Anybody following a low carb way of eating?

TheSatinPumpkin

Been following DANDR for 11 months.

PrimalSasha

I am following low-carb (20-30g) since it helps tamp down my appetite. I would suggest anyone that is following this WOE to check out the reddit boards, they have a massive amount of posting and good information on movring toward ketogenic diets. Friday is the day they all post ongoing results. There are several boards, including Lean Gains, Keto Ladies, Recipes and Results. I read the boards below more than MFP. There is just a lot of great information there and people are pretty open.

http://www.reddit.com/r/keto

TheRealNoodlette

Hi,

I'm doing a low-carb paleo style of eating and find it works really well for me. Feel free to friend me :-)

countscalories

Don't let the naysayers get you down.
The big thing is to do what works for you and what you will be able to stick with long term.

This is how you do it!

eomuno215in541

What's a macro? (ok, I really did ask a special friend a month ago!) I eat limited carbs but not fussy about anything but the cals/serv. I carb b4 exercise for energy, but not like runner portions. I wanna become a runner so I can binge on pasta. FR me if u want to laugh at my diary. I should buy stock in special K. Made from, er, the K...tree?

andreakurylo

Just wondering if anybody else was following a low carb way of eating. I have done it in the past with fantastic results. I had lost close to 50 lbs. back in 2006/2007. Unfortunately, I have been slacking off for the past few years and have gained 30 lbs., of the original 50 lbs., I had lost back. I didn't actually follow Atkins or South Beach back then. Just kind of did my own thing with great success. I kept my carb intake to probably around 60g per day and the weight came off slowly but, it did come off. Anyway, was wondering if anybody who is following a low carb way of eating would be interested in becoming friends on here so we can support/motivate each other......

I'm doing a low carb/caloric deficit type of diet..

U need protein to burn fat, and lean proteins make u feel A LOT fuller than carbs. So limiting carbs isn't necessarily a bad thing at all. Carbs = Junk " I've been eating under 1200 calories everyday, but I also exercise 5-7 days/week. 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of different weight training techniques. You would be surprised at how full you can get by increasing your protein intake to about 30-35% of your daily intake of calories. PROTEIN burns fat and builds muscle, and is a healthy and essential way to lose weight and feel full. I'm usually under 50 carb/day...not per meal...per day! Chicken and Ground Turkey have NO CARBS and make u feel full for a longer amount of time than just eating veggies and fruits. I eat a ton of fruits, make smoothies out of strawberries, bananas and blueberries (blueberries have enormous amounts of antioxidants and aid in weight loss) with a little Organic Strawberry Banana juice. I cut up all my fruits as soon as I buy them and freeze them, so when I'm actually drinking a smoothie, it's 100% fruits and antioxidants...not watered down with ice. That's usually my way of snacking and what I give my 4 year old son instead of ice cream. I LOVE TACOS!!! So I've found some pretty amazing whole grain carb smart wraps...one only has 11 carbs/wrap and one is 14 carbs/wrap and the one that's 14 carbs is only 50 calories too!!! So I'm getting whole grains, which help control insulin levels, ground turkey is the meat that I use...and it has no carbs at all and just a little serving or 2 of cheese. It doesn't matter if the cheese is 100-110 calories/serving because this meal is way under 500 calories!!! And what's more is that it's super filling!!! A mistake that people often make when it comes to tacos, is buying pre-packaged seasoning, and unfortunately, a mistake that I've made most of my life! I LOVE Old El Paso's Taco Seasoning...love it. And when my son's father was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease 3 years ago, I started using the one labled "25% less sodium." With Meniere's Disease, you have to cut your sodium intake immensely and this helped. However, from a diet stand point it breaks down to this: 1 package is 6 servings (and u use that whole thing in 1lb of ground meat) 15 calories per serving, 270mg of sodium, and 3 carbs. Doesn't sound like much right? Until you multiply those numbers by 6!!! So I opt'd to make the seasoning myself (which is waaayyy better tasting and healthier!) using chili powder, red pepper, garlic powder (not garlic salt!) and onion powder. You can put in as little or as much as you'd like for flavor and there's no added calories, sodium or carbs! Top w/some organic salsa or even some bottled taco sauce (but watch how much u use of the bottled stuff cause it does contain carbs, but being that this is an extremely low carb containing meal, 2 servings is no big deal) I also chop up tomatos and dice green chilies and add them to the meat for even more flavor and nutrients!!! The only thing I look for with cheese is the reduced fat kind. And here's a direct quote of why u need some fat....

