The Low Carb Debate
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^ Both of the above. If it works for personal preference/satiety and helps you adhere to your diet, it's a good thing. Otherwise, in terms of weight/fat loss, it won't make any difference.Calorie for calorie, there is no fat loss advantage to a low carb diet.
This is the answer. There is no metabolic advantage. If you prefer to eat low carb, that is up to you and driven by your preference. Some like it some don't but it is not at all advantageous for fat loss.
Having spent 12 weeks on the Atkins diet years ago, I will offer one piece of advice....if you're given to occasional high-carb splurge days, tread very carefully. I splurged like that a couple times while on Atkins and....well, let's just say it's a very good thing to be VERY close to a bathroom when you do it! Major issues and they came on very quickly without warning. No fun and potentially very embarrassing.0 -
I think everyone is different. I tried to eat low carbs and I found my weight loss slowed. I slowly added some slow carbs and have started loosing weight again. I eat fruit/vegs/protien/slow carbs. I absolutely eat no white flour,pasta,rice etc....I feel better and more energized with the slow carbs 2 or 3 times a day.
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I have been trying meal replacement shakes 2 meals per day and a low carb dinner and when stuck to to the letter I lose weight. However, when I go off plan (mostly with wine!) the regain is almost instant. Has anyone else found this?
I know it's not the most nutritionally sound way of shifting the pounds but I needed a bit of a kick start. Now I'm starting to doubt whether it is worth it in the long term.
What I don't understand is that each shake is 200kcals + high protein low fat meal (500kcals) so, for example, even with 3 small glasses of wine (171kcals x 3) I'm still only consuming 1,413 kcals per day (+ exercise on top!) so I don't understand how even with this deficit I put on weight when I add in the carbs.
I had yoghurt for breakfast and a banana for snack so far today and went to the gym this morning but am feeling much more hungry now I'm eating "real food" as opposed to when I'm having the shakes.
Carbs are stored in the body as glycogen and require water to be stored. When you go low carb, you deplete the glycogen stores and the water with it. This is why you often see people drop 10lbs or more the first few days of a low carb diet. As soon as you consume carbs, your body replenishes the glycogen stores and your weight goes back up. You aren't losing or gaining 10lbs of fat, it is merely water weight due to glycogen levels.0 -
I have been trying meal replacement shakes 2 meals per day and a low carb dinner and when stuck to to the letter I lose weight. However, when I go off plan (mostly with wine!) the regain is almost instant. Has anyone else found this?
I know it's not the most nutritionally sound way of shifting the pounds but I needed a bit of a kick start. Now I'm starting to doubt whether it is worth it in the long term.
What I don't understand is that each shake is 200kcals + high protein low fat meal (500kcals) so, for example, even with 3 small glasses of wine (171kcals x 3) I'm still only consuming 1,413 kcals per day (+ exercise on top!) so I don't understand how even with this deficit I put on weight when I add in the carbs.
I had yoghurt for breakfast and a banana for snack so far today and went to the gym this morning but am feeling much more hungry now I'm eating "real food" as opposed to when I'm having the shakes.
Carbs are stored in the body as glycogen and require water to be stored. When you go low carb, you deplete the glycogen stores and the water with it. This is why you often see people drop 10lbs or more the first few days of a low carb diet. As soon as you consume carbs, your body replenishes the glycogen stores and your weight goes back up. You aren't losing or gaining 10lbs of fat, it is merely water weight due to glycogen levels.
Boom. Low Carb is a waste of time.0 -
A low carb programmed diet relies on the same principle as any other diet or calorie counting or whatever...caloric deficit from maintenance. With a low carb program, you are basically giving yourself a caloric deficit by nearly eliminating and entire macro. To boot, many carbs are calorie dense and nutritionally void. I tried a low carb deal awhile back and it didn't work for me...the calories that I was eliminating by not eating carbs were quickly made up with more steak and bacon...I actually ended up putting weight on. I had no idea about calories in/calories out when I did this...I just thought I could eat as much meat as I wanted to, so I did...rib eye steaks a couple of times a day was pretty awesome though.0
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You don't have to be very low carb to still be low carb. My macro split is 50/25/25 fat/protein/carb. This gives me enough carbs (90g total) to eat veggies, fruit, dairy, and occasionally some grains (if I work it in), but enough fat and protein to keep cravings at bay and keep me satisfied (carbs are not as satisfying as fat and protein are). I am losing weight very well doing this.
That said, the foods I like best fit very well into this plan, which means maintaining it is (and will be) a breeze. If the majority of your nutrition comes from carbs and don't like or actively avoid fat, it probably will not work for you.
