no carbs

lee2012w
lee2012w Posts: 10
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm just wondering if anyone has tried cutting carbs out of their diet. I have heard and from looking online today that cutting them out is a really good way of helping weight loss. I need to lose around 40lbs. I have a problem with some carbs anyway so try not to eat too much bread, potatoes and pasta as it irritates my i.b.s, though since starting eating healthier from monday i have been eating more bread :( If anyone has done this and has any ideas of things i can eat instead it would be great. The biggest issue i think would be breakfast because from looking at my food diary and online most cereal has a lot of carbs. I would like to keep them as low as possible. So any tips and ideas would be really appreciated x
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Replies

  • cartrat
    cartrat Posts: 120 Member
    are you looking into ketosis or just simply cutting down?

    ketosis is 20 g of carbs a day. which believe it or not gives you some wiggle room. what i've been eating for breakfast are basically bacon and eggs or yogurt and almonds. yes no more cereal but you end up not missing it anymore :)

    these foods are your friends:
    meat (beef, chicken, seafood, anything that was once alive lol)
    eggs
    cheese
    heavy whipping cream
    almond milk

    and a few veggies: spinach, green onions, mushrooms...

    edit: this web site is a godsend...
    http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/

    just do some research. there are tons of low carb recipes out there and they're usually all delicious :)
  • Lina4Lina
    Lina4Lina Posts: 712 Member
    I eat a high carb diet but I'm pretty careful about the kind of carbs. I rarely eat bread, cereal and other refined carbs.

    For a lower carb breakfast, a cereal-like option might be something I use for a snack, Chia pudding. I add 1/2 cup of pumpkin, 2 tbsp of chia, some liquid (I use soy milk, almond milk is good), and some cinnamon. Mix together, wait 10 minutes and eat.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Cutting them out altogether is REALLY difficult, and not a good idea. Fruits and vegetables, for instance, have carbs.

    Cutting them down, on the other hand, is fairly straightforward. I like to keep mine at about 100g per day.

    That means no cereal or toast for breakfast (have eggs or yoghurt instead)
    No sandwich or bread based lunch - soup or salad instead.
    And a smaller portion of rice/ potatoes/ pasta for dinner.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    Going carbless, is a very big step. It's difficult to maintain, it requires very closely monitoring your hydration levels, and understanding that certain types of activity will be hampered with this behavior. Not to mention that before you attempt it, you should be given a clean bill of health (especially for your liver and kidneys) from your doctor and confirm that you have no history or genetic prevalence toward liver disease or kidney disease.

    Not that it's impossible or even bad for you, if you meet all the criteria, it's a perfectly valid option. It just requires a lot of willpower to succeed. I know I couldn't do it. I'd go insane after like 1 week without carbs. I love my Broccoli and whole wheat pasta!
  • legaline
    legaline Posts: 35 Member
    Wow what a great website! I've been wanting to reduce carbs as well, and it looks like she has some good (and more importantly, easy) recipes.
  • jynxxxed
    jynxxxed Posts: 1,010 Member
    I looooove carbs and eat plenty per day.. I still lose weight well without cutting them out.
    If you do choose to cut carbs, just make sure it's sustainable. As stated before, it's very difficult to have foods that you're absolutely not allowed to have and will cause many people to break their 'diet' eventually when a delicious food comes along that you just can't say no to. Pick something that you can sustain permanently as a lifetyle. :)
  • michelle_mareshfuehrer
    michelle_mareshfuehrer Posts: 312 Member
    I feel like death if I go below 50g/day. My blood sugar gets out of whack and I am a useless human being. However, I have been having steady success with staying under 100g/day. I found a nifty carb chart online some time ago that showed 50-100g being the "sweet spot" for steady weight loss, whereas 100-150g was maintenance, and 150+ was steady gain. Perhaps being somewhere below 100 will work for you! You can try to make those 100g more healthy than breads, etc. But you don't have to kick yourself if you have a bread item :)
  • LoriBeMe
    LoriBeMe Posts: 165 Member
    MFP is recommending 165g carbs per day for me. I'm averaging 130g. I'm losing, so I guess this is a good number for me. I'm also always under on my sodium. I've also noticed that I'm usually right around the recommended 1200 calories for the day but go over on the recommended protein & fiber.
  • cjc166
    cjc166 Posts: 222
    If you go zero carbs, you run the risk of screwing up your electrolytes, and possibly kicking the bucket.

    http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/diet-myths-dangers-of-highprotein-lowcarb-diets.html

    There are much easier ways of losing the lbs. I've lost 30 lbs in the past 6 weeks following "Eat to Live". It's something worth considering.
  • YouAreTheShit
    YouAreTheShit Posts: 510 Member
    bump
  • michelle_mareshfuehrer
    michelle_mareshfuehrer Posts: 312 Member
    Here's the chart I referenced: http://www.crossfitignitesydney.com.au/weight-loss-and-nutrition/carbohydrate-curve-and-food-pyramid
  • SerenaNatasha
    SerenaNatasha Posts: 246
    bump
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I couldn't live without carbs... Good luck, though. =)
  • lee2012w
    lee2012w Posts: 10
    Thanks everyone,

