Carbs
CassieJones104
Posts: 76 Member
How many carbs a day is considered low carb? What is the amount people usually stay under for weight loss?
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Replies
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I believe anything under 100 grams/day is generally considered low carb, but the numbers are different based on different schools of thought.
I don't track my carbs at all for weight loss. You can lose weight with or without low carb so the best plan is to find a carb limit that you personally like and stick with it.10 -
cassiekimbrough104 wrote: »How many carbs a day is considered low carb? What is the amount people usually stay under for weight loss?
This can't really be definitively defined. It's going to be dependent on age, body composition, gender, activity, etc. I'm pretty active outside of my desk job and have a relatively high calorie target, even for weight loss. Low carb for me is basically anything below 150.
Keto is a different matter altogether...keto is ultra low carb, but you can be low carb without being keto.5 -
Low carb is typically under 100-150g.
BUT, I've seen someone who stays ketogenic (which is usually under 50g carbs) at around 200g, but he was VERY active and timed his carbs around exercise.
I find under 20g carbs works best for me when losing weight because at that low of a carb level my appetite is greatly reduced so it becomes easier for me to eat less. YMMV3 -
CassieJones104 wrote: »How many carbs a day is considered low carb? What is the amount people usually stay under for weight loss?
You don't need to lower your carbs to lose weight unless it helps you with appetite. To lose weight you only need a calorie deficit.
If you are having trouble with your appetite lowering carbs may not even be your first answer. Once you get started if you have trouble with hunger you can always come back and ask for some ideas to experiment with that may help.
I suggest you start by eating normally just less of it. Small changes can be made over time as needed. If you log your food accurately and eat within an appropriate calorie goal you will lose weight. To log accurately you may want to invest in a food scale if you don't already have one.12 -
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CassieJones104 wrote: »How many carbs a day is considered low carb? What is the amount people usually stay under for weight loss?
I usually stay under somewhere around 400 carbs when losing weight. Same when I'm maintaining. Sometimes I go as low as 200-250....which is nowhere near what people consider to be "low".
That was a smart-*kitten* way of saying that "low carb" is a bit of nebulous definition, and limiting them is not necessary to lose weight. It is, however, one method of losing weight - provided it helps you create a calorie deficit.8 -
Low carb is typically under 100-150g.
This ^ is considered low carb. But there is no amount of carbs to stay under for weight loss. For weight loss, calories matter but macro nutrients not. For satiety and body composition, different macro mixes work for different people depending on their preferences and goals.10 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »
Same here, I have days where I eat over 300g of carbs...sometimes I have to add in some fats, because I tend to be borderline low on fats sometimes and that's not good either, but for body composition, I still lose weight. Carbs have absolutely nothing to do with weight loss or weight gain, it's a macro just like protein and fats are.7 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »
Same here, I have days where I eat over 300g of carbs...sometimes I have to add in some fats, because I tend to be borderline low on fats sometimes and that's not good either, but for body composition, I still lose weight. Carbs have absolutely nothing to do with weight loss or weight gain, it's a macro just like protein and fats are.
Fat seems to be my hardest to hit macro.4 -
I'm allocated for around 200g of carbs each day with my current macro setup. I would be cranky if I had to be low carb. Per the scale, I've lost 14lbs, but probably closer to 16 due to exercise and TOM related water retention. Lots of other body changes though, such as inches lost in hips, waist, and thighs.
Low carb doesn't mean weight loss unless you are at a caloric deficit too. I find carbs to be yummy and enjoy every single gram of them.6 -
I have about 175-200g daily, I consider that an average amount of carbs while I'm dieting down. And honestly, if 150g is "low carb" considering most sedentary people maintain on 1800ish cals it's no wonder people blame carbs for "making them fat"
During maintenance I'll have about 300g/day1 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »
Same here, I have days where I eat over 300g of carbs...sometimes I have to add in some fats, because I tend to be borderline low on fats sometimes and that's not good either, but for body composition, I still lose weight. Carbs have absolutely nothing to do with weight loss or weight gain, it's a macro just like protein and fats are.
