why obsess over carbs?

fteale

I think anything in moderation is just fine. Also, gluten free does not equal carb free, so going on a gluten free diet does not limit your carb intake in any way, it just eliminates wheat, barley, and rye products.

I find my carb intake goes up when I am gluten free, as wheat substitutes usually contain more carbs and less protein than whole wheat.

Anya06

...I dont understand why some people obsess over carbs...these are needed by our bodies to function?!its not about the amount of daily carbs but the type of carb as far as i am concerned...in past year i have lost over 10kg(around 1.5 stone)...and I have not done any dieting.I eat everything in moderation and exercise a little everyday. since joining MFP i almost fell into the dieting thing as i kept on reading that carbs are bad, or this and that...and i stopped losing and always felt hungry.so i am back to eating variety of foods and everything I like just in moderation. or do ppl think I am missing a point?and actually shud be limiting carbs?!

Above is your original post.

You make a fair few sweeping statements tbf. When you say things like ..

in past year i have lost over 10kg(around 1.5 stone)...and I have not done any dieting.I eat everything in moderation and exercise a little everyday

makes it sounds like you think that because you can do it that way anyone can. Unless you know everyone you can't make those statements without sounding at best a little ignorant. I don't mean this rudely at all but you asked why you are accused of feeling smug. That would be it.

I am sorry if anybof my comments sounded insulting, what i was trying to get at is that i find eating everything in moderation works for me,but i bust my *kitten* exercising everyday,hence the weight loss...i dont know much about carbs and diet so i asked and many ppl have been so helpful and made some very interesting point...but others seem to take it defensively and get personal on me which i think is awful for sayong this site is supposed to promote support and encouragement?!I never once said anything negative to anyone...but hey suppose that the way online forums are everyone is intitled to their oppinion

TimedEventSystem

I eat lower carb. They are absolutely not needed, with the exception of fiber.

exactly right, there are no "essential" carbohydrates. and if the idea is to lose FAT not weight, exercise and low carb can help you to attain your goal. when your body has no caarbs for fuel, it uses your fat stores, after exhausting the glycogen in your liver, and muscles.

Lol, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb/keto diets barring those with a medical condition or intolerance that would require one to limt cho

You're confusing metabolic rate and the resources it draws from. There's a reason why people do RMR testing and look to see what ratio they're burning carbs and fat.

If you're looking to prepare for a major weight loss of fat, many dietitians and exercise physiologists have agreed on trying to lower carbohydrate intake to force the body to consume more existing fat. However, it is a very new school of thought, which probably came around 2 or so years ago.

Acg67

I eat lower carb. They are absolutely not needed, with the exception of fiber.

exactly right, there are no "essential" carbohydrates. and if the idea is to lose FAT not weight, exercise and low carb can help you to attain your goal. when your body has no caarbs for fuel, it uses your fat stores, after exhausting the glycogen in your liver, and muscles.

Lol, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb/keto diets barring those with a medical condition or intolerance that would require one to limt cho

You're confusing metabolic rate and the resources it draws from. There's a reason why people do RMR testing and look to see what ratio they're burning carbs and fat.

If you're looking to prepare for a major weight loss of fat, many dietitians and exercise physiologists have agreed on trying to lower carbohydrate intake to force the body to consume more existing fat. However, it is a very new school of thought, which probably came around 2 or so years ago.

Actually I'm not, hold cals and protein constant and fat loss will not be significantly different. Kekwick and Pawan theorized the metabolic advantage back in the 50's and it prob goes back even further, so not even close to 2 yrs

ZeroWoIf

Not sure if obsession is really a good word to choose. Just dump high glycemic carbs to your diet all day long and let me know how well you do a month later. If you are diabetic then there is an understandable a mount of concern that I would expect someone's who's body relies on keeping their glucose levels controlled. Otherwise if you are dieting then just be mindful of what you are suppose to eat.

Update: Heck I have a glucose measuring machine that I use to show how my glucose levels are affected by something I have recently introduced to my day. Had my last meal about 1.5-2.0 hours ago and my glucose levels only increase to 95 mg/dl. My levels are usually 79-81 when I just wake up out of bed.

Sidesteal

but I am advocating one that is devoid of refined carbohydrates (i.e sugar, white flour, processed foods)

I never said that 100% avoidance of sugar and white flour/rice/pasta was the way to go.

de·void/diˈvoid/
Adjective:
Entirely lacking or free from:

kjw1031

but I am advocating one that is devoid of refined carbohydrates (i.e sugar, white flour, processed foods)

I never said that 100% avoidance of sugar and white flour/rice/pasta was the way to go.

de·void/diˈvoid/
Adjective:
Entirely lacking or free from:

Blayzn10Tiffers

You are 23, maybe you would consider other dietary options if you were, say, 41 and had a metabolism that had been knocked-about by the progress of time and a diet too heavy in carbohydrate.

When I was 23 I had way more latitude for my diet and I'd be rabbiting 'a calorie is a calorie' and 'we need carbs for energy'. Hey, just eat less and exercise more lardy!

Given I am 41 and prone to reading up about the science, not magazine articles, I don't rabbit anymore.

well i would say given you are 41 and I am 23 the attitude you speak with to a young female stinks!!! whole point of thos post is that if u exercise (which bosts ur metabolism) and eat in moderation everything is ok...regardless of you age or gender.also to make an assumption or try to imply that I am uneducated by making a magazine comment is very narrow minded and says more for you than me...

