why do ppl do low carb for weight loss?

That_car_is_full_of_balloons
That_car_is_full_of_balloons Posts: 135 Member
in Food and Nutrition
but a lot of people dont eat low carb and arent overweight?
so then why would carbs make some humans fat but not all of them?
just had this thought today at work
corworker is doing a low carb diet to lose weight
and there i was shoveling rice in my mouth and just shrugging. works for me.
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Replies

  • Marieevans813
    Marieevans813 Posts: 45 Member
    I can only speak from personal experience, obviously everyone is different. I am following a low carb lifestyle, because it is the only way I am able to control my caloric intake. When I consume carbs such as bread, sugar, starchy vegetables, and junk food, I always overeat. When I remove those items from my diet, I am able to stick to a 1200 to 1500 calorie diet filled with healthy foods, not junk. It works for me. It's still all about the calories.
  • agdyl
    agdyl Posts: 246 Member
    I know that for me it's not the amount of carbs but the type of carbs. If I eat veggies - those come with fiber, they fill me up, and I feel great. If I eat bread, on the other hand, or sugary sweets - I get a sugar rush, then a crash and I want more, more, more and it's very difficult for me to control how much I eat. And obviously healthy fats and proteins are good for you too, so I have plenty of room for those foods as well if I'm not overdoing carbs.

    I still end up with something like 100g of carbs a day, but also like 60+g of fiber, so I don't get the sugar rushes, and don't feel hungry and it's easy to for me to maintain. I don't really have to weigh things like that - I'm not going to overeat raw green beans or whatever to the point where I gain weight, so I can estimate and it comes out close enough. When I was eating starchy carbs, I'd really have to strictly watch portion sizes to keep it under control and felt hungry all the time.

    I realize not everyone suffers from the same cravings and such. So if you can eat those things in moderation without a struggle, I wouldn't sweat it. If you're constantly craving more, it might be worth looking into reducing sugary/starchy carbs to see if it makes things easier for you. Sounds like you don't need to worry about it, but maybe the above helps make it make sense why some people do.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Low carb isn't the only way to lose weight, but carbs are the least satiating macronutrient. On the standard ketogenic diet, it's low carb, moderate protein, high fat. This puts your body into ketosis which some people prefer. Also, for those with insulin resistance it can make it easier to lose weight. In your average person, it doesn't really matter. My lifts suffer if I keep carbs too low. I just try to get a balance of everything.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    Low carb diets by definition are high protein, high fat diets. Protein and fat are both very satisfying, so usually low carb diets fill you up with less calories and lead to weight loss through a calorie deficit. That being said, low carb diets are certainly not necessary to lose weight.
  • Fullsterkur_woman
    Fullsterkur_woman Posts: 2,712 Member
    Seriously? Because different people are different and what works for one person doesn't work for another. Why does my healthy-weight triathlete mother have high HDL and total cholesterol, and I have high HDL cholesterol (because we both work out a lot), but even at my most overweight my total cholesterol is lower than most people's LDL? We're not clones of one another!

    I have depression, and for some people, low carb helps with that because of stabilized blood sugar, but for me, I fall into a serotonin deficit and it is not pretty. So I don't get to eat as much fat as agdyl does, but I do eat a lot of vegetables and modest amounts of fruits and starchy (and sweet!) carbs because they are important for my brain chemistry's stability. If I keep the fat low I am able to eat a very decent amount of protein and enough volume to keep me from being hungry on a small calorie restriction.

    agdyl has found a way of eating that works for her and she feels great. I've found a way of eating that works for me and I'm feeling pretty good if a little impatient for the weight to come off.

    You just have to find what works for you and stick to it.
  • StacyReneO
    StacyReneO Posts: 317 Member
    I can only speak from personal experience, obviously everyone is different. I am following a low carb lifestyle, because it is the only way I am able to control my caloric intake. When I consume carbs such as bread, sugar, starchy vegetables, and junk food, I always overeat. When I remove those items from my diet, I am able to stick to a 1200 to 1500 calorie diet filled with healthy foods, not junk. It works for me. It's still all about the calories.