The above Macro split works for me too!0 -
If you're going to go low carb you need to up your intake of healthy fats - that will help with the groggy/tired feeling. Your carb intake would mostly consist of vegetables/few fruits/even fewer grains. It's really something that needs to be a lifestyle and not a fix, because once you start eating grains again you're going to put the weight back on.
Try checking out a podcast/radio show called "Dishing Up Nutrition." I've found that helpful.0 -
I started with the 17 Day Diet, which is low carb, low glycemic, low fat and it worked. I also didn't feel bad, because the diet is extremely nutrient rich due to the vegetables and fruits you eat. It's hard to do Cycle 1 all the time, but I found I felt better when I didn't add the carbs back in during cycle 2 and 3... which is basically low carb eating. I don't eat high fat meats, refined flour or sugar, in fact, I don't eat bread, rice or pasta as a rule of thumb, but I will have some occasinally. I do eat lean meats and fish, nuts, avacaods and other healthy fats as well as fruits before late afternoon and lot and lots of veggies. I'm "carb sensative" though. I have digestive issues and bloating when I splurge on high carb, low nutrition or even grains for too many days in a row. Some people don't have the sensativity to carbs (and metabolic syndrome) and may do better on other diets. Bottom line is I don't cut out anything totally, even alcohol, but try to maintain under 100 g or carbs and a high protein and low fat diet at least 80% of the time.0
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I lost 12 lbs in 54 days. I went from 22% bodyfat to 12%. But, because i didnt do my research, i got stupidly sick. im hypoglycemic-carbs are a must have for me. by the end i was achy, weak, disoriented, and i had a constant headache.
do some serious research before jumping into it-and i dont mean forums
I am hypoglycemic and have never felt better than I do eating low carb. It sucks that sugar, cereal, oatmeal, potatoes, rice and pasta made me tired, shaky and lethargic. I cut them all out and haven't had an epidode in a month nor do I need to take iron supplements ( I am also anemic).
Low-carb is not for everyone but for some of us, it's made a big difference.0 -
No carb is not the same as low carb. Low carb consists of vegetables that have high nutrional content: broccoli, green leafy veggies, spinach, cauliflower, berries just to name a few. Low carb eliminates most frankenfoods, sugar and incorporates good fat (olive oil, coconut oil).0
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Thats what I'd consider "slow carb" by and large.No carb is not the same as low carb. Low carb consists of vegetables that have high nutrional content: broccoli, green leafy veggies, spinach, cauliflower, berries just to name a few. Low carb eliminates most frankenfoods, sugar and incorporates good fat (olive oil, coconut oil). Regardless of title, it's mostly how I live, with the addition of the very rare whole grains. 0 -
There are some of us that because of a medical condition have to do a low carb lifestyle choices. I am now in this camp after my recent diagnoses. I was previously doing a high carb (60%), then later switched to a moderate (50%). Try out the differ choices (high carbs, moderate carbs, lower carbs, or low carbs) until you find one that works for you. I wish you luck on your new lifestyle choice.0
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Let me think about this. Carbs usually come in the form of white pasta that hold absolutely no nutritional value. Carbs also come in the forms of sugars. Both are considered junk to many. Why eat 200 calories of carbs when you can eat 200 calories of something with some nutritional value?
What some people fail to realize is that their is a HUGE difference between good carbs and bad carbs. It is also a matter of opinion depending on who you talk to, who they talked to, and what popular book they are reading.
I follow a low-carb diet because of a medical problem. I have PCOS which makes me insulin resistant. I started low-carbing this year and have finally been able to lose weight. Not only that, I feel great.
I also have osteoarthritis in my hips and degenerative disk disease in my back which makes exercise extremely painful. Following low-carb I feel energized and not all run down. I feel clean and not junky. I am able to kick the treadmill's *kitten* and fight through the pain a lot easier. Best part is I am 100% off all medication and changing my life in a healthy way.
The point is to find a lifestyle plan that will work for you. Not a diet. Whether it be a low-carb, diabetic style low carb, Atkins, South Beach, Paleo, or Primal; find what works for you. We all tolerate different foods in a different manner. While one person can follow South Beach and lose a ton of weight, others have problems sticking to it.0 -
The point is to find a lifestyle plan that will work for you. Not a diet. Whether it be a low-carb, diabetic style low carb, Atkins, South Beach, Paleo, or Primal; find what works for you. We all tolerate different foods in a different manner. While one person can follow South Beach and lose a ton of weight, others have problems sticking to it.
Exactly!!! This is not a temporary diet. This is a lifestyle change. Some of us have no choice but to turn to low carb and people need to fine tune these programs to work for them. I follow a Ketogenic program (65/30/5) and it works for me.0 -
I think this thread makes one thing clear: folks have very different ideas about what "low carb" means.0
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I find that "medium" carb is enough to control my cravings. I tend to get ~150 carbs a day, but I don't track by carbs. I just limit my grains - always whole, usually 1-2 a day - and fruit - always fresh, usually 1 a day. To stay under 50, you have to avoid grains, fruit and dairy almost entirely.0
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You can definitely lose the weight you want by August! Good luck! I did low carb in the distant past, but the problem with that is that when you go back to a regular diet, you gain the weight back. I've learned that my new habits need to be a sustainable lifestyle, not a short-term diet, so that it's something I can continue forever. So I've switched to a medium carb diet - 40% carbs, 30% fat, 30% protein. This is much more sustainable and I've lost 40 pounds so far and I look fantastic - I'm very happy with this ratio. Please feel free to look at my diary.0
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Low carb diets don't make you lose weight any faster than a balanced diet. All that matters is that you're in a calorie deficit.
However, I prefer low carb because it makes it much easier for me to control my cravings. When I don't eat a lot of carbs, I don't crave them. Not everyone feels this way, but some do.
I'm this way also so I usually eat most of my carbs at night before bed.
I can't go ultra low to no carb for long though.
I feel deflated & start to feel like crap.0 -
Low carb diets don't make you lose weight any faster than a balanced diet. All that matters is that you're in a calorie deficit.
However, I prefer low carb because it makes it much easier for me to control my cravings. When I don't eat a lot of carbs, I don't crave them. Not everyone feels this way, but some do.
Actually, there are multiple studies that suggest (but don't prove), that weight loss on a low carb diet can be greater than other choices for most people. The problem I have with very low carb diets such as what the OP is suggesting is that they are rarely sustainable. Most people just can't continue to eat that way long term.
This pretty much matches my own experience, by the way. I lost A LOT of weight a few years ago almost effortlessly eating low carb, but eventually it just became too hard to maintain and I ended up gaining it all back and then some. While I try to watch my refined carb intake now, I'll never go back to eating that way again. I'd rather lose slowly and keep it gone forever, instead of lose it quickly, just to gain it back.0 -
I would bet the same is said for most "diets". I know we love the phrase "lifestyle". But time will tell if what everyone is doing now, to lose weight will become their "lifestyle"....Low carb diets don't make you lose weight any faster than a balanced diet. All that matters is that you're in a calorie deficit.
However, I prefer low carb because it makes it much easier for me to control my cravings. When I don't eat a lot of carbs, I don't crave them. Not everyone feels this way, but some do.
Actually, there are multiple studies that suggest (but don't prove), that weight loss on a low carb diet can be greater than other choices for most people. The problem I have with very low carb diets such as what the OP is suggesting is that they are rarely sustainable. Most people just can't continue to eat that way long term.
This pretty much matches my own experience, by the way. I lost A LOT of weight a few years ago almost effortlessly eating low carb, but eventually it just became too hard to maintain and I ended up gaining it all back and then some. While I try to watch my refined carb intake now, I'll never go back to eating that way again. I'd rather lose slowly and keep it gone forever, instead of lose it quickly, just to gain it back.0 -
The low carb diet works great for people who love low carb foods. You already admitted being a carb lover so you will probably be better off in the long run with a well balanced diet.
Also being a chef you should have the ability and creativity to come up with low calorie recipes that won't bore you. Some of us eat plain chicken on a regular basis.
I worked as a chef for ten years so I understand the drinking and partying and having great food around all the time. And this does not include all the tasting you have to do as part of the job.
good luck to you. I wish you the best.0 -
Low carb diets don't make you lose weight any faster than a balanced diet. All that matters is that you're in a calorie deficit.
However, I prefer low carb because it makes it much easier for me to control my cravings. When I don't eat a lot of carbs, I don't crave them. Not everyone feels this way, but some do.
Actually, there are multiple studies that suggest (but don't prove), that weight loss on a low carb diet can be greater than other choices for most people. The problem I have with very low carb diets such as what the OP is suggesting is that they are rarely sustainable. Most people just can't continue to eat that way long term.
This pretty much matches my own experience, by the way. I lost A LOT of weight a few years ago almost effortlessly eating low carb, but eventually it just became too hard to maintain and I ended up gaining it all back and then some. While I try to watch my refined carb intake now, I'll never go back to eating that way again. I'd rather lose slowly and keep it gone forever, instead of lose it quickly, just to gain it back.
That was my experience. I did Atkins and lost 75 LBs in 5 months eating 5000 calories a day and not exercising. Couldn't maintain the lifestyle though.0 -
I did Atkins and lost 75 LBs in 5 months eating 5000 calories a day and not exercising.
