimes less) and then make a really filling sauce with lots of vegetables and some lean meat and (I might add olives or pine nuts), and get a balanced, filling meal with somewhat fewer carbs.0 -
mamakate2kh wrote: »I love carbs. I know it's my biggest problem. I tried quitting them cold Turkey and it made me binge on bread three days later.. Any other carb addicts or former carb addicts out there that have some advice for me or can tell Me a better way to replace my carb craving.
I've been paleo, and low carb. Some people find relief with it, for me I found little point in it and I missed the convenience of bread. If you have some medical reason for cutting out/lowering carbs, then do it slowly, and keep an eye on your diary to confirm you're going down.0 -
Carb cravings hahaha I have them too. Try eating a dill pickle spear. Also, look into erythritol. I mix a bit with some peanut butter. Try those two things out.0
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mamakate2kh wrote: »I love carbs. I know it's my biggest problem. I tried quitting them cold Turkey and it made me binge on bread three days later.. Any other carb addicts or former carb addicts out there that have some advice for me or can tell Me a better way to replace my carb craving.
There's nothing inherently wrong with carbs...it's just one of three macro-nutrients. There are all kinds of awesome, delicious, and healthy carbs. Legumes are good...lentils are good...oats are good...quinoa is good...potatoes are good...sweet potatoes are good...breads and pasta are good...fruit is good...veggies are good...etc, etc, etc.0 -
Nothing medical... I just love them too much haha of I get bored I'll reach for bread and just eat it.. Or too much fries or potatoes.. I just feel more filled with carbs but I know I do too much of them and I just want to know if their is something that can give me that same feeling that carbs do0
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mamakate2kh wrote: »Nothing medical... I just love them too much haha of I get bored I'll reach for bread and just eat it.. Or too much fries or potatoes.. I just feel more filled with carbs but I know I do too much of them and I just want to know if their is something that can give me that same feeling that carbs do
It sounds more like a senseless eating thing (food is there, will eat) and the ease of eating what's there + the desire to feel full (though you just said filled).
Are you going over your calories because of those foods?
Have you tried eating other foods with fiber? Drinking liquids (preferably water or some non-calorie option so you're not swapping calories for calories)? Eating more often? Eating a higher quantity of vegetables?0 -
Cut the carbs if you want - if you do, you need a sufficient amount of protein and fat. Fat will make you feel full. For me, it makes me feel much more full than carbs any day. My husband formerly called me his, "hungry girl" - I was always starving, even an hour after a meal. I am not zero carb, but I'm low-ish..around 100 a day (mostly from veggies/nuts/etc., occasional pizza or the "flat out" wraps). I avoid breads and pastas and I was obsessed with them before. I'm fuller faster and it lasts longer. Besides that, I have found that pasta/bread kills my stomach...so it's no loss not to eat them.0
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Carbs are fine, but if you are going over calories or think you would feel more satisfied eating less of them, a better approach tends to be cutting back, not cutting out. Looking at your diary is the key to this.
For example, why not make sure you are eating a good amount of vegetables with most meals for at least some of the carbs, and as for things like bread and pasta just watch the serving size and maybe increase fat and protein (see what you are low on, often it is protein for women)? I used to eat too much pasta just because I'm bad at understanding how much pasta the dry will turn into and once I made it I'd eat it. Now I measure out a serving (or sometimes less) and then make a really filling sauce with lots of vegetables and some lean meat and (I might add olives or pine nuts), and get a balanced, filling meal with somewhat fewer carbs.
^This. Try just cutting back, and making sure you eat protein with your carbs.0 -
@mamakate2kh You have to ask yourself why carbs are an issue for you. Is it because you find that you overeat them easily, or is it because you have just heard that they are bad? Different things work for different people for different reasons. It might be beneficial cut out only the carb sources which give you the most problems. For example, if you can't eat just one chip without eating the whole bag, yeah, you should avoid those as much as possible. If you can have a ham sammich without eating a whole loaf of bread, that's probably ok. For some individuals, moderation isn't always a viable option.
Many have found that eating a low carb high fat diet reduces cravings for sugar and carbs, but that is not the case for everybody. It was for me. If you are interested, it would be best to ask for advice in the Low carb daily group as the suggestion is pretty controversial around these parts.
