Am I the only one who cannot hang with low-carb?

mousepaws22

My trainer has told me to do low carb/high protein and I'm really struggling :-( I'm new to MFP and I honestly never realised how much carbs were in stuff- such as fruit. Maybe I was just being naive? I try to stay away from them, no bread or potatoes, only brown rice and wholemeal pasta but I don't have them often, but I still go over my carbs every day. For the people who do eat low carb (or no carb) what do you eat on a typical day? I'm just curious.

mmapags

I'm reading a book right now called The Metabolic Typing Diet. It is not a diet book but a book about how we are each boichemically unique and need to find and maintian our own balance. An over siplification of his theory is that there are 3 fundamental types, Protien, Carbohydrate and Mixed that people fall into. Those that really struggle when carbs are eliminated for more that just a couple of days may be a carb type for example. His hypothosis is that there is no "one size fits all" solution to getting to and maintaining ideal weight and that when you get yourself balanced for your type it is not a struggle and you feel great. Just an FYI but Jillian Michaels practices this theory and approach. You can find the book on Amozon and there is a Kindle version available for fairly inexpensive. The idea is that if you are following a regimen that is not right for your Metabolic Type, you will not only be frustrated in trying but it may also be counter productive.

Two disclaimers:
I have not commercial realtionship with the author or anyone promoting this concept.
I do not recommend wholesale changes and give credence to just eating whatever you want without taking the time to educate yourself on this.

PaulS70

YAY! THE GREAT LOW CARB DEBATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here I go.... No population on earth ever ate the highly processed, low quality grain based diet Americans and some of the rest of western world gorges on today as their traditional diet

Paleolithic people who were getting 45-50% of their calories from carbohydrates were not getting them from white flour, mutant wheat and refined and processed grain sugars.

Western civilizations base their diets off of processed junk.

I am a strong believer in traditional diets. If you look at every single one that has ever been properly analyzed they are almost always macro-nutritionally balanced and get 85-90% of their calories from whole food sources.

I do think that a lot of overweight people today do need to make cuts from the carb side of the aisle to return to the traditional balance that humans once ate. This does not mean that you have to throw the baby out with the bath water. High quality, whole food meals that are rich in carbs will not harm you. What we consider to be a "normal" amount of carbs today just might...

dancingthroughmylife

Me. And I don't think I need to.

BrettPGH

Now that I think about it I've had pasta or pad thai for dinner every night this week. Still losing weight. For me it's all about watching my calories. Which is why I use MFP.

michiganderrdh

Honestly, I'm not even concentrating on lack of carbs but trying to eat clean (which most breads/pastas do not fit into the category). Being a carb lover, I've not even realized I'm really not eating carbs. Obviously, If I choose to, it'll be in my calorie limit and a healthy serving vs engorging on a plate of pasta.

Actually, I've had the best results since doing this!

Helloitsdan

Carbohydrates are an essential macronutrient.
Your sustainable diet should consist of 30-50% carbs for premium fuel.
Low carb craze can net you quick results but as soon as you add the carbs back youll most likely gain.

Its a good idea to set protein to .60g-1g per LBW
Set fat to .45g-.60g per LBW
Then let carbs take up the rest.

If you want to lose weight create a 20% deficit from your TDEE and do it!

HalloweenGirl7

Not all carbs are created =.
There are fast carbs and slow carbs.
Vegetables and fruits are carbs.
If you learn the difference between glycemic index and glycemic load you will see that combining a portion of fast carbs, slow carbs and protein will keep your blood sugar level which in turn will (without getting into a science lesson) result in the body letting go of stored fat.
So will eating every 2-3 hours.
Otherwise, the body will not let go of it's stored fat.
Cutting carbs out is not healthy, realistic or natural.
Cutting certain processed carbs is.
It is all about how quickly the foods are processed by the body into their usable form.
Some carbs (like berries, green beans, apricots, grapefruit, most vegetables) take longer to get broken down.
Like I said this keeps the body running and burning stored fat as fuel.
TMHO
To each his own though.
I hope you find something that works for ya!
:-)

japruzze

Carb withdrawal is not fun or easy. Yes, when you first cut down (and I'm talking carbs from breads, pasta, rice not fruit and veggies) you can get hungry and/or a headache. I had a headache for almost 2 weeks. You don't eliminate carbs entirely you cut down to 50% or less of your daily calories. If you do eat breads, pasta, rice etc make sure its whole grain (read the incredients don't go by the "name" on the label or the tag line) and limit it to one meal a day. It can take a week or so for the hunger to stop (just like when you started reducing your calories to begin with). Its worth it but you have to work for it.

Matt_Wild

The best way IMO is ensure the carbs that you do have a harder to break down and are divided out throughout the day. When cutting I have carbs 3 times per day and around 100g carbs or so tops, the most being made from protein and carbs.

