Low Calories, or Low Carbs? What is better.....

CiciPorcayo

I am curious. I have searched the web countless hours and asked many people.... Some tell me very different things and over all I know it all depends on what works for me. But in your opinion (people working out and eating right) is it more important to watch calorie intake or carb intake... what has more of an effect on your weight. Because I have heard carbs do more then calories because most peoples BMR's are over 1300

CMmrsfloyd

People who eat low carb may have a 'side effect' of eating fewer calories simply b/c they are eating more of other food groups since they're not eating as many carbs. As far as weightloss is concerned, the main thing to worry about is calories. If you want to eat low-carb on top of that, that's fine, it might help you feel like you can eat more food b/c you'd likely be substituting in more veggies and lean proteins. But if you eat low-carb and do not manage your calories, you could still end up over-eating on other food groups and gain weight.

hottottie11

Counting calories reigns over counting carbs...as the previous responder stated...low carb =/= weight loss if you are still over your calories.

Also, if you don't have any metabolic issues (diabetes, PCOS) there really no need to cut carbs. Just make sure you get a good amount of healthy fats and proteins.:flowerforyou:

Trechechus

I'm really averse to low carb diets for several reasons. First and foremost is your body's need for energy. Without going into a huge bio lesson on ATP in your cells, I'm just going to point out that simple sugars, like carbs, are easy for your body to break down into their chemical components and can be quickly converted into energy for the functions of your body. Other nutrients can be broken down for this, too, but the process takes much longer, and wouldn't you rather have the protein you consume go toward building healthy muscle instead of being used as fuel? My second problem with low-carb dieting, is that it is impossible to maintain long term, and many people who participate in low-carb eating habits gain a lot of weight back once they add carbohydrates back into their diets.

source: my soon-to-be bio degree.

MrsCon40

NEITHER.

ETA: my body needs fuel and bread is delicious fuel

CiciPorcayo

Thank you guys so much! ;] Already helpful, I try to watch my calories more then my carbs... and exercise even if it is just walking briskly for 30 minutes a day. I will keep this in mind!

shakybabe

I calorie counted from June but struggled to really lose anything until went low carb then dropped nearly as much in one week as I had the previous 3 months, For me going low carb helped alot.. my weight loss is slowing down now I'm nearer my goal and been dieting for about 6 months so I'm doing high cal one day, low cal the next with more carbs on the high cal day.. having a rest from exercise after an intense week and hoping to have new exercise routine after xmas.

I will eventually after more carbs reguarly once I get to goal weight, though I think I will stay wheat free.

ALH1981

for me its about carbs. I gain weight the minute i touch them.

Id rather eat high calorific foods such as avacado, nuts, salmon oils than any type of starchy carb.

Having said that, i do allow myself rice noodles.

mrscarrey

I disagree with the above posts saying watching calories is better for a multitude of reasons. I suggest reading the book "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It" by science journalist Gary Taubes to understand why. Amazing book that really opened my eyes and has helped me to lose 47 pounds in 6 months so far.

dizam

I avoid sugars and refined grains, as those are empty carbs and calories, and actually, they increase my appetite. I eat fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

I keep my calories under control as well. So you have to watch both, but make sure you eat enough complex carbs to sustain yourself.

DrNicoleRed

I'm really averse to low carb diets for several reasons. First and foremost is your body's need for energy. Without going into a huge bio lesson on ATP in your cells, I'm just going to point out that simple sugars, like carbs, are easy for your body to break down into their chemical components and can be quickly converted into energy for the functions of your body. Other nutrients can be broken down for this, too, but the process takes much longer, and wouldn't you rather have the protein you consume go toward building healthy muscle instead of being used as fuel? My second problem with low-carb dieting, is that it is impossible to maintain long term, and many people who participate in low-carb eating habits gain a lot of weight back once they add carbohydrates back into their diets.

source: my soon-to-be bio degree.

