giving up carbs and sugar..
mseslee
Posts: 101 Member
I know a lot of people that have given up on carbs and sugar and it seems to work for them, but is this a healthy route to go?
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Replies
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You can't give up all carbs and sugar is a carb. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, assuming you don't have a medical condition and eat a balanced diet. What is your reasoning behind giving it up? Do you plan on giving whatever it is you're giving up forever because for this to be sustainable, you have to think about after as well.
I eat over my sugar limit every day. I also eat a balanced diet and watch my macro and micros for health. For weight loss, calorie deficit is all that matters.0 -
honestly, asking that around here is a loaded question.
you'll basically get two camps of answers... one, that cutting out any macronutrient is unnecessary, "just eat less", "everything in moderation", "only under a doctor's orders", etc. two, that reducing carbs down to a minimum (as from veggies and fiber) is fine and is a proven diet method that works fine.
hint: on this particular part of the forums, camp one outweighs camp two, pitchforks and torches and all. but there are a few groups specifically dedicated to the low-carb ways of eating where you'll find more support and probably more information if you've got questions.
personally, i'm in camp 2. i prefer to low-carb, and i've seen my own health benefits from it.0 -
I know a lot of people that have given up on carbs and sugar and it seems to work for them, but is this a healthy route to go?
Are you diabetic? .....then yes. For health reasons you need to manage carbs.
Do you see low carb as a lifestyle change?......then yes. If you see sugar free and low carb as a permanent change, go for it.
The vast majority of people who lose weight....re-gain it at some point. This is because they make a few temporary changes to lose weight......then when dieting is "done".....they go back to same old habits that made them overweight to begin with.
If you do low carb as a temporary change......make sure you have a plan in place for maintenance.0 -
i've never seen a reputable diet plan that advocates eliminating ALL carbohydrates. but just because sugar is a carb doesn't mean it can't be given up. just keep in mind that it's one thing to get trace carbs from vegetables and dairy, and another to remove the obvious sources of added sugar from your diet.You can't give up all carbs and sugar is a carb. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, assuming you don't have a medical condition and eat a balanced diet. What is your reasoning behind giving it up? Do you plan on giving whatever it is you're giving up forever because for this to be sustainable, you have to think about after as well.
congratulations, you found what works for you. unless you are the OP, what works for you may not work for her.I eat over my sugar limit every day. I also eat a balanced diet and watch my macro and micros for health. For weight loss, calorie deficit is all that matters.0 -
No, it's not healthy to give up an entire macronutrient. This is kind of a pet peeve for me because no one ever really gives up carbs and sugar, they just reduce their intake. Or what they really mean is they're not eating bread/sweets anymore but there are still carbs and sugar in things like fruits and veggies.
There's nothing wrong with going low carb but I would strongly suggest following a program like Atkins to help guide you through. I've seen too many people try to do this on their own and it almost always fails because instead of gradually introducing carbs, they go from a strict reduction (to "kick start" weight loss or some other such nonesense) back to normal eating and regain all the weight and wonder why.0 -
After watching myself over a few years, I realized that I was addicted to anything made with flour. As flour nowadays is genetically modified it obviously became addictive to me. Because I ate it before that for decades without being addicted.
Of course there are a lot of other problems with our food nowadays. Everything is full with pesticides and added hormones, which may make us fat. But since I cut out everything made with flour, the cravings went away. Of course you still have to eat carbs, just be more picky about it.0 -
only if you want to fail
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Hello, I do the ketogenic diet and it has changed my life. So, yes, I say, go for it! I recommend http://www.ruled.me/ for a general help going LCHF, keto, and such. You cannot cut out ALL carbs, but you can do low carbs, high fats. Fats keep you full longer and the food is delish!0
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Hello, I do the ketogenic diet and it has changed my life. So, yes, I say, go for it! I recommend http://www.ruled.me/ for a general help going LCHF, keto, and such. You cannot cut out ALL carbs, but you can do low carbs, high fats. Fats keep you full longer and the food is delish!
