Correct Advise Please
Leegree
Posts: 24
I am so confused. I am told that calories don't matter that it is the Fat grams that I need to watch and limit. Then I am told Carbs are OK but then I read an article about Insulin Resistance that say's that is not true. Then I try to go by the Glycemic Index but others tell me that isn't going to help me lose weight or give me the nutrition I need. Does anyone have some valid knowledge about foods and their ability to help one lose weight. What foods are bad for belly fat and which burn fat. Please help me. Thank you in advance for your time in answering my questions. Lee
0
Replies
-
Calories are the ONLY thing that matters as far as weight loss is concerned.
I could eat 1200 calories of chocolate frosted cake a day and lose weight. Would I be getting all the nutrients I need? Probably not- but I would lose weight. Replace chocolate cake with any foods you want.
Period. The rest you've heard is just myth- usually by people who are uneducated in the matter.0 -
Hmm. I'm not positive how to be diplomatic here, so please forgive me if I say this wrong. It sounds to me like you are prone toward believing myths. It's not uncommon- every one wants a quick fix- but it leave you vulnerable. Unfortunately, you're opening yourself up for even more problems with this thread. You will be bombarded by myth after myth after myth and you're not going to know what's right. You won't even know if my words are right.
So let me try and give you some tools so that you can decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong. First, you need to learn about human nutrition from credible, scientific/medical sources. The mayo clinic website is one of my favorite websites for explaining medicine and science. I think they do a fantastic job of presenting the facts in an unbiased way. You'll find it here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00616.
WebMD is another great site. You'll find their diet info here:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm.
Lyle McDonald offers some good info too, though his stuff might be a bit advanced for you... I haven't read all he has to offer, but I like what I've read. You can find his stuff here:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/
There's also great info in some of the stickies on MFP, and there are some great blogs and threads from some really credible people.
Second, every time you read something, you should start asking yourself: Does it sound too good to be true? If it DOES, then it probably IS too good to be true.
Third, I like to use the KISS rule. Keep it simple. If it sounds complicated, it's not worth your time. The most important thing you can do for your health is lose weight. You can do that by eating a normal diet. You don't need fancy tricks.
Fourth, I really really like the adage 'moderation in all things'. That means avoid obsessions. Don't get obsessed about ever little thing you eat. Don't get obsessed about exercise. Don't get obsessed about water. You CAN over-think things. You CAN over-train. Obsession will lead to burn out and failure.
Now for more specifics about your questions:
1) For weight loss, calories matter most. You'll have most success with counting calories.
2) You don't need to fear the fats. Some fat is good for you. Focus on poly and monounsaturated fats, but some saturated fat isn't going to hurt you in the long run as long as you are losing weight.
3) Carbs are totally fine UNLESS you're Insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is pre-diabetes or diabetes. If you've been diagnosed as insulin resistant and/or diabetic, then you should reduce your carbs, but not eliminate them. You should focus on getting most of your carbs from vegetables and whole-grains with a lot of fiber.
4) Glycemic index is not something you need to worry about for success. If you are insulin resistant or diabetic, THEN you should worry about glycemic index and eat foods with a low glycemic index. This advice fits with #3.
5) There are no foods that burn belly fat or fat. This is like asking for some magic beans. They don't exist and anyone that tells you otherwise is lying because they want to make money, or ignorant and buying into the propaganda and myth. They don't understand science. There is no magic anything. No quick fixes. None.
And... well... while I feel like an arrogant *kitten* for waving my credentials around... if it helps you decide who to believe and who not to, I suppose it's worth it. My 'credentials' are as follows: I have a bachelors and a masters degree in zoology with an emphasis in human biology and biophysics. I have a PhD in pharmacology with an emphasis in neuroscience. I am not a medical doctor. I am not a nutritionist. I am not a dietitian. I am not a physical trainer. But I'm good at spotting the myths and I will never knowingly lie to you about human health.0 -
Correct Advise Please
Ok. It's Advice.
