Lower carb intake

Txnurse97
Txnurse97 Posts: 275 Member
I'm wanting to lower my carb intake from what mfp recommends (I believe 55% of total intake) but I'm not sure what is a good amount. If you were wanting to be lower carb but not extremely low carb, what would you do?

Replies

  • runs4zen
    runs4zen Posts: 769 Member
    set other areas--like protein--higher. It self adjusts from there. For instance, I have protein set at as close to 100 as the system allows.
  • Pocket_Pixi
    Pocket_Pixi Posts: 1,167 Member
    I started out slowly, just decreasing 10g carb a week and settled on around 100g carbs a day, and now I fluctuate between 50g and 100g a day.

    Is there a specific reason for decreasing your carbs?
  • I use to eat around 2 or 3 tortillas a day. now that I am watching my carbs it is super hard. My goal is around 150 but I try to set my norm for 200. I use to eat more than 200 easy. Well good luck.
  • kami89
    kami89 Posts: 12 Member
    I have always heard that for optimum fat burning, and weight loss, to keep your carbs 100 or less per day. I am new to the lowering the carbs thing as well, but 100 is what I am shooting for. If it seems to hard for me at first, I will up it wo 150 and then decrease slowly from there!
  • runs4zen
    runs4zen Posts: 769 Member
    set other areas--like protein--higher. It self adjusts from there. For instance, I have protein set at as close to 100 as the system allows.

    Sorry...thought you were asking how to do this on the MFP system.
  • I do low carb.
    But one of the trainers at the gym I go to recs 100 carbs a day as a moderate amount.
  • caroltina
    caroltina Posts: 453 Member
    I am doing 40% carbs, 40% protein and 20% fat - but I never reach the fat!
  • I think under 50 is supposed to considered "low carb" and leads to ketosis. Personally, I have been trying to stay around 60-75 (20% according to MFP) but don't beat myself over it if I worked out hard since my body will need a bit more fuel on those days.
  • Pangui
    Pangui Posts: 373 Member
    I have always heard that for optimum fat burning, and weight loss, to keep your carbs 100 or less per day. I am new to the lowering the carbs thing as well, but 100 is what I am shooting for. If it seems to hard for me at first, I will up it wo 150 and then decrease slowly from there!

    I don't think consuming a high percentage of carbs slows weight loss. I eat between 75%-80% carbs daily and the pounds have been falling off. But I have eliminated most "processed" and refined carbs like sweets, flour, white pasta and white bread. I stick with whole grains, potatoes, legumes, fruits and vegetables and don't limit my intake.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I have always heard that for optimum fat burning, and weight loss, to keep your carbs 100 or less per day. I am new to the lowering the carbs thing as well, but 100 is what I am shooting for. If it seems to hard for me at first, I will up it wo 150 and then decrease slowly from there!

    sorry but you heard wrong, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb diets
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I'm doing a low carb diet, and the nutritionists for this specific diet say to stay between 80-85 g of carbs, but no more than 100 to stay in a light state of ketosis. I've also lost weight eating a "normal" diet, but with this one the weight loss has been pretty consistent every week.
  • I am type diabetic and this is what my nutritionist says

    55% Carb
    15% Protien
    25% fat

    A woman looking to loose weight should eat between 30-45 grams of carbs per meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and around 15-20 carbs per snack. Carbs turn into glucose which our body stores and becomes...FAT ugh lol People easily forget we NEED carbs to live to function and in my opinion and that of my medical team low carb is not good for us. Carbs are our bodies fuel. No less then 150 carbs a day. GOOD carbs. Not mcdonalds lol Also, my nutritionist says that small things like 1 tablespoon of cream of things with less then 5 carbs dont need to be counted because its so small it has very little impact on our blood sugar...
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I am type diabetic and this is what my nutritionist says

    55% Carb
    15% Protien
    25% fat

    A woman looking to loose weight should eat between 30-45 grams of carbs per meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and around 15-20 carbs per snack. Carbs turn into glucose which our body stores and becomes...FAT ugh lol People easily forget we NEED carbs to live to function and in my opinion and that of my medical team low carb is not good for us. Carbs are our bodies fuel. No less then 150 carbs a day. GOOD carbs. Not mcdonalds lol Also, my nutritionist says that small things like 1 tablespoon of cream of things with less then 5 carbs dont need to be counted because its so small it has very little impact on our blood sugar...

    so much ignorance...

