Do no carb diets work?

So I'm trying to go on a no-carb diet in order to lose the fat covering my muscles... Is that healthy? I've been at it for a week now and its easier than you think....
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Replies

  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    Wow, how do you do it? no carbs? You eat eggs and chicken all day?

    I don't think cutting out all carbs is healthy tbh because... for example... fruits and veggies have carbs in them and lots of nutrients.
  • ubermensch13
    ubermensch13 Posts: 824 Member
    So, there is nothing really "wrong" with a low-carb diet, but the problems are always can you keep that up for life? Once you stop that diet, your body will probably start gaining weight again. Or, you'll have craving for high carb food, making it harder to eat healthy....
  • cutting out carbs like white bread and things like that are ok, but you don't need to cut ALL carbs out completely. Many breaded things (white bread, white potatos) turn to sugar in your body, so you should do some research first before you cut everything out. Wheat bread and things like that are ok to eat.
  • Christaaa78
    Christaaa78 Posts: 65 Member
    losing weight is only a matter of burning more calories than you eat.

    Science shows us that it doesn't matter which diet you do.

    I personally think that a no carbs diet is not very healthy.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    Where do you get your fiber? Are you really eating NO carbs, or just no grains. Veggies have carbs.

    I tried Atkins a couple of times? It worked, but it was never sustainable for long and I always regained.
  • capnwo85
    capnwo85 Posts: 1,103 Member
    What's wrong with carbs? Are they like communism? Even that started out as a fine idea.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    So I'm trying to go on a no-carb diet in order to lose the fat covering my muscles... Is that healthy? I've been at it for a week now and its easier than you think....

    It's unnecessary as fat loss would be the same with carbs holding protein and cals constant
  • bmiller211
    bmiller211 Posts: 222 Member
    I tried a no carb about 20 years ago and it went well for about a month. I will say I felt full and didn't lose energy but I also couldn't poop :embarassed: :explode: and felt that made me sluggish. Add the right carbs and you are golden(fruits and veg)!!
  • Sincere24
    Sincere24 Posts: 126 Member
    So I'm trying to go on a no-carb diet in order to lose the fat covering my muscles... Is that healthy? I've been at it for a week now and its easier than you think....

    It's unnecessary as fat loss would be the same with carbs holding protein and cals constant

    ^^agreed, according to studies i've read there's no real difference over no-carb vs. traditional calorie restrcted diets in regards to weight loss. As i understand you may be able to lose more weight at first as a result of the lack of carbs( loss of water weight and such) however the results are the same over a period of greater than a month I believe.

    No need to go to such extremes particularly if you love your carbs, cuz i know i do in moderation of course The whole purpose is to attain a greater eating pattern that allows you to eaaatt within reason. With excluding certain food groups, an extreme of sorts unless for medical reasons, you can drive urself bonkers lol esp if you're trying to lose weight.

    However i must add some people enjoy and/or benefit from a low-carb diet and can easily handle one, it's all about perference at the end of the day.
  • what is the reasoning behind cutting all carbs? And, does this mean you won't eat veggies, too? Seems extreme to me...
  • clobercow
    clobercow Posts: 337 Member
    For me, low carb helps to keep my appetite and hunger in check. I feel dramatically better and full of energy when I eat fat rather than carbohydrate.

    I don't count calories. I think it's the wrong way to go about dieting. I listen to my body. I eat when I'm hungry. I don't eat when I'm not hungry.

    I create my deficit naturally by feel instead of my numbers. I can't go all my life counting calories or worrying if I'm over eating. I just eat.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    So I'm trying to go on a no-carb diet in order to lose the fat covering my muscles... Is that healthy? I've been at it for a week now and its easier than you think....

    it is an extreme approach

    it is not required to reach your goal

    very hard to maintain for any extended length of time

    risks outweigh the benefits

    my vote is no.......not worth it
  • RhineDHP
    RhineDHP Posts: 1,025 Member
  • LovetheNewMe
    LovetheNewMe Posts: 29 Member
    I still eat carbs, and I am building muscle. I eat high protein to counter balance the carbs, carbs for breakfast and lunch and very low carbs for dinner in form of veggies. I would suggest you google a weight training diet, they are low carb not no carb. It is very hard to sustain no carb for a long period of time and the purpose is not to put your body in ketosis but to burn fat and build muscle.
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    I'm a big believer in lower carb diets, but I don't think I would advise a "no" carb diet for any length of time.
  • One of the main benefits of low-carb is that you feel full and can eliminate most or all cravings. You can still eat plenty of veggies, but just the ones with low card content, so you can still get the fiber if you need it. One of the things I've noticed with people I know who have gone on Atkins in particular is that they never really follow the program. What I mean by this is that after the 2 week induction, they are over-encouraged and instead of slowing adding the right carbs back in until they achieve maintenance, they try to stay at near zero-carb forever. Also many people still try to avoid fats while on a low-carb, and they end up eating way too much lean protein. If you are going to do low-carb, don't be afraid of the fat, you will need it to be successful!
  • snowfox1
    snowfox1 Posts: 128 Member
    yes definately low carb (not no carb), healthy fats, protien, veges, berries and nuts.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    No carb? Really difficult.

