Does counting carbs really matter?
ravenrainchild
Posts: 22 Member
I read somewhere that staying under 50g of carbs per day is basically the Keto diet. Staying somewhere between 50-100g is where easy weight loss happens but over that it will be difficult to lose weight?
Is that true?
Does counting carbs really matter that much? Especially when MFP sets my daily goal intake to ~230g. Thats really high for weight loss, isn't it??
Is that true?
Does counting carbs really matter that much? Especially when MFP sets my daily goal intake to ~230g. Thats really high for weight loss, isn't it??
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Replies
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For me it makes a huge difference. I aim for 50 net carbs (total carbs minus fiber) a day and at least 100 grams of protein. I am hypothyroid so expect weight loss to be slow. Since May 7, I'm down 27 pounds. I'm never hungry. My doctor gave me these numbers.
Carbs cause water retention. For every gram of carbs, 4 grams of water are stored. Simple carbs are terrible for us. I do not eat grains, starchy vegetables, breads, sweets. My carbs are from fruits, vegetables and dairy.
Processed foods are not our friend. If you want a good book read "Salt, Sugar, and Fat - How the Food Manufacturers Hooked Us" by Michael Moss. He's the one that got the Pulitzer Prize for exposing the addition of pink slim to ground meat. "Pandora's Lunchbox" is another good one. It made me swear off processed foods.
50-100 is very doable. Just remember to increase your protein and fat is not your enemy. You'll see quick weight loss and I know I'll eat this way the rest of my life because I have so much more energy and feel satisfied all the time.
Be aware of the Carb Flu - when you first cut back you may feel headachy, nausea, tired because of carb withdrawal. Take some aspirin. Drinking a cup of full sodium salt will also help.0 -
Eating carbs does not stop your weight loss.
Eating too much food stops your weight loss.
Make sure you get adequate protein & fat, rest can go to carbs if you want.
The person above me has given you a lot of ridiculous stuff to read in their post.0 -
I said it before I'll say it again, for me it's all about net calorie intake.
If my net calories consumed (irrespective of macros) are negative, I lose weight.
If my net calories consumed are postive, I gain weight.
My carbohydrate intake is pretty high with respect to most users on this site and most likely increased when I lost most of my weight compared to when I was bigger and unhealthier.0 -
We talked about this yesterday (and every day really...)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1074374-has-anyone-lost-weight-not-cutting-down-on-carbs0 -
I keep mine under 100 most days. I don't eat bread or grains for the most part, but I am human and allow myself to enjoy them once in a while maybe several times a week, say whole wheat tortillas, or some hot dog buns.
I get my carbs from fruit mostly, or my protein shake in the morning.0 -
I think it depends on where your getting these carbs from. If you eat the right foods, they are healthy carbs. Between 50-100 carbs sounds about right, though. Good luck!0
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I think it depends on where your getting these carbs from. If you eat the right foods, they are healthy carbs. Between 50-100 carbs sounds about right, though. Good luck!
It doesn't matter where she is getting carbs from, if she is in a caloric deficit it won't affect her fat loss.
She can eat more than 100g too..0 -
Lots of good, balanced advice! That's why I like being on My Fitness Pal!! When I was on the Atkins- I felt bad, it was unnatural so I binged after weeks of deprivation. I am with those who said my weight loss came when I moved my body more. Again why My Fitness Pal is so good, makes you think about it! I lost well without judging one food above another. I lost well, unfortunately got the idea I had "arrived". This has to be a lifelong thing for me, I realize. Wandered away awhile, ready to get back to work now.0
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Give me some advice as to why my weight loss has stalled then. I am stumped. Gained .2 lbs in 2 months,Eating carbs does not stop your weight loss.
Eating too much food stops your weight loss.
Make sure you get adequate protein & fat, rest can go to carbs if you want.
The person above me has given you a lot of ridiculous stuff to read in their post.0 -
Give me some advice as to why my weight loss has stalled then. I am stumped. Gained .2 lbs in 2 months,Eating carbs does not stop your weight loss.
Eating too much food stops your weight loss.
Make sure you get adequate protein & fat, rest can go to carbs if you want.
The person above me has given you a lot of ridiculous stuff to read in their post.
Because you're eating too much.
Edit: or eating way too little, miscounting calories.0 -
So tell me after viewing my diary (open) where I should cut back.Give me some advice as to why my weight loss has stalled then. I am stumped. Gained .2 lbs in 2 months,Eating carbs does not stop your weight loss.
Eating too much food stops your weight loss.
Make sure you get adequate protein & fat, rest can go to carbs if you want.
The person above me has given you a lot of ridiculous stuff to read in their post.
