Anyone at goal or has lost not doing low carb?

stgmanitoba

Hi everyone,

I have read a lot of people doing low carb and it working for them. But has anyone reached goal/close to goal or lost a significant amount not doing low carb? Due to some changes in my schedule/budget I have had to redo my food plan. It is going to involve more carbs. Here is an example of a new day:

Breakfast:
1/2 cup dry rolled oats, 1/2 cup blueberries, cinnamon
Dinner:
1/4 cup quinoa, 1 cup shredded chicken, 1/2 cup black beans, chopped peppers/other vegetables, 2 tbsp salsa, 1 cup brussel sprouts
Snacks:
Green monster smoothie (1 cup both spinach and kale, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1 banana, 1/2 cup 0% greek yogurt)
2 cups sugar snap peas

Lunch varies (everything above i'll be eating every day, i find it easier to stick to) so some examples are:
Turkey meatballs with spaghetti squash and side veggie
Balsamic chicken with 1/4 cup quinoa and side veggies
Turkey meatloaf with 1/2 cup roasted potatoes side veggies
Shrimp stir fry with stir fried vegetables, 1 tbsp soy sauce, garlic, lemon, siracha, side veggies

As you can see not all of my lunch items have major carbs but over all on the days I do have carbs with lunch then its close to my MFP carb target which I have read is high. I know different things work for different people but I was wondering if a normal amount of carbs works for some.
2 cups sugar snap peas

c2111

hi, I probably shouldnt reply, but your menu is very similar to me. I hit my goal to day woo hoo, and Im on south beach phase 2, its low carb, but not too extreme. I never got any where with regular cal couting/low fat diets, but SBD has done wonders for me, and as I said my menu is very similar to yours, anyway goodluck

litatura

I've never tried low carb or any other fad diet because I know I would be way too crotchety. I don't even monitor my carbs at all - I just track my calories and exercise. As you can see from my ticker, I've been successful in my weight loss journey.

mockchoc

I don't do low carb and I'm very close to goal. I tried to low carb but really disliked eating so much protein. I still eat a lot of protein but when low carbing I felt like I was force feeding myself it.

AllonsYtotheTardis

i haven't been doing low carb, just been watching that i get better quality carb (ie - good grains, fruits & veg instead of tons of white rice, potatoes, & white bread)

texjenn

I didn't do low carb! I would never survive -- I love them too much! I have just watched my calorie in take and exercised. So, I'm just like Litatura.... I wouldn't do any type of 'diet' that you could not stick to in the long run. I need to be able to do this for the rest of my life and cutting out carbs isn't going to do it for me.

krickeyuu

I don't do low-carb. My macros right now are 20% protein, 30% fat and 50% carbs. I did not even monitor my macros until recently. I also drink wine daily. Have lost 21 lbs and am 2 lbs from my goal weight of 130lbs. 5' 4" 52 yo. I basically eat what I want and try to stick to my 1500 calories per day. I am actually more interested in meeting my fiber grams and staying under my sodium than anything else.

megleo818

I lost 30 pounds (25 here) in 9 months without cutting carbs. In the past I did lose weight with South Beach, but put it all back on -- and then some -- because I'm not built to live this life without an occasional beer or two (or chips and salsa or fresh-baked oatmeal cookies or whatever). This time I went for changing my LIFE, not my food-du-jour. More exercise, less food, good nutrition, lots of fun. Seems to be working!

My diary is open (I think!) And feel free to add me if you like.

:drinker:

momof2winsplus

I lost all my weight just eating normally, controlling portion sizes and retraining myself to stop eating when I am full.

jgsparks89

I've lost 20lbs so far (about 1/2 of my goal)...no low carb, no eliminating food groups, no fad diets, no starvation. Just counting calories, trying to make good choices, and adjusting when I don't. Eat less, eat better, move more.

RobynMWilson

I lost my weight in 1987 before the whole low carb craze. I kept it off since besides a failed pregnancy in 1996, which I took off that weight almost immediately and never bought into Atkins or anything. I go over on carbs sometimes now. My macros are currently set at 40% carbs, 40% protein and 20% fats. So I'm not exactly low carbing right now either. Maybe I'd see faster results for body shaping, but as far as weight loss and maintenance I've never felt it necessary for me.

I don't like any eating plan that cuts out an entire food group. That being said, my carbs are 95% whole grains (cept for today I had white bread with garlic bread but it's maybe 3 times per month max that I eat white bread). I eat whole wheat pasta, whole grain English muffins, brown rice when I do have rice. Quinoa has a good amount of protein so that's good. My worst carbs are the sugars in my granola bars I eat when I'm driving the bus (I'm a school bus driver) and the high sugar in Chobani yogurt but I just CANNOT eat the plain. Even mixed with fresh fruit it's bitter to me and I need the protein so I eat the fruit on the bottom. Seems to be working for me...

estepteau

Nope low carbs for me...Of course its more details to all of this, but here is my short answer. I ate every 2 hours to boost metabolism and ate in moderation. Typically 1200-1500 calories day. 10 glasses of water, Lots of veggies, 3-4 fruit servings a day, and 70-80 grams of protein a day.