Whatever weightloss method you choose to employ, I think planning is the key to success. Plan (and log) your meals the night before or first thing in the morning and try to stick to it. I think that will help you the most.1 -
mamakate2kh wrote: »Nothing medical... I just love them too much haha of I get bored I'll reach for bread and just eat it.. Or too much fries or potatoes.. I just feel more filled with carbs but I know I do too much of them and I just want to know if their is something that can give me that same feeling that carbs do
I've done the mindless thing too. My goal is to eat carbs more moderately. I'm older and not very tall, I can't have a whole plate of French fries.....not now, and not when I get to goal. So instead of a burger & fill the rest of the plate with fries, I have a burger & salad. If I want a few fries (and it fits my goals) that's fine too. You can probably have more than a few fries, but the idea is....they shouldn't crowd out everything else.0 -
@mamakate2kh You have to ask yourself why carbs are an issue for you. Is it because you find that you overeat them easily, or is it because you have just heard that they are bad? Different things work for different people for different reasons. It might be beneficial cut out only the carb sources which give you the most problems. For example, if you can't eat just one chip without eating the whole bag, yeah, you should avoid those as much as possible. If you can have a ham sammich without eating a whole loaf of bread, that's probably ok. For some individuals, moderation isn't always a viable option.
Many have found that eating a low carb high fat diet reduces cravings for sugar and carbs, but that is not the case for everybody. It was for me. If you are interested, it would be best to ask for advice in the Low carb daily group as the suggestion is pretty controversial around these parts.
Whatever weightloss method you choose to employ, I think planning is the key to success. Plan (and log) your meals the night before or first thing in the morning and try to stick to it. I think that will help you the most.
Carbs are my "comfort food" I'm not really into sweets so having toast or bread an peanut butter is my first go to... My problem is I just over do it.. My stomach says more lol
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There you go then, you already know the problem. Stop letting your stomach tell you what to do, you own it not the other way around.1
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mamakate2kh wrote: »@mamakate2kh You have to ask yourself why carbs are an issue for you. Is it because you find that you overeat them easily, or is it because you have just heard that they are bad? Different things work for different people for different reasons. It might be beneficial cut out only the carb sources which give you the most problems. For example, if you can't eat just one chip without eating the whole bag, yeah, you should avoid those as much as possible. If you can have a ham sammich without eating a whole loaf of bread, that's probably ok. For some individuals, moderation isn't always a viable option.
Many have found that eating a low carb high fat diet reduces cravings for sugar and carbs, but that is not the case for everybody. It was for me. If you are interested, it would be best to ask for advice in the Low carb daily group as the suggestion is pretty controversial around these parts.
Whatever weightloss method you choose to employ, I think planning is the key to success. Plan (and log) your meals the night before or first thing in the morning and try to stick to it. I think that will help you the most.
Carbs are my "comfort food" I'm not really into sweets so having toast or bread an peanut butter is my first go to... My problem is I just over do it.. My stomach says more lol
Remind your stomach that your goals are more important.0 -
mamakate2kh wrote: »@mamakate2kh You have to ask yourself why carbs are an issue for you. Is it because you find that you overeat them easily, or is it because you have just heard that they are bad? Different things work for different people for different reasons. It might be beneficial cut out only the carb sources which give you the most problems. For example, if you can't eat just one chip without eating the whole bag, yeah, you should avoid those as much as possible. If you can have a ham sammich without eating a whole loaf of bread, that's probably ok. For some individuals, moderation isn't always a viable option.
Many have found that eating a low carb high fat diet reduces cravings for sugar and carbs, but that is not the case for everybody. It was for me. If you are interested, it would be best to ask for advice in the Low carb daily group as the suggestion is pretty controversial around these parts.
Whatever weightloss method you choose to employ, I think planning is the key to success. Plan (and log) your meals the night before or first thing in the morning and try to stick to it. I think that will help you the most.