And yes it is very healthy to do! :happy: You will just change the way your body metabolizes foods which is what you want. I have more energy and less body fat! Always posititives.
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As others have said, you can't utterly give up carbs because that would rule out vegetables, legumes, fruit, etc. However, it is extremely effective and healthy to cut down on your processed carbs. Go a few weeks without eating bread, pasta, anything with added sugar, alcohol, etc, and you'll definitely lose weight. Stock up on veggies and lean protein, and some amount of fruit and whole grains and legumes instead. It's a healthier way to eat and you'll drop weight, so it's a win-win.0
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only if you want to fail
your failure does not equate to someone else's failure. you did what worked for you. let's leave it at that, m'kay?0 -
I know a lot of people that have given up on carbs and sugar and it seems to work for them, but is this a healthy route to go?
Are you diabetic? .....then yes. For health reasons you need to manage carbs.
Do you see low carb as a lifestyle change?......then yes. If you see sugar free and low carb as a permanent change, go for it.
The vast majority of people who lose weight....re-gain it at some point. This is because they make a few temporary changes to lose weight......then when dieting is "done".....they go back to same old habits that made them overweight to begin with.
If you do low carb as a temporary change......make sure you have a plan in place for maintenance.
Since I probably couldn't say it as well, I will just quote this.
But yea, you can't cut out all carbs unless you basically are going to just eat meat.0 -
only if you want to fail
your failure does not equate to someone else's failure. you did what worked for you. let's leave it at that, m'kay?
I'm not sure that anyone would be successful on a no carb diet which is what the OP asked.0 -
I dont' fill like you should cut anything out.You can make healthier choices like wheat breads and pastas. Because you're still human and these are lifestyle changes. Not just a quick fix that's what people fell to understand and that's where the rule cumbles. I love potato's but i'm not gonna sit and type that i will never eat them again i will eat a small bag of lays potato chips and im 1000% sure that i'm gonna eat them in the future. No im not gonna indulge because i'm teaching myself discipline. But i hope this helps. My ex boyfriend is a diabetic and he eats the most sweets. But he says even though im diabetic that doesnt mean im gonna go thru life wanting some chocolate and not have any it's all about moderation.0
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When people point out that low/no carb dieting is often synonymous with failure, they are correct. Unfortunately, nearly ever form of dieting is synonymous with failure. The statistical odds of losing weight and keeping it off in the long run is actually quite low. I will say, and this is purely observational and anecdotal data, the people around here who have lost massive amounts of weight and kept it off typically took a balanced approach.
My main issue with low/no carb is that most people have no intention of making low/no carb a permanent lifestyle change. They want to use it as a tool to lose weight and then transition into a way of eating that incorporates carbs to maintain weight. The issue here is that during your weight loss you never learned how to manage carbs. If you have cravings, think you are addicted to carbs, etc, you MUST find some way to deal with this problem. What makes you think that you will be over these issues after losing weight and you'll simply be able to reintroduce carbs with no issues?
In my opinion, to have the greatest chance of maintaining weight loss, you must eat in a manner similar to how you plan on maintaining weight. So if you want to eat carbs at some point in your life, I'd say it's a good idea to learn how to lose weight while eating them. This does not only apply to low carb dieting. You could replace the words "low carb" with anything. Paleo, all whole food, vegan, all of those things should be complete lifestyle changes if you want to use them as weight loss plans, otherwise you run the risk of regaining all your lost weight when you transition back to eating an unrestricted diet. This is why I believe that using a balanced approach from the get go leads to more success then any other plan in the long run.0 -
Only if you count being miserable as healthyI know a lot of people that have given up on carbs and sugar and it seems to work for them, but is this a healthy route to go?
