carb counting vs calorie counting

dublingoblin
dublingoblin Posts: 7 Member
in Food and Nutrition
which one is the better option for losing weight. I've tried both and so far have only made it three weeks into both diets. I've also read about carb cycling but didn't really know what to do with it.

Replies

  • gregpack
    gregpack Posts: 426 Member
    They both will work. It's a personal decision.

    Calorie counting lets you eat without having to severely limit a macronutrient that can be friggin' delicious. If you like carbs, you can still have them in moderation and continue to lose. just make sure you get enough protein.

    if you are a big meat eater, you may be willing to sacrifice the carbs for a steak every night. Many people have an easier time controlling their cravings with a low carb diet.
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    Calorie counting. That's all you should be doing to get started is just logging your food everyday. As you do that you might find a particular way of eating suits you better but even then you still need to log your calories until you've reached your goal weight at least.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    I would probably say calorie counting because you could still eat way over your calories if carb counting. I think carb counting is more important if you are diabetic or pre diabetic. Carb cycling is more of a temporary booster thing at least for me. The one I was on was two low carb days one high carb day, two low carb days, one high carb day and one free day a week. I ate within my MFP calorie limit each day. On the low carb days I basically had my carbs with protein in the morning and ate protein and non starchy vegetables the rest of the day.
  • kenzietate
    kenzietate Posts: 399 Member
    which one is the better option for losing weight. I've tried both and so far have only made it three weeks into both diets. I've also read about carb cycling but didn't really know what to do with it.

    They aren't actually mutually exclusive. With carb counting it is still necessary to count calories for most people. Eating at a surplus to what your body can use will still keep you from losing weight. However, many people, me included, find that eating low carb makes it much easier to stay within that limit without being hungry. It also has major benefits for anyone with diabetes or is at risk as Lizzy said. I am pre-diabetic due to a hormonal imbalance so it works great for me!

    There are also various ways to eat low carb and also various levels of low to very low carb. I am not sure what your previous diet was like but researching the different options will help you make a better decision based on your lifestyle. For me, the best is a very low carb diet called the ketogenic diet or the LCHF diet.
  • brendeau
    brendeau Posts: 2 Member
    Right now I've been 3 weeks off of most carbs. I am a bread, chips, sweets-aholic! Have had no cravings for them any longer. Eating at restaurants has become easier to deal with. I don't go for the bread, or chips, no fries and I don't pick at whatever is left on my plate. The challenge with eating out is finding food without breading, sweetened sauces, noodles, rice. I usually do salad and fish or steak. At home I've learned to have on hand nuts, cheese, no-crap-added deli meat (such as Boar's head), Pure whey protein powder without sweeteners, used with unsweetened Almond milk. I think my body is getting on an even keel now, as I lost 1 lb. last week. I have flipped my whole MyFitnessPal goals upside down. Instead of most carbs, then protein then fat, I eat most fat, then protein, then carbs! :ohwell:

Categories