P.S., Listen to LabRat5290 -
Hmm. I'm not positive how to be diplomatic here, so please forgive me if I say this wrong. It sounds to me like you are prone toward believing myths. It's not uncommon- every one wants a quick fix- but it leave you vulnerable. Unfortunately, you're opening yourself up for even more problems with this thread. You will be bombarded by myth after myth after myth and you're not going to know what's right. You won't even know if my words are right.
So let me try and give you some tools so that you can decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong. First, you need to learn about human nutrition from credible, scientific/medical sources. The mayo clinic website is one of my favorite websites for explaining medicine and science. I think they do a fantastic job of presenting the facts in an unbiased way. You'll find it here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00616.
WebMD is another great site. You'll find their diet info here:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm.
Lyle McDonald offers some good info too, though his stuff might be a bit advanced for you... I haven't read all he has to offer, but I like what I've read. You can find his stuff here:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/
There's also great info in some of the stickies on MFP, and there are some great blogs and threads from some really credible people.
Second, every time you read something, you should start asking yourself: Does it sound too good to be true? If it DOES, then it probably IS too good to be true.
Third, I like to use the KISS rule. Keep it simple. If it sounds complicated, it's not worth your time. The most important thing you can do for your health is lose weight. You can do that by eating a normal diet. You don't need fancy tricks.
Fourth, I really really like the adage 'moderation in all things'. That means avoid obsessions. Don't get obsessed about ever little thing you eat. Don't get obsessed about exercise. Don't get obsessed about water. You CAN over-think things. You CAN over-train. Obsession will lead to burn out and failure.
Now for more specifics about your questions:
1) For weight loss, calories matter most. You'll have most success with counting calories.
2) You don't need to fear the fats. Some fat is good for you. Focus on poly and monounsaturated fats, but some saturated fat isn't going to hurt you in the long run as long as you are losing weight.
3) Carbs are totally fine UNLESS you're Insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is pre-diabetes or diabetes. If you've been diagnosed as insulin resistant and/or diabetic, then you should reduce your carbs, but not eliminate them. You should focus on getting most of your carbs from vegetables and whole-grains with a lot of fiber.
4) Glycemic index is not something you need to worry about for success. If you are insulin resistant or diabetic, THEN you should worry about glycemic index and eat foods with a low glycemic index. This advice fits with #3.
5) There are no foods that burn belly fat or fat. This is like asking for some magic beans. They don't exist and anyone that tells you otherwise is lying because they want to make money, or ignorant and buying into the propaganda and myth. They don't understand science. There is no magic anything. No quick fixes. None.
And... well... while I feel like an arrogant *kitten* for waving my credentials around... if it helps you decide who to believe and who not to, I suppose it's worth it. My 'credentials' are as follows: I have a bachelors and a masters degree in zoology with an emphasis in human biology and biophysics. I have a PhD in pharmacology with an emphasis in neuroscience. I am not a medical doctor. I am not a nutritionist. I am not a dietitian. I am not a physical trainer. But I'm good at spotting the myths and I will never knowingly lie to you about human health.
LOVE THIS!!! You couldn't ask for a better simplified answer to your question. I don't think I have ever heard it explained quite this succinctly before. Thanks!0 -
Here's what matters:
Calories represent energy
Your body uses a certain amount of energy
If you eat more energy than your body uses, it will be stored in fat
If you eat less energy than your body uses, it will use the energy stored in fat0 -
We have a few options for the title:
Correct? Advise Please
Correct? Please advise
Correct advice please
Please advise which option is correct for this matter.
