Is there anyone who still believes in low carb dieting?

SillySarah

I have been waiting for the low carb fad diet to go away but for some reason it is just lingering and people are still preaching its praises. I have dismissed it from the start and have no plans on ever going on a low carb diet. So far, eating a balanced diet has worked for me.

Is there any new information about low carb dieting that is keeping it alive?

I personally do best by carb cycling. What I do is not a full-out low carb diet because I have high carb intake days and lower carb intake days. I seem to be the type to hold water easily and if I eat a high carb diet (even if they are the healthy complex variety) I balloon up and gain weight.

I basically eat my highest carb meals in the morning hours and after my intense workouts and phase out grains and starchy carbs as the day progresses. I also tend to go 2-3 days of not eating very many starches, after which, I'll get my fill of brown rice and bread.

I did this for a year and a half a couple years ago and I became very lean. I started running 2 years ago and switched to eating more starchy carbs to accommodate my mileage. Even while keeping my daily intake of calories to a reasonable amount given my activity levels, I gained weight and sort of became more puffy/fleshy (I developed love handles too). I became very frustrated because despite my hard work and healthy eating, my clothes were fitting funny and I had lost the lean, in shape look I had. I've recently (4 months ago) quit running altogether, started carb cycling in the aforementioned way and I've lost weight and now have become leaner again. My clothes fit better and the love handles are almost gone too.

It's not scientific per se, but it seems to work for me. I don't ever feel deprived on the days when I eat fewer carbs because I know that in a few days I can have a sundae or some pizza. Everything in moderation.

I generally don't like fad diets because they are too restrictive IMO, but I think that varying the types of foods one eats is useful if done in a balanced and thoughtful manner. That's just my 2 cents.

mirenner

yes, you should keep your carbs low, but you should not live a near non-existent carb diet

SillySarah

Before I ever paid much attention to the big "fad" diets or serious nutrition, I just happened to never be a big fan of bread, rice or pasta. Yes I ate them, but not that much and certainly never went out of my way to do so. I lifted a lot of weights and ate tons of protein. I was able to maintain a very healthy weight with eating relatively low amounts of carbs.

Even now, I am much more of a runner than a lifter, but I still prefer to eat meat and veggies & fruits over bread/rice/pasta.
I will eat whole wheat bread on a snadwich for lunch. And its hit or miss maybe 1-2 days a week I will have a small side of rice or pasta for dinner, otherwise its fish/chicken/meat & veggies. I have leaned up very nicely on this diet and feel great.

Yeah, that's how I roll. I eat a lot of leafy green salads, lean meats, and veggies during the week. I feel stronger and my energy levels seem to be more consistent throughout the day. No 2:30 feeling here.

musclebuilder

Being 10% bf and at your fitness level is NOT typical of the average American. Your body uses that fuel in different ways, while the rest of us keep stuffing our faces with no end in sight. I wish we could all eat like that, but it's not possibly. On the other hand, you might be interested in cyclic low carb (low carb/high carb cycles) to see more gains in your lifting and bulking.

Prag, it may not be typical but you don't need to be at my fitness level to consume a good amount of healthy carbohydrates and still be in very fine health.. Again, the issue is greater then just over consuming carbohydrates..People need to be aware of the types of carbohydrates/fats ect.. they consume and they need to be aware of how much calories over all they are consuming. And they have to exercise in some way shape or form. Telling Americans they need to eat less carbohydrates is not going to realy solve any thing in my opinion. Letting them know they have to make better choices with the types of foods and manage the quantity of those foods they consume and that they must exercise will..I acually do cycle carbs and my other macronutrients/calories by default because I eat significantly more calories on days I exercise then on days I do not. A lot of those calories tend to be in the way of healthy carbohydrates.

Pragmatica

Right, I understand what you are saying.

There definitely needs to be some education to everyone about what they are eating - and that includes all types of nutrients. It can be as simple as actually looking at an ingredient list and nutrition facts. Learning to log your food is an excellent start for most people, but you need to dig deeper into what those numbers actually mean. Some people are simply too busy or too lazy to do that. I may be assuming here, but those people then get their information from unreliable sources - like TV, magazine ads, or the internet. Hell, even the government with their food pyramid have it wrong (and that may be mostly due to the huge food manufacturing companies like Coca-Cola and Mars that have influence over political dollars).