    Ditto. Plus, things like sugar, gluten and starch make me feel like crap!
  • kckBxer396
    kckBxer396 Posts: 460 Member
    Personally, my body doesn't process them well and they cause my thyroid to be sluggish. When I'm not managing my carbs my triglycerides double,and I put on weight like crazy. However, when I try to keep them at a low amount, I drop weight very rapidly. I'm sure everyone has different reasons,and I don't know the "scientific" answer. I just know why it works for me. =)
  • BlisterLamb
    BlisterLamb Posts: 396 Member
    I have Hashimotos, an autoimmune thyroid disease. It causes me to gain weight, even while working out and eating at a calorie deficit. It took two years to figure out how the heck I was eating at a calorie deficit and gaining fat! We are taught that a 3500 calorie deficit equals 1 pound of weight loss. For most people thats true, but for some it doesn't work that way. One thing that helps manage Hashimotos weight gain is to keep the body burning fat instead of carbs by keeping the carbs very low.
  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    Because it works so much better for me. I did Jenny Craig in 2006 and it took 3.5 years to lose 35 lbs. I started low carb in Feb 2013 (I am now almost 45), and have lost weight so much faster, easier, and cheaper. I am much happier now that I did low carb.
    The protein and fat in the diet curb appetite for me--I am not starving 1-2 hours after a meal.


    When I get to my goal weight I will add more fruits and veggies because of the nutrients that they add, so then I won't be technically low carb.


    --I kept off the weight loss from the Jenny Craig diet for several years, until I became hypothyroid and the weight slowly went back up over 2 years. I started the low carb about 1 month after being but on synthroid, but REALLY didn't want it to take another 3.5 years.

    but a lot of people dont eat low carb and arent overweight?
    so then why would carbs make some humans fat but not all of them?
    just had this thought today at work
    corworker is doing a low carb diet to lose weight
    and there i was shoveling rice in my mouth and just shrugging. works for me.
  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
    The high fat is not necessarily true, it depends on what protein sources are selected. I can keep my fat grams lower than MFP goal easily by selecting low fat chicken and pork loin as a protein source. Sometimes I am under my fat goal. Your "by definition" comment is not correct.

    Low carb diets by definition are high protein, high fat diets. Protein and fat are both very satisfying, so usually low carb diets fill you up with less calories and lead to weight loss through a calorie deficit. That being said, low carb diets are certainly not necessary to lose weight.
  • agdyl
    agdyl Posts: 246 Member
    Seriously? Because different people are different and what works for one person doesn't work for another. Why does my healthy-weight triathlete mother have high HDL and total cholesterol, and I have high HDL cholesterol (because we both work out a lot), but even at my most overweight my total cholesterol is lower than most people's LDL? We're not clones of one another!

    I have depression, and for some people, low carb helps with that because of stabilized blood sugar, but for me, I fall into a serotonin deficit and it is not pretty. So I don't get to eat as much fat as agdyl does, but I do eat a lot of vegetables and modest amounts of fruits and starchy (and sweet!) carbs because they are important for my brain chemistry's stability. If I keep the fat low I am able to eat a very decent amount of protein and enough volume to keep me from being hungry on a small calorie restriction.

    agdyl has found a way of eating that works for her and she feels great. I've found a way of eating that works for me and I'm feeling pretty good if a little impatient for the weight to come off.

    You just have to find what works for you and stick to it.

