Poll... low/no carb or calorie counting?

vallemic
vallemic Posts: 278 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Just curious to know which plan you generally follow? Do you eliminate/reduce your carb intake (pasta, bread, sweets, sugar, etc) or eat them and control your overall calories?

I'm more of the calorie counter. I still have bread, pasta, sweets but less than I used to since they tend to be higher in cals. I can't imagine eliminating those all together because I don't think it's sustainable.

Replies

  • KateL1969
    KateL1969 Posts: 98 Member
    Both. I used to be a carb junkie - chocolate, sweets, icecream, crisps, bread etc but have reduced my carbs and increased my protein. I have found that by increasing my protein - ensuring I eat it at every meal as a minimum - I dont crave carbs like I used to which helps me stay within my net calorie intake for the day.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    I eat everything and just watch calories. Restricting certain foods has always led to failure.
  • Fiona_Bullough
    Fiona_Bullough Posts: 138 Member
    Low carb, (30 - 70 usually) and high protein (100 ish).
  • claire7090
    claire7090 Posts: 67
    I cannot give up Carbs so I just calorie count and that has worked for me.
  • HeavyLiftGirl
    HeavyLiftGirl Posts: 1,267 Member
    A little of both. I now eat less carbs and am also counting calories. I still eat sandwiches and rice and pasta...I just watch my portions now.
  • talekan
    talekan Posts: 1
    low carb and calorie counting. Works, albeit slowly! But that is supposedly the best way to loose weight and keep the loss!
  • GeorgiaTina
    GeorgiaTina Posts: 32
    I have done both. Low carb works, but once you introduce them back in you have to still watch your calories and log. I can't stick with low carb very long
  • abbylg1983
    abbylg1983 Posts: 177 Member
    I've done both. I counted calories and ate everything (bread, pasta, mcdonalds, chips, candy) in moderation. I lost weight, but I still felt pretty tubby. I got bored counting calories (seriously, since I eat so much fruit and veggies, it's a real pain trying to figure out the calorie count. I mean, the variations in apple size might account for a 20 calorie difference!) and a lot of the junk food I was eating (sugary cereals, white bread, chips) just wasn't worth the calories. A month or two ago I switched and just stopped eating that stuff and also stopped logging. My weight loss has slowed down, but I do feel less flabby overall.

    It's really hard to compare the two though. I lost more weight on the first plan, but I had more weight to lose. I lost more inches on the second plan, but I kind of had a head start losing the weight in the first place. Just do whatever makes you feel best and whatever you think you can stick with. Neither is a temporary plan.
  • 4anet
    4anet Posts: 2
    Hi,
    I'm learning that protein is the key and that protein should be greater than the carbs. I'm having a hard time not keeping the carbs under the protein, but am working on it. Inevitably, the carbs want to sneak up over the protein so I'm making a conscious effort to read labels, eat more protein rich foods, and eat carbs in moderation. I'm getting better but certainly not mastered. I've been told that if you know you need something sweet (me, at night), get the best chocolate bar and break off 1-2 squares to satisfy "the itch". Also, if you're going to eat something yummy, go in moderation and decrease something earlier in the meal. Lots of info to keep in check!
  • emstethem
    emstethem Posts: 263 Member
    I have hypothyroidism, and the only way I can lose weight is by counting carbs. I believe in good carbs though like berries and certain vegetables and also nutrient dense whole grains. Lately, I haven't been counting anything much. I just try to eat only REAL foods. :) But, to answer your question, I think counting carbs works best.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    50g carbs, eat minimally processed food and let the rest work themselves out is my plan.

    Calories are about the same as when I was doing low fat thing on MFP but keeping the carbs low is working way better for me from a hunger/satisfaction point of view. And I love eggs and bacon, bonus.

    No carb is just bonkers, we need veggies, nobody got fat eating carrots.
  • mamasmaltz3
    mamasmaltz3 Posts: 1,111 Member
    I have found that by counting calories it has forced me to watch the amount of carbs I am eating because they tend to be higher in calories per serving. And since I am working out I need more protein to feed my muscle. But, I have not taken anything completely out of my diet. I have days when I want something and I just have to up the exercise to have it. For me, I want an eating plan that I can live with for the rest of my life. If that means I lose weight more slowly I am ok with that because I can't see how I could live my whole life on little to no carbs.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I like keeping track of my calories. It's like "Fun with Math!" :laugh:

    I try to get at least 72 grams of protein and 30 grams of fiber. Also, about once a week I go through the "vitamin section" of the tracking categories and check how I'm doing. It's interesting how I am getting more nutrition in just by focusing on calories, protein, and fiber. For now, I am not worried about the rest of it. I am doing very well.

    Exercise + Nutrition = Feeling Well
    :happy:
  • EinTX
    EinTX Posts: 104 Member
    Both. I used to be a carb junkie - chocolate, sweets, icecream, crisps, bread etc but have reduced my carbs and increased my protein. I have found that by increasing my protein - ensuring I eat it at every meal as a minimum - I dont crave carbs like I used to which helps me stay within my net calorie intake for the day.

    Dido. I watch my carbs first then check to see how my calories are falling into place. I don't go without carb, I just am very picky about which carbs I eat and how many of them I eat and how often I eat them (a bun on a hamburger at a fast food ain't worth waisting carbs on). I will allow myself 1-2 servicing at a meal and one serving for a snack and I make myself wait a minimum of 2 hours between snacks and meals. I log my food so I can monitor the carbs and the calories are just an after thought since I'm already logging. I rarely over do it eating protein or even nuts and avacados, etc. but carbs will send me on an eating frenzy so now that I've figured that out and handle my carbs like my life depended on it (which it does) the weight is just going away. I'm down 50 lbs since I figured out how to manage my cravings.

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