Has anyone lost weight without going low carb?
Nmarine1996
Posts: 166 Member
Hello all, I decided when I hit 301lbs at 20 yrs old (I'm 5'8) that it was time for me to lose weight. Fast forward 5 months later and I am now 245lbs. I feel the best I have ever felt in my own skin. I have 55lbs more to go. However, I recently started doing low carb (50 carbs or less). I still feel energized because I am very good at finding health alternatives to my favorite foods like pizza, tacos, fried chicken, etc. However, this low carb lifestyle is just becoming a huge headache and I'm finding it to be nearly inpossible for it to be a lifestyle I would maintain in the future. My fitness instructor recommended 50 grams or less so that I'll burn more fat but I dont know anymore.
So if anyone can offer advice or share you success stories of not going low carb it would be greatly appreciated! If you don't mind can you provide an estimate of how many grams you ate in a day? Thanks in advanced!
So if anyone can offer advice or share you success stories of not going low carb it would be greatly appreciated! If you don't mind can you provide an estimate of how many grams you ate in a day? Thanks in advanced!
2
Replies
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68 lb gone and counting. Why do you think low carb is the only way to go? Weight is lost by eating fewer calories than you burn. How you divide up the calories among the macros is very individual and some are satisfied with high protein, some with high fat, and some with high carbs.
Your trainer has bought into the woo. Eat how you are most satisfied and don't worry. As long as you are eating less than you burn you will lose weight.29 -
I never did low carb.
Today I'm at maintenance weight, but I started at 220. I eat 1800-2300 calories a day with 150g or less of carbs, so I'm a moderate carb person most of the time unless ice cream or cookies.
If you want to eat carbs at a more reasonable level, do it! Fitness instructors just spout the "thing du jour." No need to be low carb to lose weight, it's all about calories.14 -
There has been a few weeks where I needed to restrict carbs to your level...like close to comps when calories in general are pretty restricted. Other than that, I've lost weight eating plenty more carbs - calories are what ultimately matter for weight loss.9
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Earlnababy, thank you for the reply. I don't think low carb is the only way to go. I just tend to go by what my fitness instructor says because hes the expert. However, I am slowly starting to realize that I am the only person that can truly determine whats right for my body.18
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Thank you CmRiverside!! Truly inspiring!!!0
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I lost ~73 pounds and I never paid any attention to carbs. I had my macros at the default if 20P, 30F and 50C. I usually come in at anywhere from 40-55C. I looked back and now in maintenance I average around 200 carbs and while in a deficit I ate around 150 carbs, but I honestly never pay attention to carbs. I just try to make sure I get enough protein and let the rest fall where it may. My advise is to eat foods you like in smaller portions. If you make your diet too restrictive it will be difficult to stick with and you are more likely to regain the weight.7
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Even though the two years I am linking to represent the last 26 out of the 126 down, I think they prove conclusively that you don't **need** to restrict either carbs OR sugar in order to lose weight AND improve cholesterol AND A1C results from pretty **kitten** to normal...
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15FAp44ZZtjlhdX3x8CCg1kVsGBk14--8XGcAtzvLmc4/edit?usp=sharing4 -
My husband did the low carb thing, lost weight, then went back to eating normal and gained some back. I tried it, too, but I simply didn't like it. It just wasn't sustainable for the way we eat. I've been counting calories here on MFP, and am having success eating normal foods (chicken, fish, vegetables, fruits, cheese, rice, eggs, bread, etc. etc.) MFP set my goal at 150 grams of carbohydrates a day, which is totally fine for me. I don't think carbs are evil, anyway. Of course, everybody has an opinion: go paleo, do keto, fast once in awhile, whatever. I say do what you've found works for you.
It looks like you were very successful doing what you did from 301 to 245. Why change?7 -
Your fitness instructor is more likely to be an expert fitness instructor and an expert at weight and nutrition.
Calories are what matter for weight loss. If it's not sustainable to you then there's no need to low carb. The assertion that you'll burn more fat is misleading, it's just what your body accesses from your dietary intake. So if you eat moderate/high carb, instant access energy come from that, eat high fat and that's where the instant access energy comes from. In the absence of a calorie deficit then you won't "burn" fat.
So eat the way that is enjoyable to you within your calories. And don't take nutrition advice from your trainer.
Edit to add: I absolutely eat carbs, I absolutely have lost 60lbs+ that way.5 -
DebLaBounty wrote: »My husband did the low carb thing, lost weight, then went back to eating normal and gained some back. I tried it, too, but I simply didn't like it. It just wasn't sustainable for the way we eat. I've been counting calories here on MFP, and am having success eating normal foods (chicken, fish, vegetables, fruits, cheese, rice, eggs, bread, etc. etc.) MFP set my goal at 150 grams of carbohydrates a day, which is totally fine for me. I don't think carbs are evil, anyway. Of course, everybody has an opinion: go paleo, do keto, fast once in awhile, whatever. I say do what you've found works for you.