Pebble321

I don't see the point in joining in on this fad.
I'm happy, healthy and maintaining in my goal range eating a variety of foods including rice, pasta, bread, cakes, chocolate.
I have no problem if other people choose to cut a whole macronutrient group out of their diet, I just wish they would evangelize about it somewhere else!

PaulS70

I don't see the point in joining in on this fad.
I'm happy, healthy and maintaining in my goal range eating a variety of foods including rice, pasta, bread, cakes, chocolate.
I have no problem if other people choose to cut a whole macronutrient group out of their diet, I just wish they would evangelize about it somewhere else!

I agree and disagree.

This is a place to express your opinion. I say evangelize all you want.

If anything is a fad diet it is Low Fat - Grain Based. The fad has just lasted for 50 years. (Which I guess could be considered a fad using evolutionary time relevance) Low carb diets have been around much much longer and are hardly a fad.

I agree that people go too far with eliminating foods from diets. I always wonder why nobody seems to care about a balanced, whole food diet anymore.

carolann_22

I have to eat this way (PCOS), but for me the biggest plus to the diet is if you really hang with it, the cravings GO AWAY. I tried Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem. I was always hungry. On a low carb diet, I feel satisfied and I like the food I'm eating and I can ALWAYS find something to eat when I'm out, which is another huge plus. BUT, of course, it's not for everyone. My hubby LOVES his pizza and chips. I can give them up, though.

ash1976

From NHS Direct http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/Healthyeating.aspx:

Starchy foods such as bread, cereals, potatoes, pasta, maize and cornbread are an important part of a healthy diet. They are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients in our diet. Starchy foods are fuel for your body.

Starchy foods should make up around one third of everything we eat. This means we should base our meals on these foods.

Try and choose wholegrain or wholemeal varieties, such as brown rice, wholewheat pasta and brown wholemeal bread. They contain more fibre (often referred to as 'roughage'), and usually more vitamins and minerals than white varieties.

Fibre is also found in beans, lentils and peas.

Matt_Wild

Low(er) carb is not a fad. The simple fact is any simple sugars by definition will make the body release insulin to take the nutrients up into the muscle. Since insulin doesn't care what nutrients are being taken up, it will grab all the proteins/carbs/fats into your system and dump them there. If the calories are not then required it will be stored as adipose tissue - fat.

Ultimately, a calorie is a calorie and over all intake matters but if you're trying to minimize fat gain or the retaining of fat, you don't want to give the body a reason to store fat.

PaulS70

From NHS Direct http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/Healthyeating.aspx:

The relationship between the agriculture industry and government is problematic to me. Therefore I instantly view any recommendation they give as corrupted.

I will now continue to sit in my basement with my tin foil hat on.

dls06

I just cut most white carbs. It has worked for me. I could never go no carb. :drinker:

millionsofpeaches

You want to cut your complex carbs which is found in starchy foods such as potatoes and white bread.

Naturally, you want to cut your sugar. I would just cut sugar that doesn't come from fruits. Fruit is good for you! Eat whole wheat bread and pasta. And up your protein. Upping protein does help to burn more calories (especially lean protein).

Perhaps the upping protein is where people read between the lines and take what they want to hear... Which, is "no carbs" which isn't true. A well balanced diet will trump cutting out a food group every time. At least, that is my opinion.

vonnywaft

I'm slightly insulted at the idea that low-carb is a fad. As many have said on here it's recommended by doctors for certain medical conditions such as PCOS. My weight will not shift if i eat more than about 50g carbs a day, but low carb I can eat far more calories and lose weight. Going low carb has not only helped me lose weight, but has also balanced my hormones so that I have regular periods and so that I was able to manage one successful pregnancy. PCOS can be a particularly horrible condition and people should not be told that what their doctor has told them is wrong. There needs to be a bit more tolerance on here sometimes - weight loss and nutrition is not completely black and white.

Matt_Wild

One thing I would add is, if you are looking to lose weight ensure you eat fruit in the morning. Fructose can only be stored in the liver and if your liver glycogen is full, you will store unused fructose as adipose tissue, fat.

fatty2fabby

i cannot nor will i ever do it! i have my low carb days and i have my low fat days! i know that once i lose the weight i wont be living a low carb lifestyle, i love pasta and bread way too much! i have about 130 grams a day.. i have made healthier carb choices but i still sneak in the not so healthy every now and then.

BeeElMarvin

Many people on here strongly advocate eating a well balanced diet, including healthy carbs. Many agree that moderation is the key to eating healthy.

bcattoes

If you truly go low carb you will never: be hungry, be low on energy, have a bad mood fom it, or any of the things unknowlegable people will say.

If you truly go low carb all of your aspects of health both physical and mental will improve.