    I think that's the key - experimenting to see what makes you feel best. I don't just look at the scale, but I keep notes on how I feel when I eat a certain way - and if I was fighting cravings all day or if I felt satisfied. I've tried really low carb a few times and I feel low energy and tend to get headaches. So out with that. When I cut out added sugar, I had cravings for the first few days but then it became easy. If it was constant cravings all the time - that's not sustainable for me. I needed to find something that makes me feel healthy AND doesn't require too much willpower to stick with on a daily basis.
  • TheNewDodge
    TheNewDodge Posts: 607 Member
    Low Carbers get laid way more often
  • BlisterLamb
    BlisterLamb Posts: 396 Member
    Low Carbers get laid way more often

    I must be doing it wrong :angry:
  • HeyGoRun
    HeyGoRun Posts: 550 Member
    3rd day on low carb and I can see how less bloated I feel and that to me is worth it. Also like someone said before, I eat less calories but a lot of satisfying food, I dont feel I need to reach for snacks too often. also because alot of my carbs would come from bread things I feel my skin is looking less dull and brighter!

    now I have not weighed myself in a while, waiting for the 1st, so then I will see if it helped it that department, no matter what I feel better on less carbs.

    Ive lost alot of weight before with alot carbs so It doesnt matter i guess, its more of a way to eat.

    and also i love coming up with different things I can eat with less carbs or finding new foods to try!
  • cheryl3660
    cheryl3660 Posts: 182 Member
    I have Type 2 Diabetes and no matter how much the American Diabetes Association tells me it's good for me to eat 100s of grams of carbs every day as long as they are "good" carbs, it's not true. My body does not process carbs well at all. In fact, if I eat too many salads during the week, my fasting blood sugars begin to rise. I have to monitor even healthy carbs from vegetables in order to keep my blood sugar within normal ranges. I keep my carbs under 50 most days and my recent labwork tells me that my body is happy and healthy that way.

    Everyone is different and not everyone needs a low carb diet. But for those of us that do, we really wish people would understand that everyone needs to eat what is right for their body and not just label it as a "fad" or "unhealthy." Thanks for asking a non-judgmental question instead of just criticizing something you didn't understand.
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    I do it because my doctor told me too. Well more specifically to cut down my carbs to see if it makes an impact on my thyroid (I have some wonky *kitten* happening and have for over 2 years and we are currently trying everything possible to see if it works). He firmly believes it could be a combination of carbs and my weight causing some of the issues. ~shrugs~ what works for some doesn't always work for others.
  • mushroomsontoast
    mushroomsontoast Posts: 118 Member
    For me it's simple ~ I can eat lots of the foods that I love, never be hungry and yet lose weight and feel fantastic :smile:

    Each to his own; low fat/low cal never suited me, I was always starving & felt deprived, with lousy skin/hair & no energy - and if it doesn't suit then it can't last/work.
  • RonnieLodge
    RonnieLodge Posts: 665 Member
    I can only speak from personal experience, obviously everyone is different. I am following a low carb lifestyle, because it is the only way I am able to control my caloric intake. When I consume carbs such as bread, sugar, starchy vegetables, and junk food, I always overeat. When I remove those items from my diet, I am able to stick to a 1200 to 1500 calorie diet filled with healthy foods, not junk. It works for me. It's still all about the calories.

    Ditto. Plus, things like sugar, gluten and starch make me feel like crap!

    ^THIS^

    I would eat whole loaves of bread, whole cakes and lots of sugar. I also used to nap after lunch everyday.

    Still get cramps and/or fall asleep after pasta.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Because they believe that carbs are unhealthy. It's not true of course.
  • kmm7309
    kmm7309 Posts: 802 Member
    Within three days of going lower carb (under 150), I no longer have "cravings". I get hungry because I am out of food in my belly, not because I am bored. I can really feel the difference in how my body responds to food. I have PCOS which causes insulin resistance, so controlling carbs is good for me. Now when I do this, for a few days I do struggle with lower energy, but the rest is worth it.
  • janiner79
    janiner79 Posts: 69 Member
    They think it's a quick way to lose weight, when really, as soon as you touch carbs again, you will probably blow up like a balloon
  • mushroomsontoast
    mushroomsontoast Posts: 118 Member
    They think it's a quick way to lose weight, when really, as soon as you touch carbs again, you will probably blow up like a balloon

