Have you had Low-Carb success?

13»

Replies

  • martinah4
    martinah4 Posts: 583 Member
    "
    "LOL! I've been between 20-25 net carbs for almost a year. I eat a good amount of veggies, but I eat a normal amount of protein and good fats. I stay away from anything made from flour, anything processed, anything starchy. Never feel full, never have cravings. There are plenty of ways to satisfy a sweet tooth, that keep you in the low-carb range!
    [/quote]"

    You are able to only have 20-25 carbs while your pregnant?
    [/quote]

    I'm going to try and send you a private message.
  • plisha729
    plisha729 Posts: 50 Member
    ...I agree. 100g or less is considered low carb in my book.
  • plisha729
    plisha729 Posts: 50 Member
    I'd say low carb is under 100g a day.
    [/quote]


    ...I agree. 100g or less is considered low carb in my book.
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
    "calories in < calories out" is NOT the key to weight loss. It is equivalent to saying that the key to running a marathon is to run 26.2 miles. DUH. Its the end result, not the means to get there.

    You can't just say the key to weight loss is to "eat less and move more" because eating less could cause you to move less even if you don't realize it.

    This takes the prize for the biggest load of old Toot that's been written in a thread that is full of old Toot.

    There are some gems posted in here though and it's from those who have actually undertaken the low carb diets long term. The overall take-away for me is that low carb, or very low carb absolutely works for some people. The issue is tollerance. It's not for everyone, many find it too challenging and cannot stick with it (particularly the very low carb diet) and ultimately the most effective diet is absolutely the one you can stick with for the distance. All 26.2 miles of it :tongue:

    The key of couse IS calories in < calories out. Everything else we talk about here, everything written in countless books and everything the huge diet industry throws at us is just an attempt to either refine that basic principle for greater sustained loss or to make the whole process less difficult.
  • grinch031
    grinch031 Posts: 1,679
    "calories in < calories out" is NOT the key to weight loss. It is equivalent to saying that the key to running a marathon is to run 26.2 miles. DUH. Its the end result, not the means to get there.

    You can't just say the key to weight loss is to "eat less and move more" because eating less could cause you to move less even if you don't realize it.

    The key of couse IS calories in < calories out. Everything else we talk about here, everything written in countless books and everything the huge diet industry throws at us is just an attempt to either refine that basic principle for greater sustained loss or to make the whole process less difficult.

    Except this is a terrible way to think of health is in terms of calories IN < calories OUT. That implies counting and restricting calories for the rest of your life. Sure some people can't tolerate giving up horribly unhealthy processed foods, but I find that to be the lesser of the two evils. Also it seems odd that some people are always in caloric balance no matter what they eat and others are always in a caloric surplus unless they starve themselves. Sounds to me like there is much more at play than just someone's ability to manually manipulate both their caloric intake and expenditure. Maybe hormone management is the key to weight loss.
  • martinah4
    martinah4 Posts: 583 Member
    @grinch, yes I believe less in Caloric balance than I do in the fact that our hormones regulate our weight loss.
    I think I read in a book (Gary Taubes) about how if you go over just 2 calories a day, over the course of a year, that's 730 extra calories. Impossible to eat precisely the correct amount of calories every single day.
  • martinah4
    martinah4 Posts: 583 Member
    @grinch, yes I believe less in Caloric balance than I do in the fact that our hormones regulate our weight loss.
    I think I read in a book (Gary Taubes) about how if you go over just 2 calories a day, over the course of a year, that's 730 extra calories. Impossible to eat precisely the correct amount of calories every single day.

    Also, even mainstream science recognizes that weight loss is only partially due to exercise.
  • penroseg
    penroseg Posts: 53 Member
    bump
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
    Except this is a terrible way to think of health is in terms of calories IN < calories OUT. That implies counting and restricting calories for the rest of your life. Sure some people can't tolerate giving up horribly unhealthy processed foods, but I find that to be the lesser of the two evils. Also it seems odd that some people are always in caloric balance no matter what they eat and others are always in a caloric surplus unless they starve themselves. Sounds to me like there is much more at play than just someone's ability to manually manipulate both their caloric intake and expenditure. Maybe hormone management is the key to weight loss.