^^^^ Listen to the man above0 -
honestly, asking that around here is a loaded question.
you'll basically get two camps of answers... one, that cutting out any macronutrient is unnecessary, "just eat less", "everything in moderation", "only under a doctor's orders", etc. two, that reducing carbs down to a minimum (as from veggies and fiber) is fine and is a proven diet method that works fine.
hint: on this particular part of the forums, camp one outweighs camp two, pitchforks and torches and all. but there are a few groups specifically dedicated to the low-carb ways of eating where you'll find more support and probably more information if you've got questions.
personally, i'm in camp 2. i prefer to low-carb, and i've seen my own health benefits from it.
^ best post ever, it's like Big Brother but people are 100000 times meaner with their comments because they aren't actually facing someone.0 -
the Ornish/Spectrum Diet is a very low meat/flesh eating plan and very high carbs.....and it works !
The Atkins Diet is a very high meat/low carb plan.....and it works !
Everything works if you watch your calories and stick with it.0 -
I eat a low sugar diet - basically my daily sugar totals come from fruits only (except an occasional treat). For me, I have found that cutting out other sugars from cereals, snack bars, etc. has drastically reduced my sugar cravings. I used to crave ice cream, chocolate, brownies, etc. but since cutting out all of the added sugars, I no longer have the cravings.
I also eat low carb but mainly because I prefer foods that are lower in carbs anyway - and high protein/low carb meals keep me full.
But, to each his own I guess.
I lost weight in the past eating a ton of sugar and processed foods. But I feel MUCH better and healthier doing it this way.0 -
After watching myself over a few years, I realized that I was addicted to anything made with flour. As flour nowadays is genetically modified it obviously became addictive to me. Because I ate it before that for decades without being addicted.
Of course there are a lot of other problems with our food nowadays. Everything is full with pesticides and added hormones, which may make us fat. But since I cut out everything made with flour, the cravings went away. Of course you still have to eat carbs, just be more picky about it.
Where do you get your GMO flour from? There is no GMO wheat currently commercially available.
Not even sure how one would become addicted to GMO and not non-GMO wheat even if it was available.
I think you are just addicted to confirmation bias...0 -
That is one of the most un-healthy things you can do.
Your body needs carbs to work. Carbs are what gives it energy to get through your day. And if........... you work out. You need carbs before say a hour or so. for your muscle to work and not use your muscles as fuel. You also need protein before and 30-60 min's after you work out.
Watch your sugar intake, cause it's calorie dense. Most foods have sugar in them. So pick natural sugar like fruit, they have both the sugar and the carbs that your body needs.
But stay away from the candy and cookies and cake. Those are just empty calories, make every calorie that you eat count.0 -
As long as you're eating complex carbs and limiting your processed sugar intake, (think less poptarts, not fruit), you should be fine.0
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I know a lot of people that have given up on carbs and sugar and it seems to work for them, but is this a healthy route to go?
Do you want to give up carbs? Unless you have a medical condition, there is no weight loss related or health reason to give up carbs. You can eat carbs, be healthy, and lose weight.
If you have a medical condition, or think low carb might appeal to you because you like the types of food you would be eating, or you feel that you would have an easier time adhering to a low carb diet as a long term way of eating, then try low carb. You can be low carb, be healthy, and lose weight.
Weight loss comes from a calorie deficit and health is based on getting enough calories, micronutrients, and finding the macronutrient ratios that work best for you. If you do decide you would like to try low carb, I would recommend checking the groups or talking to some posters who have done low carb for awhile to get some guidance so you don't end up being one of those people who feels crappy all the time because they thought low carb meant replacing bread with bacon.0 -
Im sorry but I personally could never do that. I usually have a scoup or two of icecream each night. I lose weight just fine.0
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i've never seen a reputable diet plan that advocates eliminating ALL carbohydrates. but just because sugar is a carb doesn't mean it can't be given up. just keep in mind that it's one thing to get trace carbs from vegetables and dairy, and another to remove the obvious sources of added sugar from your diet.You can't give up all carbs and sugar is a carb. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, assuming you don't have a medical condition and eat a balanced diet. What is your reasoning behind giving it up? Do you plan on giving whatever it is you're giving up forever because for this to be sustainable, you have to think about after as well.
congratulations, you found what works for you. unless you are the OP, what works for you may not work for her.I eat over my sugar limit every day. I also eat a balanced diet and watch my macro and micros for health. For weight loss, calorie deficit is all that matters.
