Carbs, eat them or not?

I still eat carbs and so far it's been working for me. Now, I don't eat bread and pasta etc as much as I used too, but I do allow myself to have them once in a while. It's really all about moderation.

I eat carbs. usually between 40 and 50% of my diet is carbs. I'm half the weight I was and it's worked all through that. You might be different though.

I eat everything.

I carbs WAY too much to cut them out & I don't see a problem with eating carbs as long as you don't over do it - if you're staying within your daily calorie goal and measuring the calories accurately, then I don't see eating them as a problem. Personally what I have done is swap over all my white breads to multigrain bread, white pasta to wheat pasta and white rice to brown rice and I watch my portion size. I also try to eat most of my carbs before the afternoon (usually for morning tea on my break I'll have pasta, rice or bread) to give me plenty of energy for the rest of the day at work and then I follow it with fruit, yoghurt & nuts in the afternoon before I head to gym. I try to stick with meat & veg with only a little bit of carbs for dinner (potato, 1 slice of bread, very small side dish of pasta/rice, etc.) and I have found by reducing my carb intake through portion control and better quality of carbohydrate that I am full and have plenty of energy and I am still able to eat the things I love. If you're a big carb eater like I was, the idea of cutting out any food group in my eyes is unrealistic and destined for disaster (sounds like a quick fix to me!)... everything in MODERATION and PORTION CONTROL, PORTION CONTROL, PORTION CONTROL.

I've always been a big carb eater. I feel like I need them for energy. I generally eat only whole grains. I was wondering what all of you think about cutting out most carbs like breads, pastas, rice etc, and just eating mainly fruits, veggies and meats? I don't know if this is really sustainable. I'd like to hear what you all think, and what has worked for you.

I still eat carbs, just less of them. Calorie choices on my part. Hasn't hurt my ability to lose weight or get in shape.

Carbs are not evil. If you're going to eat carbs as part of a naturally balanced diet, try to stick with complex carbs instead of highly refined flours and simple sugars. Even small amounts of simple sugars won't hurt most people. Really, it's up to you and what you prefer for the balance of your diet.

I've always been a big carb eater. I feel like I need them for energy. I generally eat only whole grains. I was wondering what all of you think about cutting out most carbs like breads, pastas, rice etc, and just eating mainly fruits, veggies and meats? I don't know if this is really sustainable. I'd like to hear what you all think, and what has worked for you.

I took off most of my weight by limiting carb intake. Having said that I would give this general recommendation:

1. The percentage carbs isn't nearly as important as the total number - especially if you are doing physical activity.
2. Even the Harvard School of Public Health recommends limiting carbs, especially simple carbs (outlined below).
3. If your kidney function is normal, then lower carbs and increase protein - diets up to 20 percent - (I know I just said the percentage wasn't as important) protein have been well studied. Studies on diets of up to 40 percent protein are underway and thus far there seem to be little ill effects if you have normal kidney function and are not diabetic.
4. It is sustainable...I did it...I cut out breads, pasta, etc. I didn't cut them out 100 percent..but when I did eat them I made sure they were very nutritious substitues (ie Ole Extreme Wellness Wraps) 12 grams fiber, 8 protein, 4 net carbs.


So why on earth should you do this? Why cut the carbs?

Quickly: According to the Harvard School of Public Health

"In the 1960s, fats and oils supplied Americans with about 45 percent of calories; (1) about 13 percent of adults were obese and under 1 percent had type 2 diabetes, a serious weight-related condition. (2,3) Today, Americans take in less fat, getting about 33 percent of calories from fats and oils; (4) yet 34 percent of adults are obese and 11 percent have diabetes, most with type 2 diabetes. (5,6)"

So while cutting out 12 percent of our fat, we got 20 percent heavier. Why?

"Detailed research—much of it done at Harvard—shows that the total amount of fat in the diet isn't really linked with weight or disease. What really matters is the type of fat and the total calories in the diet. (7-15) Bad fats, meaning trans and saturated fats, increase the risk for certain diseases. Good fats, meaning monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, do just the opposite. They are good for the heart and most other parts of the body."

If you want the rest of the story (about fats and carbs) see the link below:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-full-story/#Intro

To simplify the story quickly - carbs are converted to sugar which initially is converted to glycogen to replace stores that empty so that energy is always available. High sugar causes insulin spikes which can result in diabetes. In addition, when carbs are not needed in great demand - ie not exercising over 45 min - and high amounts are taken in - the excess carbs get converted in the liver to Triglycerides and Fat. They raise LDL (bad Cholesterol) as well. Carbohydrates are also felt to be "proinflammatory" leading to the development of hardening of the artery walls.

Bottom line: Excess Carbs become bad. How much is enough for you? You might have to ask a dietician. When exercising it's generally recommended that if you exercise over 1 hour you take some in. It's not weight based and this is to maximize performance. You'll fatigue early other wise. Not a big deal unless you really are training for something or want to go longer.

Hit me up if you need more info:

Recommendations would be cut cals and the fats you eat should be heart healthy fats - as much as possible. Cutting carbs back to 45 percent is reasonable. I average approximately 35 percent carbs, 30 percent fat, 35 percent protein.

Just be careful of what carbs you eat.

I try to stay away from process foods, I only eat sugar if it comes with the fiber that it was born with and I generally stay away from (or severely limit) foods that have been deliberately processed so that the fiber was strip and left them calorie dense.

In a nutshell, that wipes out a lot of candy, chips, crackers, breads, fast foods and a whole slew of things that we will usually agree is junk, which is also carbs.

People will often try to mock the idea of cutting back on carbs (don't eat them you will grow a horn and go blind!!) but when you think about what junk food is and what carbs are worth holding onto, you still end up in the same place, whole foods.

Yes eat them, why deprive yourself? Just make sure you get enough proteins and fats and then eat the rest of the calories left however you like

My Dr. put me on a low carb diet due to medical issues (pre diabetes, etc). I mean LOW carbs - 50 NET per day. I can tell you that before this, I was not only NOT losing weight, even with diet (WW) and exercise but I was gaining weight. I cut out all starchy, carb heavy foods - sugar (the main one), flour, rice, pasta, bread, etc. The carbs I eat come from fruits and veggies and a few whole grains here and there. I feel so much better - I have more energy, less aches and pains, my digestion and GI system is working better. I have been doing this since Feb. of this year and managed to lose 35 lbs so far. The weight loss is slow and steady but that's good. If I stall out, I drop my carbs and up my calories and then switch back about 2 - 3 weeks later. I do eat low carb, high fiber tortillas and wraps but that's the only "bread" type product I eat.
I think if you feel healthy and your meal plan is working out for you and you are getting the results you want, then why change it? If you can eat carbs and still lose weight, be healthy, etc. then go for it! I would DEFINITELY be eating them if I could!!!

Excluding carbs would be the worst choice to make. I think my diet consists of 60% carbs. But GOOD carbs. Not any **** like carbs from cakes, Mc'donalds, bread(white), pasta and so on. But the carbs from wholegrain, fruits, veggies...+++