"Triglycerides, cholesterol and other essential fatty acids—the scientific term for fats the body can't make on its own—store energy, insulate us and protect our vital organs. They act as messengers, helping proteins do their jobs. They also start chemical reactions that help control growth, immune function, reproduction and other aspects of basic metabolism.
The cycle of making, breaking, storing and mobilizing fats is at the core of how humans and all animals regulate their energy. An imbalance in any step can result in disease, including heart disease and diabetes. For instance, having too many triglycerides in our bloodstream raises our risk of clogged arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Fats help the body stockpile certain nutrients as well. The so-called "fat-soluble" vitamins—A, D, E and K—are stored in the liver and in fatty tissues.
Knowing that fats play such an important role in many basic functions in the body, researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health study them in humans and other organisms to learn more about normal and abnormal biology.
Despite fat's importance, no one yet understands exactly how humans store it and call it into action. In search of insight, Oklahoma State University biochemist Estela Arrese studies triglyceride metabolism in unexpected places: silkworms, fruit flies, and mosquitoes.
The main type of fat we consume, triglycerides are especially suited for energy storage because they pack more than twice as much energy as carbohydrates or proteins.
Once triglycerides have been broken down during digestion, they are shipped out to cells through the bloodstream. Some of the fat gets used for energy right away. The rest is stored inside cells in blobs called lipid droplets. When we need extra energy—for instance, when we run a marathon—our bodies use enzymes called lipases to break down the stored triglycerides. The cell's power plants, mitochondria, can then create more of the body's main energy source: adenosine triphosphate, or ATP."


Eating leafy green veggies and fruits lower on the glycemic index is also SUPER important for weight loss and overall health benefits. Here's some essential info about the glycemic index...which was brought to my attention by my Endocrinologist.

The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Foods with a high GI are those which are rapidly digested and absorbed and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Low-GI foods, by virtue of their slow digestion and absorption, produce gradual rises in blood sugar and insulin levels, and have proven benefits for health. Low GI diets have been shown to improve both glucose and lipid levels in people with diabetes (type 1 and type 2). They have benefits for weight control because they help control appetite and delay hunger. Low GI diets also reduce insulin levels and insulin resistance.

Recent studies from Harvard School of Public Health indicate that the risks of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease are strongly related to the GI of the overall diet. In 1999, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recommended that people in industrialised countries base their diets on low-GI foods in order to prevent the most common diseases of affluence, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

This link will tell you all about the glycemic index of carb containing foods: http://www.glycemicindex.com/index.php

Berries and Strawberries are really low on the glycemic index...making u feel fuller longer and more satisfied, while bananas are on the moderate side, slightly spiking your glucose levels...but not enough to be super concerned. They are to be eaten in moderation, while watermelon's GI ranges from 72-80 and cantaloupe's GI ranges between 65-70!!! Those should be avoided or eaten in moderation along with lower GI foods.

