Confused
mandaleigh22
Posts: 21 Member
I'm new to low carb and have been seeing different types of low carb such as keto. What's the difference? I don't want to be doing anything wrong. I am 5'4 224lbs I want to get to 135lbs. I was just planning on cutting down on carbs 50-150g per day but I see people talking about percentages and macros and making things difficult. I am not sure if I want to be figuring all that out. Any advice or information about all this? Thank you.
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Please read our lcd launch pad, under anouncements for answers to this and many other great tips (ie stay healthy by increasing sodium and magnesium). Lots of advice and information about "all this" there.
In terms of reducing carbs there is no wrong. We each try lowering cabs. In trial and error some folk find lower than a standard american diet helps them feel healthier and lose weight, and that, like you plan, is a great place to start. For others less than 20g/day or even no carbs help them feel great and shift weight.
Read nutrition labels to help learn where calories, carbs, fats and proteins are. Based on individual foods, mfp adds the total for carb, protein n fat up automatically to give you your % of each "macro". Macros percentages are a way for us to track what we eat, using mfp and support us getting enough fat for fuel. Also check we are not over eating protein. Macros are just your daily split between % carb, fat and protein. If what you are doing is not working, changing to less carb and more fat may help. Thus the macro discussions which are designed to help rather than make things difficult.
Keto generally means eating less than 20g of carb a day, it helps support a metabolic state in which most of the body's energy supply comes from ketone bodies in the blood, in contrast to a state of glycolysis in which blood glucose provides most of the energy. Our body then consistently burns fat for fuel. Some folk find it too hard, find their body needs a higher amount of carbs, others this is their choice in a permanent way of eating.
Good luck and after reading the LCD launch pad, keep those questions coming. Lots of folk watch here before they ask any questions so you help us all learn too.2 -
Low carb is a huge range, usually 150 gm of carbs, or less, daily. Weight loss can be achieved anywhere within that range. Keto happens to be the lowest of the range (some say 20, and some experience keto at 50). The key to low carb is to find the range where you feel best, and experience the weight loss you desire. Some, like me, feel best at the lowest, where others need the higher ranges. It seems difficult at first, but has become the easiest woe, IMO.
As @SamandaIndia mentioned above, read the Launch Pad for information that can help you!
And, figuring out macros is actually pretty easy when using one of the calculators available, like this one: http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/1 -
mandaleigh22 wrote: »I'm new to low carb and have been seeing different types of low carb such as keto. What's the difference? I don't want to be doing anything wrong. I am 5'4 224lbs I want to get to 135lbs. I was just planning on cutting down on carbs 50-150g per day but I see people talking about percentages and macros and making things difficult. I am not sure if I want to be figuring all that out. Any advice or information about all this? Thank you.
I'm VLC & also diabetic.
I log my glucose #s & what I eat.
I don't do food #s anymore.
I'm doing LCHF by KISS
It's become a very livable WOE.
You're more than welcome to check out my diary
for ideas.
or 
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Ditto the others. Some of us choose very LCHF or keto and others choose more carbs. Just find what works bets for you.
I chose keto because of insulin resistance, and because I can't moderate carbs well so eating fewer makes it easier for me.3 -
If you are finding that your current levels are working, then go with what you are doing now. I feel like everyone tweaks something during their journey.
It's all a work in progress!2 -
Don't let all the macros and stuff confuse you. If you find it overwhelming it might derail your efforts. There's nothing wrong with taking a more relaxed approach to low carbing by restricting your carbs alone to the range you feel comfortable at.
It may be more common for those of us that post regularly to be very data minded, and talk about all the finer details, but rest assured we support the efforts and low carb levels of everyone trying to get healthy.
Many times, you become more interested in that part of it, the science behind it, as you get going and become more comfortable in your eating habits. So it can be helpful to go ahead and read and partake in these kinds of discussions.
The difference between Keto and low carb is that someone wanting to achieve the metabolic state of ketosis will have to be more aware of the detailed breakdown of their carb, fat and protein consumption, because the carb and even protein intake will be lower to achieve it.
It's just another method that some find more beneficial for their unique body.
The only thing I would say to watch when taking the more relaxed carb restricting approach is also be mindful of your fat sources. Don't choose low fat products trying to cut calories and avoid vegetable oils as much as absolutely possible.
Best of luck to you!3