Agree with prior replies, with take home points to be reiterated:

1. Low-carb diets force folks to eat more veggies and lean protein which probably end up being lower total calories. In adhering to my calorie target, I found that my satiety is more tied to volume (my stomach's stretch receptors) than chemical balance (protein:carb:fat ratios). As it turns out, it is easier to stick to my calorie targets with low calorie density/high volume foods which is typically plants of some persuasion. Plants are carbs, but very low calorie ones.

2. Food as fuel: Carbs rule for this. Just choosing plants first, complex starchy carbs next (whole grains, starchy beans), and if any calories are left then you could consider a treat that doesn't meet those criteria.

CMmrsfloyd

I disagree with the above posts saying watching calories is better for a multitude of reasons. I suggest reading the book "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It" by science journalist Gary Taubes to understand why. Amazing book that really opened my eyes and has helped me to lose 47 pounds in 6 months so far.

Plenty of people lose weight w/o going low carb. I don't watch my carbs much at all and I've lost 30 lbs and am comfortably back in my healthy weight range. Low carb is not the only way to lose weight, it is just one way that some people may choose. It may be easier for some people to lose weight on that type of diet, but it is not necessary for all people.

LabRat529

The best one is the one YOU can stick with. Seriously, that's all that matters.

They both work the same way... they control calorie intake. People naturally eat fewer calories on the low-carb diets, so they lower their calorie intake without actually having to count calories.

Acg67

I disagree with the above posts saying watching calories is better for a multitude of reasons. I suggest reading the book "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It" by science journalist Gary Taubes to understand why. Amazing book that really opened my eyes and has helped me to lose 47 pounds in 6 months so far.

^ only read the above book if you want your head to be filled with nonsense (other then the section on the lipid hypothesis)

shakybabe

I'm actually gluten free/low carb and its working for me.. I do have treat meals where I may have chips, potatoes OR rice once a week, and I haven't regained the weight but I am exercising or constantly moving doing other stuff even if not doing wii fit (housework etc).

I experimented with and without wheat in diet and weighed regularly to check water weight results and for me my water weight goes up significantly daily by much bigger amounts when I have eaten wheat... I have replaced bread with gluten free bread which is higher cal but I limit it to 1-2 a week and have rule that I only have one carb item in the day if I'm going to have a treat,, so if having bread I don't have oats for breakfast or potatoes with dinner (just be fish and low carb vegetables).

It can work for some people but usually the person may find they have a wheat intolerance or IBS and stay on that 'diet' anyway. If its a lifestyle change it's more likely to be successful than people just cutting carbs to drop weight quick then going back to normal diet when they have reached their goal weight... which is why people think it doesn't work long term unless you have to stay on it for medical reasons.

Acg67

for me its about carbs. I gain weight the minute i touch them.

Id rather eat high calorific foods such as avacado, nuts, salmon oils than any type of starchy carb.

Having said that, i do allow myself rice noodles.

might you be confusing water retention with fat gain?

CiciPorcayo

I disagree with the above posts saying watching calories is better for a multitude of reasons. I suggest reading the book "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It" by science journalist Gary Taubes to understand why. Amazing book that really opened my eyes and has helped me to lose 47 pounds in 6 months so far.

^ only read the above book if you want your head to be filled with nonsense (other then the section on the lipid hypothesis)

whats your advice....? curious!

tigersword

I disagree with the above posts saying watching calories is better for a multitude of reasons. I suggest reading the book "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It" by science journalist Gary Taubes to understand why. Amazing book that really opened my eyes and has helped me to lose 47 pounds in 6 months so far.

^ only read the above book if you want your head to be filled with nonsense (other then the section on the lipid hypothesis)

Gary Taubes, that's that guy with no education in nutrition whatsoever, that claims to know all the secrets to losing fat and losing weight, yet he's overweight himself, right? Remember "science writer" is not the same as scientist. He studied physics, but his degree is in journalism. I don't know why people seem to think he is some kind of nutritional expert, other than he says he is.

