Cut carbs ? How ?

raidgirl

I need help understanding how to "cut carbs "
Easier said than done - carbs are hidden everywhere

Which are the main carb culprits ?
What are some good replacements for it ?

I enjoy all kinds of cuisines so all responses will be appreciated

janejellyroll

Nobody can know what your main carbohydrate sources are -- they vary for everyone. I could tell you what *mine* are. If you are consistently logging, you will be able to review previous days, see where your carbohydrates are coming from, and plan to eat less or those foods or find substitutes for them.

Carbohydrates are never hidden. Foods with labels will have them listed and foods without labels (like fruit, vegetables, beans, etc) can be looked up online.

inertiastrength

Just look at your food diary?

cmriverside

I found when losing weight that it was easiest to save calories by cutting back on certain foods. Those are/were, crackers, cereal, chips, pretzels, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, prepared desserts, sugary treats. All high-carb, and not necessary for nutrition. Many of the ones I listed also tend to make me want moremoremoremore.

I still eat *a* serving or two of the above, but not the level I used to eat.

cerise_noir

Cut carbs?
That would include grains, legumes, pulses, vegetables, dairy, fruits, vegetables. So anything that isn't pure fat and protien.

I don't recommend. You'll miss out on many micronutrients.

Any why do you want/need to cut carbs? Shedding water weight?

Unknown

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Chadxx

Carbs don't control your weight, calories do. If you enjoy a variety of foods, eat a variety of foods. As long as you maintain a calorie deficit, you will lose weight.

raidgirl

Thank you all for your replies

toxikon

People have covered the whole "cutting carbs isn't necessary" thing but I'll throw in my two cents.

1. I find that following a low-carb diet for health purposes and less hunger is great and sustainable. I find fat and protein very satiating.

2. Your body does not need carbs whatsoever - you will not be missing out on anything by ditching carbs.

3. Reducing your carb intake is not hard. Focus on a diet of leafy greens, vegetables, meat, eggs, cheese, butter, nuts, healthy oils. Limit starches, legumes, wheat, corn, sugar.

For weight loss, it all comes down to CICO. You don't need to limit anything in your diet as long as you stick to your calorie goal. But if you are interested in low-carb/keto, there are tons of great websites with recipes and information just a google search away.

highwood125

I would do it by say if you have two pieces of toast in the morning for example, have one and replace the other one with something low carb. Personally I am trying to just eat less bread because bread can be my weakness. I could eat half a loaf of bread a day if given the chance.

dragon_girl26

janejellyroll wrote: »

Nobody can know what your main carbohydrate sources are -- they vary for everyone. I could tell you what *mine* are. If you are consistently logging, you will be able to review previous days, see where your carbohydrates are coming from, and plan to eat less or those foods or find substitutes for them.

Carbohydrates are never hidden. Foods with labels will have them listed and foods without labels (like fruit, vegetables, beans, etc) can be looked up online.

^^This

For me, my main carb sources are fruits, pasta, breakfast cereals, and usually sweets. I don't eat a lot of bread typically. None are "hidden", though...just have to check the labels.

cwolfman13

Carbs aren't really "hidden"...if it's not meat or fat, it's a carb. Grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, etc...carbs

jemhh

I aim for a certain amount of protein and fat as a base each day and then fill in the rest of my calories with carbs or more fat or more protein. At a certain point, in order to ensure that I can still meet my protein and fat goals, I have to cut the calories from carbs. So in that sense, I do cut carbs. But in a "carbs are bad, cut carbs to lose fat" sense, no I don't do that.

brendacs21

I reduced the intake of certain carbs because I was going overboard. I would eat a whole pizza in one sitting . I have always loved bread, pasta, sweets . At this time I try to avoid or restrict them if I can. unfortunately its a slippery slope with me. Once I start to eat them ill be back where I was. Don't get me wrong I enjoy them here and there, like yesterday I had a cupcake. But previously I would have a cupcake several times a week.

highwood125

I would think a low GI food list would be easier than cutting out carbs.

rybo

I have to chuckle at the hidden carbs comment. Have none of you spent time on these boards and understand the food knowledge level of the populace? While they may not be hidden to some people who are wary about ingredient lists and such, there are a lot of foods with added sugars that most people wouldn't even think about (hello huge movement towards "natural" peanut butter that needs stirred) Also, when you do look at lists there is something like 5-6 things, if not more that are basically nothing but a different way to say sugar.

kshama2001

highwood125 wrote: »

I would do it by say if you have two pieces of toast in the morning for example, have one and replace the other one with something low carb. Personally I am trying to just eat less bread because bread can be my weakness. I could eat half a loaf of bread a day if given the chance.

Ya, I stopped baking bread because I could easily eat a half a loaf (with butter.)

Bread made from flour makes me sleepy and I don't find it especially filling, either. I don't find cookies or baked goods filling at all - they are completely empty calories for me. So I limit them. I do like bread and cheese as a bedtime snack.

Now, carbs from potatoes, legumes, and rice I do find very filling.

I paid attention to what meals satiated me and tweaked according to that. The result was I eat more protein and veggies, and less of certain types of carbs. (My fat level stayed where it's always been - fairly high.) I don't have bread and wine with a pasta meal anymore - it's just not worth the calories to me.

jemhh

brendacs21 wrote: »

I reduced the intake of certain carbs because I was going overboard. I would eat a whole pizza in one sitting . I have always loved bread, pasta, sweets . At this time I try to avoid or restrict them if I can. unfortunately its a slippery slope with me. Once I start to eat them ill be back where I was. Don't get me wrong I enjoy them here and there, like yesterday I had a cupcake. But previously I would have a cupcake several times a week.