Honestly I do not care if others eat carb or not. But statements like these are ridiculous. You couldn't possibly know how anything, food or otherwise, will affects the mood of others. And there is plenty of research showing that whole grains are healthy. There is absolutley none showing that eating low carb will make the general population healthier. Anecdotal results may show an improvement on an individual level, but that is true of any diet change.

rml_16

I go for a healthy, balanced diet. That includes carbs for me (whole grains and fruits and veggies, mostly). I rarely eat white foods, but when I do they are either because I'm somewhere I don't have a choice or because I want some freaking cake! lol

Some people have had great success going low-carb, but I lost 32 pounds and three sizes in three months eating plenty of carbs, so ...

(And for what it's worth, my last two physicals have shown me to be in perfect health and I seriously never get sick.)

neanderthin

There is absolutley none showing that eating low carb will make the general population healthier.

Actually, there is. It's more the higher protein than lower carb, nevertheless, lots of studies showing the health benefits in isocaloric comparisons.

rebawagner

I started by only eating natural carbs... Potatoes, nuts, fruit. I cut out bread, rice and pasta... Maybe try that?!

bjhadden

I have tried several times and could not make it a lifestyle change. I kept craving those foods that are off limits and eventually caved and gained all the weight I lost plus some. I would hate to have to cut carbs for medical reasons because it is really tough for me. I am a chocolate junkie and I need my fix daily.

CoryIda

I eat carbs - I get more of my calories from carbs than from either protein or fat (although I've upped my protein intake while I am trying to build muscle, I still get my carbs in, too). I eat at least one banana every day, and other "sugary" fruit as well (granny smith apples are my FAVORITE).

Guess what? I've shed over 125 pounds and have reduced my body fat by 33% (from way above the OBESE range to the top of the FITNESS range) - I am going to go out on a limb and say that carbs didn't hurt me in the weight loss or improved health arenas.

bcattoes

There is absolutley none showing that eating low carb will make the general population healthier.

Actually, there is. It's more the higher protein than lower carb, nevertheless, lots of studies showing the health benefits in isocaloric comparisons.

Studies showing that eating a low carb diet will make the general population heatlhier? Such as?

murf19

You can't go low carb for a few days, not knowing how to do it, and expect any success. Anybody can do low carb successfully if you know how to. You need to first educate yourself so you don't blow it.

If you truly go low carb you will never: be hungry, be low on energy, have a bad mood fom it, or any of the things unknowlegable people will say.

If you truly go low carb all of your aspects of health both physical and mental will improve.

Almost our entire population is addicted to carbs. You can see it clearly in some of these replies. To break the addiction, you need to go nearly zero carb for a couple weeks. Most people ,at that time, will realize that their cravings have gone away-and that's a liberating experience!

My athletic son decided to accept my challenge to do low carb. He has always thought you have to "carb up" to work out. He has done triathlons and marathons. On Jan 1 this year (a few weeks ago). He went low carb. He came to me about a week ago nearly speechless. He has eaten more food than ever before and lost 5 lbs! He usually gets tired after 3 sets of basketball. Well now he played 5 sets and wasn't tired yet! He ran out of time to play more. This sort of thing is common for low carbers.

I have been low carb since 2004 and have never been healthier. I dropped from 245lbs to 190lbs. My blood cholesterol went from bad to good. My energy is high and constant. I no longer take afternoon naps.

In my studies I now have learned that people who eat low carb have very low risk of all of the modern diseases like: cancer, hypertension, ADD, heart disease, liver disease. You name it and historically it is rare except for people who eat high carb. High carb eating is a modern concept.150 years ago there was no such thing as breakfast cereal. That was invented by vegetarians in the late 1800's.

Almost all of your body is fueled by ATP. Your body's first choice for making ATP is dietary fat. It's second choice is dietary carbs. If you are hooked on carbs, your body will convert back to using fat as fuel in a week or two of being off the carbs.

By the way, you cannot get fat by eating fat. Your body has no way to store it. Your body's method for storing fat is by converting excess blood glucose to triglycerides for storage. There is only one fat storage hormone and it's called insulin. Your blood sugar does not go high eating fat or protein. It only goes high when you eat carbs. If you don't eat carbs, your body will make all of the glucose it needs from dietary protein and by converting your fat reserves for fuel. This maintains and regulates blood glucose. Eating carbs causes your blood glucose to go high and out of normal regulation. Your body then has to react by dumping large amounts of insulin to store that glucose and get your blood sugar back to safe limits.

well said. I'm on my own 80 / 20 plan but sometime its less. I try and keep my carbs around 125grams a day.
I started over a year ago and I love it. I feel much better not eating all the man made stuff. (I still eat it occasion) Marks daily apple was my first taste of it. When I did P90X the second time it was all Primal! My body fat went to 12%. Not bad for 47 years old