CARBS!!!! UGH! What is the TRUTH?!!!?!?!?!?!!

MonicaT1972

Ok... I need some valid and correct information. Everyone and every thing is contradictory! And it is pissing me off!!!!

My understanding was this... and it very well could be wrong. If you eat carbs... and they are not used for energy(fuel)... then they are stored. and become fat.
Therefore the less carbs you eat... still provided you are giving your body some fuel... then your body turns to the stored fat for energy... Thats what makes fat loss.

So, today, after having my RMR tested. See Post here...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/596623-i-had-my-rmr-tested-here-is-what-it-said
...The "fitness professional" asks me how I am eating... I told her mostly clean... and lower carbs. No processed breads...mostly fruit, veg, sweet potatos and lots of meat. ..etc..... about 25-40% carb... 30-40% protein and remainder fat..nothing exact just lower carb.
She says I need to eat about 50-60% carb. That is what will make me lose the fat.
Also increases energy. They should be whole grains... rice, quinoa, couscous... etc. Which all seems "processed" to me.

So, whats the truth about carbs?

Edit to add....

Since I have been cutting grains out of my diet... like breads and beans crackers EVEN!... I have been less bloated and gassy.... and when I happen to have some of those things... Dude... watch out!!

I need to formula for fat burning majic!...

You have a lot of great advice here. I recommend reading the book The Wheat Belly. Some people are just more sensitive to wheat than other's. I know that since I took it completely out of my diet I experience no gas, bloating etc. I don't even get any monthly weight gain anymore and that used to be up to 10 lbs!!!

My advice is do what works for your body. There is a lot of science that can confuse you, but if you know your body reacts to certain products just don't consume them!

grinch031

Although science is catching up on seeing the benefits of low carb dieting, it is still generally looked upon as an unhealthy diet method.. including here on MFP. There are a few different approaches to low carb dieting. One being you limit your carbs to about 20 per day, starting out; this would be your ketosis type diets where your body burns its own fat instead of from what you feed it (Atkins for example), so calorie counting is not necessary. Others go up to as many as 150 per day for maintenance, where calorie counting is still very important.

So what happens to the food that you feed to your body?

nheilweil

Carbs store glycogen in the muscles, and muscles will use that source of energy since it's easier that converting it from fat. So therefore people think, avoid carbs and the body will burn fat. Here's the rub -- the muscles don't really deplete their glycogen levels unless you are an endurance athlete. So, if you are running a marathon and want to avoid muscle collapse 20 miles in, you're going to want to have extra carbs in your diet. But this doesn't seem apply for "normal people".

For normal folks who have low-to-moderate activity lives and do a little cardio each day, the formula seems a lot simpler -- move more (in any way) and eat less (of all foods) and you'll lose fat (and lean mass which you can't help)!

For me, eating sugary carbs triggers urges to eat more and more of them, whereas eating protein, fat and whole grain carbs don't, so the best fat loss strategy for me personally is to really watch those sugars so I don't exceed my calories. So 30% carbs, 30% fat, 40% protein is awesome at controlling my eating. For friends, 40% or 50% carbs feels good, they can control their eating urges. In either case, if you drop your calories and move your butt, you'll lose fat!

nheilweil

BTW --

As someone who suffered from IBS, bloating, gas, indigestion problems my whole life, I cut out all dairy and wheat and have no symptoms any more. Completely gone so I must have been very allergic and not known it. I only mention because you could try eliminating wheat from your diet and seeing if your symptoms improve or not.

No one else in my family (my kids) has this and not bashing wheat -- but no wheat & milk for me made amazing differences in how I feel!

MissTattoo

Calories Consumed < Calories Burned = Weight Loss

Too often we try to make things too complicated. The above is the answer. Don't get me wrong, I believe when I eat a carb rich diet that I tend to consume more calories, and it's a gateway for me to overeat. But again, this is a "micro-economic" view point. The "macro-economic" viewpoint is the above equation. Burn more calories than you consumer on a regular basis, and over time you will lose weight. In short, do more, eat less.

You don't need HCG or HGC or whatever the latest fad is, you need to work out hard, and eat quality food to replenish your body in amounts that are slightly less that what you've burned - the weight will come off. If it's not - then work harder, eat smarter. Best of luck.

All of this.

VMarkV

Carbs store glycogen in the muscles, and muscles will use that source of energy since it's easier that converting it from fat. So therefore people think, avoid carbs and the body will burn fat. Here's the rub -- the muscles don't really deplete their glycogen levels unless you are an endurance athlete. So, if you are running a marathon and want to avoid muscle collapse 20 miles in, you're going to want to have extra carbs in your diet. But this doesn't seem apply for "normal people".