Thank you.0 -
You have to do what is best for you. Find healthier versions of the foods you love and watch portion size. Stay within the calorie goals you set for yourself and Log everything you eat and drink. If you try to eat completely different than you always have, you will probably not stick with it. Just my opinion.0
-
Bump0
-
If you are a typical person with no medical issues to consider, the only thing you need to be really concerned with is the calorie counting and your exercise. If you can make healthier food choices along the way, that's great. But you don't need to obsess over carbs or fat unless you personally have a medical issue that dictates that you watch them more carefully (diabetes, PCOS, gall bladder problems, etc). Start off your weightloss efforts by watching the calories and trying to make slightly better choices - but if you really want something, go ahead and have it but log it and fit it into your calorie goal for the day. If you stick to the calorie goal and don't see any progress after several weeks, you can consider a trip to your dr. to make sure there are no medical issues that you need to be aware of.0
-
Correct Advise Please
Ok. It's Advice.
I was totally going to do this.0 -
Oh my . . .
If you are trying to lose weight then calories certainly do matter and there is simply no avoiding it. It is simple mathematics. What you are getting into is what constitutes HEALTHY weight loss. You see, when you limit your caloric intake you are also limiting your body's opportunity to get the nutrients it needs so you have to be careful to eat the right foods when you "diet" (I hate that word). If you don't then you aren't doing yourself any good in the long run.
May I suggest an excellent book:
Eating For Life
by Bill Phillips
There is nothing complicated about the book and it is an easy read. It's really just good sound common sense. There is no such a thing as "dieting", there is only learning how to eat properly and in the correct portions. Oh . . and let's not forget that we need to get excercise. That is a must for keeping our body healthy.
Good luck sweetie!0 -
We have a few options for the title:
Correct? Advise Please
Correct? Please advise
Correct advice please
Please advise which option is correct for this matter.
Thank you.
i would advise you not to give advice about advising. wait, did i say that right?
aww screw it0 -
Here's what matters:
Calories represent energy
Your body uses a certain amount of energy
If you eat more energy than your body uses, it will be stored in fat
If you eat less energy than your body uses, it will use the energy stored in fat
Exactly! Simple mathematics.
Food Eaten (Energy) - Energy Burned (Metabolism + excercise) +/- water weight = weight gained or lost0 -
Hmm. I'm not positive how to be diplomatic here, so please forgive me if I say this wrong. It sounds to me like you are prone toward believing myths. It's not uncommon- every one wants a quick fix- but it leave you vulnerable. Unfortunately, you're opening yourself up for even more problems with this thread. You will be bombarded by myth after myth after myth and you're not going to know what's right. You won't even know if my words are right.
So let me try and give you some tools so that you can decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong. First, you need to learn about human nutrition from credible, scientific/medical sources. The mayo clinic website is one of my favorite websites for explaining medicine and science. I think they do a fantastic job of presenting the facts in an unbiased way. You'll find it here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00616.
WebMD is another great site. You'll find their diet info here:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm.
Lyle McDonald offers some good info too, though his stuff might be a bit advanced for you... I haven't read all he has to offer, but I like what I've read. You can find his stuff here:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/
There's also great info in some of the stickies on MFP, and there are some great blogs and threads from some really credible people.
Second, every time you read something, you should start asking yourself: Does it sound too good to be true? If it DOES, then it probably IS too good to be true.
Third, I like to use the KISS rule. Keep it simple. If it sounds complicated, it's not worth your time. The most important thing you can do for your health is lose weight. You can do that by eating a normal diet. You don't need fancy tricks.
Fourth, I really really like the adage 'moderation in all things'. That means avoid obsessions. Don't get obsessed about ever little thing you eat. Don't get obsessed about exercise. Don't get obsessed about water. You CAN over-think things. You CAN over-train. Obsession will lead to burn out and failure.
Now for more specifics about your questions:
1) For weight loss, calories matter most. You'll have most success with counting calories.
2) You don't need to fear the fats. Some fat is good for you. Focus on poly and monounsaturated fats, but some saturated fat isn't going to hurt you in the long run as long as you are losing weight.