    True; but the same with any diet - as soon as you revert to your old ways, the weight piles on with a vengeance. Low fat/low calorie is no exception.
  • steffiejoe
    steffiejoe Posts: 313 Member
    It works for me. I have tried a low fat diet ,worked out like a beast and I was always hungry. I did lose the weight and kept if off almost 10 years. Low carb weight loss has been very easy compared to the low fat for me. I lose weight and only have to walk about 20 minutes a day. I lost 15 pounds in one month eating 20-50 carbs per day. I reached my goal weight in 6 months and have maintained it for 18 months as of today. I have been low carb for 2 years today.

    Yes I have a cheat (YOLO) meal once a week and I still have maintained. I like this lifestyle and Im never hungry, except when TOM is approaching.

    This lifestyle has made me increase eating veggies and organic meats. Right now I can eat up to 130 carbs per day and not gain a single pound.
  • janiner79
    janiner79 Posts: 69 Member
    They think it's a quick way to lose weight, when really, as soon as you touch carbs again, you will probably blow up like a balloon

    True; but the same with any diet - as soon as you revert to your old ways, the weight piles on with a vengeance. Low fat/low calorie is no exception.

    I guess what I meant to say is there is no longevity in a low carb diet.
  • mushroomsontoast
    mushroomsontoast Posts: 118 Member
    WTG, Steffiejoe, congrats!
    Low carb suits me for the same reasons, and it annoys me that it's *still* seen as a "fad" diet. I also eat more veggies than I ever did before when every calorie counted & I had to choose.
    Two members of my family are type 2 diabetes - I suggested low carb to them, gave them a cookery day at my house where we cooked up lots of yummy low carb things, and within 6 weeks these 2 people had stabilised their blood sugars and were able to ditch some medication.
    One of them was my Mom....she also lost 2st, and a nurse told her "I have to say this in strictest confidence, but you are doing the right thing". You see, a low carb diet isn't endorsed yet, even though the results are clear.
    Carbohydrates are an empty, nutrient-void food. The moment our bodies absorb them they are pure sugar.
    WHY are we recommended to eat so much of the stuff?
    Low carb WORKS, both for weight loss *and* health. Full stop.
  • rosemaryhon
    rosemaryhon Posts: 507 Member
    Because they believe that carbs are unhealthy. It's not true of course.


    Well seems to me in the first dozen or so replies to this thread that spoke of the reasons why they personally do low carb, not one said it's because carbs are unhealthy.
  • mushroomsontoast
    mushroomsontoast Posts: 118 Member
    Well seems to me in the first dozen or so replies to this thread that spoke of the reasons why they personally do low carb, not one said it's because carbs are unhealthy.

    I just did :wink:
  • rosemaryhon
    rosemaryhon Posts: 507 Member
    They think it's a quick way to lose weight...

    Reading thru the replies so far and doesn't seem this ^ is the core of incentive. Doesn't seem your point is proving true, at least not in this thread IMO.
  • rosemaryhon
    rosemaryhon Posts: 507 Member
    Well seems to me in the first dozen or so replies to this thread that spoke of the reasons why they personally do low carb, not one said it's because carbs are unhealthy.

    I just did :wink:

    Doh! ;)
  • mushroomsontoast
    mushroomsontoast Posts: 118 Member
    You clearly have never tried it, so how can you so blindly object to something you know nothing about and haven't experienced for yourself?
    Low fat does nothing but kill your gall bladder - *that's* why gallstones are partnered with the overweight - it's only the overweight who embark on low fat diets. Gall bladders *need* fats - without fats they wither, and that's when we suffer.

    I guess what I meant to say is there is no longevity in a low carb diet.
    No? Who says so? It's the easiest diet to keep to, less restrictive than most, and there are people still low-carbing now after 20 years+
    The indigenous Eskimos who eat vast quantities of fat and no carbs are doing quite alright - they never even heard of heart disease or gallstones!

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