bluefox9er

I've never tried low carb or any other fad diet because I know I would be way too crotchety. I don't even monitor my carbs at all - I just track my calories and exercise. As you can see from my ticker, I've been successful in my weight loss journey.

quoted for truth!! same here :-)

sgv0918

i eat what i want. I love carbs. feel free to check out my diary

bpmartyr

I made goal without resorting to low carb vodoo. Calories in vs calories out. Adequate to high protein, adequate healthy fats then get the rest from carbs. Profit

NCchar130

I eat between 200-300 carbs a day and have lost 26 pounds doing so. I will never give them up!

ravenchick

I've lost 92 pounds and never worried too much about my carbs. I love carbs!!

maricash

I've lost around 60 pounds (half pre-MFP) without thinking about carbs. I am trying to eat a bit more protein now, but that's only because, after months of tracking, I've noticed that I don't come anywhere near my (very modest) protein goal.

I know different things work for different people (and some people have medical conditions that effect their diet), but I think, for most people, low carb just works because it ends up restricting overall calories. That is, if you get your sandwich wrapped in lettuce it will be lower in carbs, but it will also be lower in calories. I'd rather get a sandwich with the bread and cut back on calories somewhere else.

AmyRhubarb

No low carb here and I'm nearly at goal. So close in fact that I'm not really concerned with the scale anymore, just measurements every so often, and dealing with having to buy smaller clothes!

Using the formula in this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12 - my calories are set at 1800 a day, macros at 40/30/30 carbs/protein/fat. And I often end up a bit over on carbs, but the fat is still coming off. (I'm 44, about 5'8", and 137lbs, give or take a pound or two from one day to the next. :bigsmile:)

stgmanitoba

Congratulations everyone on meeting their goals/weight loss so far. Everyone looks great!!! Its great to hear everyone is having success by eating normally.

onyxgirl17

I've lost 25 pounds and I have been around 40% carbs, 40% fat, and 20% protein...

Car0lynnM

I haven't cut out anything, just cut back on amount and frequency of certain foods. I love my carbs. I have stalled on the scale, but just measured a half inch off my waist and 3/4 inch off my neck (weird measurement); just from the last few weeks. Exercise and calorie counting!

mamagooskie

I have never ever followed low carb. I just count calories and try to keep my macros in check as well, I try to get plenty of fiber and drink my water.

stines72

i go over on carbs every single day LOL and ive lost 24 pounds... i started out 5'3 130 and now i am 106 lb...

couldnt care less about carbs in foods and when i say i go over i go over by quite a bit. every day.

edit: in fact i dont even deal with macros.. the only thing i care about in my macros list is sodium and potassium

ixap

Absolutely. I eat about 55% carbs and lose just fine. Feel free to look at my diary.

DebbieLyn63

Low carb doesn't necessarily mean cutting out all carbs. Your body does need some carbs. Most people who say they eat low carb are cutting out simple carbs like sugar in cakes, cookies, sodas. and white flour- chips, crackers, white breads, white rice and white pastas. They concentrate on eating more vegetables and higher fiber carbs i.e. fruits and whole grains, which fill you up. They also eat higher protein and good fats. These foods keep you fuller longer and allow you to eat less total calories. You can lower your calories 200-300 per day by cutting out sugar and simple carbs, but keep your proteins and good fats high, and you won't be any hungrier than you were eating at the higher level. Sugar and simple carbs also make your blood sugar spike and release a lot of insulin, causing you to crave more sugar.

Of course there are many people who have lost weight without cutting out sugar, bread, pastas, etc. They did so by cutting back on calories and exercising. It is harder to have a large calorie deficit while keeping your protein levels good, if you don't cut back on the sugars, etc. It will usually be a slower loss and you will need to do a lot of exercise to burn off the carbs in your diet, before you can start burning stored fats. But it can be done. It's all in the way you choose to lose.

kazzsjourney

I have lost 180 pounds and have eaten carbs (as in grains) with 2 of my meals per day....just most days I dont eat them with my evening meal.

astheygrowup

I have lost all my weight to this point without doing low carb.

ipsamet

I eat lots and lots of carbs and I've lost 100 pounds since my highest weight!

Littlegurl

No fad diets here. It says I have 4 more lbs to lose, but I think I'm about at goal now. I have done more strength training and added more lean muscle than I ever anticipated when I set my goal. My doc also told me that I need more carbs than most ppl because I naturally go into ketosis without withholding carbs. And I'm not diabetic. I'm 5'2" and 108 lbs. I'm going to see what happens over the next month of working out and see if I'm at my goal weight and just focus on toning my abs more and my running goals.

slowturtle1

My carb goal (ratio) is set at 40%. My fat goal (ratio) is set at 30%. I'm almost always over--sometimes way over, especially on fat. I try to get my carbs from whole grains, fruits, and veggies most of the time. I try to get as much protein as possible as well, but I'm usually under my goal. I've lost 23 pounds since March. Feel free to check out my diary if you'd like. Good luck!