    Of course it doesn't. It doesn't *imply* anything. It simply states a truth about fat loss. Who is going to spend the rest of their life in calorie deficit?

    Without doubt there are outliers out there with physiological conditions that preclude the simple calorie in < calorie out approach but these are surely rare, rare cases - with everyone else jumping on the bandwagon to explain their own lack of discipline, poor approach, poor understanding etc.
  • yummummum
    yummummum Posts: 257
    Low Carb success for me!!!!! WHOLE NEW PERSON!!!
    I LOVE eating this way and feel A MILLION TIMES BETTER!

    40 pounds LOST (30 since going low carb in sept)
    8 inches lost from my waist!
    ENERGY
    depression lifted!
    WAHHHOOOOOOOOO I don't care what the low carb haters say!! A calorie is NOT a calorie for me!!! I tried weight watchers for years.
  • I think everything in moderation. I always feel a bit heavy and lethargic if I eat too many carbs, so I stick to wholegrains and eat them in moderation, which I find is better. I don't eat much bread now - I'll have a tortilla wrap instead, as bread was a real weakness of mine and seriously made me feel like crap.

    If you're gunna try low carbs, then to make sure you eat enough calories and make sure you're getting enough nutrients

    x
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
    @grinch, yes I believe less in Caloric balance than I do in the fact that our hormones regulate our weight loss.
    I think I read in a book (Gary Taubes) about how if you go over just 2 calories a day, over the course of a year, that's 730 extra calories. Impossible to eat precisely the correct amount of calories every single day.

    2 points on that:

    I don't think any studies have ever suggested it works like that. I would have to go and do some research but off the top of my head I recall reading multiple times that there is a range that maintains homeostatis. Maybe it's a couple of hundred cals wide. Vary outside the range and your trigger a response (burn fat/store fat).

    But if that's wrong and it literally is a magic number, then your example assumes that every day goes precisely 2Cals over when you are trying to hit a target dead on. Surely on average you'd go 2Cals under half the time?
  • grinch031
    grinch031 Posts: 1,679
    @grinch, yes I believe less in Caloric balance than I do in the fact that our hormones regulate our weight loss.
    I think I read in a book (Gary Taubes) about how if you go over just 2 calories a day, over the course of a year, that's 730 extra calories. Impossible to eat precisely the correct amount of calories every single day.

    Not that caloric balance doesn't apply, its just that attempting to artifically create caloric balance is the wrong approach to permanent weight loss. There must be a reason why certain people gravitate towards being in a perpetual caloric surplus and others don't.
  • ritmeyer
    ritmeyer Posts: 136 Member
    Yes!

    I love when people use the example of someone they know who did "atkins" and lost a ton, then gained it back. I have a zillion people I know who have also done that on weight watchers, south beach, ... HELLO?! every diet has failed!! Most people who do atkins only think they know what the diet is about. Veggies, fruits, healthy whole grains. They think it is induction, which is only to last 2 weeks. If something is going to work, you have to change how you look a food. It's fuel!!

    I have actually read many books on low carb and nutrition. Basically, for me, I eat things that are natural and not processed. I eat healthy fats, tons of fruits and veggies, dairy and meat. Oh, and I eat whole wheat bread, WW pastas...gasp!!! I feel awesome!! I work out a ton, and I'm a runner and low carbing hasn't done anything but help me. It really is a great way to eat. I don't eat bars, shakes or artificial sweetners. If I want something sweet, I eat fruit or dark chocolate. I do treat myself and will make brownies or cake, whatever...but I make it.

    Check out my food diary, it's public.
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member

    Not that caloric balance doesn't apply, its just that attempting to artifically create caloric balance is the wrong approach to permanent weight loss. There must be a reason why certain people gravitate towards being in a perpetual caloric surplus and others don't.

    For a while I believed that those that don't have a built in natural "off" switch. That the feedback mechanism between tummy and brain was calibrated perfectly and fed back the message "that's enough, stop eating" at the right time. Other people had their switch slightly off calibration and more still had it way way off and so the message to the brain to "stop, I'm full now" was way late.

    This could indeed be a hormonal trigger.