    CHO is not essentail

    the process of de novo lipogenesis is a relatively rare occurrence

    and what make a carb "good" and what makes a carb "bad"?
  • [/quote]

    "sorry but you heard wrong, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb diets"
    [/quote]

    My body tells me otherwise! I was eating the same number of calories before and I cut out carbs and I am losing an average of almost 2 pounds a week.

    It is working for me!
  • Txnurse97
    Txnurse97 Posts: 275 Member
    I started out slowly, just decreasing 10g carb a week and settled on around 100g carbs a day, and now I fluctuate between 50g and 100g a day.

    Is there a specific reason for decreasing your carbs?


    I just think I would lose more/easier if I restricted carbs...ate less refined sugar and more veggies.
  • Txnurse97
    Txnurse97 Posts: 275 Member
    I guess I should have clarified...I probably average about 180-220 grams of carbs a day (and that's not including my fiber intake.) I would like to be around 150 grams per day. It's just an arbitrary number for me.

    But no matter what anyone says, I KNOW my body doesn't react well to carbs. Well, bad carbs anyway. If I eat too many carbs I end up with heart palpitations and feeling shaky.
  • amysj303
    amysj303 Posts: 5,086 Member
    I set my MFP goals to 40/30/30 for carbs/protein/fats cuz Jillian told me to:tongue: but it seems to be good for me: protein is over 100 grams.
    There was a study recently that said that people who keep carbs under 43% lost more belly fat than the group with carbs at 55% when calories were equal and my belly is trouble zone so I try but I am not always successful.
  • Pangui
    Pangui Posts: 373 Member

    "sorry but you heard wrong, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb diets"

    My body tells me otherwise! I was eating the same number of calories before and I cut out carbs and I am losing an average of almost 2 pounds a week.

    It is working for me!

    You appear to be generalizing the term "carbs". If you are cutting out refined sugar, processed flour and white bread and pasta, then I believe you are correct. If you are cutting out fruits, whole grains and legumes (which are also high in carbohydrates), then I would suspect your results to be coincidental.

  • "sorry but you heard wrong, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb diets"

    My body tells me otherwise! I was eating the same number of calories before and I cut out carbs and I am losing an average of almost 2 pounds a week.

    It is working for me!

    You appear to be generalizing the term "carbs". If you are cutting out refined sugar, processed flour and white bread and pasta, then I believe you are correct. If you are cutting out fruits, whole grains and legumes (which are also high in carbohydrates), then I would suspect your results to be coincidental.

    Definitely not a coincidence in my case at all. I followed weight watchers religiously with not great results. I am eating the SAME number of calories if not more. But have cut way way back on carbs. No grains, starches, very little fruit for now. Veggies, protein, fat. Right now I am eating a huge bowl of salad with olive oil ! Yum
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    I'm wanting to lower my carb intake from what mfp recommends (I believe 55% of total intake) but I'm not sure what is a good amount. If you were wanting to be lower carb but not extremely low carb, what would you do?

    Honestly speaking.. I would consult your doctor or any specialist you might be working with on what is appropriate for you. I dont know if you are being treated for any condition, health-related issue, or are taking certain prescriptions and think that before you do anything, you should see what the doctor's say...
  • steffiejoe
    steffiejoe Posts: 313 Member

    "sorry but you heard wrong, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb diets"
    [/quote]

    My body tells me otherwise! I was eating the same number of calories before and I cut out carbs and I am losing an average of almost 2 pounds a week.

    It is working for me!
    [/quote]


    "It's working for me to!!"
  • Pangui
    Pangui Posts: 373 Member

    "sorry but you heard wrong, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb diets"

    My body tells me otherwise! I was eating the same number of calories before and I cut out carbs and I am losing an average of almost 2 pounds a week.

    It is working for me!

    You appear to be generalizing the term "carbs". If you are cutting out refined sugar, processed flour and white bread and pasta, then I believe you are correct. If you are cutting out fruits, whole grains and legumes (which are also high in carbohydrates), then I would suspect your results to be coincidental.

    Definitely not a coincidence in my case at all. I followed weight watchers religiously with not great results. I am eating the SAME number of calories if not more. But have cut way way back on carbs. No grains, starches, very little fruit for now. Veggies, protein, fat. Right now I am eating a huge bowl of salad with olive oil ! Yum

    Well, I guess we have both found a way to maximize our success with vastly different approaches. I had oatmeal with fruit for breakfast, potatoes and beans for lunch and pasta with corn on the cob for dinner. I too, am losing about 2 pounds a week. But in the interest of my endothelial cells, I'll skip the added oil and butter.
  • Yes, I think it is very different for each person. I did not believe that I could have a "problem" with carbs. That is why I stuck it out on weight watchers for so long.
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