Fat seems to be my hardest to hit macro.
My problem is when I cut, my carbs are too high and fats low....when I bulk, I tend to go really high on fats simply because I have to eat a lot of calories.2 -
I lost my big hunk of weight eating in the 100-150 gram of carbs range. Towards the end of that big weight loss I had some serious problems with feeling energetic in the gym but at the time I didn't know enough to consider that my carb level might have been causing it. Now when I cut I average around 200 carbs per day over the course of a week and I vary them by day based on my training schedule and I feel much better.2
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CassieJones104 wrote: »What is the amount people usually stay under for weight loss?
That's incredibly varied depending on macro preferences and calorie allowance which varies hugely depending on size of the individual, their activity and exercise.
I hit 650g of carbs in a day once and was still in a substantial calorie deficit. I enjoy and function best on a relatively high carb diet, others will be the opposite.
Which types of foods help you personally to thrive? Keep you satiated? Help you hit your calorie goal?
Because really it's about you and your preferences and not about what "people" do.4 -
i average 310-410g carbs a day and maintaining weight3
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Low carb is typically under 100-150g.
This ^ is considered low carb. But there is no amount of carbs to stay under for weight loss. For weight loss, calories matter but macro nutrients not. For satiety and body composition, different macro mixes work for different people depending on their preferences and goals.
Using this as a guideline (100-150), and assuming I average ~140 carbs/day BUT that comprises 38-42% of my calories due to the laws of nature being unfair being female, on the small side, and rather sedentary, is it still considered low carb?1 -
Low carb is typically under 100-150g.
This ^ is considered low carb. But there is no amount of carbs to stay under for weight loss. For weight loss, calories matter but macro nutrients not. For satiety and body composition, different macro mixes work for different people depending on their preferences and goals.
Using this as a guideline (100-150), and assuming I average ~140 carbs/day BUT that comprises 38-42% of my calories due to the laws of nature being unfair being female, on the small side, and rather sedentary, is it still considered low carb?
It may not be at 140. Maybe 120 or so. Does this matter to you? Are you trying to eat low carb?2 -
Low carb is typically under 100-150g.
This ^ is considered low carb. But there is no amount of carbs to stay under for weight loss. For weight loss, calories matter but macro nutrients not. For satiety and body composition, different macro mixes work for different people depending on their preferences and goals.
Using this as a guideline (100-150), and assuming I average ~140 carbs/day BUT that comprises 38-42% of my calories due to the laws of nature being unfair being female, on the small side, and rather sedentary, is it still considered low carb?
It may not be at 140. Maybe 120 or so. Does this matter to you? Are you trying to eat low carb?
Not in the least
Just curious. Thanks! 1 -
Low carb is typically under 100-150g.
This ^ is considered low carb. But there is no amount of carbs to stay under for weight loss. For weight loss, calories matter but macro nutrients not. For satiety and body composition, different macro mixes work for different people depending on their preferences and goals.
Using this as a guideline (100-150), and assuming I average ~140 carbs/day BUT that comprises 38-42% of my calories due to the laws of nature being unfair being female, on the small side, and rather sedentary, is it still considered low carb?
It may not be at 140. Maybe 120 or so. Does this matter to you? Are you trying to eat low carb?
Not in the least Just curious. Thanks!
Gotcha. No problem.
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I do Keto, and stay around 20 net carbs3
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nutmegoreo wrote: »Fat seems to be my hardest to hit macro.
I don't pay attention to my fat macro enough apparently because it will occasionally bite me in the rear (or at least it feels that way when "things" move too slow). It is a touch hypocritical since I am always praising the virtues of a varied diet but I am not perfect and I slip into a rut now and again. Crazily my ruts seem to be eating too much lean protein. Moderation is not just for the pizza and the ice cream...2
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