I like how you make things up.0 -
Low carb diets don't make you lose weight any faster than a balanced diet. All that matters is that you're in a calorie deficit.
However, I prefer low carb because it makes it much easier for me to control my cravings. When I don't eat a lot of carbs, I don't crave them. Not everyone feels this way, but some do.
Actually, there are multiple studies that suggest (but don't prove), that weight loss on a low carb diet can be greater than other choices for most people. The problem I have with very low carb diets such as what the OP is suggesting is that they are rarely sustainable. Most people just can't continue to eat that way long term.
This pretty much matches my own experience, by the way. I lost A LOT of weight a few years ago almost effortlessly eating low carb, but eventually it just became too hard to maintain and I ended up gaining it all back and then some. While I try to watch my refined carb intake now, I'll never go back to eating that way again. I'd rather lose slowly and keep it gone forever, instead of lose it quickly, just to gain it back.
That was my experience. I did Atkins and lost 75 LBs in 5 months eating 5000 calories a day and not exercising. Couldn't maintain the lifestyle though.
Jimmy Moore? :O0 -
I did Atkins and lost 75 LBs in 5 months eating 5000 calories a day and not exercising.
I like how you make things up.
Busted. It has been years. I just used the database to figure out cals per day based on what I used to eat.
6 eggs
10 slices of bacon
16 oz of chicken
12 oz ground beef
6 slices of cheddar
6 TBSPs of Ranch
Closer to 2500 calories. I am surprised.0 -
I did Atkins and lost 75 LBs in 5 months eating 5000 calories a day and not exercising.
I like how you make things up.
Busted. It has been years. I just used the database to figure out cals per day based on what I used to eat.
6 eggs
10 slices of bacon
16 oz of chicken
12 oz ground beef
6 slices of cheddar
6 TBSPs of Ranch
Closer to 2500 calories. I am surprised.
Respect.0 -
I did Atkins and lost 75 LBs in 5 months eating 5000 calories a day and not exercising.
I like how you make things up.
Busted. It has been years. I just used the database to figure out cals per day based on what I used to eat.
6 eggs
10 slices of bacon
16 oz of chicken
12 oz ground beef
6 slices of cheddar
6 TBSPs of Ranch
Closer to 2500 calories. I am surprised.
Respect.
Haha. I don't internet very well. I am truly shocked. i remember eating so much. Figured 5K was conservative. Crazy.0 -
Hey all! First real posting on here.
I'm desperately trying to lose weight in time for my wedding this August, and my soon to be mother-in-law just recently lost over 50 pounds on a low carb (less than 50 grams a day) diet. My sister and brother in law are also trying it with similar great results.
While I know I'm basically a carb-a-holic and eat far too many refined sugars and flours, I've also heard that low carb diets are not a good weight loss tool. I've been doing this for about three days and I can report only feeling groggy and grouchy. My fiance purchased some B vitamins to help with that, but I guess what I want to know is if it's worth all the trouble?
Thanks!
It can be a superb way to lose weight.
My fiancée runs a clinic here in SoCal (a chain of 40+ clinics in business for over 4 decades) and they put people on a low carb diet so that they get into ketosis.
After all of those years, their metrics tell them that patients who follow their food recommendations lose, on average, 10% of their mass in a 10 week program.
Debbie and I met in November, 2010 and walking into her clinic and see the before and after pix was instrumental in my decision to lose weight. I did not follow their plan but my diet was similar (my diary is open to the public).
I lost 95 pounds in 7 months and my weight loss was so regular that I was able to predict my weight.
I weigh daily and upload my results almost daily here:
http://cbeinfo.net/weight.htm
I am the first to admit that the results of one person are nothing more than the results of one person but what is undeniable is that the company she works for has helped people use a low carb diet to lose weight for a long, long time and they get excellent results.
Best of luck in your weight loss journey!0 -
I eat carbohydrates depending on what in doing for the day. I eat more on days I workout and highest on high interval training days. I eat on the lower range when doing light-moderate cardio. I try to eat the least on rest days. I allow myself one guiltless cheat meal a week but honestly I don't use it very often. I believe that tailoring your eating to match your calorie expenditure is the best way to lose weight AND to maintain it. This is just my opinion...0
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Low carb diets don't make you lose weight any faster than a balanced diet. All that matters is that you're in a calorie deficit.
However, I prefer low carb because it makes it much easier for me to control my cravings. When I don't eat a lot of carbs, I don't crave them. Not everyone feels this way, but some do.
here here...so true re the cravings.0
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