It is sad that there are people out there that really don't even know what a carb is, let alone the difference between complex or simple ones. People don't understand how dietary fiber and sugar (even natural sugars in fruits/veggies) have an impact. These are not easy concepts to gasp for everyone. Fat is another thing that is EXTREMELY misunderstood in America's diets. The majority of us are so scared to eat fat, when it is good for us! Same with protein!

In my diet, I use a 10% carbs/40% fat/50% protein split of my calories. This usually puts me somewhere between 15-25g net carbs a day, but I also make sure I am getting enough fat and protein. By doing this, I keep my body in ketosis, and I have been since October 2009. Since watching my carbs, I have lost 130+ pounds AND lowered my blood pressure and cholesterol levels. I am sure some people wouldn't believe me if I showed them the types of fatty meats, full of sodium that I eat. It really does work for people (maybe not everyone).

Another way to look at low carb, if you are doing calorie restriction/low fat - you will be lowering your carbs WITHOUT realizing it. You may still be eating higher carb levels than someone on a "low carb" diet, but it doesn't matter. You are probably eating healthy, good carbs and cutting simple sugars. This really works to your advantage!

musclebuilder

Right, I understand what you are saying.

There definitely needs to be some education to everyone about what they are eating - and that includes all types of nutrients. It can be as simple as actually looking at an ingredient list and nutrition facts. Learning to log your food is an excellent start for most people, but you need to dig deeper into what those numbers actually mean. Some people are simply too busy or too lazy to do that. I may be assuming here, but those people then get their information from unreliable sources - like TV, magazine ads, or the internet. Hell, even the government with their food pyramid have it wrong (and that may be mostly due to the huge food manufacturing companies like Coca-Cola and Mars that have influence over political dollars).

It is sad that there are people out there that really don't even know what a carb is, let alone the difference between complex or simple ones. People don't understand how dietary fiber and sugar (even natural sugars in fruits/veggies) have an impact. These are not easy concepts to gasp for everyone. Fat is another thing that is EXTREMELY misunderstood in America's diets. The majority of us are so scared to eat fat, when it is good for us! Same with protein!

In my diet, I use a 10% carbs/40% fat/50% protein split of my calories. This usually puts me somewhere between 15-25g net carbs a day, but I also make sure I am getting enough fat and protein. By doing this, I keep my body in ketosis, and I have been since October 2009. Since watching my carbs, I have lost 130+ pounds AND lowered my blood pressure and cholesterol levels. I am sure some people wouldn't believe me if I showed them the types of fatty meats, full of sodium that I eat. It really does work for people (maybe not everyone).

Another way to look at low carb, if you are doing calorie restriction/low fat - you will be lowering your carbs WITHOUT realizing it. You may still be eating higher carb levels than someone on a "low carb" diet, but it doesn't matter. You are probably eating healthy, good carbs and cutting simple sugars. This really works to your advantage!

Prag, first off congrats on your weight loss thus far and improvements in BP and Col levels. That is inspirational! But you're right, it is sad that so many people are not more aware of what they eat and not only that but how the food they eat effects their body and quality of life. And the same goes for exercise or lack of it..I mean obviously so many things can factor in to why somebody does not take proper care of themselves..There needs to be a greater emphasis placed on health and fitness starting at an early age. That is the time to develop those healthy habits. But at the very least we as individuals can help be examples of a healthy lifestyle. Keep up your great work and continued success.

crystal_sapphire

In my diet, I use a 10% carbs/40% fat/50% protein split of my calories. This usually puts me somewhere between 15-25g net carbs a day, but I also make sure I am getting enough fat and protein. By doing this, I keep my body in ketosis, and I have been since October 2009. Since watching my carbs, I have lost 130+ pounds AND lowered my blood pressure and cholesterol levels. I am sure some people wouldn't believe me if I showed them the types of fatty meats, full of sodium that I eat. It really does work for people (maybe not everyone).

