I found an easier way to lose weight

kellyallday

I wish everyone were as positive about lower carb as you are! I made that same discovery myself almost 2 months ago...

I followed the MFP suggested macros for 3 months, worked out for 90 minutes 3-4x a week ( 65 cardio, 25 strength) and barely managed to lose 7 pounds. As a matter of fact, I spent 2 months losing and gaining the same 3 pounds! Then I decided to try to cut carbs since I lost weight that way so easily when I was diagnosed with IR in '04. The first week I lost 4.8lbs..and since then I have lost an average of 1.3 pounds every.single.week!

So eating whatever I wanted as long as it fit within my calorie goal, I lost 7 pounds in 3 months...but by cutting my carbs down to 100g NET per day, I am losing 7 pounds per MONTH. How horrible is a diet where I naturally eat lower calorie foods to the point where I *have* to eat a FiberOne brownie with 2T of peanut butter on top for a bedtime snack? Yup, my calories are so low, I have snack like that to boost my net calories!

ETA: the funniest thing? My 90 minute workouts are no more...I was having too much trouble keeping my net intake up, so I cut my cardio down to 35 minutes, and I'm STILL losing at the same rate!

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! BUMP BUMP BUMP!

ChassityGetsFit

I've been trying my best to eat cleaner and I know it's definitely been when I lost the best numbers! It does work and I'm going to look up the resources you mentioned since I'm still new!

LeggyKettleBabe

I am trying to keep my carbs between 80-100 and yes it's working for me im losing bout 3.5 lbs a week just from lowering my carbs. I love my bread but its better to be healthy and live long than eat bread/rice/pasta.

blkasper

I have a lot of friends who are clean eaters, Paleo, stay away from wheat (aka Wheat Belly Book) etc. They do cross fit or high interval training type workouts. Not plain old cardio on machines. They eat nothing from a bag or box. No wheat, pastas, rice, white potatoes. They try to eat all organic (when possible) whole grian fed meats, veggies, fruits, no dairy. They swear they feel better, have more energy and lose weight! I try and then get sucked back into diet processed foods!

Sabine_Stroehm

I try to eat clean, and slow carb.
By all accounts I'm sorta primal I guess, though I've never tried for that.

I do pretty well except for some snacks (cheddar popcorn from Trader Joes, and wine).

I try to fuel my body. If I add a few snacks, I'm okay with that.
My body doesn't love breads etc, so I don't eat a lot of those.

mandy031383

BUMP

blkasper

They say you get enough natural carbs from your fruit. YOu dont need the bad carbs such as from pastas and grains, especially the bad wheat that has been genetically changed to be easier to grow and be mass produced for cheaper costs.

hyphenbobbit

Hi,

I've started the 100g carb thing this week and it's going pretty well. The only trouble is I am finding it hard to reach my 1200 cals without going over on the fat. Trying to keep to low fat meats (turkey, chicken) and mixing that in with a fair bit of quorn/meat free stuff but still struggling. See on here that some of you seem to be eating quite high fat - my mfp is set at 100g carb, 100g protein which gives 40g fat - can I get away with more fat?

5' tall
doing 1200 cals and not eating back exercise cals (was doing 1600 reset prior)

Any thoughts anyone?
Thanks

McBully4

I lost about 180 totally worthless lbs in 2mins when I got rid of my ex.

kmm7309

I guess you could consider me in the lowER carb department, but it's not something I necessarily did on purpose. The doctor proposed cutting some carbs and a few other changes as a result of my PCOS. Mainly, instead of making a huge cut, I replaced all of the pastas with wheat pasta or veggie pasta, and all of my breads with wheat breads. And yes, I did eat a little less on the carbs (I grew up poor, so all I knew were pasta dishes, so yes, it wasn't a bad idea for me to learn some other food groups). I personally made a commitment to never go on a "diet" again. My changes are sustainable, and I am still losing weight. I have a delicious sandwich every day (I love sandwiches!). I have pasta a few times a week (I just get veggie pasta and veggie pasta sauce and eat up!). I couldn't ever give these things up, and if I tried, I'd be binging in no time!!

triinityz

Veg low carb, I do dairy and eggs, so that helps. Really the only diet I've seen consistant results with and I feel amazing. Carbs love me, but I don't love them!!

Grlnxtdr0721

Think I am going to try this...

TexasRattlesnake

I lost about 180 totally worthless lbs in 2mins when I got rid of my ex.