It looks like you were very successful doing what you did from 301 to 245. Why change?
I lost 30 pounds by just doing low calorie and not restricting anything else. The other 25 came from low carb. I only changed because my instructor adviced me to for faster results which proven to work but I am not really in a rush to lose weight. I think I am going to bump up my carbs but not drastically(75 grams). Thank you for your response!7 -
It's proven to result in the exact same losses as those who consume carbs on any spectrum. Calories are what matter, not carbs.11
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Lost 75 lbs eating whatever I wanted to within my caloric goal each day. Easy-peasy.
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High Dairy & High Carb IS my diet. And it works fabulously.3
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From your post, it sounds like you lost 56 pounds before you started doing low carb (on the advice of a fitness instructor who probably has zero education in nutrition).
But in case your own experience isn't evidence enough for you, I lost 15% of my bodyweight (30 pounds), which was more than my initial goal of 10% or 20 pounds) without limiting carbs in any way, other than not being able to eat so many that I would go over my calorie goal or not be able to fit in 80 g of protein and 50 g of fat (I usually got more of both, but those were my minimums at my starting weight).2 -
snickerscharlie wrote: »Lost 75 lbs eating whatever I wanted to within my caloric goal each day. Easy-peasy.
Congratulations!!!!3 -
I've lost 75 pounds on a relatively high carb diet. My macros are 50c/30p/20f. Most of my carbs come from fruit, vegetables and whole grains.1
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I apologize for the confusion!!!! Guys I lost 30 pounds without restricting carbs and 25lbs (since the middle of may) with retricting carbs. Sorry I know the 'recent' confused you all. So the results have proven to be faster with restricting my carbs but its still unstainable for me. Thank you guys so much for your wonderful replies!I just wanted to clear that up. I give major props for those who can maintain keto and atkins!1
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I think a lot of it is what kind of carbs you are eating... whether they are simple (like sugar, honey, candy, cookies) or complex (like beans, peas, lentils, whole grains, etc.) These contain a considerable amount of fiber. The fiber is not digested, so you can subtract your grams of fiber from your carb total for the "net carbs."
I am vegetarian, so I eat more carbs than someone who gets their protein from meat. I often have 150 carbs total, but also have 50+ grams of fiber, so my net carbs are less than 100. This is still pretty low carb, but it is healthier than a diet of simple carbs.
People say "A calorie is a calorie" but if 15-25% of your food is fiber that passes through and isn't digested, that doesn't really count like sugar or fat that is 100% digested. I'm not an expert, and there are opposing opinions about this - but this makes sense to me, so this is how I count it.
I still count all the calories in the food, but as far as tracking the macros (carbs/protein/fat/fiber) I do deduct the fiber as a percentage of the whole.
So, in practice, my daily goals look something like this: 1,200 calories. Carbs 135g (45%), Protein 60g (20%), Fat 47g (35%). I shoot for 40+ grams of fiber daily, so my net carbs are just under 100 per day. The fat content looks high, but I eat half an avocado every day, and that is a very heart healthy fat, and also contains about 5g of fiber, so it's a great addition to your diet - and better for you, and more filling than an equal calorie amount of butter or oils. My other fat grams usually come from raw nuts and seeds which also contain fiber.
If I do my exercises and add a couple hundred more calories to my daily allowance, I still try to keep the percentages proportional, so you could do the same if you have a higher calorie allowance daily. I have a desk job so don't get a lot of activity in my day unless I purposely exercise. (I'm trying to get better at that.)
For what it's worth, I hope this helps. Good luck!5 -
I work in a fitness center. With trainers. One trainer I respect very highly. Another one is a complete idiot who probably doesn't belong on this planet. They'll both go on and on about clean eating, detoxing, artificial sweeteners causing you to retain belly fat, etc. It's all nonsense. I can't counter their "knowledge" on the matter with my loss of 100 lbs eating fast food, frozen meals, diet soda, sweets, etc. because I'm "an anomaly," they say. My experience on MFP tells me that they're both dead wrong when it comes to me, and to their dietary weight loss advice.18
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57lbs lost just restricting calories and trying to hit my protein goal. Otherwise I don't care where the balance lies but I usually am around 40-55% carbs daily. It's a lot but works for me.2
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Most people lose weight without going low carb.9
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Nmarine1996 wrote: »I apologize for the confusion!!!! Guys I lost 30 pounds without restricting carbs and 25lbs (since the middle of may) with retricting carbs. Sorry I know the 'recent' confused you all. So the results have proven to be faster with restricting my carbs but its still unstainable for me. Thank you guys so much for your wonderful replies!I just wanted to clear that up. I give major props for those who can maintain keto and atkins!