Another way to look at low carb, if you are doing calorie restriction/low fat - you will be lowering your carbs WITHOUT realizing it. You may still be eating higher carb levels than someone on a "low carb" diet, but it doesn't matter. You are probably eating healthy, good carbs and cutting simple sugars. This really works to your advantage!

out of curiosity, what types of meals are you eating to give you that amount of carbs per day?

jessecobra

no point in counting carbs.

keep your calorie intake under maintenance and you'll lose weight.


anyone watching their calories will never hit the dangerous carb levels anyways. unless you can find 90% carb foods and eat it all day. i dont even watch my carbs. but when i go back to look at my daily stats the carbs are in decent shape and i dont even try.

Pragmatica

Breakfast includes cheese omelets with veggies like green pepper, mushrooms and onion. Sausage and bacon. If I am going to be busy for the week, I make a crustless quiche to last me through the week.

Lunch and dinner are sometimes just left overs. If not, I cook recipes high in protein and fat, and a side salad including salad greens with a little onion/green pepper/cucumber. For sides, I look for low carb recipes that sometimes use low carb alternatives, like using riced cauliflower or fried radish "homefries." I love broccoli and cheese, and I have a great low carb green bean casserole that gets made a lot.

I have learned to love cooking, researching and trying new recipes, and step outside of the box when it comes to making things for meals. It really isn't very hard to keep your carbs low once you make a plan and stick to it. I always plan my meals, and do grocery shopping according to it. I rarely buy anything "pre-made" or "processed" anymore unless it is like frozen broccoli, canned tomato sauce or canned mushrooms. I buy all fresh meats, cheeses, eggs, and vegetables.

My food diary is open for the last few days since joining. I have went out to eat a couple time because of Christmas shopping and finishing up finals, so that is rare. But, as you can see, I remove the bun from my sandwiches and skip the sides unless I can get a side salad.

In my diet, I use a 10% carbs/40% fat/50% protein split of my calories. This usually puts me somewhere between 15-25g net carbs a day, but I also make sure I am getting enough fat and protein. By doing this, I keep my body in ketosis, and I have been since October 2009. Since watching my carbs, I have lost 130+ pounds AND lowered my blood pressure and cholesterol levels. I am sure some people wouldn't believe me if I showed them the types of fatty meats, full of sodium that I eat. It really does work for people (maybe not everyone).

Another way to look at low carb, if you are doing calorie restriction/low fat - you will be lowering your carbs WITHOUT realizing it. You may still be eating higher carb levels than someone on a "low carb" diet, but it doesn't matter. You are probably eating healthy, good carbs and cutting simple sugars. This really works to your advantage!

out of curiosity, what types of meals are you eating to give you that amount of carbs per day?

Pragmatica

The point in counting carbs - if you keep your carb intake low enough, you don't need to worry about your calories. If you read my other post, I said basically the same thing - if you are on either a counting calories/low fat diet, you will lower your carb count just by doing that. This is something I already know, but this goes beyond that. Calories aren't the focus of a carb limited diet.

no point in counting carbs.

keep your calorie intake under maintenance and you'll lose weight.


anyone watching their calories will never hit the dangerous carb levels anyways. unless you can find 90% carb foods and eat it all day. i dont even watch my carbs. but when i go back to look at my daily stats the carbs are in decent shape and i dont even try.

EricJonrosh

Everyone should watch "Fathead" documentary and make up your own mind. It was eye-opening.

Page83

i think it just depends on the person and how THEIR body stores certain foods. i dont think a diet too low in carbs is a good thing, you needs carbs but you also need to burn them off so eating carbs only in the morning for breakfast and midmorning snack is a good idea, and its also about choosing the right carbs the less refined the better.

but who can say no to a nice big bowl of pasta for dinner lol.

pyro13g

Is there any new information about low carb dieting that is keeping it alive?

Yeah, mounds of research pointing at grains, refined and processed carbs as causing Syndrome X.

edorice

Everyone should watch "Fathead" documentary and make up your own mind. It was eye-opening.

I do plan to see Fathead on Netflix this weekend. For my body, it is not enough to simply get fuel from carbs. I can't stave off hunger and build muscle on a high carb diet. i certainly wouldn't be able to knock out straight legged push-ups on a diet based on junk food.

lkm111

I think maybe you need to define what you are calling "Low Carb". I actually think South Beach is very balanced, at least in Phases II and III. Lean proteins, good fats, vegetables, whole fruit, and whole grain/complex carbs. I am planning on doing this when I get the time to focus on it and get my pantry in order.

What do you follow? How does it compare to "Low Carb"?