Will lowering carbs help?

suemorgan1969
suemorgan1969 Posts: 132 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi.
I have been here 12 weeks and have lost 14lbs on 1200 cals a day. However, not lost more than 2lb now in about 5 weeks. MFP set my carbs to 150g a day which is great as I can have bread, cereal and potatoes! Today I have adjusted the carb setting to 100g. Does anyone have any sucess by doing this? I dont want to eat too fewer carbs as I like them!

Replies

  • Lindaendall
    Lindaendall Posts: 177 Member
    everyone is different so you will have to try and find what works for you. Without knowing more about you it is hard to make suggestions, do you exercise?

    I would suggest you try for a week or two - at least you should not put weight on by trying it.
  • suemorgan1969
    suemorgan1969 Posts: 132 Member
    Thanks. Yes I exercise about 3 times a week. I have another 21lbs to lose
  • MrsBully4
    MrsBully4 Posts: 304 Member
    MFP sets protein goals WAY too low, how much protein are you getting per day? I would try to aim for 100+g per day and see if that helps.
  • tinawharrison
    tinawharrison Posts: 123
    I cut my carbs back and upped my protein and fat... nothing moved for almost 3 months but now i'm losing quite nicely again... Play around with it for a month and see what happens? :smile:
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    Cutting carbs helps if you have a medical reason for carb sensitivity (PCOS, hypothyroid, diabetes). However, a lot of people recommending cutting carbs and increasing protein because a) protein keeps you full longer, b) high-carb foods tend to have fewer nutrients and more sugar.
  • suemorgan1969
    suemorgan1969 Posts: 132 Member
    thankyou
  • abbylg1983
    abbylg1983 Posts: 177 Member
    By carbs, do you mean all carbs, or grains? I am assuming you do not mean to include fruits or veggies when you say lower carbs.

    There is a lot of research out there about grains and their effect on blood sugar and insulin and how eating them ultimately either leads to increased fat storage or at the minimum not being able to lose existing fat stores. I am not a nutritionist and I don't claim to be. However, the amount of people who swear that they lost weight by cutting out grains is not insignificant.

    I did calories in/calories out from Jan to May and lost about 8-10 pounds, still eating around 150-200 g of carbs (I can take or leave pasta and potatoes but I absolutely love bread and cereal). Around May/June, I quit logging my foods and instead cut out bread completely and dramatically cut back on cereal. I've only lost an additional 2-3 pounds since then, but I have really decreased my fat areas (mostly my stomach, lower back, and thighs). Since I no longer track my foods I don't know what my daily average calorie intake is, probably around 1500-1600 (I eat a lot of fruit which prob accounts for about 300-400 calories, plus a lot of nuts). When I was tracking I tried to stay between 1200-1400. For me personally, I do believe cutting down grains did help me lose some fat, if not any additional weight.
  • DaveMXF
    DaveMXF Posts: 52
    I think if you continue to workout 3x a week, you might need to up your calories to 1600. Even Proportions of carbs and protein....and lower fat those 2.

    You have to eat it to lose it, you might have hit a nutrition plateau.....


    my .02

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