Anyway, the answer is lower calories over lower carbs. Lowering your carbs will cause you to shed some water weight, because carbs are stored in your body as glycogen, and glycogen requires a lot of water for storage. That's why drastically lowering carb causes you to lose weight quickly, and then adding them back causes you to gain it back quickly, it's just water. Comparative studies show no benefit to low carb diets for overall weight loss, compared to a traditional lower calorie diet. Losing weight is all about the total calorie deficit.

OF course, if you have a specific metabolic issue, that can change the answer, but that's the exception, not the norm.

gorgeouss9

I'm really averse to low carb diets for several reasons. First and foremost is your body's need for energy. Without going into a huge bio lesson on ATP in your cells, I'm just going to point out that simple sugars, like carbs, are easy for your body to break down into their chemical components and can be quickly converted into energy for the functions of your body. Other nutrients can be broken down for this, too, but the process takes much longer, and wouldn't you rather have the protein you consume go toward building healthy muscle instead of being used as fuel? My second problem with low-carb dieting, is that it is impossible to maintain long term, and many people who participate in low-carb eating habits gain a lot of weight back once they add carbohydrates back into their diets.

source: my soon-to-be bio degree.

absolutely agree!! 100%!!

Acg67

I disagree with the above posts saying watching calories is better for a multitude of reasons. I suggest reading the book "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It" by science journalist Gary Taubes to understand why. Amazing book that really opened my eyes and has helped me to lose 47 pounds in 6 months so far.

^ only read the above book if you want your head to be filled with nonsense (other then the section on the lipid hypothesis)

whats your advice....? curious!

make sure you are getting adequate protein and fat each day (a minimum of approx 1g of protein per lb of lbm and .35-.45g of fat per lb of bodyweight) then fill in the rest of your remaining cals how you please. focus should be on nutrient dense whole foods, but no reason you can't fit treats into your everyday diet

HMonsterX

I disagree with the above posts saying watching calories is better for a multitude of reasons. I suggest reading the book "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It" by science journalist Gary Taubes to understand why. Amazing book that really opened my eyes and has helped me to lose 47 pounds in 6 months so far.

^ only read the above book if you want your head to be filled with nonsense (other then the section on the lipid hypothesis)

Gary Taubes, that's that guy with no education in nutrition whatsoever, that claims to know all the secrets to losing fat and losing weight, yet he's overweight himself, right? Remember "science writer" is not the same as scientist. He studied physics, but his degree is in journalism. I don't know why people seem to think he is some kind of nutritional expert, other than he says he is.

Anyway, the answer is lower calories over lower carbs. Lowering your carbs will cause you to shed some water weight, because carbs are stored in your body as glycogen, and glycogen requires a lot of water for storage. That's why drastically lowering carb causes you to lose weight quickly, and then adding them back causes you to gain it back quickly, it's just water. Comparative studies show no benefit to low carb diets for overall weight loss, compared to a traditional lower calorie diet. Losing weight is all about the total calorie deficit.

OF course, if you have a specific metabolic issue, that can change the answer, but that's the exception, not the norm.

This.

amiller7x7

It still seems that the best advice I have heard (and which I can still recall...which is another problem) is Michael Pollan's guidance on modern nutrition theory which he says (perhaps a little tongue in cheek) is:
Eat Food
Not too much
Mostly Plants

His review article from 2007 New York Times Magazine (http://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/unhappy-meals/ ) is a pretty good place to get an idea of his thinking and what those terms mean. As is usual with these posts, everyone is enough different that "your mileage may vary", ergo caveat emptor.

bcattoes

If by better, you mean which will help more with weight loss, then it would be calories if you have no disorders or diseases causing problems with grains. If you have any type of disease the rules may be different for you.

mrscarrey

http://garytaubes.com/lectures-2/

If you wanted to get a preview of his message, I suggest going to his website and watching his lectures for free via the above link. Also, a more in-depth, highly scientific book with tons of references is his first book "Good Calories, Bad Calories" which was his original work on this topic. Basically he went through all the science that was already there and did the research for himself vs just listening to the conventional wisdom (that continues to make us all sick) and explains why WHAT we eat is so much more important than the concept of calories in, calories out (does your body react the same to 200 calories of bread vs 200 cal of fat? Nope, and this book breaks down why and how one may be helping to make you healthy vs why one may be helping to make you sick, diabetic and overweight).

Even if you watch or read and don't agree with it, at least you will have taken the time to judge for yourself vs assuming anyone else is right or wrong.

Acg67

http://garytaubes.com/lectures-2/

If you wanted to get a preview of his message, I suggest going to his website and watching his lectures for free via the above link. Also, a more in-depth, highly scientific book with tons of references is his first book "Good Calories, Bad Calories" which was his original work on this topic. Basically he went through all the science that was already there and did the research for himself vs just listening to the conventional wisdom (that continues to make us all sick) and explains why WHAT we eat is so much more important than the concept of calories in, calories out (does your body react the same to 200 calories of bread vs 200 cal of fat? Nope, and this book breaks down why and how one may be helping to make you healthy vs why one may be helping to make you sick, diabetic and overweight).

Even if you watch or read and don't agree with it, at least you will have taken the time to judge for yourself vs assuming anyone else is right or wrong.

and when he went through all the science he managed to disregard almost all the studies that went against his insulin hypothesis of obesity.

for instance did you know your body can store fat without the presence of insulin

rachmaree

I disagree with the above posts saying watching calories is better for a multitude of reasons. I suggest reading the book "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It" by science journalist Gary Taubes to understand why. Amazing book that really opened my eyes and has helped me to lose 47 pounds in 6 months so far.

^ only read the above book if you want your head to be filled with nonsense (other then the section on the lipid hypothesis)

whats your advice....? curious!

make sure you are getting adequate protein and fat each day (a minimum of approx 1g of protein per lb of lbm and .35-.45g of fat per lb of bodyweight) then fill in the rest of your remaining cals how you please. focus should be on nutrient dense whole foods, but no reason you can't fit treats into your everyday diet

Absolutely agree with acg

apriltrainer

For initial weight loss, dropping the carbs without drastically reducing my caloric intake helped me drop my baby wt. I was 160 something in June, Now 114 give or take a few lbs.

So that was GREAT! I became a believer in low carb. But man...as I started losing more than what I was prepregnancy...it got harder and low carb didn't work as well. I would check my bodyfat and it seemed that to get past a sticking point I also had to combine low calorie with the low carb.


I've fallen off the low carb wagon though..and need to get back on.

Even though I have fallen off..I did get good benefits besides the weight loss. My adult acne cleared up which I have suffered with since I was 16. Also chronic teeth pain I have had for the past 2 years completely disappered.

I think a person just has to find what is right for their body.

I have a friend who is vegan. That works for her.

It doesn't work for me.

when I started eating mainly meat and eggs..wow. My skin just cleared up and my tooth pain disappeared..

I think I was meant to eat this way.

I just have to get a handle on only eating part of the cow now, not the whole darn thing!

bcattoes

http://garytaubes.com/lectures-2/

If you wanted to get a preview of his message, I suggest going to his website and watching his lectures for free via the above link. Also, a more in-depth, highly scientific book with tons of references is his first book "Good Calories, Bad Calories" which was his original work on this topic. Basically he went through all the science that was already there and did the research for himself vs just listening to the conventional wisdom (that continues to make us all sick) and explains why WHAT we eat is so much more important than the concept of calories in, calories out (does your body react the same to 200 calories of bread vs 200 cal of fat? Nope, and this book breaks down why and how one may be helping to make you healthy vs why one may be helping to make you sick, diabetic and overweight).

Even if you watch or read and don't agree with it, at least you will have taken the time to judge for yourself vs assuming anyone else is right or wrong.

What advantage do you think his views have over those of medical and nutrition scientists? Do you think that the professionals at medical univeristies and hospitals who conduct nutrition studies and make recommendations are unaware of how our bodies handle consumption of carbs, protein and fat?

carolann_22

I have been on lower calorie diets and low carb / low calorie diets, and the scale moves a LOT more when I'm on the low carb one, even if the calorie deficits are the same. I am also more satisfied on a low carb diet, and not hungry all the time. I lost 136 pounds on a low carb diet after college and kept it off for 6 years until the doctor told me I had to eat carbs when I got pregnant.