    Low carb? Feasible, and with a bit of trial an error you can find what level 0f carbs works best for you. That might be 50g, it might be 100. But you're going to have to put a bit of effort into finding that sweet spot, it wont be the same for everyone.
  • gungho66
    gungho66 Posts: 284 Member
    might help boost a weight loss if you did it for like 7-10 days , otherwise it isnt a good idea and I dont believe it would be sustainable in the least. Go low carb high protein, but even that is a challenge when you consider doing it for life.
  • Ampierce
    Ampierce Posts: 53 Member
    Bump... Curious what others think.
  • clobercow
    clobercow Posts: 337 Member
    So I'm trying to go on a no-carb diet in order to lose the fat covering my muscles... Is that healthy? I've been at it for a week now and its easier than you think....

    it is an extreme approach

    it is not required to reach your goal

    very hard to maintain for any extended length of time

    risks outweigh the benefits

    my vote is no.......not worth it

    No it's not. Scare tactic.

    This is true, but a half truth. Method matters just as much as the caloric intake.

    Opinion, I think the opposite. 10 months in and I feel better now than when I tried a carb loaded CR diet. Some people can't get over the initial carbohydrate withdraws, and that's because they crash into it.

    Baseless scare tactic.

    My vote. Yes..... Totally worth trying.
  • lrob100
    lrob100 Posts: 122 Member
    Did the Atkins diet once. 30 carbs per day. Lost 50+ lbs in 3 1/2 months. Started gaining it all back 3 months later. Then gained even more. Did NOT work for me. It will get the weight off, but then it is not sustainable. To this day, I cannot look at an egg without cringing. I ate so many eggs. And this was ten years ago.....
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I don't know why you would do this.
  • clobercow
    clobercow Posts: 337 Member
    Different strokes for different folks.
  • lc52820
    lc52820 Posts: 76 Member
    Personally I'd have a hard time giving up bread & pasta :ohwell:

    On the other hand, limiting your carbs could give you a boost if that's what you're looking for. I know someone on a low-carb diet which is a result of being borderline diabetic, however they have seen significant weight loss over the past several months. I don't know all of the details of the plan but it's whatever their doctor recommended.
  • hikeout470
    hikeout470 Posts: 628 Member
    Check into the types of carbs, types of fats, etc. More important than an all or nothing method. All bacon, red meat and cheese, and no veggies, bad in the long run. I know people who have been very successful with the low carb, but they also have always gained back their weight when they are not on the program.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    The first thing I saw in this thread was a mention of Gary Taubes. Taubes is pretty famous for twisting and cherry picking data to fit his preconceived journalistic goals (he's had plenty of controversy about unethical behavior in his career,) so if the initial argument for low carb diets is using Taubes as a source, it pretty much invalidates it.

    As for the OP, if you're still in high school, cutting out nutrients is NOT something you should be doing.
  • nancycaregiver
    nancycaregiver Posts: 812 Member
    I do low carbs. You need to get some carbs for fiber. But get your carbs from green veggies. And lower sugar fruit like strawberries, cantaloupe, and blueberries but eat these in moderation. Many people will tell you that low carb is bad. It's not for everybody. But it is working great for me. And yeah, I do plan on being on it the rest of my life. I feel great and have energy. I love the options. But I would not recommend "no" carbs!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    So I'm trying to go on a no-carb diet in order to lose the fat covering my muscles... Is that healthy? I've been at it for a week now and its easier than you think....

    it is an extreme approach

    it is not required to reach your goal

    very hard to maintain for any extended length of time

    risks outweigh the benefits

    my vote is no.......not worth it

    No it's not. Scare tactic.

    This is true, but a half truth. Method matters just as much as the caloric intake.

    Opinion, I think the opposite. 10 months in and I feel better now than when I tried a carb loaded CR diet. Some people can't get over the initial carbohydrate withdraws, and that's because they crash into it.

    Baseless scare tactic.

    My vote. Yes..... Totally worth trying.

    I've lost fifty pounds eating over 200 grams a day.


    To the OP. PLEASE!!!! Eat your vegetables at least. You need fruits and veggies for vitamins.
  • DianaPowerUp
    DianaPowerUp Posts: 518 Member
    No carbs means you will be eating pretty much just meat and eggs. Even dairy has carbs. I wouldn't recommend that. However, a LOW carb diet would let you include veggies and dairy into your diet, which would be much healthier in terms of nutrition.

    When I maintain a low carb diet, the fat just melts off me and I find it hard to put weight on. As soon as I get over 110 gms/carbs/day (which will be different for everyone, of course), I get puffy and bloated, no matter how many (or few) calories I'm eating.

    There's a reason that body builders go to a low carb diet before competitions. It really melts the fat off and shows your muscle tone. Of course, you have to EAT and EXERCISE to have muscles. It's a bit of trial and error till you figure out the magic formula for yourself.