no carb vs. low calorie

paulamarsden

the reason other tribes survive on meat only diets is because they eat the whole animal, bones, sinew, ligaments and organs.

one cannot survive on meat alone.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

Dude,how does one stay regular without the bulk of fiber? I would imagine you'd be seriously stopped up if you weren't eating at least fruits and vegetables. Not trying to be a smart *kitten* just genuinely curious!

Fat and water are really all you need. We don't need the fiber they try and sell you on, which most people buy hook, line and sinker.

Sidesteal

I have a few observations/comments:

1) I would find out specifically why your doctor is recommend a no carb approach or a low carb approach.
2) Your doctor is saying "no carb" but probably means "low carb" because he/she is recommending vegetables, which are carbs.

Regarding necessity for carbs, your body can manufacture glucose via gluconeogenesis which essentially eliminates the physiological need for carbs, but that being said, I think doing a ZERO carb approach is idiotic and unnecessary.

Low carbing is just fine and plenty of people have success with it, but it's not necessary for most people and it's very necessary for others.

But ultimately, I'd consider a new doc or at least find out why she is making this recommendation and why she doesn't know that veggies are carbs.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I tried Atkins once and found it to be like a lot of other fad diets. It worked a little but it was not viable for the long term because it asks for things that are NOT things you would want to do the rest of your life. I am searching for things I can do that help me lose weight now and will give me the tools I need to control my weight once I reach my goal weight. For me, watching the sum total of all calories I eat versus my BMR is the way to go. When you eat protein, 30% of what you eat is used to digest what you ate. In addition you get a lot of nutrition for building lean body mass. When you eat carbs, 11% of the calories you ate are used to digest what your ate. Fat uses only 3%. If you eat carbs, you should avoid the heavily refined carbs like white bread and opt instead for whole wheat. Fo me I look at my BMR and create a 500 cal/day deficit for a 1 pound a week loss. I add to that another 500 cal/day in exercise which I do not eat back. Total then is 2 pounds a week. Increasing my protein helps me build lean body mass and some carbs gives me a quick boost to my fuel supply when I need it. My gold is to watch the calories and be sure what I eat is good fuel. Look at your body as a fine-tuned engine. Do you want to fuel it with last years left-over gas (crud like potato chips) or do you want to put nitro in the tank (lean protein, whole grains, fiber)?

Exactly what about the Atkins plan asks for things that you would not do for the rest of your life?

People that actually do Atkins correctly learn how to eat a controlled carb lifestyle in moderation.............

Excuse me. Geeze.... maybe I should have been more specific and indicated the induction phase or phase one of the Atkins plan. In any case, I found the Atkins plan to be just one more fad diet. Based on some of your other remarks on this thread, it sounds like you are just looking to pick an argument. I guess trolls like to do that. I stand by all my comments, your snide remarks not withstanding.

I am not a troll, I have been a member of this site since 2009. I was asking a genuine question when Atkins is no where near a fad diet. It is a lifestyle plan that is easily done for life. You can't even detect any tone or inflection in my voice with words typed on a computer screen so stop being so sensitive and taking things to heart.

I was not being snide at all in my remarks, simply asking questions because I don't understand how protein, fats, vegetables and fruit, nuts and seeds is somehow a fad.

These foods have been around since nearly the beginning of time, where as the processed cereal, grains, oreos, etc are new fad items that aren't even REAL food.

grinch031

No carb is really unhealthy... I don't know why your doctor would suggest that. You'll drop weight fast, but it won't stay off and you can really damage your heart and blood vessels from all of the fat you'll need to eat for energy.

Fat does NO damage to the heart or the blood vessels. and NO carb is not unhealthy either. Humans have ZERO need for any carbs.

Fat and protein will provide the body with the necessary nutrients needed to not only survive, but also thrive.

Here is a whole forum of information to read.

http://forum.zeroinginonhealth.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=6

YIKES! Don't listen to this!!

OP Please look at http://www.drfuhrman.com/default.aspx. Fruits and veggies are valuable sources of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals. Don't understimate the value of whole foods. It is the processed crap and saturated fat animal products taken in such large quantities that are harming us.

Please, research, research, research. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it! If you don't understand what your doctor is saying, please call the office nurse and ask for clarification!! never follow blindly!! NEVER!

Nah saturated fat is being exonerated.

http://www.ajcn.org/content/80/5/1102.full
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21978979

nmzeta

Oh NatureMade... "Saturated fats are the main component in breast milk. If they were so bad for us, breast milk would be made of something entirely different. Nature doesn't get it wrong. "

I believe when you were consuming breast milk (if you ever did) you are growing a bit faster than you are today. Last I checked, they don't let infants on this site.


http://www.americanpregnancy.org/firstyearoflife/whatsinbreastmilk.html

"Fats
Human milk also contains fats that are essential for the health of your BABY. It is necessary for brain development, absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and is a primary calorie source. Long chain fatty acids are needed for brain, retina, and nervous system development. They are deposited in the brain during the last trimester of pregnancy and are also found in breast milk.

Carbohydrates
Lactose is the primary CARBOHYDRATE found in human milk. It accounts for approximately FORTY PERCENT of the TOTAL CALORIES provided by breast milk. Lactose helps to decrease the amount of unhealthy bacteria in the stomach, which improves the absorption of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. It helps to fight disease and promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the stomach. Breast milk has the perfect combination of proteins, fats, vitamins, and carbohydrates. There is nothing better for the health of your baby. "

mpattill

Low carb has worked well for me in the past. I find that too many carbs is really unsatisfying and makes weight loss very difficult. I try to eat carbs that are low glycemic like vegetables and some fruits and avoid the processed carbs like bread, pasta, cereal, sugar, etc. Also, carbs make me more hungry and I tend to eat more often and eat more in general. I think the quality of the carbs is the most important factor in carb intake. Avoid the junk carbs and processed foods and eat more unprocessed foods and you will do great.

dennydifferent

No carb huh? There are some folk that do it but...wow. Unless you like liver, kidneys and other offal, I really wouldn't think this was a good idea.

I think I agree with an earlier poster your doc probably meant no "white" carbs like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes or sugar. Search the Groups here for "low carb" and join the low carber group, there's loads of info on there.

5kfunrun

Just remember... Mr. Atkins died of a heart attack...

Everything in moderation