3) Carbs are totally fine UNLESS you're Insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is pre-diabetes or diabetes. If you've been diagnosed as insulin resistant and/or diabetic, then you should reduce your carbs, but not eliminate them. You should focus on getting most of your carbs from vegetables and whole-grains with a lot of fiber.
4) Glycemic index is not something you need to worry about for success. If you are insulin resistant or diabetic, THEN you should worry about glycemic index and eat foods with a low glycemic index. This advice fits with #3.
5) There are no foods that burn belly fat or fat. This is like asking for some magic beans. They don't exist and anyone that tells you otherwise is lying because they want to make money, or ignorant and buying into the propaganda and myth. They don't understand science. There is no magic anything. No quick fixes. None.
And... well... while I feel like an arrogant *kitten* for waving my credentials around... if it helps you decide who to believe and who not to, I suppose it's worth it. My 'credentials' are as follows: I have a bachelors and a masters degree in zoology with an emphasis in human biology and biophysics. I have a PhD in pharmacology with an emphasis in neuroscience. I am not a medical doctor. I am not a nutritionist. I am not a dietitian. I am not a physical trainer. But I'm good at spotting the myths and I will never knowingly lie to you about human health.
Thank you so much for your help. I do not think it is arrogant to state your credentials. I think you answered my question in a very clear and concise manner and one I can understand. My degree happens to be in computer science not health or nutrition so I appreciate you helping to educate me.
Lee
For others I will apologize for misspelling Advice with Advise.0 -
Hmm. I'm not positive how to be diplomatic here, so please forgive me if I say this wrong. It sounds to me like you are prone toward believing myths. It's not uncommon- every one wants a quick fix- but it leave you vulnerable. Unfortunately, you're opening yourself up for even more problems with this thread. You will be bombarded by myth after myth after myth and you're not going to know what's right. You won't even know if my words are right.
So let me try and give you some tools so that you can decide for yourself what is right and what is wrong. First, you need to learn about human nutrition from credible, scientific/medical sources. The mayo clinic website is one of my favorite websites for explaining medicine and science. I think they do a fantastic job of presenting the facts in an unbiased way. You'll find it here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00616.
WebMD is another great site. You'll find their diet info here:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm.
Lyle McDonald offers some good info too, though his stuff might be a bit advanced for you... I haven't read all he has to offer, but I like what I've read. You can find his stuff here:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/
There's also great info in some of the stickies on MFP, and there are some great blogs and threads from some really credible people.
Second, every time you read something, you should start asking yourself: Does it sound too good to be true? If it DOES, then it probably IS too good to be true.
Third, I like to use the KISS rule. Keep it simple. If it sounds complicated, it's not worth your time. The most important thing you can do for your health is lose weight. You can do that by eating a normal diet. You don't need fancy tricks.
Fourth, I really really like the adage 'moderation in all things'. That means avoid obsessions. Don't get obsessed about ever little thing you eat. Don't get obsessed about exercise. Don't get obsessed about water. You CAN over-think things. You CAN over-train. Obsession will lead to burn out and failure.
Now for more specifics about your questions:
1) For weight loss, calories matter most. You'll have most success with counting calories.
2) You don't need to fear the fats. Some fat is good for you. Focus on poly and monounsaturated fats, but some saturated fat isn't going to hurt you in the long run as long as you are losing weight.
3) Carbs are totally fine UNLESS you're Insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is pre-diabetes or diabetes. If you've been diagnosed as insulin resistant and/or diabetic, then you should reduce your carbs, but not eliminate them. You should focus on getting most of your carbs from vegetables and whole-grains with a lot of fiber.
4) Glycemic index is not something you need to worry about for success. If you are insulin resistant or diabetic, THEN you should worry about glycemic index and eat foods with a low glycemic index. This advice fits with #3.
5) There are no foods that burn belly fat or fat. This is like asking for some magic beans. They don't exist and anyone that tells you otherwise is lying because they want to make money, or ignorant and buying into the propaganda and myth. They don't understand science. There is no magic anything. No quick fixes. None.
