Low calories or low carbs..what worked better for you?
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Low calorie diet is the only thing that matters. Going low carb can help make low calorie more sustainable, because you usually feel full longer on protein and fats, although of course fiber (a carb) helps with that as well.3
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Carbs are your energy calories. I do much better on a balanced protein/carb plan. Remember that even veggies have carbs - some many more than others.2
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I didn't do either...I cut calories which is the only way to lose weight...but I wasn't "low calorie"...I maintained a reasonable calorie deficit.
Low carb works in the same way that any diet works...you reduce calories. For many, going low carb will simply default to a calorie deficit because you are substantially restricting an entire macronutrient.
When I cut weight I tend to cut back on carbs but that's only because my protein and fat remain pretty consistent whether I'm maintaining or losing weight...but I wouldn't say I'm "low carb" when I cut...I just reduce them.4 -
The last time I tried to eat low carb, I was an exceedingly royal witch. I was also miserable from eliminating so many foods I loved from my diet in the name of low carb. So I hated everyone and myself all the time. Good stuff.
Then I had a small mental breakdown over my lunch--a sad excuse of a lettuce wrap: a single sheaf of romaine with some deli meat in it. "This can't be my life. I can't live this way," I sobbed into my sad-*kitten* lunch.
I realized at this point that I could continue to be miserable (and push my misery on anyone and everyone around me), or I could just set a reasonable calorie goal and eat according to some basic macro guidelines. (~30% fat, 25% protein, 45% carbs).
Lost all the weight I wanted, been maintaining ever since, and I haven't looked back once.7 -
Low calories? Nope - a small calorie deficit worked best for me.
Low carbs? Hell no, that would be horribly restrictive for no good reason for me.3 -
I find I lose most when I eat lots of healthy carbs and protein. I know some people can eat 1200 calories worth of candy and fast food and lose weight. Not me. I'd rather get my fat from an avocado and have more energy. To each their own though.3
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Reasonable deficit and definitely not low carb.
I low carbed many years ago, thinking that all I had to do was count carbs and not calories. I lost weight, but only to a certain point, and that point had me still 15 pounds overweight.
I became discouraged and eventually started gaining weight, and gave up low carbing to try something else.
Learning about calories and how to keep a calorie deficit is the only thing that has worked for me.2 -
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For me low carb helped me eat less and remain satisfied on a low cal/reasonable deficit. Going down to keto levels, and even 100g or under reduced my appetite and nixed my cravings.
Calories still mattered of course, but i didn't have to white knuckle it or deal with annoying cravings that inevitably pushed me over my calorie limit when i low carbed.13 -
No, they eat huge steaks, lots of cheese and butter
I eat reduced carb because it decreases water retention for me and fats/protein keep me full longer so it is easier to maintain a deficit.
Yes, I will eat a 600 calorie steak covered in butter but that is likely my only large meal that day and I pair it with a low cal salad no dressing. In my experience I naturally eat less this way because the food is more filling. I could also eat 600 calories of candy or crackers but I would be hungry again in 2hr6 -
low carb doesnt = weight loss....so if you mean to lose weight....calorie deficit
I eat very high carb and lose fine. Never understood keto, fruits and vegetables are carbs and very good for you lol 1 -
JaydedMiss wrote: »low carb doesnt = weight loss....so if you mean to lose weight....calorie deficit I eat very high carb and lose fine. Never understood keto, fruits and vegetables are carbs and very good for you lol
Keto doesn't eliminate veggies and all fruit FYI1 -
JaydedMiss wrote: »low carb doesnt = weight loss....so if you mean to lose weight....calorie deficit I eat very high carb and lose fine. Never understood keto, fruits and vegetables are carbs and very good for you lol
Keto doesn't eliminate veggies and all fruit FYI
good majority of them3 -
JaydedMiss wrote: »JaydedMiss wrote: »low carb doesnt = weight loss....so if you mean to lose weight....calorie deficit I eat very high carb and lose fine. Never understood keto, fruits and vegetables are carbs and very good for you lol
Keto doesn't eliminate veggies and all fruit FYI
good majority of them
It's actually a much more balanced way of eating than most people realize. It isn't for me personally but I have several people close to me who have eaten this way for years and are incredibly healthy eating a variety of foods.
There is little fruit but they eat their veggies daily
https://ketodietapp.com/Blog/post/2015/01/03/Keto-Diet-Food-List-What-to-Eat-and-Avoid5 -
NOT eating aka fasting is keto. It's also known as starvation. Which is also a calorie restriction in the extreme sense. Calorie restriction, ranging from nothing (fasting) to below energy balance (deficit) leads to burning of stored body fat. Ketones are a byproduct of fat oxidation. Calorie deficits produce some measurable amount of ketones, so it's keto by definition.
Calorie deficit = keto. Want a higher number of measurable ketones? Eat less.11 -
NOT eating aka fasting is keto. It's also known as starvation. Which is also a calorie restriction in the extreme sense. Calorie restriction, ranging from nothing (fasting) to below energy balance (deficit) leads to burning of stored body fat. Ketones are a byproduct of fat oxidation. Calorie deficits produce some measurable amount of ketones, so it's keto by definition.
Calorie deficit = keto. Want a higher number of measurable ketones? Eat less.
Not really.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180858.php
"Some people encourage ketosis by following a diet called the ketogenic or low-carb diet. The aim of the diet is to try and burn unwanted fat by forcing the body to rely on fat for energy, rather than carbohydrates."
Keto dieters aren't starving themselves but trying to force their bodies to rely on fat as a fuel source. All keto eaters I know still hit their daily calories
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Low calories, which is made easier by limiting carbs (for me, individual results may vary)3
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NOT eating aka fasting is keto. It's also known as starvation. Which is also a calorie restriction in the extreme sense. Calorie restriction, ranging from nothing (fasting) to below energy balance (deficit) leads to burning of stored body fat. Ketones are a byproduct of fat oxidation. Calorie deficits produce some measurable amount of ketones, so it's keto by definition.
Calorie deficit = keto. Want a higher number of measurable ketones? Eat less.
Not really.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180858.php
"Some people encourage ketosis by following a diet called the ketogenic or low-carb diet. The aim of the diet is to try and burn unwanted fat by forcing the body to rely on fat for energy, rather than carbohydrates."
Keto dieters aren't starving themselves but trying to force their bodies to rely on fat as a fuel source. All keto eaters I know still hit their daily calories
I'm familiar with ketosis. I practice it. Though, in the practice of fat loss, calories will always dictate whether you're actually burning stored body fat or just adding more to it. It's not magic.
By removing carbs, you remove the competing substrate for cellular energy and allow free fatty acids to take the place of what glucose does for tissue function. Don't mistake substituting a fuel source for actual fat burning and therefore, fat loss.
Simplistic example, let's just assume I have a hybrid car that allows for electricity and diesel. Electricity will be fatty acids and diesel will be glucose. Just because I don't have to refuel with diesel, doesn't make electricity any more efficient to drive around the street. It just means I use less diesel. The same steady output to drive around the city is the same regardless.
Keto dieters can hit their daily intake of calories and if they're at a deficit, they will lose body fat. If they eat at maintenance, their net energy stores are in balance. If they eat at a surplus, they will store energy in the form of fat.
Again, not magic. It's thermodynamics. Low carb creates a deficit if you were to keep the other 2 macros the same simply because you're not eating that many calories worth of high carbs.3 -
Low carb all the way.
While a deficit is important like most everyone has been parroting, it is more difficult to burn fat if your blood sugar, and thus insulin is elevated. Thus restricting carbs is very important to any kind of diet plan.
Your body is always going to burn dietary carbs and muscle glycogen first. So even if you are counting calories the your body will be asking for more carbs every time your blood sugar drops a little.
This is why people on low calorie diets have such a struggle with cravings and constant hunger.
Sure it works, but it is slow because burning your body fat is a last resort for fuel and you are constantly hungry because of the blood sugar/insulin swings.
In contrast a low carb diet allows you to shed pounds and water weight fairly quickly without constantly feeling hungry.
Dietary fat = fullness, which makes it much easier to carry a calorie deficit without cravings or really even noticing it at all, and in the absence of dietary carbs your body fat is broken down as a primary fuel source (ketosis).
As a result, you lose weight quickly and without struggle....all you have to do is put down the carbs you are physically addicted to eating.24
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