For normal folks who have low-to-moderate activity lives and do a little cardio each day, the formula seems a lot simpler -- move more (in any way) and eat less (of all foods) and you'll lose fat (and lean mass which you can't help)!

For me, eating sugary carbs triggers urges to eat more and more of them, whereas eating protein, fat and whole grain carbs don't, so the best fat loss strategy for me personally is to really watch those sugars so I don't exceed my calories. So 30% carbs, 30% fat, 40% protein is awesome at controlling my eating. For friends, 40% or 50% carbs feels good, they can control their eating urges. In either case, if you drop your calories and move your butt, you'll lose fat!

Exactly why I don't base carb consumption around weight lifting, only aerobic activity. Bodybuilders/weight lifters seem to have this belief that weight lifting is soo taxing that they deplete their glycogen and must replenish it immediately when in fact endurance athletes are the only one's who are capable of glycogen depletion. This is why endurance athletes eat so freakin' many carbs compared to everyone else...they simply burn more calories through aerobic activity.

benflando

Carbs will be stored if not used, but not directly as fat. They will be stored as glycogen to use next, but if not used then say hello to some new fat rolls

delilah47

Although science is catching up on seeing the benefits of low carb dieting, it is still generally looked upon as an unhealthy diet method.. including here on MFP. There are a few different approaches to low carb dieting. One being you limit your carbs to about 20 per day, starting out; this would be your ketosis type diets where your body burns its own fat instead of from what you feed it (Atkins for example), so calorie counting is not necessary. Others go up to as many as 150 per day for maintenance, where calorie counting is still very important.

So what happens to the food that you feed to your body?

Mostly, it comes out the other end? When your body doesn't have carbs for energy it converts its own fat. I just know it works. There's probably a lot more going on that we don't know about and that's why I have chosen not to lose weight this way again. I may reconsider down the line when the scientific community starts delving in deep. Most of the negative data out there is knee-jerk reactions to what the experts THINK should happen if you eat a diet low in carbs and high in fat/protein.

Edit: @ grinch
I know it's natural to be skeptical, but when I was on the low carb diet, about 15-20 years ago, I ate high fat ground beef smothered with melted cheese and dipped in sour cream (catsup is high carb). I ate at least 5000-7000 calories per day and still lost weight rapidly. Your body just doesn't see what you eat as useable energy.

247momma

This. EXACTLY this....all of it...

MY truth, and I am not a nutritionist or a scientist or anyone else important, is that until I cut the carbs, I couldn't lose an ounce. My body had no idea how to use fat as fuel. Since I eat under 20g carbs a day, my body is re-learning how to fuel itself. I have never felt better, or stronger, and I'm losing weight.

But be prepared for the amount of drama this thread is going to cause.

Yep, yep, yep to both. I'm in agreement. I couldn't lose a thing while just cutting calories. I'm now gluten free/grain free and taking in my 20% carbs from low glycemic vegetables and those are the only carbs I eat. I'm actually also about 50% fat and 30% protien and still losing! READ: Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism by Maria Emmerich... Life Changer!

Panda_1999

This Thread = Me Doing This EVERY TIME

I am an insulin dependent diabetic and my nutritionist has me on 130g to 150g carbs a day, instead of the normal 300g. But less than 100g sounds too low to me.

http://www.eatingdisordersonline.com/nutritional/carbs.php

http://www.fao.org/docrep/W8079E/w8079e07.htm

Good Luck with whatever you choose to do.

Argent78

Eating right is for life.

Could I live without carbs? NO! So, I include them in my diet. I haven't cut anything out except junk food (and even that I have on occasion).

It is all about finding a balance and eating everything in moderation. By cutting carbs out now I could potentially drop the weight a lot faster but then as soon as I go back to eating carbs I'd pick-up the weight faster than I lost it!

So...slow and steady wins the race.

Carbs are essential to any balanced diet. Focus on fruits and veggies and whole grains.

THIS!!! cutting anything will make you loose weight... if you can sustain that for life, it is fine. But in reality, if you eliminate carbs, when you go back to "normal" balanced eating, you will gain weight very fast.
The nutritionist (and you should listen what professionals have to say) tell you to eat the carbs, because is a helthy and sustained way to go. If you don't trust your fitness nutritionist, go to a second consult.
But I would trust what she has to say, better than the individual stories on this site.

Internet does not have the truth. And, as another person said in this thread, you can find evidence to contradict whatever you want if your search on the web. Trust professionals.

Why would cutting anything cause you to lose weight when you can just switch to a different food to fill the caloric void? Also why would reverting back to a balanced diet cause you to gain weight very fast? Why wouldn't someone just eat the same amount of food regardless of how they change up the macro nutrients?