I also have PCOS, and Insulin Resistance, so this is why lower carb diets have better results for me. I don't think that low carb diets are the answer for everyone, but if most of the weight is around your middle you might give it a try and see how you like it. I'm doing it now and have lost 11 pounds in two weeks (I know at least half of that is water) but I'm also working out and creating a big calorie deficit each day, I'm not eating my weight in bacon I eat a lot more veggies on a low carb diet than I did when I was on WW, and do not feel tired or unenergized (but I do eat nuts)

Marll

http://garytaubes.com/lectures-2/

If you wanted to get a preview of his message, I suggest going to his website and watching his lectures for free via the above link. Also, a more in-depth, highly scientific book with tons of references is his first book "Good Calories, Bad Calories" which was his original work on this topic. Basically he went through all the science that was already there and did the research for himself vs just listening to the conventional wisdom (that continues to make us all sick) and explains why WHAT we eat is so much more important than the concept of calories in, calories out (does your body react the same to 200 calories of bread vs 200 cal of fat? Nope, and this book breaks down why and how one may be helping to make you healthy vs why one may be helping to make you sick, diabetic and overweight).

Even if you watch or read and don't agree with it, at least you will have taken the time to judge for yourself vs assuming anyone else is right or wrong.

What advantage do you think his views have over those of medical and nutrition scientists? Do you think that the professionals at medical univeristies and hospitals who conduct nutrition studies and make recommendations are unaware of how our bodies handle consumption of carbs, protein and fat?

I would say the advantage could be that he's not necessarily on the FDA/ConAgra payroll and has to make stuff up to keep his research department funded.

Grains are big business and highly pushed and subsidised in the US, and people that go against that are demonized to the extremem by these groups. The media has also been used to demonize low carb and has twisted the view of the diet quite a bit. For example I have told a co-worker in the past the way I've been eating, since they are very curious about my weight loss progress. Below is a typical (and true reaction)

Co-Worker:How are you loosing your weight?
Me: Diet and exercise, mostly diet though, that seems to make the most difference.
Co-Worker: Oh really? So what are you eating?
Me: Well I switched to mostly whole natural foods, no processed junk, no sugar, lots of vegtables and meat, fruit occasionally.
Co-Worker: Oh that's great to be eating natural, so you feel better too I bet!
Me: Yeah, my body really responds well to a low carb diet, I feel better than I have in years.
Co-Worker: Low Carb?! You know that'll kill you right?! It's horrible for you....

Insert the buzzword "low-carb" and you get these kinds of reacations, but nodoby will typically dispute the idea of eating less processed crap, less sugar, more vegtables than you ever have and good quality cuts of meat...

Marll

For initial weight loss, dropping the carbs without drastically reducing my caloric intake helped me drop my baby wt. I was 160 something in June, Now 114 give or take a few lbs.

So that was GREAT! I became a believer in low carb. But man...as I started losing more than what I was prepregnancy...it got harder and low carb didn't work as well. I would check my bodyfat and it seemed that to get past a sticking point I also had to combine low calorie with the low carb.


I've fallen off the low carb wagon though..and need to get back on.

Even though I have fallen off..I did get good benefits besides the weight loss. My adult acne cleared up which I have suffered with since I was 16. Also chronic teeth pain I have had for the past 2 years completely disappered.

I think a person just has to find what is right for their body.

I have a friend who is vegan. That works for her.

It doesn't work for me.

when I started eating mainly meat and eggs..wow. My skin just cleared up and my tooth pain disappeared..

I think I was meant to eat this way.

I just have to get a handle on only eating part of the cow now, not the whole darn thing!

It's great how low carb has helped with other issues that you were having as well too huh? I know a few people right now that have had similar issues that have cleared up as well

Adult Acne
Painful Teeth
Painful Joints
Sinus Congestion
Stomach distress

Maybe it's just me, but by cutting grains and sugar if these things can be cleared up, what's supposed to be so bad about it?