I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance 2 months ago and have a best friend who is a Team Beach Body Coach and I'm full of helpful information!!! If u have any questions or concerns feel free to message me and I'll hook u up with all types of info. Believe me, you can easily get filled on 1200 calories/day as long as u eat the right ones!!! The link above for glycemicindex.com will also allow u to search for your fav foods and see how they are rated on the GI scale. It's not just a blog talking about the benefits of eating low GI foods...it has all sorts of tools to help you!!! Good Luck w/everything!!!

adaffern

Taking the low-carb route beginning today. I found that preparation is key to helping to stick with any eating plan. Plan out your menu and take a few hours on the weekend to cook and prepare and freeze your meals for the week. Please add me. I'm still struggling to find carb smart snacks and lunches. I can use all the help I can get. :happy:

mom2kgirls

Hi! I've also just started back on a low-carb diet. I did it several years ago and lost 25 pounds, gained weight in the last year with caregiving/death of my dad. I would also like to be connected to others sharing a similar journey. Please "Friend" me if you are low carb also!
To all the people who think low carb is unhealthy, it has actually been proven to be just the opposite! There is some wonderful information on this. Dr Steven Parker has a great website where he advocates the Mediterranean diet; either low carb or not. He gives very scientific but understandable explanations on the advantages of each type and how to choose for yourself. I recommend anybody who is trying to follow a healthy approach to low carb dieting read his information: http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/
Good luck to us all!

Icandoityayme

No, I don't do a low carb diet. I watch my fats as sodiums as best I can but basically, I eat whatever and as long as I am in my calorie goals and at a deficit, I don't worry much about it. Exercising regularly also has helped quite a bit but I don't go crazy with it.

MyDuncan42

For carbs. fat, and protein it's usually about balance more than minimizing/maximizing one of them.

As for carbs themselves just make sure that foods with carbs you eat are also high in fiber since you'll feel fuller and won't have to eat as much.

mom2kgirls

Thanks for the great link on this topic!

raventwo

Don't think my plan is considered low carb, it's lower, and moderates when/how you eat carbs (my one meal a day with complex carbs you balance your carb choice with an equal amount of protein and low carb veggie). I follow CALP - Carbohydrate Addicts Lifespan Program. Started 3+ years ago, total including what I've lost since I started using mfp a year ago is 180 pounds. I love eating this way and will continue to do so in maintenance, which I will hit in 47 pounds

Best wishes to you. Just find what works for you, and stick to it. It all comes down to that.

CoachChrystalL

I eat low carb (and I mean extremely low carb - like less than 20-30 grams, or 5-10% of my daily intake). For the life of me I couldn't figure out why eating low carb was the only way I could feel anything other than lethargic. I thought maybe I was wheat or gluten intolerant, but learned even potatoes in large amounts do the same thing to me... It kind of sucks because I love breads and pastas and potatoes (and will sometimes choose an upset tummy, and mid-day nap over abstaining from yummy foods)!

I had a bunch of blood tests done and learned that I'm lacking an enzyme that breaks down sugars or glucose (which is all that carbs are essentially). I'm not alone in this, and I'm certain there are plenty of other reasons why eating low carb is not a bad idea for a lot of people - potentially not everyone, but a LOT of people have a lot to gain here. Pick up the book called Grain Brain (You can actually download a free copy from Audible.com - a sister company to Amazon for an idea on what wheat & other grains alone can do to you...) Or any Anatomy & Physiology book, which will explain the way we utilize the foods we eat in detail...

In the meantime, some very basic facts on carbohydrate chemistry: carbohydrates and simple simple sugars block the satiation receptors in your brain, which is why you never seem to feel full when eating junk foods like chips (packed full of sugars). Eating sugars (which is all carbohydrates are) releases dopamine in your brain (your pleasure hormone) which causes you to crave more sugar. Ever notice how hard it is to skip bread with breakfast, or eat just one more chip out of the bag? It's because carbs are addictive, using the same chemical processes in your body that any addictive substance does...

While your brain does NEED glucose to function, not only does it need very small amounts, your body creates glucose from fats and proteins - it's call gluconeogenesis. There is split opinion in the research as to whether the glucose you create through gluconeogenesis is used in the brain, so eating some carbohydrates (in the form of green leafy veggies, etc) probably isn't a bad idea - but I am all for screaming that the huge amounts recommended are way off for most people...