OK Grinch031 --> if it was as easy as you make it look, we wouldn't be here. First, we are talking about carbs. Second, you are not adding anything by just asking questions trying to find the "flaw". as I said, go and ask a nutritionist!

grinch031

Eating right is for life.

Could I live without carbs? NO! So, I include them in my diet. I haven't cut anything out except junk food (and even that I have on occasion).

It is all about finding a balance and eating everything in moderation. By cutting carbs out now I could potentially drop the weight a lot faster but then as soon as I go back to eating carbs I'd pick-up the weight faster than I lost it!

So...slow and steady wins the race.

Carbs are essential to any balanced diet. Focus on fruits and veggies and whole grains.

THIS!!! cutting anything will make you loose weight... if you can sustain that for life, it is fine. But in reality, if you eliminate carbs, when you go back to "normal" balanced eating, you will gain weight very fast.
The nutritionist (and you should listen what professionals have to say) tell you to eat the carbs, because is a helthy and sustained way to go. If you don't trust your fitness nutritionist, go to a second consult.
But I would trust what she has to say, better than the individual stories on this site.

Internet does not have the truth. And, as another person said in this thread, you can find evidence to contradict whatever you want if your search on the web. Trust professionals.

Why would cutting anything cause you to lose weight when you can just switch to a different food to fill the caloric void? Also why would reverting back to a balanced diet cause you to gain weight very fast? Why wouldn't someone just eat the same amount of food regardless of how they change up the macro nutrients?

OK Grinch031 --> if it was as easy as you make it look, we wouldn't be here. First, we are talking about carbs. Second, you are not adding anything by just asking questions trying to find the "flaw". as I said, go and ask a nutritionist!

So why make claims that you don't understand enough to even back up or clarify? It makes zero sense to me that switching from a low carb diet to a balanced diet would result in rapid weight gain, yet we should feel encouraged to eat these carbs?

grinch031

Although science is catching up on seeing the benefits of low carb dieting, it is still generally looked upon as an unhealthy diet method.. including here on MFP. There are a few different approaches to low carb dieting. One being you limit your carbs to about 20 per day, starting out; this would be your ketosis type diets where your body burns its own fat instead of from what you feed it (Atkins for example), so calorie counting is not necessary. Others go up to as many as 150 per day for maintenance, where calorie counting is still very important.

So what happens to the food that you feed to your body?

Mostly, it comes out the other end? When your body doesn't have carbs for energy it converts its own fat. I just know it works. There's probably a lot more going on that we don't know about and that's why I have chosen not to lose weight this way again. I may reconsider down the line when the scientific community starts delving in deep. Most of the negative data out there is knee-jerk reactions to what the experts THINK should happen if you eat a diet low in carbs and high in fat/protein.

Edit: @ grinch
I know it's natural to be skeptical, but when I was on the low carb diet, about 15-20 years ago, I ate high fat ground beef smothered with melted cheese and dipped in sour cream (catsup is high carb). I ate at least 5000-7000 calories per day and still lost weight rapidly. Your body just doesn't see what you eat as useable energy.

Sorry but it has already been easily disproven that excess calories eaten on a very low carb diet come out the other end. What truly happens is that those calories get stored as fat, and you end up gaining weight. The magic is that it is actually hard to consistently overeat such that you can maintain a caloric surplus for a very long time on a very low carb diet because its so satiating.

However there are cases of sustained weight gain, look up Jimmy Moore a blogger as linked below:

http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/

The very low carb diet is a tool to help correct weight problems, but its effectiveness still varies from person to person. Another problem that the diet doesn't address though is leptin deficiency that occurs after weight loss, which is the primary reason people regain weight. I believe in the diet as I'm not impressed by the alternative diet solutions, but lets get real here on how it works.

songbyrdsweet

IT DOESN'T MATTER!!

Try it and see if you like it!

Maverick60

Carbs store glycogen in the muscles, and muscles will use that source of energy since it's easier that converting it from fat. So therefore people think, avoid carbs and the body will burn fat. Here's the rub -- the muscles don't really deplete their glycogen levels unless you are an endurance athlete.

Don't want to sound like that guy but muscular glycogen stores get burnt up in about 20 seconds of steady, continuous exercise. Then muscles go to using the anaerobic aspect of the ATP cycle (lactic acid production as a by product) as it is difficult to provide sufficient oxygen for normal energy production. Once your muscles have signalled your body that you are doing this then your breathing and pulse accelerate to compenstate for the oxygen shortage. GCSE human biology.

grinch031

Carbs store glycogen in the muscles, and muscles will use that source of energy since it's easier that converting it from fat. So therefore people think, avoid carbs and the body will burn fat. Here's the rub -- the muscles don't really deplete their glycogen levels unless you are an endurance athlete.