    However when you scale up to looking at populations that theory doesn't seem to hold water since we are seeing the % of the population with weight issues in many western nations increase and increase. That shouldn't be the case.
  • grinch031
    grinch031 Posts: 1,679
    Yes!

    I love when people use the example of someone they know who did "atkins" and lost a ton, then gained it back. I have a zillion people I know who have also done that on weight watchers, south beach, ... HELLO?! every diet has failed!! Most people who do atkins only think they know what the diet is about. Veggies, fruits, healthy whole grains. They think it is induction, which is only to last 2 weeks. If something is going to work, you have to change how you look a food. It's fuel!!

    Because the metabolic damage that leads to obesity is permanent for the most part. When people lose weight on Atkins, WW, MFP, or whatever approach, they end up with leptin deficiency where their body thinks its starving when they are at low weights, so their metabolism decreases and hunger increases. That coupled with hyperinsulinemia associated with going off their restrictive diet, and its almost guaranteed the weight is coming back in full force.
  • winonajosephine
    winonajosephine Posts: 122 Member
    BUMP
  • Low Carb success for me!!!!! WHOLE NEW PERSON!!!
    I LOVE eating this way and feel A MILLION TIMES BETTER!

    40 pounds LOST (30 since going low carb in sept)
    8 inches lost from my waist!
    ENERGY
    depression lifted!
    WAHHHOOOOOOOOO I don't care what the low carb haters say!! A calorie is NOT a calorie for me!!! I tried weight watchers for years.

    Is there any specific diet you're following? How many carbs do you aim for on any given day? I have PCOS so restricting calories simply does not work for me. I've been trying to limit my carbs but still find myself consuming around 100 day. Ideally, I would like to see that number in the 50's but it's been very challenging. I'm so lost!
  • Symphony6
    Symphony6 Posts: 116 Member
    I have lost weight several times doing the Atkins diet. The weight has always come off so fast; I have seriously lost 20lbs in one month, and then gone on to lose 13lbs a month eating like a horse (minus the apples and grains..heh).

    But then, I would tire of always being stuck at school or at work with no options for my diet, no options at the restaurant, etc. Yes, I did ask for bunless burgers and yes, I did pick the tortilla chips out of my santa fe salad, but I couldn't even have a freaking sandwich...it got REALLY TIRING. I have children and I couldn't even bake cookies. In order to have all the special low-carb food, I would have to order it online at great expense.

    Eventually, I would start slipping here and there. Every time I slipped once, I wouldn't lose for days, sometimes a week. Who doesn't want to have lasagne ever again? Might be great for some, but not me, mister. So, I would go off the diet and gain it all back, totally frustrated and convinced that this diet was the only way I would ever succeed...except...I never really did. The last time I did Atkins, I lost 47lbs in 3 months and then gained it back plus 10 more within a year.

    Right now, I'm doing low cal. I've lost 23lbs in the last 2 months and I seriously can eat anything I want. I don't feel deprived or frustrated that I can't find MY food, because nothing is off limits. I'm so happy here, and I really feel like I can eat like this for life.
    If a person can stay on Atkins for life or needs low carb to get over insulin resistance, etc, good for them. I am just proof that it doesn't work for everyone.
  • martinah4
    martinah4 Posts: 583 Member
    I have lost weight several times doing the Atkins diet. The weight has always come off so fast; I have seriously lost 20lbs in one month, and then gone on to lose 13lbs a month eating like a horse (minus the apples and grains..heh).

    But then, I would tire of always being stuck at school or at work with no options for my diet, no options at the restaurant, etc. Yes, I did ask for bunless burgers and yes, I did pick the tortilla chips out of my santa fe salad, but I couldn't even have a freaking sandwich...it got REALLY TIRING. I have children and I couldn't even bake cookies. In order to have all the special low-carb food, I would have to order it online at great expense.

    Eventually, I would start slipping here and there. Every time I slipped once, I wouldn't lose for days, sometimes a week. Who doesn't want to have lasagne ever again? Might be great for some, but not me, mister. So, I would go off the diet and gain it all back, totally frustrated and convinced that this diet was the only way I would ever succeed...except...I never really did. The last time I did Atkins, I lost 47lbs in 3 months and then gained it back plus 10 more within a year.