I dropped about 260 the same way. Picked up an extra 165 a year later, but that weight is well worth it. LOL

MissyMissy18

I know a little about those diets and they probably are healthy, but there has been too little research to tell if they are healthy over a long period of time for me to consider this type of diet. I don't by anthropological data from the paleo era as evidence that it's safe for us because we simply don't and can't live or eat as the caveman did. We may keep our macros where it is theorized they did, but the food itself that we eat is very different and our lifestyle is very, very different.

Plus, I wouldn't want to give up my favorite foods unless there was a medical reason to do so. I've eaten a moderate carb diet that includes whole grains for decades and I've made it to age 51 without ever developing high cholesterol, insulin resistance or any other disease, syndrome or diagnosis. The only time I gain weight is when I stop exercising regularly.

Again, I have no reason to believe these diets are unhealthy. It is partly the lack of evidence that makes these not appeal to me. Plus my love of plant based foods, including legumes and whole grains, the wealth of evidence that this type of diet is healthy long term, and my own personal experience that leads me to believe I am already doing what is best for me.

I wish you luck in doing what is best for you.

Well said! Thanks for sharing

NWCountryGal

I eat everything and still losing. I think some of it has to do with metabolism but I like the idea of not have to cut out something from my meals. I do not eat a lot of sugar or fat, just the recommended amount of fats, and good fats like olive oil etc.;)

At 5ft2 I was content at 130lbs exercising 4xs a week... until my dr said I had high cholersterol.
I found MFP and I started tracking- I barely had cholesterol in my diet! So I cut back and ate low fat and lost 10lbs. I knew there had to be a better way.
I found it. Read about "clean eating", "primal blueprint", "Mike's Daily Apple". You should be eating more protein and less carbs!
Ladies- keep both around 100 daily. I can eat eggs/bacon, real butter, heavy whipping cream in my coffee, a little fruit, veggies (big deal!), and still lose weight.
It's 80%/20% meaning you can eat clean most of the time- that should explain my diary today, lol.
Do me a favor and don't "friend" me until you've tried it for a week...

bev214

bump

Anayalata

It' NOT an easier way for people to lose weight who like to actually eat foods that are CULTURALLY high in carbs, fat and sugar. Unless this is an eating plan you want to stick with the REST OF YOUR LIFE, then the weight loss may be just temporary. Introducing any sugar or carbs back into the diet would more than likely also increase weight.
Easiest way to lose weight is to eat a way you can do the rest of your life at a calorie deficit.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Deserves to be repeated.

sugarsnacker

bump

bev214

bump

mfunderburgh

bump

NWCountryGal

Ditto, I wanted to talk about the carbs too but you already did it quite well;)

Carbohydrate is horrible for your health. It is a commonmisconception that it is needed for energy. However, if you have a diet very low carb and high fat, then your body turns to ketosis. Ketosisis when the body burns fat for energy. You will lose weight quickly, and many many other health aspects will improve. There is so much research out there if you know where to look.

"Where to look" for medical research is not someone's blog. It's also not PubMed, unless you have a whole lot of free time to read through hundreds upon hundreds of pages of scietific research and peer review analysis. Because if you don't read it all, or if you are not capable of understanding the compicated medical language, you are not getting the whole picture.

Carbohydrates are not horrible for health. It's extremely difficult to maintain health without fruits and vegetables, and they have carbohydrates. And there is plenty of scientific evidence that minimally processed whole grains improve health.

Your best bet to learn about nutrition is to listen to the recommendations of those in the field of nutrition science, as they do have the time and knowledge to read and understand all the studies. And they are not a mission to sell books or specific diets.

If you want to follow a Paleo, Primal or whatever diet, that is your choice, but don't spout nonsense like "carbohydrates are horrible for your health". How can you expect to be taken seriously when you say something like that?

NWCountryGal

Bump!! Right on!

It' NOT an easier way for people to lose weight who like to actually eat foods that are CULTURALLY high in carbs, fat and sugar. Unless this is an eating plan you want to stick with the REST OF YOUR LIFE, then the weight loss may be just temporary. Introducing any sugar or carbs back into the diet would more than likely also increase weight.
Easiest way to lose weight is to eat a way you can do the rest of your life at a calorie deficit.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Deserves to be repeated.

NWCountryGal

Michael Phelps has been reported to eat as much as 12,000 calories per day to match the 50 miles he swims per week during training. It is more than calories that count – getting enough complex carbohydrates from sources such as grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables help give athletes the energy they need during strenuous activity.

http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/07/do-calories-count-for-olympians/

Again, the proof is there for all to see, if we care to look for it;) denise

AnnyaSB

Bump!! Right on!