And... well... while I feel like an arrogant *kitten* for waving my credentials around... if it helps you decide who to believe and who not to, I suppose it's worth it. My 'credentials' are as follows: I have a bachelors and a masters degree in zoology with an emphasis in human biology and biophysics. I have a PhD in pharmacology with an emphasis in neuroscience. I am not a medical doctor. I am not a nutritionist. I am not a dietitian. I am not a physical trainer. But I'm good at spotting the myths and I will never knowingly lie to you about human health.
You couldn't ask for a better answer that this one ^^0 -
for most calories play a big role......
watching carbs will get better results in same amount of time.
watching fats will get better results in same amount of time....
now once you are serious about your goals and you want to cut to 5-6%BF (my current 14wk goal) only way to get there without loosing muscle or getting there period is by carb cycling... bearly watch my calories... i base it on how much protein i need, how much fats everyday, how much carbs on low carb day, how much carbs on high carb day... n cals dont matter as i have those specific macros i need to get too to maintain my muscle and lose BF... been doing it for about a month and drastic results... the pic i have up is when i started.. flat fat stomach and now a 6 pack is starting to peek through...
so ppl that say ONLY watch ur cals.. its BS... your other macros are as or in most cases even more important than just calories alone!!! u have to find foods that will meet ur macro goals and your calorie goals!
think in realm..
lets say one person eats high fiber, 1500cal diet with perfect macros to match their lean body mass...
other eats 1500cals a day but about 60% of those are fats,35%are carbs, 5%are proteins...
who do you HONESTLY think is going to see more results?0 -
I see what you did there.Correct Advise Please
Ok. It's Advice.
P.S., Listen to LabRat5290 -
for most calories play a big role......
watching carbs will get better results in same amount of time.
watching fats will get better results in same amount of time....
now once you are serious about your goals and you want to cut to 5-6%BF (my current 14wk goal) only way to get there without loosing muscle or getting there period is by carb cycling... bearly watch my calories... i base it on how much protein i need, how much fats everyday, how much carbs on low carb day, how much carbs on high carb day... n cals dont matter as i have those specific macros i need to get too to maintain my muscle and lose BF... been doing it for about a month and drastic results... the pic i have up is when i started.. flat fat stomach and now a 6 pack is starting to peek through...
so ppl that say ONLY watch ur cals.. its BS... your other macros are as or in most cases even more important than just calories alone!!! u have to find foods that will meet ur macro goals and your calorie goals!
think in realm..
lets say one person eats high fiber, 1500cal diet with perfect macros to match their lean body mass...
other eats 1500cals a day but about 60% of those are fats,35%are carbs, 5%are proteins...
who do you HONESTLY think is going to see more results?
Also, women cannot safely exist at 5-6% body fat. The OP was talking about losing weight, not becoming a hardcore bodybuilder.0 -
for most calories play a big role......
watching carbs will get better results in same amount of time.
watching fats will get better results in same amount of time....
now once you are serious about your goals and you want to cut to 5-6%BF (my current 14wk goal) only way to get there without loosing muscle or getting there period is by carb cycling... bearly watch my calories... i base it on how much protein i need, how much fats everyday, how much carbs on low carb day, how much carbs on high carb day... n cals dont matter as i have those specific macros i need to get too to maintain my muscle and lose BF... been doing it for about a month and drastic results... the pic i have up is when i started.. flat fat stomach and now a 6 pack is starting to peek through...
so ppl that say ONLY watch ur cals.. its BS... your other macros are as or in most cases even more important than just calories alone!!! u have to find foods that will meet ur macro goals and your calorie goals!
think in realm..
lets say one person eats high fiber, 1500cal diet with perfect macros to match their lean body mass...
other eats 1500cals a day but about 60% of those are fats,35%are carbs, 5%are proteins...
who do you HONESTLY think is going to see more results?