    Right now, I'm doing low cal. I've lost 23lbs in the last 2 months and I seriously can eat anything I want. I don't feel deprived or frustrated that I can't find MY food, because nothing is off limits. I'm so happy here, and I really feel like I can eat like this for life.
    If a person can stay on Atkins for life or needs low carb to get over insulin resistance, etc, good for them. I am just proof that it doesn't work for everyone.

    You're right, it doesn't work for everyone. I strongly believe that my success with low-carb is due to my willpower, and due to the fact that my husband, who is the main cook and meal planner, has gone out of his way to find different and original ways to prepare my foods. Not everyone is that lucky! There are a ton of foods that can be eaten, and we've played around with recipes and seasoning's and spices for me! I have a huge variety of foods to eat.

    I strongly believe that I abused my body with carbs and process food for so long, that I built up an insulin resistance. I believe that I can no longer eat highly processed carbs because my body won't tolerate them. I believe this is the reason why I fail at diets like Weight Watchers.

    I still eat a high-carbage snack occasionally, but I don't go crazy on them every day, like I did in the past. I had a piece of cake for my birthday last week, and I will have chinese food on Wednesday night with my MIL.
  • martinah4
    martinah4 Posts: 583 Member
    Low Carb success for me!!!!! WHOLE NEW PERSON!!!
    I LOVE eating this way and feel A MILLION TIMES BETTER!

    40 pounds LOST (30 since going low carb in sept)
    8 inches lost from my waist!
    ENERGY
    depression lifted!
    WAHHHOOOOOOOOO I don't care what the low carb haters say!! A calorie is NOT a calorie for me!!! I tried weight watchers for years.

    Is there any specific diet you're following? How many carbs do you aim for on any given day? I have PCOS so restricting calories simply does not work for me. I've been trying to limit my carbs but still find myself consuming around 100 day. Ideally, I would like to see that number in the 50's but it's been very challenging. I'm so lost!

    I've been doing Atkins. Can I help you with anything?
  • mgmlap
    mgmlap Posts: 1,377 Member
    I have lost 40 pounds...I have IR and PCOS as well as Hypothyroid. I am on Metformin and Armour.. I do low carb....no more than 100 a day..and I try to stick to whole foods. During the weekends I may splurge...and pay for it on Monday...(I am up 2 pounds..but its carb bloat)....but all in all..it has worked wonders for me
  • grinch031
    grinch031 Posts: 1,679
    I have lost weight several times doing the Atkins diet. The weight has always come off so fast; I have seriously lost 20lbs in one month, and then gone on to lose 13lbs a month eating like a horse (minus the apples and grains..heh).

    But then, I would tire of always being stuck at school or at work with no options for my diet, no options at the restaurant, etc. Yes, I did ask for bunless burgers and yes, I did pick the tortilla chips out of my santa fe salad, but I couldn't even have a freaking sandwich...it got REALLY TIRING. I have children and I couldn't even bake cookies. In order to have all the special low-carb food, I would have to order it online at great expense.

    Eventually, I would start slipping here and there. Every time I slipped once, I wouldn't lose for days, sometimes a week. Who doesn't want to have lasagne ever again? Might be great for some, but not me, mister. So, I would go off the diet and gain it all back, totally frustrated and convinced that this diet was the only way I would ever succeed...except...I never really did. The last time I did Atkins, I lost 47lbs in 3 months and then gained it back plus 10 more within a year.

    Right now, I'm doing low cal. I've lost 23lbs in the last 2 months and I seriously can eat anything I want. I don't feel deprived or frustrated that I can't find MY food, because nothing is off limits. I'm so happy here, and I really feel like I can eat like this for life.
    If a person can stay on Atkins for life or needs low carb to get over insulin resistance, etc, good for them. I am just proof that it doesn't work for everyone.

    You're right, it doesn't work for everyone. I strongly believe that my success with low-carb is due to my willpower, and due to the fact that my husband, who is the main cook and meal planner, has gone out of his way to find different and original ways to prepare my foods. Not everyone is that lucky! There are a ton of foods that can be eaten, and we've played around with recipes and seasoning's and spices for me! I have a huge variety of foods to eat.