Because you're eating too much.0 -
Give me some advice as to why my weight loss has stalled then. I am stumped. Gained .2 lbs in 2 months,
Are you lifting weights?0 -
There is a lot of inconsistency in your diet, one day 1100 calories, one day 1500, one day 1900 - consistency is key, how can you make adjustments otherwise?0
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NOPE under or over I still loose weight but I have to pay attention to my sodium that can make a HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MY WEIGHT:mad:0
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NOPE under or over I still loose weight but I have to pay attention to my sodium that can make a HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MY WEIGHT:mad:
Yes. Your weight, not your fat loss.0 -
I've lost 11 pounds in a month and a half by eating between 150 and 200 carbs per day.0
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We talked about this yesterday (and every day really...)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1074374-has-anyone-lost-weight-not-cutting-down-on-carbs
heaven forbid the same thing be talked about more than once. The repost police will come out in full force.0 -
No. Not lifting weights. I am cycling and doing strength training but no weights.Give me some advice as to why my weight loss has stalled then. I am stumped. Gained .2 lbs in 2 months,
Are you lifting weights?0 -
No. Not lifting weights. I am cycling and doing strength training but no weights.Give me some advice as to why my weight loss has stalled then. I am stumped. Gained .2 lbs in 2 months,
Are you lifting weights?
What exactly is strength training that doesn't involve weights? Just body weight exercises?0 -
Carbs are super important! When I am prepping for a show my carbs go as low as 30 a day but that's crazy low. While maintaining my weight my carbs are somewhere between 100-150. However I was never a big carb eater so without thinking about carbs I average 75-100. Lowering the carbs will help bring abs out of hibernation!! :O)0
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Why no weights?0
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Every body is different. . .what works for one may not work for another. Some bodys require more protein, some require more carbs. My body hates carbs and works best with high amounts of protein.
The key is basically to find what works for you.0 -
There was one day I was 1900 I think it was my birthday, but I am trying to eat back calories based on exercise, but don't want to eat back too many calories because I am not convinced MFP reports calories correctly.
Net calories:
In the past 3 months I had 2 days where net calories were over 1500 (and by < 100 calories) and the rest of the time my net calories are right around 1200 calories.
Total calories:
In the past 3 months I had 2 days over 1600 calories, one was that day on my birthday, I had 3 days in the past 3 months where I was over 1500 calories total.
So again, I am eating too much? Where do I cut back?There is a lot of inconsistency in your diet, one day 1100 calories, one day 1500, one day 1900 - consistency is key, how can you make adjustments otherwise?0 -
I don't pay much attention to carbs except for fiber. I aim for high fiber and that sometimes means purposely eating more whole grains. But to meet my protein goal, fiber goal and stay within calories I am often < 100 carbs per day and rarely > 100 net carbs.
I don't have insulin resistant or any known medical problems that require me to limit carbs so I just try for moderate macros - moderate fat, moderate carbs, moderate protein. That's kept me healthy all these years and I didn't have trouble losing weight.0 -
Eating carbs does not stop your weight loss.
Eating too much food stops your weight loss.
Make sure you get adequate protein & fat, rest can go to carbs if you want.
The person above me has given you a lot of ridiculous stuff to read in their post.
I agree with this. I love my carbs and I do not feel well if I exclude them.0 -
fleetz; could you give me your weight, height, age - please & roughly how much do you exercise a week & doing what?
Eating back exercise calories isn't a great idea,, because its so inaccurate. It's better to get a set of macros which are already set up for exercise.0 -
Body weight exercises.No. Not lifting weights. I am cycling and doing strength training but no weights.Give me some advice as to why my weight loss has stalled then. I am stumped. Gained .2 lbs in 2 months,
Are you lifting weights?
What exactly is strength training that doesn't involve weights? Just body weight exercises?0 -
Give me some advice as to why my weight loss has stalled then. I am stumped. Gained .2 lbs in 2 months,
I wouldn't call that a gain...most people have natural body weight fluctuations of 3-5 Lbs day to day due to water retention/release, food in/out, etc. You are maintaining...which means you are eating a maintenance level of calories. This could be due to what would appear to be pretty radical inconsistency in your intake, overestimation of calorie burn, underestimating intake (i.e. not weighing/measuring...just guestimating...also if you eat out a lot or eat a lot of processed foods, calorie counts can be substantially off).
It has nothing to due with carbs...I ate plenty of carbs during my losing due to they provide awesome jet fuel for my training...without the carbs, my training would be for ****...I lost 40 Lbs easily eating carbs. When I was sedentary, I ate a higher protein and higher fat diet and benefited from that...but once I started really training and racing, carbs because pretty important.0 -
Be aware of the Carb Flu - when you first cut back you may feel headachy, nausea, tired because of carb withdrawal. Take some aspirin. Drinking a cup of full sodium salt will also help.
Not sure if you mean a cup of salt or a cup of saltwater. In any event, worst advice ever.0 -
Counting carbs only matter if you are diabetic.0
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