Im going to delet my post here.. nevermind lol

monicalosesweight

I'm sorry but when person calls you "lardy" - that's just plain rude. I don't know if he meant it as a joke but it's not appropriate.

angusmike

Because I've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I want to avoid taking insulin, therefore its important to lower my blood glucose levels. I suffered a severe attack of pancreatitus four years ago, lost 25% of my pancreas, and the pancreatic ducts are scarred and thus secret insufficient insulin.

I believe that I can control my blood glucose via medication, weight loss via exercise and limiting carbs. I'm 62 years old, 5'10" tall and weigh between 189 and 185 pounds.

Any other questions?

ZeroWoIf

Because I've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I want to avoid taking insulin, therefore its important to lower my blood glucose levels. I suffered a severe attack of pancreatitus four years ago, lost 25% of my pancreas, and the pancreatic ducts are scarred and thus secret insufficient insulin.

I believe that I can control my blood glucose via medication, weight loss via exercise and limiting carbs. I'm 62 years old, 5'10" tall and weigh between 189 and 185 pounds.

Any other questions?

I heard of people who stopped taking medications and eat extremely healthy. Have you tried doing that or u need medications in addition to eating extremely healthy.

monicalosesweight

True. With diabetes you have to worry about sugar insulin levels. I think she's talking more about people who are constantly trying to go under the calorie intake for the day. I've heard that if you do that, your body thinks it's starving and that can cause you to have a harder time loosing weight because it goes into starvation mode. For someone whose in her 20's (just remembering being that age), it was easier back then for me to keep the weight off. As soon as you hit the 40's, your metabolism slows down big time and you have to watch the carb intake at that point. I didn't hence why now I'm dieting and watching everything I need to get it off. I miss my 20's - it was so much easier to loose the weight. The nice part is if you keep exercising, eating moderately and correctly - you won't have as hard of a time maintaining it when you reach my age.

angusmike

My last blood glucose level at noon today was 94. Watching the carbs, taking the meds, exercising, dropping some weight have all helped. I'll go in Tuesday for blood tests to see what my levels are.

Best course of action is to follow the directions of your doctor. Fortunately, I have less than ten pounds to drop. The wild card in all this is my pancreas.

WendyTerry420

Do your research. Carbs are absolutely not needed by your body. If there are no carbs your body can get energy from fat.

There is NOTHING that carbs can provide your body (outside of those in fruits and vegetables because those also have vitamins). They offer nothing for nutrition and think about it, do they taste good or the stuff you put on them?

But you know what? Carbs with fat are pretty yummy! :laugh:

TimedEventSystem

I eat lower carb. They are absolutely not needed, with the exception of fiber.

exactly right, there are no "essential" carbohydrates. and if the idea is to lose FAT not weight, exercise and low carb can help you to attain your goal. when your body has no caarbs for fuel, it uses your fat stores, after exhausting the glycogen in your liver, and muscles.

Lol, there is no metabolic advantage to low carb/keto diets barring those with a medical condition or intolerance that would require one to limt cho

You're confusing metabolic rate and the resources it draws from. There's a reason why people do RMR testing and look to see what ratio they're burning carbs and fat.

If you're looking to prepare for a major weight loss of fat, many dietitians and exercise physiologists have agreed on trying to lower carbohydrate intake to force the body to consume more existing fat. However, it is a very new school of thought, which probably came around 2 or so years ago.

Actually I'm not, hold cals and protein constant and fat loss will not be significantly different. Kekwick and Pawan theorized the metabolic advantage back in the 50's and it prob goes back even further, so not even close to 2 yrs

That's not the theory I'm actually referencing, but good try. I'll just let you think you're right, it's much easier. I'm just a stupid biochemistry major anyway.

Anya06

My last blood glucose level at noon today was 94. Watching the carbs, taking the meds, exercising, dropping some weight have all helped. I'll go in Tuesday for blood tests to see what my levels are.

Best course of action is to follow the directions of your doctor. Fortunately, I have less than ten pounds to drop. The wild card in all this is my pancreas.

hope tuesday brings u some good results...xxx

Anya06

True. With diabetes you have to worry about sugar insulin levels. I think she's talking more about people who are constantly trying to go under the calorie intake for the day. I've heard that if you do that, your body thinks it's starving and that can cause you to have a harder time loosing weight because it goes into starvation mode. For someone whose in her 20's (just remembering being that age), it was easier back then for me to keep the weight off. As soon as you hit the 40's, your metabolism slows down big time and you have to watch the carb intake at that point. I didn't hence why now I'm dieting and watching everything I need to get it off. I miss my 20's - it was so much easier to loose the weight. The nice part is if you keep exercising, eating moderately and correctly - you won't have as hard of a time maintaining it when you reach my age.

yes I did mean people who are generally healthy and have no medical reason to avoid foods.

AmyFett

You are 23, maybe you would consider other dietary options if you were, say, 41 and had a metabolism that had been knocked-about by the progress of time and a diet too heavy in carbohydrate.

When I was 23 I had way more latitude for my diet and I'd be rabbiting 'a calorie is a calorie' and 'we need carbs for energy'. Hey, just eat less and exercise more lardy!

Given I am 41 and prone to reading up about the science, not magazine articles, I don't rabbit anymore.

I'm 25 and read about these things, and also have a VERY slow metabolism. To me, people just need to find what works best for them, low-carb fads don't work for me, but I also have a diabetic mother and she watches carbs for that reason. She can't have too much or too little. I've never been able to eat whatever I want and not have it affect me, age doesn't really have anything to do with it for some people.