    I strongly believe that I abused my body with carbs and process food for so long, that I built up an insulin resistance. I believe that I can no longer eat highly processed carbs because my body won't tolerate them. I believe this is the reason why I fail at diets like Weight Watchers.

    I still eat a high-carbage snack occasionally, but I don't go crazy on them every day, like I did in the past. I had a piece of cake for my birthday last week, and I will have chinese food on Wednesday night with my MIL.

    Believe me you aren't alone. The non-believers have *almost* convinced me that the reason I overeat on a high-carb diet was because I didn't eat enough protein, which is much more satiating. Now that I am high-protein (150-200g per day), I actually have 1-2 days a week where I eat high carbs to fuel my running, and whenever I introduce lots of carbs back into my meals, I eat uncontrollably, even on adequate amounts of protein. Its like a trigger is pulled every time I start eating carbs and it takes a day or so to reset my cravings again.
  • thelowcarbrecipes
    thelowcarbrecipes Posts: 89 Member
    I have lost almost 60lbs thanks to a low carb ketogenic diet.
    Its has been a lot more successful than any of my other attempts to lose weight. I find myself getting full on less food due to eating mainly fat and then protein. I have retained a lot of muscle due to ketosis. I have lost all the weight with very little exercise.

    Its all thanks to the diet change!
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    Yes!

    I love when people use the example of someone they know who did "atkins" and lost a ton, then gained it back. I have a zillion people I know who have also done that on weight watchers, south beach, ... HELLO?! every diet has failed!! Most people who do atkins only think they know what the diet is about. Veggies, fruits, healthy whole grains. They think it is induction, which is only to last 2 weeks. If something is going to work, you have to change how you look a food. It's fuel!!

    I have actually read many books on low carb and nutrition. Basically, for me, I eat things that are natural and not processed. I eat healthy fats, tons of fruits and veggies, dairy and meat. Oh, and I eat whole wheat bread, WW pastas...gasp!!! I feel awesome!! I work out a ton, and I'm a runner and low carbing hasn't done anything but help me. It really is a great way to eat. I don't eat bars, shakes or artificial sweetners. If I want something sweet, I eat fruit or dark chocolate. I do treat myself and will make brownies or cake, whatever...but I make it.

    Check out my food diary, it's public.

    Thanks! And I love your diary :)
  • nskerr
    nskerr Posts: 91
    I joined Atkins after I got married. I weighed 315lbs. I went on the intro phase and never came off and got down to 203. But I will tell you. When you do this you gain weight like you can't believe if you have carbs. I found once you get a taste back for the carbs you like (pizza, popcorn, chips, alcohol) you will see you easily can gain 3-5 lbs a week. Much of the problem was I had a ton to lose and didn't follow the plan correctly. Eventually I gained it all back and then 12 more.

    I tried South Beach which is a little better. Good carbs are ok. Veggies are great plus low in calories.

    I would just say this. I have tried various diets including weight watchers. I think you need to be balanced and this tool works great. I know when I am eating too many carbs. I feel tired and sluggish. I have had days where I eat pizza, and popcorn or chips or snacks with little fruit, protein or veggies and my body lets me know. It is one thing to watch your carbs but I wouldn't go nuts. You are better off having carbs but also exercising than to just cut carbs to lose weight.
  • Hannova
    Hannova Posts: 50
    No, it doesn't work for everyone. You may have to just try it to see how you do on it. My brother thrives on low-carb and drops weight like sheets at a Macy's white sale. I feel so sick, I can't make it past two weeks on low-carb Atkins.

    Hopefully, I don't cheese off too many people by adding that I once had PCOS. However, I lost a ton of weight without any trouble until I had stage 3 endometriosis. Three surgeries and a long recovery later, I have neither endo or PCOS, but I find losing weight to be difficult beyond reason.

    I'll have to fight for it this time around.
  • HulasMom
    HulasMom Posts: 14 Member
    I am curious if you had any beans and/or wine on the South Beach diet?
  • dovesgate
    dovesgate Posts: 894 Member
    Bump for later. Mu husband is trying this out and I need all the tips I can get to help him.
This discussion has been closed.