Also, women cannot safely exist at 5-6% body fat. The OP was talking about losing weight, not becoming a hardcore bodybuilder.
Of course, women cant get down that low of BF%!!! i was using myself as an example! not being a bodybuilder? thats why i broke it down step, by step, from when u want to just loose a bit of weight.. what gets u results and what can get you results quicker... to when ur low enough BF that you really should pay attention to ur macros not just calories!!!
taking advice.. i dont care whose advice you take but i have learned to take advice not from internet pages as OP said one sais one thing, other sais other thing, 3rd says somethign completley different yet they all have "studies" to back em up... the best way to find out is trying it yourself as every human body reacts different! and whose advice i take or learn from? people that have been doing the exact thing for 15+ years with AMAZING results!! they have went through the trial n error phase and know what works best! in my case... friend of mine bodybuilder with 16years of experience, reading up on jay cutler, books from arnold... people that are living proof of what they are preaching... (funny thing is all these people say the same thing on nutirtion.. what i mentioned..) not some bro-science found through google!
forgot to add... im 6'2 190lbs at the moment... im on 3300cal daily diet(seems like u dont know much but thats usually a "bulking" range cals for most at that weight)... i want to see you loose weight & maintain muscle on a high cal diet without watching your other macros!
PS. IM A USSR ASTRONAUT!0 -
:huh:PS. IM A USSR ASTRONAUT!0 -
Correct Advise Please
Ok. It's Advice.
P.S., Listen to LabRat529
this!
These people are JEDI F****ing Knights!!!!0 -
Presumption and victim card! YES!You make fun of people in your town who are immigrants n cant speak much English? you probably wait for them to turn around and laugh n say omg they need to get the eff out of our country.. they cant even speak our language!0 -
I vote LabRat529 as the mayor of MFP tonight!0
-
Well, okay, let's talk low carb diet for a minute (and this is for the benefit of the OP, not for the astronaut of a country that no longer exists).
Do low carb diets work? Can you be healthy on a low carb diet? The answer to both questions is: Yes. Absolutely.
But are they "the best way"? No. Overall (when you consider the human population and not just one individual), they aren't really any better than counting calories. Some people like them better, and some people do better on low carb than they do on anything.
Low carb diets work because proteins are so filling. Most (not all) will automatically eat fewer calories when they're on a low carb diet. They don't have to count calories, just carbs, but they are STILL decreasing their caloric intake.
Most people on a low carb diet feel like crap the first couple of weeks on the diet. It takes a bit getting used to them, but once you are used to it, most people feel fine. The 'feel like crap' thing happens because your body has to shift to ketosis to fuel your brain. Your brain can function on ketones, but it's gonna throw a fit until it accepts the fact that ketones are all it's gonna get
(okay... throw a fit is not exactly a scientific term...). You get brain fog when going into ketosis. Your legs feel like lead. You sometimes get nauseous and you can get headaches. Some lucky people don't have any of these symptoms. Some have all of them in double doses. You won't know how you do on low carb until you try it. I tried it once and never, ever want to try it again.
A person does lose a lot of weight quickly on a low carb diet in the beginning. This is because your body uses up its glycogen stores. Glycogen holds on to water, so when the glycogen is gone, so is the water. The initial loss is almost all water weight.
After those first couple of weeks, weight loss proceeds the same as a low calorie diet. Over the long-haul, there's no advantage to low carb. The average person doesn't lose more weight than when they count calories and they're likely to gain the weight back if they don't stick with the program (but I could say the same about the calorie counting).
But some people really like low carb, and since the "best diet" is the diet you can stick with, you should think about low carb if you really love protein and fat. Low carb is also a very good strategy for people who are insulin resistant or diabetic.
Otherwise... there's nothing magic about low carb. It's not a bad choice. But it's not the only 'good' choice either.