It' NOT an easier way for people to lose weight who like to actually eat foods that are CULTURALLY high in carbs, fat and sugar. Unless this is an eating plan you want to stick with the REST OF YOUR LIFE, then the weight loss may be just temporary. Introducing any sugar or carbs back into the diet would more than likely also increase weight.
Easiest way to lose weight is to eat a way you can do the rest of your life at a calorie deficit.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Deserves to be repeated.

As someone who has battle with her weight on and off for at least 35 years I wholeheartedly agree with this comment. I have tried pretty much every kind of restrictive diet known to mankind - none of which were sustainable and all of which lead to regaining the weight I had lost and then more.

This time (and it will be the last time) I am following a balanced diet which I know I can maintain forever, I am just doing it at a calorie deficit until I get to my weight goal. Nothing will change when I get there, I will just increase calories until I am maintaining rather than losing.

Sabine_Stroehm

Michael Phelps has been reported to eat as much as 12,000 calories per day to match the 50 miles he swims per week during training. It is more than calories that count – getting enough complex carbohydrates from sources such as grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables help give athletes the energy they need during strenuous activity.

http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/07/do-calories-count-for-olympians/

Again, the proof is there for all to see, if we care to look for it;) denise

I'm not disagreeing, or arguing, but I will say that I believe we can get all the energy we need for workouts without grains. (No, I don't eat low carb, I just don't digest grains well).

Giantess

I lost the most weight I had ever lost in my life doing low carb dieting. Sixty pounds or so in three months.

I also had the least energy, felt nauseated half the time, had cramps that were BEYOND BELIEF all over my body at night. This despite taking calcium and potassium supplements.

I found it expensive and unsustainable, to boot. At my height, I get about 2500 cals a day when I work out. That's a lot of lean meats!

Eventually, my budget and the sleepless nights of agony got to me. My doc also said I was having severe low electrolyte problems, which can lead to heart attack. I stopped, and started eating normally again.

The weight went pouring back on at a SHOCKING rate. It made me sad panda. I often wish I could do low carb, but it felt so dreadful physically I will never try it again, no matter how tempted I am by my endless weeks of no-loss.

I'm jealous of those who find this eating style sustainable. I know it's dreadfully effective.

RuthSweetTooth

They should just put you on a cereal box . . . you're gorgeous. Some cereals are so good for you too, especially if you're planning to become a mother anytime too, can protect babies against Spina bifida and spare protein needed for tissue building of the fetus. Enjoy your cereal !

Ruth

oh i love my cereal too much.

bcattoes

I lost the most weight I had ever lost in my life doing low carb dieting. Sixty pounds or so in three months.

I also had the least energy, felt nauseated half the time, had cramps that were BEYOND BELIEF all over my body at night. This despite taking calcium and potassium supplements.

I found it expensive and unsustainable, to boot. At my height, I get about 2500 cals a day when I work out. That's a lot of lean meats!

Eventually, my budget and the sleepless nights of agony got to me. My doc also said I was having severe low electrolyte problems, which can lead to heart attack. I stopped, and started eating normally again.

The weight went pouring back on at a SHOCKING rate. It made me sad panda. I often wish I could do low carb, but it felt so dreadful physically I will never try it again, no matter how tempted I am by my endless weeks of no-loss.

I'm jealous of those who find this eating style sustainable. I know it's dreadfully effective.

When you say you started "eating normally" again and that caused the weight to pour back on, what do you mean by "eating normally"? It's only logical that if you went back to eating as you were when you gained weight that you'd gain weight again. Surely there is a happy medium where you lose weight healthily while including healthy carbs in your diet.

NWCountryGal

That is always dependent on food allergies or certain, health conditions. It's more of a comment about Michael Phelps than trying to give advice to anyone. Just thought some would be interested in it:) denise

Michael Phelps has been reported to eat as much as 12,000 calories per day to match the 50 miles he swims per week during training. It is more than calories that count – getting enough complex carbohydrates from sources such as grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables help give athletes the energy they need during strenuous activity.

http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/07/do-calories-count-for-olympians/

Again, the proof is there for all to see, if we care to look for it;) denise

I'm not disagreeing, or arguing, but I will say that I believe we can get all the energy we need for workouts without grains. (No, I don't eat low carb, I just don't digest grains well).

krystyleee

I think I am going to start this, too! Cutting down my carn intake to 100 for now, may gradually go down lower once I get used to it!