You didn't lose fat faster, you probably had a water weight whoosh which makes it appear faster. Over time it has been studied and proven you will lose the same calories being equal.
I think you missed my post further up explaining the whole keto means you burn more fat.DustyRoseAZ wrote: »I think a lot of it is what kind of carbs you are eating... whether they are simple (like sugar, honey, candy, cookies) or complex (like beans, peas, lentils, whole grains, etc.) These contain a considerable amount of fiber. The fiber is not digested, so you can subtract your grams of fiber from your carb total for the "net carbs."
I am vegetarian, so I eat more carbs than someone who gets their protein from meat. I often have 150 carbs total, but also have 50+ grams of fiber, so my net carbs are less than 100. This is still pretty low carb, but it is healthier than a diet of simple carbs.
People say "A calorie is a calorie" but if 15-25% of your food is fiber that passes through and isn't digested, that doesn't really count like sugar or fat that is 100% digested. I'm not an expert, and there are opposing opinions about this - but this makes sense to me, so this is how I count it.
I still count all the calories in the food, but as far as tracking the macros (carbs/protein/fat/fiber) I do deduct the fiber as a percentage of the whole.
So, in practice, my daily goals look something like this: 1,200 calories. Carbs 135g (45%), Protein 60g (20%), Fat 47g (35%). I shoot for 40+ grams of fiber daily, so my net carbs are just under 100 per day. The fat content looks high, but I eat half an avocado every day, and that is a very heart healthy fat, and also contains about 5g of fiber, so it's a great addition to your diet - and better for you, and more filling than an equal calorie amount of butter or oils. My other fat grams usually come from raw nuts and seeds which also contain fiber.
If I do my exercises and add a couple hundred more calories to my daily allowance, I still try to keep the percentages proportional, so you could do the same if you have a higher calorie allowance daily. I have a desk job so don't get a lot of activity in my day unless I purposely exercise. (I'm trying to get better at that.)
For what it's worth, I hope this helps. Good luck!
So much no. Calories. Start and end. Fibre is accounted for in those calories (though I think there's new studies on nuts that may change things but you'd have to be eating quite a lot of nuts for it to really matter).
Everything you have explained in the wall of text is personal preference.4 -
@Nmarine1996 Not only have I lost as of today 102 lb in 17+ months without going low carb, my next meal is going to be a pizza of my own creation which will have a neapolitan style thin crust, cheese, vegetables, and meat. Your fitness instructor is defrauding you of your money.
For dessert, I'm going to have ice cream. Premium ice cream. I've earned it with an exercise today.4 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »@Nmarine1996 Not only have I lost as of today 102 lb in 17+ months without going low carb, my next meal is going to be a pizza of my own creation which will have a neapolitan style thin crust, cheese, vegetables, and meat. Your fitness instructor is defrauding you of your money.
Sounds very promising, thank you!!!!0 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »@Nmarine1996 Not only have I lost as of today 102 lb in 17+ months without going low carb, my next meal is going to be a pizza of my own creation which will have a neapolitan style thin crust, cheese, vegetables, and meat. Your fitness instructor is defrauding you of your money.
For dessert, I'm going to have ice cream. Premium ice cream. I've earned it with an exercise today.
I agree, his advice does seem very strange.4 -
I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do. Nmarine1996 asked what other people are doing, and I was simply explaining what I do.0
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VintageFeline wrote: »Nmarine1996 wrote: »I apologize for the confusion!!!! Guys I lost 30 pounds without restricting carbs and 25lbs (since the middle of may) with retricting carbs. Sorry I know the 'recent' confused you all. So the results have proven to be faster with restricting my carbs but its still unstainable for me. Thank you guys so much for your wonderful replies!I just wanted to clear that up. I give major props for those who can maintain keto and atkins!
You didn't lose fat faster, you probably had a water weight whoosh which makes it appear faster. Over time it has been studied and proven you will lose the same calories being equal.
I think you missed my post further up explaining the whole keto means you burn more fat.DustyRoseAZ wrote: »I think a lot of it is what kind of carbs you are eating... whether they are simple (like sugar, honey, candy, cookies) or complex (like beans, peas, lentils, whole grains, etc.) These contain a considerable amount of fiber. The fiber is not digested, so you can subtract your grams of fiber from your carb total for the "net carbs."
I am vegetarian, so I eat more carbs than someone who gets their protein from meat. I often have 150 carbs total, but also have 50+ grams of fiber, so my net carbs are less than 100. This is still pretty low carb, but it is healthier than a diet of simple carbs.