Now what about this carb cycling thing? I'm pretty sure that only benefits weight lifters and even then it sounds a bit like voodoo to me. It might work, but you'd want an expert's opinion on that and I'm not an expert on those types of things.
As far as macros go... it's a good idea to watch those... but... it still needs to fit in the KISS rule. If it adds too much complexity to your diet, then don't worry about the macros. I feel the same way about other advice like eating 'organic'. It might be a good idea, but if it makes your life too complicated, it's not really worth it. Dieting is hard and you don't need to make it harder by adding a bunch of arbitrary rules.0 -
Seconded!I vote LabRat529 as the mayor of MFP tonight!0 -
Bump, great info here!!0
-
I vote LabRat529 as the mayor of MFP tonight!
The mayor? No way, I vote her the Queen of MPF and the Kingdom (or should that be Queendom?) of Sensible Answers!!
OP - clearly I'm not adding anything sensible, so please listen to LabRat.0 -
LabRat529 - if you'd be so kind........ your excellent advice & knowledge would be greatly appreciated by a few of us over here http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/467042-discouraged-1-month-of-counting-cals-working-out-w-no-resu
0 -
Awww, shucks. Now I'm embarrassed. :blushing:
But thank you.0 -
Well, okay, let's talk low carb diet for a minute (and this is for the benefit of the OP, not for the astronaut of a country that no longer exists).
Do low carb diets work? Can you be healthy on a low carb diet? The answer to both questions is: Yes. Absolutely.
But are they "the best way"? No. Overall (when you consider the human population and not just one individual), they aren't really any better than counting calories. Some people like them better, and some people do better on low carb than they do on anything.
Low carb diets work because proteins are so filling. Most (not all) will automatically eat fewer calories when they're on a low carb diet. They don't have to count calories, just carbs, but they are STILL decreasing their caloric intake.
Most people on a low carb diet feel like crap the first couple of weeks on the diet. It takes a bit getting used to them, but once you are used to it, most people feel fine. The 'feel like crap' thing happens because your body has to shift to ketosis to fuel your brain. Your brain can function on ketones, but it's gonna throw a fit until it accepts the fact that ketones are all it's gonna get (okay... throw a fit is not exactly a scientific term...). You get brain fog when going into ketosis. Your legs feel like lead. You sometimes get nauseous and you can get headaches. Some lucky people don't have any of these symptoms. Some have all of them in double doses. You won't know how you do on low carb until you try it. I tried it once and never, ever want to try it again.
A person does lose a lot of weight quickly on a low carb diet in the beginning. This is because your body uses up its glycogen stores. Glycogen holds on to water, so when the glycogen is gone, so is the water. The initial loss is almost all water weight.
After those first couple of weeks, weight loss proceeds the same as a low calorie diet. Over the long-haul, there's no advantage to low carb. The average person doesn't lose more weight than when they count calories and they're likely to gain the weight back if they don't stick with the program (but I could say the same about the calorie counting).
But some people really like low carb, and since the "best diet" is the diet you can stick with, you should think about low carb if you really love protein and fat. Low carb is also a very good strategy for people who are insulin resistant or diabetic.
Otherwise... there's nothing magic about low carb. It's not a bad choice. But it's not the only 'good' choice either.
Now what about this carb cycling thing? I'm pretty sure that only benefits weight lifters and even then it sounds a bit like voodoo to me. It might work, but you'd want an expert's opinion on that and I'm not an expert on those types of things.
As far as macros go... it's a good idea to watch those... but... it still needs to fit in the KISS rule. If it adds too much complexity to your diet, then don't worry about the macros. I feel the same way about other advice like eating 'organic'. It might be a good idea, but if it makes your life too complicated, it's not really worth it. Dieting is hard and you don't need to make it harder by adding a bunch of arbitrary rules.
Love LABRAT- definitely Queen of MFP and not merely Mayor ! :-)0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 427 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions