has decreasing carbs worked for you?

mamakitty

I have realized that I was eating way too many carbs. So I have decreased my carb intake. Has anyone done the same and had good results? If so, how long until you saw results?
Thanks

mamakitty

I have realized that I was eating way too many carbs. So I have decreased my carb intake. Has anyone done the same and had good results? If so, how long until you saw results?
Thanks

kendallalissa

Good question. I've wondered the same thing.

songbyrdsweet

Your carbohydrate intake just needs to support your level of activity.
When I began training for my half-marathon, I bumped my carbohydrates from 40-50%. 40% was sufficient to support a lot of resistance training and moderate cardio, but I did have to supplement with some carb-loading days. Now that I run more, I need more carbohydrates, because depletion is is quite possible on long runs and hampers my progress.
The 60% that MFP recommends is pretty high for anyone at our level of training, so lowering it isn't a problem. I find that I am more full if I can have 25-30% of my calories from fat, so maintaining my deficit isn't as difficult.
Most weight loss we experience when reducing carbohydrate intake is just due to a decrease in glycogen storage, just like a gain we experience when we increase them. If your calories are the same, you probably won't lose extra fat, but you may feel full longer and that always helps.

ChubbyBunny

I eat 60% carbs. Which is a drastic increase from my former life.
It works for me and keeps me from being grouchy, but I am hungrier then I used to be.

dantell13

This has worked so great for me. I have lost about 35 pounds Since July 1st. No bread, No rice, No pasta and it is great. Sometimes its hard to workout, but I do it. I must say, I miss the bread the most. But then you have to look into priorities. My triclycirides haved gone from a dangerouse 430 to 92 which is perfect. Carbs are bad, period. It was the big things years ago with all the diets, but it has become dangerous. Look around at all the people that are totally obese and fat. They eat pasta and bread all the time because its cheap and easy. It is really hard, but the results are remarkable.

momto3hmn

my only input is this. Everyone breaks food down differently... I am on a low carb diet as my body does not digest and use them way someone else would. I am extremely active but I still seem to see them go to my rear end!! I have a higher protein diet as that seems to work best for me.

What works for ones does not mean it will work for another. I suggest trying a few different things until you find something that works best for you.

GOOD LUCK!!!! :flowerforyou:

Phoenixflame

"Carbs are bad, period. "

Um...no?

Take another look at the fatties around you. Chances are the carbs they are eating are refined, nutritionally void, and very white. Whole grain carbs are what your body needs. Those kinds are anything but bad. They feed the furnace!

ChubbyBunny

"Carbs are bad, period. "

Um...no?

Take another look at the fatties around you. Chances are the carbs they are eating are refined, nutritionally void, and very white. Whole grain carbs are what your body needs. Those kinds are anything but bad. They feed the furnace!

I agree, it depends on the type and amount of carbs one is consuming.

I had a brother who did a low carb diet (had to hit military weight), it worked... BUT he couldn't maintain it and gained it all back.

dantell13

Phoenixflame, try it before your sure. Talk to me when you down your last 21 pounds.

greeneyedgirl

carbs are essential for a well rounded healthy diet. It is okay to decrease them, but I don't think eliminating them completely is smart. The minute you eliminate them and lose a ton of weight and start eating them again, you will gain the weight back. I would find it hard to live the rest of my life without carbs.

psyknife

Yes, carbs are so bad for us that they are our bodies first and most desired source for fuel (note that sarcasm )

Like what has been said... it's the QUALITY of the carbs you eat. If you fill up on empty and nutritionless white carbs, then yes it's going to have a negative effect. But if you fill your carb quota with good whole grain carbs... then guess what? It'll help your blood sugar, energy levels, and all around bodily functions (unless, of course, you have troubles with digesting them, as some people do).

I must say... I actually starting dropping weight again when I bumped up my carb percentage... but when I workout I workout hard. Quite hard.

Phoenixflame

"Phoenixflame, try it before your sure. Talk to me when you down your last 21 pounds. "

Oh, I know that low carb diets work for most people as far as dropping weight. Atkins had tons of followers because people shed weight. But I know scores of people who followed Atkins or similar diets and the moment they stopped, the weight jumped right back on. As well, it's harder to maintain good cholesterol levels and get the best possible workout.

I apologize if I sound snippy; I don't mean to be. It's just that I've had to watch people I love lose a lot of weight by eliminating carbs and then gain it all back. Because it's so, so hard to live a lifetime with virtually no form of carbs. And not very healthy, either. Atkins was not a healthy man when he died.

dantell13

My point is why go back to eating carbs. Why go to the extreme of Atkins? Just stay away from pasta, bread etc. You will get carbs when you eat veggies, beans and other healthy foods. No need to go back to eating carbs on purpose. You get it with the healthy foods you eat and that should be it. What is the purpose to eating bread? Other than holding healthy things together so you can eat them easily. No need to eat bread. You can get all your fiber from beans as well as other foods. What are your thoughts flame

gnicolecan

I eat a limited amount of carbs, focus on low GI carbs, and it has really worked for me. I also think the increase in protien keeps me full.

Phoenixflame

My point is why go back to eating carbs. Why go to the extreme of Atkins? Just stay away from pasta, bread etc. You will get carbs when you eat veggies, beans and other healthy foods. No need to go back to eating carbs on purpose. You get it with the healthy foods you eat and that should be it. What is the purpose to eating bread? Other than holding healthy things together so you can eat them easily. No need to eat bread. You can get all your fiber from beans as well as other foods. What are your thoughts flame

Ah, I apologize, I thought you were advocating an ultra-low carb lifestyle.

As for bread, I find that it can be very good at regulating blood sugar and providing energy. However, I'm picky about my bread--one of the few kinds I eat is this California brand made from flax, with low carbs for bread. But it still has carbs. I find that one of the few foods that can consistently give me morning energy is piece of whole-grain toast with peanut butter. I've tested it without bread and been starving by snack time. If I'm at a deli, I tend to go with an open-faced whole wheat sandwich to cut down on calories, but that's because bread just happens to have a lot of them. Whole grains, such as those found in (non-packet) oatmeal are good for your heart and cholesterol levels. Some whole grain cereals, such as Kashi GoLean, offer a nice amount of protein as well.

Secondly, I work out a lot. I need sources of fuel, and carbs provide them. I get far better workouts if I've just had yogurt or fruit. When I try and work out purely on protein, I wear out faster.

Granted, I'm still experimenting with ratios. But I don't foresee too many changes.

It's great that a low carb diet has worked for you, though! Different strokes for different folks.

kak1018

I have been following a low-carb lifestyle going on three years. I tend to eat my carbs in the morning because they fuel me for the day. I typically eat oatmeal in the am. I have much more energy, my mood is better, muscle tone is more defined, I have super low cholesterol & healthy blood pressure, you name it. I still struggle with the last "five" lbs but truthfully I swear by low-carb, I am very short and pear shaped and it has changed my shape completely. Natural carbs are not bad for you, if you stay true to nature you will be fine.

ponyskates

Anyone with a blood type O (very very common) will do much better with less carbs. And people only gain weight by eating carbs and not using it as energy (like by eating a bagel and then taking a nap).

shorerider

I have my carbs set for 45% of my calories, and typically eat around 160-200 carbs a day. I eat only whole grain stuff for the most part, and my daily breakfast cereal and daily piece of fruit account for a big chunk of my carb intake.

So, no, you can say I don't "do" low carb.

And, I've lost 74 pounds since July.

No way could I do low-carb with the cycling and exercise that I do.

Oh yeah, and I'm Type 2 Diabetic. My numbers have never been better, and I eat more carbs now than I did before I started losing weight and exercising.

Fitness_Chick

This has worked so great for me. I have lost about 35 pounds Since July 1st. No bread, No rice, No pasta and it is great. Sometimes its hard to workout, but I do it. I must say, I miss the bread the most. But then you have to look into priorities. My triclycirides haved gone from a dangerouse 430 to 92 which is perfect. Carbs are bad, period. It was the big things years ago with all the diets, but it has become dangerous. Look around at all the people that are totally obese and fat. They eat pasta and bread all the time because its cheap and easy. It is really hard, but the results are remarkable.

Huge congrats on the big drop in the Tri level!!:drinker:

Fitness_Chick

my only input is this. Everyone breaks food down differently... I am on a low carb diet as my body does not digest and use them way someone else would. I am extremely active but I still seem to see them go to my rear end!! I have a higher protein diet as that seems to work best for me.

What works for ones does not mean it will work for another. I suggest trying a few different things until you find something that works best for you.

GOOD LUCK!!!! :flowerforyou:

Very nicely put:flowerforyou:

Fitness_Chick

:drinker: oops...never mind....teehee....duped again:laugh: