So, are carbs evil or not?
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For at least a year, I was trying to lose a little weight, like 5 lbs and drop BF. when I cut carbs, bam! And no, it wasn't because of a calorie deficit. Cals stayed the same. So, I am a believer. You can argue with each other all day long, but unless you try it, you don't really know. It works. I've turned others on to it, and they also get amazing results.
To me, it not carbs per se, it's the amount of carbs we eat. You don't realize how much of it dominates your diet. And, all that gets converted into sugar. If you don't use it, it stored as fat. That's not all bad, but again, the carb heavy world we live in is ridiculous. Carbs are filler food. When you eliminate them, you have to think harder about how to fill your plate. Vegetables become more attractive, at that point. And, you can eat way more volume bd stay way more full way longer.
Ah wizardry, awesome
And veggies are what? Carb dominate foods
Veggies are different than a plate of pasta or rice. I didn't say no carbs. If your anti-low carb, I'm not interested in you opinion. I have facts based on my real life. Bye.Carbs are filler food. When you eliminate them, you have to think harder about how to fill your plate. Vegetables become more attractive, at that point0 -
I am italian so carbs are never evil....0
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Cutting carbs can make the number on the scale go down due to water weight. It isn't fat loss. Stay within your calories, eat at least 1 gram protein per lb of lean body mass (find out how much you have here: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bf/ ) and eat at least .35 gm fat per lb lean body mass, and let the carbs fall where they may.
I agree with all of your answer except the first two sentences. Yes, initially you will see a quick drop in water weight when you start eating low carb. But, I know people who have lost 50, 60 and more than 100 lbs eating low carb. You can't say that is JUST water weight. You will lose fat on low carb long term also.
I think the point being made is that it was not low carb that caused X person to lose weight it was the resulting eating in a deficit that came from cutting out all the junk foods that they were eating...
No, it was not all water weight. Person X just ate less then they took in and lost weight....0 -
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates-full-story/
Interesting article from Harvard about carbs.
I'm usually higher on the veggie end of carbs due to a wheat allergy. My only grain type carbs are rice or potato based. I end up eating this way for my health and my body seems to like it better. That's why we're all different in our beliefs. What one believes does not apply to all. It's like the indian culture that one person mentioned - they were extremely healthy and ate basically Bison on the plains...that was the majority of their food other than a limited amount of gathered items that were findable. That's why it's not a matter of vegan, paleo or any other diet - let's say Atkins or low carb...it's a matter of finding what makes your body function correctly. In my case, vegan would not work but that's because my body does not process beans very well and I notice a definite difference in how my body functions when I eat meat based protein. I eat to make myself healthy and my body has very specific requirements.
Monica0 -
nope. because guess what? your body needs 'em.0
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Cutting carbs can make the number on the scale go down due to water weight. It isn't fat loss. Stay within your calories, eat at least 1 gram protein per lb of lean body mass (find out how much you have here: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bf/ ) and eat at least .35 gm fat per lb lean body mass, and let the carbs fall where they may.
I agree with all of your answer except the first two sentences. Yes, initially you will see a quick drop in water weight when you start eating low carb. But, I know people who have lost 50, 60 and more than 100 lbs eating low carb. You can't say that is JUST water weight. You will lose fat on low carb long term also.
I think the point being made is that it was not low carb that caused X person to lose weight it was the resulting eating in a deficit that came from cutting out all the junk foods that they were eating...
No, it was not all water weight. Person X just ate less then they took in and lost weight....
for the first time ever, we agree.
i honestly think low carb just helps people keep from eating high calorie things without thinking, and thus, going over their TDEE, as many carbs are also high calorie.
obviously in certain situations low carb can be necessary (certain diseases/conditions) but in an otherwise healthy person, it's not the lack of carbs that's attributing to the weight loss, but the calorie deficit.0 -
There is no need to demonize a macronutrient.0
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No, but like all food types, some carbs are better than others. Choose high fiber bread over highly processed white bread. Beans have carbohydrates and protein, and can be filling - white bean salad with veggies, garbanzos on salad, etc. if by "evil carbs" you mean a 3 inch slice of cake with buttercream frosting, that's no a good carb. Neither is a glazed donut. One cup of whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, diced kale and carrots, garbanzos, and a tbsp of Parmesan is a healthy carb, likly to help you feel full.
It's a balance of proteins, carbs, and fats. And in those major groups, make good choices - I.e. 4 oz fish vs 4 oz of bacon.0 -
For at least a year, I was trying to lose a little weight, like 5 lbs and drop BF. when I cut carbs, bam! And no, it wasn't because of a calorie deficit. Cals stayed the same. So, I am a believer. You can argue with each other all day long, but unless you try it, you don't really know. It works. I've turned others on to it, and they also get amazing results.
To me, it not carbs per se, it's the amount of carbs we eat. You don't realize how much of it dominates your diet. And, all that gets converted into sugar. If you don't use it, it stored as fat. That's not all bad, but again, the carb heavy world we live in is ridiculous. Carbs are filler food. When you eliminate them, you have to think harder about how to fill your plate. Vegetables become more attractive, at that point. And, you can eat way more volume bd stay way more full way longer.
I completely agree with this. I had about ten pounds to lose last summer and they fell off quickly once I stopped eating starches. I even got a flat tummy as a result. I might eat starches once a week but I try to keep them limited and only have them on my weekly cheat meal. There are better ways to get calories than by eating bread and potatoes.0 -
Since your brain runs on carbs, I would say they aren't evil.
