Dumb question about carbs.

janejellyroll

littlechiaseed wrote: »

Don't go low carb it's stupid...like are going to forever? If not don't bother

Low carbohydrate diets aren't for everyone (they certainly aren't for me), but I think it's ridiculous to call them stupid. For people with medical conditions that are improved by restricting carbohydrates, they're great. And for people who find that reducing carbohydrates makes it easier to stay in a deficit, it can be a great tool for weight management (providing they're okay with reducing their carb intake).

hollyrayburn

littlechiaseed wrote: »

Don't go low carb it's stupid...like are going to forever? If not don't bother

Please tell me what is "stupid" about someone choosing a WOE that can be beneficial to their health.

Folks who are diabetic tend to eat low carb/keto. But they're stupid, aren't they?

Those with celiac disease avoid gluten. Idiots!

All of us on MFP eat in the method that helps us best adhere to our goals, lifestyle, and any possible medical conditions. What a bunch of morons we are!!!

kenyonhaff

No carb free pasta, but there are plenty of pasta out there that works well with MFP eating plans. I use a lot of Bartolli veggie pasta, for instance. There's a high fiber pasta that's 150 calories a serving that tastes pretty good.

kwtilbury

Pick one:

Low/no carb
Pasta

bbell1985

I've been eating shirataki noodles for years. I don't miss real pasta...because boxed pasta isn't real anyway. If I want real pasta I go get it handmade and eat it with browned butter and sausage and wine and don't gaf about calories/carbs.

On the day to day, I need a LOT of food and shirataki does the trick. Even less calories than spaghetti squash for the amount I need to eat (at least 400g).

lemurcat12

janejellyroll wrote: »

littlechiaseed wrote: »

Don't go low carb it's stupid...like are going to forever? If not don't bother

Low carbohydrate diets aren't for everyone (they certainly aren't for me), but I think it's ridiculous to call them stupid. For people with medical conditions that are improved by restricting carbohydrates, they're great. And for people who find that reducing carbohydrates makes it easier to stay in a deficit, it can be a great tool for weight management (providing they're okay with reducing their carb intake).

Yes, this.

I'd add that lowering carbs can be an easy way to cut calories even if you don't intend to do it forever.

For example, I consider the protein part of my meal and the vegetable part things I wouldn't cut if cutting calories. So that leaves fat and the starchy side, as well as snacky things, which for many are often a combination of fat and carbs. One simple way to cut calories is to cut snacky things (down, doesn't mean out entirely) and to cut down on starchy sides or eat them only at some meals. If you do that, you are probably doing some sort of low carb diet, and certainly cutting carbs.

I often cut fat because I tend to use more fat than I need at meals when not counting (cheese or butter/oil, olives, pinenuts, stuff like that), but in moderation these things add a lot to flavor and satisfaction, so if doing a 1200 calorie diet or some such I'd only cut them so much and prefer to cut starchy sides, which I personally would miss less.

Others would miss them more, and for them low carbing might not be a good idea.

Something extreme like keto wouldn't work for me, I don't think (although I might try it out of curiosity), but it certainly does for others, and isn't stupid for them.

janejellyroll

lemurcat12 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

littlechiaseed wrote: »

Don't go low carb it's stupid...like are going to forever? If not don't bother

Low carbohydrate diets aren't for everyone (they certainly aren't for me), but I think it's ridiculous to call them stupid. For people with medical conditions that are improved by restricting carbohydrates, they're great. And for people who find that reducing carbohydrates makes it easier to stay in a deficit, it can be a great tool for weight management (providing they're okay with reducing their carb intake).

Yes, this.

I'd add that lowering carbs can be an easy way to cut calories even if you don't intend to do it forever.

For example, I consider the protein part of my meal and the vegetable part things I wouldn't cut if cutting calories. So that leaves fat and the starchy side, as well as snacky things, which for many are often a combination of fat and carbs. One simple way to cut calories is to cut snacky things (down, doesn't mean out entirely) and to cut down on starchy sides or eat them only at some meals. If you do that, you are probably doing some sort of low carb diet, and certainly cutting carbs.

I often cut fat because I tend to use more fat than I need at meals when not counting (cheese or butter/oil, olives, pinenuts, stuff like that), but in moderation these things add a lot to flavor and satisfaction, so if doing a 1200 calorie diet or some such I'd only cut them so much and prefer to cut starchy sides, which I personally would miss less.

Others would miss them more, and for them low carbing might not be a good idea.

Something extreme like keto wouldn't work for me, I don't think (although I might try it out of curiosity), but it certainly does for others, and isn't stupid for them.

Yes, I'm kind of skeptical of the "Don't do it to lose weight if you don't want to do it forever" saying. On the one hand, I agree that it is important to have a plan to maintain weight loss and I do think that maintaining is much easier if you're practicing the skills you'll need while actually losing weight. That's why so many things that are faddy fail -- because they make a diet something you go on of and off.

On the other hand, I do all sorts of things when I'm trying to create a deficit that I don't do when I'm maintaining. I'll skip rice when I go out for Indian food, I drink my coffee black, I will use a lettuce wrap instead of bread for a sandwich, etc. I have no intention of doing these things *forever*, they're just ways to cut the calories temporarily. As long as someone understands why cutting carbohydrates works for them, I don't really see the issue with temporarily cutting them. It can be just a trick to reduce calories (and now that I think about it, most of the things I cut *are* carbohydrate-rich -- I don't cut them for the carbs, but because they fall in that sweet spot of having enough calories to make a difference and I don't miss them that much).

sardelsa

bbell1985 wrote: »

I've been eating shirataki noodles for years. I don't miss real pasta...because boxed pasta isn't real anyway. If I want real pasta I go get it handmade and eat it with browned butter and sausage and wine and don't gaf about calories/carbs.

On the day to day, I need a LOT of food and shirataki does the trick. Even less calories than spaghetti squash for the amount I need to eat (at least 400g).

While nothing beats homemade pasta, there is definitely a time and a place for dry durum wheat pasta, lots of Italians eat it and that al dente texture goes so well with certain sauces . I love it.. sometimes homemade pasta is just too heavy.

bbell1985

sardelsa wrote: »

bbell1985 wrote: »

I've been eating shirataki noodles for years. I don't miss real pasta...because boxed pasta isn't real anyway. If I want real pasta I go get it handmade and eat it with browned butter and sausage and wine and don't gaf about calories/carbs.

On the day to day, I need a LOT of food and shirataki does the trick. Even less calories than spaghetti squash for the amount I need to eat (at least 400g).

While nothing beats homemade pasta, there is definitely a time and a place for dry durum wheat pasta, lots of Italians eat it and that al dente texture goes so well with certain sauces . I love it.. sometimes homemade pasta is just too heavy.

Yeah. I get it. I personally don't "need" it though.