Carbs are my "comfort food" I'm not really into sweets so having toast or bread an peanut butter is my first go to... My problem is I just over do it.. My stomach says more lol
Can you have just one slice of bread and peanut butter and just stop? Have you been successful with moderating it in the past?0 -
You'll have a hard time losing weight and keeping it off unless you learn to eat the foods you love in moderation. Otherwise you'll go cold turkey, lose some weight but end up going overboard because it isn't sustainable for you. Eat your carbs but log everything and keep your calories within your goal range - your willpower will get stronger and your habits will change if you stick with it.0
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When I was new to weight loss I had a big carb habit, too. I tried to control it, but for me it is easier to just not start than it is to try to have one slice of peanut butter toast or whatever. Some foods were trigger foods for me. Definitely white bread and peanut butter. I stopped buying white bread or white crackers and peanut butter for a long time. Now I can have peanut butter in the house, but I still don't buy my trigger carb snack foods unless I accept that I'll eat the whole package in two days.
I really had to stop eating them at all for a while. There just isn't room in a low-calorie plan for empty nutrition-less calories. Now that I've lost the weight, I allow myself to have some of these trigger foods on occasion, but not every day. Maybe once a week or once every other week. For me it was about gaining some control over the rest of my nutrition, and learning how to get enough protein and fat FIRST. Then if there is room for carbs, I can have some.
I had to come to the realization that it was/is more important to me to remain at a healthy weight than it is for me to have two minutes of pleasure whenever I feel like it. Once I start with treats, it's much harder to stop. It's easier to just say no. Discipline and self-control are their own rewards now.3 -
A piece of toast with peanut butter is usually going to have more calories from fat than carbs.0
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lemurcat12 wrote: »A piece of toast with peanut butter is usually going to have more calories from fat than carbs.
Very possible. It could go both ways going by the "checked" entries in MFP. In any case, I think the key is to identify foods with which you (not 'you' specifically, but 'you' generally) have trouble moderating. Carbs could be a factor, but fat and salt or some combination of foods could also be the issue. I think it is wise to invest some effort and thought into determining your problem foods and starting there. If you are having issues moderating, it's ok to cut out foods cold turkey. It is not a forgone conclusion that you will binge, but it is possible. I find that planning and having different options available has helped me tremendously.0 -
EAT THE CARBS!!! THE CARBS COMPEL YOU TO EATS THEM!!
If your problem is mindless snacking, try chewing gum or drinking flavored fizzy water. If you find yourself hungry right after eating, you a) might not be eating enough or b) might need more fat or protein. Also adjust your meal times to fit your hunger cycles. For instance, I'm always hungry at 4pm no matter what, so I can either snack or just eat dinner early and have something small (ie, DESSERT) if I get hungry later. Generally if I'm hungry at 7pm though I can just check my calorie log and I'll find I'm still like 300+ calories under my minimum daily target. Which means I NEED TO EAT DELICIOUS CARBY DESSERT!!!
I did the VLC thing for 3 years and while yeah I lost weight for a bit, eventually I had other problems, and ultimately gained all the weight back. For the first time in my life I ignored the horrible advice from my family (my dad is a doctor even and was pushing me to take supplements and do fad diets, I srsly don't even understand), and did the research, and the research has been true for 100+ years, it doesn't matter what you eat, it's how much. I wish I would have known that when I was a teenager struggling with my weight. Alas.
Minimizing carbs can be helpful if you have metabolic challenges, but, interesting thing, most studies showing LC and VLC diets as being effective for diabetes could not show it was exclusively because of the carbs -- other studies that compared diets showed that creating the calorie deficit and overall weight loss was the best treatment for diabetes.
That said, we are all special snowflakes, so do what seems to work best for you. I personally shoot for 40/40 carbs/fat and 20% protein. Too many carbs and I'm hungry and snacky all the time, too little carbs and I'm freezing cold and tired.0 -
I don't do so well with carbs.
I found low carb alternatives to bread to be very important to me during the first week or so, until the cravings (mostly) stopped.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »A piece of toast with peanut butter is usually going to have more calories from fat than carbs.
Very possible. It could go both ways going by the "checked" entries in MFP. In any case, I think the key is to identify foods with which you (not 'you' specifically, but 'you' generally) have trouble moderating.
Definitely agree with this, and then figure out a strategy depending on the foods (and in many cases the context in which they are overeaten, which can be more important). It's just a pet peeve that foods that happen to be tasty/overeaten get called "carbs" even when they have nearly as much or (as here) more fat.0 -
I've done good at staying in my calorie range .. I've just noticed I have a lot of carby foods .. I will have to try some of your suggestions...I'll definitely be picking up some gum to munch on instead of eating.. Hopefuly that will help0
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