Carbs

michaelachristodoulou1

Should I stay away from carbohydrates ?

WinoGelato

michaelachristodoulou1 wrote: »

Should I stay away from carbohydrates ?

Why do you think you need to?
For what purpose?
What are your goals?

RunForPizza88

Considering fruits and veg are carbs, I think the smart (and short) answer would be ‘no’.
Longer answer:

Weight loss is eat less move more, you don’t need to ban an entire macronutrient group. 5ft1 and 114lbs here. Eating at least 200grams of carbs a day. Lost 14lbs so far...

rsclause

michaelachristodoulou1 wrote: »

Should I stay away from carbohydrates ?

Yes they are pure evil!

Seriously it really depends on what your goals are but at the very least I would guess moderate but not high carbs. Most carbs are calorie dense so it is an easy place to limit them. On the other hand a keto or LCHF diet would have you drastically lower total carbs. There are lots of stopping points in between keto and moderate carbs. Many people can find a sweet spot in that range that gets result so it is not an all or nothing equation.

cmriverside

I have used the MyFitnessPal default macros as a goal for years.

If you are trying to lose weight, all that matters is staying within calorie goals AND getting enough protein and fat.

I plan my meals and snack to allow me to hit or exceed my protein and fat goals, carbs fall where they fall. I don't avoid them, my carb goal is 200g per day, I usually fall at somewhere around 125g-150g because I tend to eat more fat than my goals recommend. I've lost weight and maintained my weight for many years this way.

kimny72

michaelachristodoulou1 wrote: »

Should I stay away from carbohydrates ?

What are your goals?

If you have no medical conditions and your goal is to lose weight, no there is no universal reason to avoid carbs. Calories will determine if you lose weight or not. You should eat foods that fill you up at the right amount of calories. For some people, carbs aren't filling and for others they are.

janejellyroll

rsclause wrote: »

michaelachristodoulou1 wrote: »

Should I stay away from carbohydrates ?

Yes they are pure evil!

Seriously it really depends on what your goals are but at the very least I would guess moderate but not high carbs. Most carbs are calorie dense so it is an easy place to limit them. On the other hand a keto or LCHF diet would have you drastically lower total carbs. There are lots of stopping points in between keto and moderate carbs. Many people can find a sweet spot in that range that gets result so it is not an all or nothing equation.

All carbohydrates are 4 calories per gram, exactly the same as protein. *Fat* is the macro that is more calorie-dense.

cwolfman13

Fruit, veg, legumes, etc...all devil's food.

/sarcasm

mmapags

janejellyroll wrote: »

rsclause wrote: »

michaelachristodoulou1 wrote: »

Should I stay away from carbohydrates ?

Yes they are pure evil!

Seriously it really depends on what your goals are but at the very least I would guess moderate but not high carbs. Most carbs are calorie dense so it is an easy place to limit them. On the other hand a keto or LCHF diet would have you drastically lower total carbs. There are lots of stopping points in between keto and moderate carbs. Many people can find a sweet spot in that range that gets result so it is not an all or nothing equation.

All carbohydrates are 4 calories per gram, exactly the same as protein. *Fat* is the macro that is more calorie-dense.

Exactly. The most calorie dense macro is fat at 9 calories per gram.

Lounmoun

No. You don't need to stay away from carbs.
Vegetables and fruits have carbs. Dairy products have carbs. Whole grains have carbs.
Your body uses carbohydrates for energy and brain function. https://www.livescience.com/51976-carbohydrates.html
Some people find it suits them to eat a lower carb diet.
For weight loss calories are what you need to look at.

NorthCascades

No.

NorthCascades

WinoGelato wrote: »

michaelachristodoulou1 wrote: »

Should I stay away from carbohydrates ?

Why do you think you need to?
For what purpose?
What are your goals?

That's a good point. With all the research about Blue Zones, you should avoid carbs if your goal is to die early.

nvmomketo

Depends on your health needs and goals, and personal satiety from different macros.

Some do awesome on high carb and low fat. Some do wonderfully on almost no carbs. Know your needs and then experiment appropriately.

amy19355

michaelachristodoulou1 wrote: »

Should I stay away from carbohydrates ?

I suggest you might benefit with some more research into the different kinds of carbohydrates, as you try to make choices for yourself.

Refined carb versus complex carbs (wonder bread versus broccoli).
Calorie dense vs not calorie dense (nuts versus broccoli)

As you research the subject further, also read up on how the body uses carbs, fats and protein to fuel your daily energy levels , and how it stores nutrients for future use.

good fitness to us all!
amy

an example of calorie density for different foods.

AnvilHead

You lose weight by eating less calories than you expend (calorie deficit), regardless of the macronutrient composition of your diet.

Just to correct a misconception posted above, carbs and protein are 4 calories/gram, fats are 9 calories/gram - so fats are 225% more calorie dense than carbs and/or protein. A good, evidence-based guide for setting up your calorie and macronutrient goals can be found here: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets/p1

rsclause

It was me, I cut carbs and increased fats and lost weight so I assumed carbs were more dense without doing the math. My bad and I stand corrected.