Your brain does not run on carbs, it runs on glucose which you can get from protein and fats. You don't actually "need" carbs.0 -
Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks and said, "Take this all of you and eat it, but just a little because it is really high in simple carbs......"0
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Since your brain runs on carbs, I would say they aren't evil.
Your brain does not run on carbs, it runs on glucose which you can get from protein and fats. You don't actually "need" carbs.
yes you do. you need them for muscle repair, and they are still the "preferred" source of energy for the brain. additionally vitamins found in fruit and veggie carbs aren't found anywhere else.0 -
Since your brain runs on carbs, I would say they aren't evil.
Your brain does not run on carbs, it runs on glucose which you can get from protein and fats. You don't actually "need" carbs.
What is glucose?0 -
Carbs are not the enemy nor are they evil. Quality does matter of any type of macronutrient be it carbs, fats or proteins. Eat them all good foods!
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Carbs differ. Wheat is evil. It make you hungry and kills diets.
Basically all calories are equal when it comes to weight loss, but consider a burger, bread, fries, and coke can run you over 1000 calories and not really have any vitamins or fiber. Well, a bit in the potato, but the fact that it is fried and browned on the outside means that it has some cancer causing chemical now.0 -
Since your brain runs on carbs, I would say they aren't evil.
Your brain does not run on carbs, it runs on glucose which you can get from protein and fats. You don't actually "need" carbs.
Carbs make glucose better than proteins or fats. We may not need carbs but I sure as heck will feel down without them.
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No, unless you are have family with diabetes, have had gestational diabetes or are on antidepressants.0
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Carbs differ. Wheat is evil. It make you hungry and kills diets.
Basically all calories are equal when it comes to weight loss, but consider a burger, bread, fries, and coke can run you over 1000 calories and not really have any vitamins or fiber. Well, a bit in the potato, but the fact that it is fried and browned on the outside means that it has some cancer causing chemical now.
Who says wheat is evil? Maybe you do with your experience with it but it isn't evil!
We eat healthy foods that we really don't know how they are made... Everything can cause cancer when you think about it0 -
No, unless you are have family with diabetes, have had gestational diabetes or are on antidepressants.
Again it comes down to the above your experiences and or health. But to say you shouldn't eat them because they are evil? Damn this forum and stupid people!0 -
For losing weight, yes it really comes down to calorie deficits. I eat in a lower carbohydrate way for my own beliefs, but I don't believe carbohydrates are "evil." I would however say they can be harmful if too high of a percentage of your diet is carbohydrate based.0
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WHITE CARBS CAN BE WITH TO MUCH BUT GOOD CARBS HELL NOOO IF YOU WERE ONLY TO EAT FRUITS N VEGGIES, AND DNUTS AND SEEDS AND HEALTHY FATS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE YOU WOULD PROBLEY BE MORE THAN FIT AND VERY HEALTHY AND THOSE ARE CARBS,0
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Agreed. INot at all. As long as your diet doesn't consist primarily of them, they're awesome.
my carbs. 0 -
Since your brain runs on carbs, I would say they aren't evil.
Your brain does not run on carbs, it runs on glucose which you can get from protein and fats. You don't actually "need" carbs.
yes you do. you need them for muscle repair, and they are still the "preferred" source of energy for the brain. additionally vitamins found in fruit and veggie carbs aren't found anywhere else.
You kind of contradict yourself. You say the brain does not run on carbs, it runs on glucose. Glucose is a carbohydrate. You do need some carbohydrates, though it can be much lower than the standard North American diet. If you do a lot of cardio, you will need increased carbohydrates to continue to fuel the muscles. I personally don't agree with no carbs simply because fruits and veggies are extremely healthful.0 -
Personally if my carbs creep up all weight loss stops. A 3/4 month plateau proved this to me with big deficits. I stick to 120. Not sayong they never run a bit higher, but they do greatly impact my losses if they sneak up, same for sugar.
I got away with losing the first 40lbs doing calories in vs calories out, but it didn't work out long term for me. I see it with my friends time after time on here too, they only start losing once they are in check. If your way is working carry on, if it stops working look at it.
Zara x0 -
Just got this ad! YUMMO
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Ugh...another one of these?
Food cannot be evil. It can't even be bad. It can be more or less nutritious and more or less healthy...food has no morals, ergo: it cannot be good or bad/evil.
Eat healthy carbs like whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and legumes/beans.
I really wish people would stop making carbohydrate out to be the villain of the food world.0 -
No, unless you are have family with diabetes, have had gestational diabetes or are on antidepressants.
Based on the sampling I have seen here on this site, many people have one, two or all three of those situations. I had gestational diabetes, and I have a brother with severe Type II diabetes. Many researchers believe that morbid obesity (which I had until my weight loss--now I am merely "overweight") and Type II diabetes is essentially the same disease (they call it "diabesity") because of the very high rate of Type II among the morbidly obese. There is often a huge weight gain among those taking antidepressants and Type II as well.
Eliminating sugar and simple carbs and restricting my carbohydrates in general, to around 100 grams a day was very significant in terms of weight loss and reducing my tendency toward Type II (my fasting blood sugar returned to normal, as did my A1C and triglycerides). My cholesterol and blood pressure normalized without medication as well.0 -
Ugh...another one of these?
Food cannot be evil. It can't even be bad. It can be more or less nutritious and more or less healthy...food has no morals, ergo: it cannot be good or bad/evil.
Eat healthy carbs like whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and legumes/beans.
I really wish people would stop making carbohydrate out to be the villain of the food world.
I agree0 -
No more carb-bullying, carb-shaming threads! It just ain't right!0
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