No carb?

raeraebeau

This is my first day tracking my food on my fitness pal. Whenever I've dieted before I've always gone no sugar no carb, this time I'm trying to stick to 1200 calories a day but make an actual life style change instead of just dieting until I can't take it anymore and I fall off the band wagon. So my question is when you track calories do you eat no carb as well or would you eat something that has carbs but is low cal? For example I saw a recipe for a ww wheat wrap made into a "pizza" but I'm nervous that eating carbs will infringe in my chances of losing weight even if I'm counting calories....

richardheath

There is absolutely no reason to do zero carb. In fact, I don't even think that is possible, as veggies have carbs. You're not planning on cutting out vegetables are you?

Even bread, rice and pasta can be eaten on a weight loss program. Just watch how many you eat, and log them! These tend to be calorie high foods, so you might do well to limit them (portion control!), but don't set yourself up for failure by trying to eliminate any one food group totally. You'll have a very hard time doing that.

Carnivor0us

As an insulin resistant person, low to no carb dieting is beneficial to me. Simply doing low calorie is not helpful for me so I eat lower carb (target is under 20% of calories from carbohydrates) and high fat (55-65%) and moderate protein (25-30%).

If you can fit the low-cal pizza thing in, then do it. Just watch whatever carbs you consume during the rest of the day.

albertabeefy

There is absolutely no reason to do zero carb. In fact, I don't even think that is possible, as veggies have carbs. You're not planning on cutting out vegetables are you?

Well, there's no GOOD reason to do zero carb. Being stranded on a Chilean mountain peak would obviously be an exception. But otherwise, even ketogenic dieters like myself eat some carbohydrate - mostly for the nutrients/fiber/antioxidants it contains.

Even bread, rice and pasta can be eaten on a weight loss program.

Unless you're diabetic or insulin-resistant due to metabolic-syndrome, pre-diabetes, PCOS, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, etc., then those high-carb items should be severely restricted or eliminated.

Just watch how many you eat, and log them! These tend to be calorie high foods, so you might do well to limit them (portion control!), but don't set yourself up for failure by trying to eliminate any one food group totally. You'll have a very hard time doing that.

On this I totally agree. I'm a severe type II diabetic with limited insulin production, thus my reason to eat a very low-carb ketogenic diet. Unless you have a legitimate medical reason to do so, cutting calories and eating a healthy macronutrient ratio to support your chosen activities will result in very similar weight-loss to low-carb dieting, even zero-carb dieting.

raeraebeau

Sorry I meant white flour useless carbs not the veggie carbs . But what about whole wheat pasta or the like? Isn't it better not to eat any of that and rather fill up on proteins fruits and veggies ?

bpotts44

No macros are bad. Begin by focusing your diet on whole food sources and avoid processing foods. Log everything accurately and you will be fine. Put your settings to 1 lb per week and eat back most of your exercise calories.

jonnythan

Eating a low-calorie diet, you'll find it's really hard to get enough fat and protein if you eat a lot of pure carbs like pasta and white rice. They're totally fine to eat, just make sure they fit your macros.

albertabeefy

Sorry I meant white flour useless carbs not the veggie carbs . But what about whole wheat pasta or the like? Isn't it better not to eat any of that and rather fill up on proteins fruits and veggies ?

Fill up on fat and proteins, yes.

"Whole Wheat" pasta is still made from dough, and, as such is technically a refined/processed food.

Also note there's a difference between "whole wheat" and "whole grain" when it comes to pasta and bread. Whole grain has more nutrients and is usually less-refined.

It may have more nutrients naturally than white pasta (which must be 'fortified'), but it's still an extremely carbohydrate-dense (not to mention caloric-dense) food item.

Filling up on "fruit" isn't the best idea either, as most of it has a higher glycemic index than pasta, which, depending on your glucose-metabolism could result in spikes and drops in both glucose and insulin which often results in hunger cravings.

From a metabolic standpoint (if that's why you're reducing carbs) non-starchy vegetables are superior to fruit. The best choices of fruit for those going lower-carb for metabolic reasons are berries and cherries.

Lupercalia

If you don't have blood sugar issues, or some sort of metabolic disturbance that has been diagnosed by your doctor, then eat as many carbs as fit your macros. It's wise to cut back on the refined carbs, and favour fruits and veggies instead...but I think your original question was whether or not it's necessary to severely limit carbs in order to lose weight. The answer is no, providing you haven't been diagnosed with a metabolic condition.

HSingMomto7Kids

I say especially in the beginning not to worry about it but just follow what mfp has for you for your calories. Good Luck!!

richardheath

Well, I will asume you are not stuck on a remote mountain top somewhere, as you obviously have internet access... ;-)

Cut down on the white type of carbs as much as possible, yes. Replace them with whole wheat if you like. But weight loss is simply math: Eat a reasonable deficit, and you will lose weight. If you want "real" pizza, eat it if it fits (but log it). You can still lose weight.

As far as weight loss goes: Carbs are not the enemy here; Fat is not the enemy; Protein is not the enemy. Excess calories are.

lovemitch125

Stick between 50-100g a day for carbs. If not, your body will start taking other things in your body to do the job carbs have which is hazardous to your body. I easily eat that range of carbs a day, but I would limit to below 130 a day. Excess is also not good unless you do a lot of running or cardio daily.

Without carbs, working out may become very difficult.

albertabeefy

BTW it would help people better answer the question if we knew WHY you were looking at a reduced-carbohydrate (don't do zero-carb, there's really no reason) diet.

As has been mentioned repeatedly, if you're healthy from a metabolic standpoint, and get healthy ratios of fat (and no, fat's not necessarily bad) and protein... your carbohydrate source can be fairly varied.

But, if a decision to carb-restrict is for medical reasons, then that's a different issue.

lovemitch125

Well, I will asume you are not stuck on a remote mountain top somewhere, as you obviously have internet access... ;-)

Cut down on the white type of carbs as much as possible, yes. Replace them with whole wheat if you like. But weight loss is simply math: Eat a reasonable deficit, and you will lose weight. If you want "real" pizza, eat it if it fits (but log it). You can still lose weight.

As far as weight loss goes: Carbs are not the enemy here; Fat is not the enemy; Protein is not the enemy. Excess calories are.

Well they're all enemies in excess and deficit. There are good calories and bad calories remember.

albertabeefy

Well, I will asume you are not stuck on a remote mountain top somewhere, as you obviously have internet access... ;-)

Lupercalia

Stick between 50-100g a day for carbs. If not, your body will start taking other things in your body to do the job carbs have which is hazardous to your body. I easily eat that range of carbs a day, but I would limit to below 130 a day. Excess is also not good unless you do a lot of running or cardio daily.

Without carbs, working out may become very difficult.

What?

TristaD611

Of course, fill up on lots of veggies and fruit! As long as you stay within your calorie ranges you should be fine. Limiting your processed carbs and sugars is the way to go, but whole grains are good and should be allowed.

MorbidMander

I've been doing low carbs for the past 3 days (I have PCOS) and in those 3 days I've lost three pounds, so for some people it is, in fact, very beneficial and sometimes necessary to be healthy. But if you're not dealing with a insulin issue, I'm pretty sure it won't be needed. It all depends, as you get custom to hearing on these forums, everyone is different. Just have to experiment and see what works for you.

KrazyAsianNic

Carbs need to be watched and the right ones need to be eaten, but you need a certain percent in you to help you function, espeically for hard workouts

raeraebeau

I'm super new to losing weight the correct way. I was never overweight and now that i am I did a "quick fix" the hcg diet and have gained most of it back and i did the dukan diet and lost 4 lbs and that was it so now I want to change my lifestyle of eating and lose weight correctly and in a way that will keep it off. I have no medical issues other than being hypothyroid, I have hashimotos disease, and I'm deficient in vit d but I take a supplement for that. The reason why I'm scared of carbs from wheat etc is because on hcg you barely eat anything and then when you are done you are not allowed any carbs besides for certain veggies and on the Dukan diet it's only veggies and protein. So in my mind weight loss is centered all around the limit of those foods. Obviously if I'm making a life change I'll need to learn how to incorporate it and what is ok to eat.

Now ppl keep referring to macros like I said I'm new to this so what exacts is macros?
Thank you for all of your informative answers

BTW it would help people better answer the question if we knew WHY you were looking at a reduced-carbohydrate (don't do zero-carb, there's really no reason) diet.

As has been mentioned repeatedly, if you're healthy from a metabolic standpoint, and get healthy ratios of fat (and no, fat's not necessarily bad) and protein... your carbohydrate source can be fairly varied.

But, if a decision to carb-restrict is for medical reasons, then that's a different issue.

raeraebeau

You're funny nope not on a remote mountain top. Not a remote anywhere, I'm right near new York city! Lol

Well, I will asume you are not stuck on a remote mountain top somewhere, as you obviously have internet access... ;-)

TristaD611

I am hypothyroid as well and gained nearly 20 pounds from it(I am also not considered overweight, and have never had a weight problem). It definitely makes it harder to lose. I find that most calorie intakes to maintain weight are a little high bc with being hypothryoid, your metobolism is slower, and you burn less calories than a normal person. So I set my goals a little lower and definitely exercise and weight train. Macros are macronutrients- protein, carb, and fat.

raeraebeau

Thank you!
When we're you diagnosed? It runs in my family (mother and 2 sisters have it) so I kept having my bloodwork done and they told me I was fine. I got married, gained 20lbs in 7 months on the pill, went off got pregnant. Long story short I now have two kids and after my second baby my bloodwork finally came back with my thyroid out of wack, I'm now on meds which helps me with my tiredness and energy levels but I'm still having such a hard time losing the 20 lbs I gained on the pill in 2006.

I am hypothyroid as well and gained nearly 20 pounds from it(I am also not considered overweight, and have never had a weight problem). It definitely makes it harder to lose. I find that most calorie intakes to maintain weight are a little high bc with being hypothryoid, your metobolism is slower, and you burn less calories than a normal person. So I set my goals a little lower and definitely exercise and weight train. Macros are macronutrients- protein, carb, and fat.

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richardheath

Well, I will asume you are not stuck on a remote mountain top somewhere, as you obviously have internet access... ;-)

Cut down on the white type of carbs as much as possible, yes. Replace them with whole wheat if you like. But weight loss is simply math: Eat a reasonable deficit, and you will lose weight. If you want "real" pizza, eat it if it fits (but log it). You can still lose weight.

As far as weight loss goes: Carbs are not the enemy here; Fat is not the enemy; Protein is not the enemy. Excess calories are.

Well they're all enemies in excess and deficit. There are good calories and bad calories remember.

Which would be the bad calories for me?

The ones in the hoodies that hang in the mall hassling old ladies?

Crochetluvr

I could NEVER eat no carb. I would have to eat chicken and tuna and not much else.

I DO eat low carb because I am diabetic. And as you can see from my ticker, I have lost weight.

We have to have SOME carbs. Dont be afraid to eat them...especially if you have no medical issues like me. Enjoy them!

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recesq

You could try no more than 15 gr of COMPLEX carbs per meal-and always have protein; for a total of no more than 50 grams a day total.

JessHealthKick

all I can comment is;

Which race has the longest life span again? Oh, the Japanese. What is the staple of their diet again? Oh, rice. 60% approx. of their diet is made up of carbs.

Just eat less, avoid crap (i.e. all the sugary stuff) and get lots of veggies and you'll shed the weight in a manageable, healthy way

Sick of carb haters, once Japanese are brought into the ring all I can say is 'your argument is invalid'

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OriginalKatie

I used to follow a diet where I really cut back on how much bread and rice and cereal I was eating, and used whole grain pasta. I didn't cut it out completely, because carbohydrates are good fibre and the main energy source of your body. I focused on increasing my fruit and vegetable intake, ensuring that I ate every 3 hours and included fruit/vegies, protein, good fats in every meal. Along with personal training, I lost 40 kilos. You shouldn't cut out carbs completely.