People say "A calorie is a calorie" but if 15-25% of your food is fiber that passes through and isn't digested, that doesn't really count like sugar or fat that is 100% digested. I'm not an expert, and there are opposing opinions about this - but this makes sense to me, so this is how I count it.
I still count all the calories in the food, but as far as tracking the macros (carbs/protein/fat/fiber) I do deduct the fiber as a percentage of the whole.
So, in practice, my daily goals look something like this: 1,200 calories. Carbs 135g (45%), Protein 60g (20%), Fat 47g (35%). I shoot for 40+ grams of fiber daily, so my net carbs are just under 100 per day. The fat content looks high, but I eat half an avocado every day, and that is a very heart healthy fat, and also contains about 5g of fiber, so it's a great addition to your diet - and better for you, and more filling than an equal calorie amount of butter or oils. My other fat grams usually come from raw nuts and seeds which also contain fiber.
If I do my exercises and add a couple hundred more calories to my daily allowance, I still try to keep the percentages proportional, so you could do the same if you have a higher calorie allowance daily. I have a desk job so don't get a lot of activity in my day unless I purposely exercise. (I'm trying to get better at that.)
For what it's worth, I hope this helps. Good luck!
So much no. Calories. Start and end. Fibre is accounted for in those calories (though I think there's new studies on nuts that may change things but you'd have to be eating quite a lot of nuts for it to really matter).
Everything you have explained in the wall of text is personal preference.
My apologies for missing your post.0 -
Nmarine1996 wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »Nmarine1996 wrote: »I apologize for the confusion!!!! Guys I lost 30 pounds without restricting carbs and 25lbs (since the middle of may) with retricting carbs. Sorry I know the 'recent' confused you all. So the results have proven to be faster with restricting my carbs but its still unstainable for me. Thank you guys so much for your wonderful replies!I just wanted to clear that up. I give major props for those who can maintain keto and atkins!
You didn't lose fat faster, you probably had a water weight whoosh which makes it appear faster. Over time it has been studied and proven you will lose the same calories being equal.
I think you missed my post further up explaining the whole keto means you burn more fat.DustyRoseAZ wrote: »I think a lot of it is what kind of carbs you are eating... whether they are simple (like sugar, honey, candy, cookies) or complex (like beans, peas, lentils, whole grains, etc.) These contain a considerable amount of fiber. The fiber is not digested, so you can subtract your grams of fiber from your carb total for the "net carbs."
I am vegetarian, so I eat more carbs than someone who gets their protein from meat. I often have 150 carbs total, but also have 50+ grams of fiber, so my net carbs are less than 100. This is still pretty low carb, but it is healthier than a diet of simple carbs.
People say "A calorie is a calorie" but if 15-25% of your food is fiber that passes through and isn't digested, that doesn't really count like sugar or fat that is 100% digested. I'm not an expert, and there are opposing opinions about this - but this makes sense to me, so this is how I count it.
I still count all the calories in the food, but as far as tracking the macros (carbs/protein/fat/fiber) I do deduct the fiber as a percentage of the whole.
So, in practice, my daily goals look something like this: 1,200 calories. Carbs 135g (45%), Protein 60g (20%), Fat 47g (35%). I shoot for 40+ grams of fiber daily, so my net carbs are just under 100 per day. The fat content looks high, but I eat half an avocado every day, and that is a very heart healthy fat, and also contains about 5g of fiber, so it's a great addition to your diet - and better for you, and more filling than an equal calorie amount of butter or oils. My other fat grams usually come from raw nuts and seeds which also contain fiber.
If I do my exercises and add a couple hundred more calories to my daily allowance, I still try to keep the percentages proportional, so you could do the same if you have a higher calorie allowance daily. I have a desk job so don't get a lot of activity in my day unless I purposely exercise. (I'm trying to get better at that.)
For what it's worth, I hope this helps. Good luck!
So much no. Calories. Start and end. Fibre is accounted for in those calories (though I think there's new studies on nuts that may change things but you'd have to be eating quite a lot of nuts for it to really matter).
Everything you have explained in the wall of text is personal preference.
My apologies for missing your post.
Don't apologise! It happens when people reply at the same time. It was so you could go back.2 -
I do low carb. Actually, I keep an eye on my sugars and starches because I have a diagnosis of diabetes -- which I'm fighting with all my strength -- and I don't want to eat what I know will raise my blood sugar. The weight's coming off, I'm happy eating this way, I feel terrific, and I'm excited to see my new bloodwork for a change, rather than dreading it.
It works for me. But there is no good reason why anyone should do low carb other than their own choice. If you're not happy with it, if it's not something that you feel like you can or even want to sustain, then by all means find a plan that does. If you can't live with it, what's the point?6
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