When I said you can't give up all carbs I was referring to vegetables, fruit, etc. Things that contain important micronutrients. However, sugar really isn't an enemy.
What works for me can work for everyone. It's calories in vs out. For sustainability, it will depend on the individual. Obviously, do what works best for overall sustainability in the long term but most people get this ill conceived notion that sugar is some big evil to weight loss and health when it just isnt. It's just a carb. It's just sugar. It's not some imaginary monster hiding in someone's closet.
When we place moral value on food, we give it power. I focus on two things, getting proper nutrition to fuel my body and staying within my respect calorie goals for whatever my goals are.
Also, I realize you're very gungho low carb. Congratz on finding something that is sustainable for you and as you said in your earlier post, not everything is sustainable for everyone. What works for you may not work for OP either. Both options are there, if OP wants to. I just want it to be clear that both ways are means to the same ends.0 -
If you suddenly develop issues with one food or group of foods this can be an indication of some dietary/digestive problem starting up. People are different, we all look similar but our bodies do not always follow the generally expected rules. You could try to find out why yours may be behaving differently to save you descending into poor health.0
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After watching myself over a few years, I realized that I was addicted to anything made with flour. As flour nowadays is genetically modified it obviously became addictive to me. Because I ate it before that for decades without being addicted.
Of course there are a lot of other problems with our food nowadays. Everything is full with pesticides and added hormones, which may make us fat. But since I cut out everything made with flour, the cravings went away. Of course you still have to eat carbs, just be more picky about it.
I... can't even tell if this is a serious post.
No GM wheat is currently grown commercially.0 -
As others have said, you can't utterly give up carbs because that would rule out vegetables, legumes, fruit, etc. However, it is extremely effective and healthy to cut down on your processed carbs. Go a few weeks without eating bread, pasta, anything with added sugar, alcohol, etc, and you'll definitely lose weight. Stock up on veggies and lean protein, and some amount of fruit and whole grains and legumes instead. It's a healthier way to eat and you'll drop weight, so it's a win-win.
Not if I eat in a surplus with your proclaimed "healthy foods". I promise you I can easily hit a surplus with avacado, nuts, quinoa, chicken, lentils, and fruit. Easy.
It is not necessary to cut these things out for weight loss. It is not necessary to cut them out for health. Should we practice moderation? Sure. But that goes without saying. Too much of anything can be bad for us.0 -
Everyone's looking for a scapegoat.
If you eat too much anything, you get fat. Period.
Embrace that fact, and embrace your personal responsibility for how much you shovel in your pie-hole, and you'll soon find you aren't fat anymore and as a bonus you'll be a better person in general.0 -
What if I enjoy eating bread and pasta and the occasional beer? Why should I give up things I enjoy if there isn't any real need to? I can eat all the things you mentioned and be perfectly healthy, and lose weight if my calories are set correctly. If you really love pasta would it not be easier to find a way to work it into your diet rather then restrict it and have to crave it?As others have said, you can't utterly give up carbs because that would rule out vegetables, legumes, fruit, etc. However, it is extremely effective and healthy to cut down on your processed carbs. Go a few weeks without eating bread, pasta, anything with added sugar, alcohol, etc, and you'll definitely lose weight. Stock up on veggies and lean protein, and some amount of fruit and whole grains and legumes instead. It's a healthier way to eat and you'll drop weight, so it's a win-win.0
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