I am the same way and have handled things the same way. There are plenty of foods that I just don't eat often because when I do eat them, I like to eat too many of them. It's easier to restrict them to certain days or events than to have a little at at time.

ndj1979

raidgirl wrote: »

I need help understanding how to "cut carbs "
Easier said than done - carbs are hidden everywhere

Which are the main carb culprits ?
What are some good replacements for it ?

I enjoy all kinds of cuisines so all responses will be appreciated

maybe focus on cutting overall calories, instead.

janejellyroll

rybo wrote: »

I have to chuckle at the hidden carbs comment. Have none of you spent time on these boards and understand the food knowledge level of the populace? While they may not be hidden to some people who are wary about ingredient lists and such, there are a lot of foods with added sugars that most people wouldn't even think about (hello huge movement towards "natural" peanut butter that needs stirred) Also, when you do look at lists there is something like 5-6 things, if not more that are basically nothing but a different way to say sugar.

Not understanding how to read a nutritional label or not understanding what types of foods are inherently higher in carbohydrates doesn't equal carbohydrates being "hidden."

I understand that lots of people don't really understand what carbohydrates are or how to identify whether they are present in a particular food, but that's a whole different topic.

ndj1979

rybo wrote: »

I have to chuckle at the hidden carbs comment. Have none of you spent time on these boards and understand the food knowledge level of the populace? While they may not be hidden to some people who are wary about ingredient lists and such, there are a lot of foods with added sugars that most people wouldn't even think about (hello huge movement towards "natural" peanut butter that needs stirred) Also, when you do look at lists there is something like 5-6 things, if not more that are basically nothing but a different way to say sugar.

how are they hidden when they are right there on the label?

People not having the patience to look over a label does not equal hidden...

amusedmonkey

rybo wrote: »

I have to chuckle at the hidden carbs comment. Have none of you spent time on these boards and understand the food knowledge level of the populace? While they may not be hidden to some people who are wary about ingredient lists and such, there are a lot of foods with added sugars that most people wouldn't even think about (hello huge movement towards "natural" peanut butter that needs stirred) Also, when you do look at lists there is something like 5-6 things, if not more that are basically nothing but a different way to say sugar.

Here, it says it in clear easy to read letters: Sugar 3 g. It's not hidden. You don't even need to look at the ingredient list to see it.

TeaBea

jemhh wrote: »

I aim for a certain amount of protein and fat as a base each day and then fill in the rest of my calories with carbs or more fat or more protein. At a certain point, in order to ensure that I can still meet my protein and fat goals, I have to cut the calories from carbs. So in that sense, I do cut carbs. But in a "carbs are bad, cut carbs to lose fat" sense, no I don't do that.

This^

Shift your focus to meeting protein and fat goals. If I'm focused on protein at breakfast....I ditch the cereal (high carb) because it won't do much to get me there.

VintageFeline

jemhh wrote: »

I aim for a certain amount of protein and fat as a base each day and then fill in the rest of my calories with carbs or more fat or more protein. At a certain point, in order to ensure that I can still meet my protein and fat goals, I have to cut the calories from carbs. So in that sense, I do cut carbs. But in a "carbs are bad, cut carbs to lose fat" sense, no I don't do that.

This is me exactly. I need starchy carbs for satiety but they're last on my meeting my macros hit list.

highwood125

Any suggestions for a filling low carb breakfast?

TeaBea

highwood125 wrote: »

Any suggestions for a filling low carb breakfast?

Low carb - Eggs and non-starchy veggies

Moderate carbs (no health issues for me) - Greek yogurt, berries, and Fiber One sprinkles

toxikon

highwood125 wrote: »

Any suggestions for a filling low carb breakfast?

Bacon/sausage/steak and eggs, low-carb pancakes/waffles with fresh berries (there are many ways to make them - you can use protein powder, almond meal, coconut flour, cream cheese, eggs, etc. Tons of recipes out there), chia pudding, low-sugar smoothie (protein powder, leafy greens, berries, almond milk), veggie & cheese omelette...

Purplebunnysarah

highwood125 wrote: »

Any suggestions for a filling low carb breakfast?

Recently I've been doing cheese, strawberries, and either a low carb protein bar or 1-2 hardboiled eggs.

I tend to try to avoid refined carbs (previously used to cut carbs below 50g).

Swapping something out for a lower carb similar food can be a good way to cut out excess calories. I have trouble moderating simple carbs and carb+fat bombs (aka cookies, doughnuts). So I try to not keep those in the house, and for example on pasta night I try to do half pasta (whole grain or homemade if we can manage it) and half zoodles.

stanmann571

highwood125 wrote: »

Any suggestions for a filling low carb breakfast?

Boiled eggs wrapped in bacon.

Chadxx

highwood125 wrote: »

Any suggestions for a filling low carb breakfast?

My favorite is a scramble with eggs/egg whites, some sort of meat, mushrooms and/or spinach, and often salsa and/or cheese

lemurcat12

mrsnattybulking wrote: »

Just look at your food diary?

This is what I would advise.

It's also a good way to figure out where you can cut calories if you need to, carbs or no.