Don't want to sound like that guy but muscular glycogen stores get burnt up in about 20 seconds of steady, continuous exercise. Then muscles go to using the anaerobic aspect of the ATP cycle (lactic acid production as a by product) as it is difficult to provide sufficient oxygen for normal energy production. Once your muscles have signalled your body that you are doing this then your breathing and pulse accelerate to compenstate for the oxygen shortage. GCSE human biology.

I don't think either of these posts are true as it pertains to glycogen stores. You can deplete glycogen stores in 90 minutes or so with endurance training. I think you can do the same with resistance training, but maybe it'll take longer because the exercise isn't continuous. But as long as you are using your muscles, glycogen stores will eventually be depleted. You certainly can't deplete glycogen stores in 20 seconds.

ATT949

Ok... I need some valid and correct information. Everyone and every thing is contradictory! And it is pissing me off!!!!

My understanding was this... and it very well could be wrong. If you eat carbs... and they are not used for energy(fuel)... then they are stored. and become fat.
Therefore the less carbs you eat... still provided you are giving your body some fuel... then your body turns to the stored fat for energy... Thats what makes fat loss.

So, today, after having my RMR tested. See Post here...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/596623-i-had-my-rmr-tested-here-is-what-it-said
...The "fitness professional" asks me how I am eating... I told her mostly clean... and lower carbs. No processed breads...mostly fruit, veg, sweet potatos and lots of meat. ..etc..... about 25-40% carb... 30-40% protein and remainder fat..nothing exact just lower carb.
She says I need to eat about 50-60% carb. That is what will make me lose the fat.
Also increases energy. They should be whole grains... rice, quinoa, couscous... etc. Which all seems "processed" to me.

So, whats the truth about carbs?

Edit to add....

Since I have been cutting grains out of my diet... like breads and beans crackers EVEN!... I have been less bloated and gassy.... and when I happen to have some of those things... Dude... watch out!!

I need to formula for fat burning majic!...

Sorry to see you're still struggling.

As I wrote to you some time ago, you could eat nothing but lard and you'll lose weight.

What amazes me about the diet industry is that it's turned us all into "measurebators" - we spend hour after hour after hour tweaking this and fiddling with that and we forget the one simple things that's key to losing weight.

Eat less and exercise more.

Like lots of other folks, I look at my macros because I want to keep maintain my weight (actually, I want to stay at my current BFP of 16.3%) and, because I'm a runner, I want my diet to be 55% carbs. Everything I've read about running nutrition tells me to have that level of carbs in my diet but when I was losing, I had a high protein diet to keep my satiety level up.

Try the "plateau buster" menu that I sent you a few months ago. Or, flip to early last year in my diary and eat what I ate for a month.

When I was losing weight I had periods of weight loss and I had "recovery phases", which lasted as long as 9 days (http://cbeinfo.net/weight.htm). When I was losing weight, my average daily weight loss was 0.78 pounds per day. And that worked when I was obese and also when I was 18% body fat (I dropped 8 pounds in the first two weeks in January to lose weight for running).

We can't be sure that you'd get the same results as I did but why not try it? What have you got to lose?

_Kitten_Kate

Ok... I need some valid and correct information. Everyone and every thing is contradictory! And it is pissing me off!!!!

My understanding was this... and it very well could be wrong. If you eat carbs... and they are not used for energy(fuel)... then they are stored. and become fat.
Therefore the less carbs you eat... still provided you are giving your body some fuel... then your body turns to the stored fat for energy... Thats what makes fat loss.

So, today, after having my RMR tested. See Post here...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/596623-i-had-my-rmr-tested-here-is-what-it-said
...The "fitness professional" asks me how I am eating... I told her mostly clean... and lower carbs. No processed breads...mostly fruit, veg, sweet potatos and lots of meat. ..etc..... about 25-40% carb... 30-40% protein and remainder fat..nothing exact just lower carb.
She says I need to eat about 50-60% carb. That is what will make me lose the fat.
Also increases energy. They should be whole grains... rice, quinoa, couscous... etc. Which all seems "processed" to me.

So, whats the truth about carbs?

Edit to add....

Since I have been cutting grains out of my diet... like breads and beans crackers EVEN!... I have been less bloated and gassy.... and when I happen to have some of those things... Dude... watch out!!

I need to formula for fat burning majic!...

OP here...

Thank you all for your oh so meaningful...uh humm... information.
But I found what I was looking for; along with much more great info.

And I am here to share.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nutrition/how-many-carbohydrates-do-you-need.html

Thanks!

Scorpioangel

I eat 50% carbs and have the entire time through my weight loss journey and now am at 104 and 10% body fat with good muscle tone. I seriously think everyone is different because when I tried to cut carbs (as a bunch of people were suggesting) I didn't have the energy to do my workouts (running 10+ miles, Insanity, etc.).