    I don't want to cut them out completely because i know some fruit and veg etc have carbs in them. What i ideally want to do is try and keep them under 100g a day. My eating habits were really REALLY bad before. Until this week i never usually ate breakfast or lunch! I am determined to change my eating habits and try shift the extra weight. I think i was a bit delusional before about my weight. I weighed myself for the first time yesterday! When i joined this site i actually guessed my weight which was 20lbs out. I have been trying to cut out coffee too because it is a big thing for me. I mostly survived on coffee and smoking! So i am trying to drink around 2 coffees a day on being black with sweetener instead of sugar. Really i want to cut them down but not completely out. I love salad sandwiches etc but i find too many carbs because of my ibs can leave me constipated which them makes my stomach look like i'm pregnant and i haven't had a problem so far with a bloated stomach this week
  • cartrat
    cartrat Posts: 120 Member
    i have been eating more bread :(

    total former carbivore here. i'm always looking for paleo/low-carb recipes of bread. you just substitute the flour for flaxseed, almond and/or coconut flour. i made these mock cornbread muffins and they were soooo goood! it really hits the spot when you want something fluffy and breadlike but you won't break the carb bank (calorie wise is a different story) lol.

    anyway, even just cutting down to about 100 grams, just make your carbs matter: eat more fruits and veggies.
  • jesusHchris
    jesusHchris Posts: 1,405 Member
    I went from no definition to a six pack eating about 50% of my diet as carbohydrates. I got them from fruits, veggies, and whole grains mostly. On the weekends or when traveling, though, they might come from chocolate chip cookies or pie or whatever looks good.

    Sticking to your recommended calorie intake for the day is MUCH more important than all this silly micro-managing of your diet. Try that first. If it DOESN"T work, then think about getting complicated.

    Also, take a close look at the profiles of people whose advice your take. If they have met the same goals you would like to, then maybe listen to what they have to say. If not, it might be a good idea to look elsewhere. This is what I do, personally, but of course everyone has choices.

    I personally do not see a benefit from a low carb diet. Carbs are the best source of energy, which your body needs to burn fat and get a good workout.
  • nicolio8699
    nicolio8699 Posts: 141 Member
    special k protein plus is a god send for those of us who crave cereal, but don't want to give up that kind of carbs to eat it;) also, it's yummy!
  • Sarah_Wins
    Sarah_Wins Posts: 936 Member
    Excellent topic. Haven't seen this one in a while.
  • beckajw
    beckajw Posts: 1,728 Member
    I'm just wondering if anyone has tried cutting carbs out of their diet. I have heard and from looking online today that cutting them out is a really good way of helping weight loss. I need to lose around 40lbs. I have a problem with some carbs anyway so try not to eat too much bread, potatoes and pasta as it irritates my i.b.s, though since starting eating healthier from monday i have been eating more bread :( If anyone has done this and has any ideas of things i can eat instead it would be great. The biggest issue i think would be breakfast because from looking at my food diary and online most cereal has a lot of carbs. I would like to keep them as low as possible. So any tips and ideas would be really appreciated x

    The one thing that you may need to think about is that low carb diets still include vegetables. Many of those vegetables may make your IBS worse.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    I'm just wondering if anyone has tried cutting carbs out of their diet. I have heard and from looking online today that cutting them out is a really good way of helping weight loss. I need to lose around 40lbs. I have a problem with some carbs anyway so try not to eat too much bread, potatoes and pasta as it irritates my i.b.s, though since starting eating healthier from monday i have been eating more bread :( If anyone has done this and has any ideas of things i can eat instead it would be great. The biggest issue i think would be breakfast because from looking at my food diary and online most cereal has a lot of carbs. I would like to keep them as low as possible. So any tips and ideas would be really appreciated x

    Before the Carb-police swarm in for the kill: For medical reasons, I was asked to eliminate everything found in the bread/grains related group. No breads, rice, pasta, flour, corn, etc. Ill tell you it was the best thing I could have ever done.

    All of my carbohydrates come from fresh vegetables, a few servings of cheese, and what is found in Almond milk for my protein smoothies. I have an extreme limitation to one serving of berries daily if I want them.

    I have excellent cholesterol numbers, in fact you wouldnt even know I have a metabolic-related disorder. My A1c is 5.2 as well.

    Again, for medical reasons that Im dealing with, I was asked to consider this by my personal Endocrinologist.

    What works for one person might not be beneficial for the other when you take other things into consideration. You may want to chat with the clinicians overseeing your care to see if this would be an avenue you could take. Good to be on the safe side, I always believe!
  • sunshine2212677
    sunshine2212677 Posts: 88 Member
    Hi there!

    I have been on a low carb diet for around two years now, starting due to my I.B.S rather than the weight loss side of things.
    it is sustainable if you enjoy what you eat and don’t try to kind of bully yourself into keeping them out.
    I stick to around 20 - 30g a day which suits me, but you may want to go a little higher to start and lower if you need to.

    I did lose 47lbs cutting down my carbs, although it was not my main goal, it was rather nice!
    However when cutting down carbs your energy levels go down quite a bit in the first week or so.

    I tend to stay a away from the "Atkins" style diet, as much as I want to be slim, I don’t want to damage my heart with the fatty foods the Atkins diet is based around.

    Totally natural foods tend to be a little lower in carbs.
    eggs, meat, fish, and although some veg is high, celery, asparagus and some others aren’t.
    also vegetarian food can be quite low, quorn is low in carbs and saturated fats.
    For fruit, berries, strawberries (which are also a negative calorie food) strawberries, raspberries etc.
    Good fats are from your nuts, almonds, walnuts and peanuts are very low in carbohydrates.

    I can’t really deal with food in the mornings, so I have a protein shake by a company called "AvidHiPro" they have a range of snacks, shakes and soups which are healthy and low carb.

    Some really good reference sites for carbohydrate counting are

    http://caloriecount.about.com
    http://lowcarbdiets.about.com
    www.ourcivilisation.com
    www.simplyrecipes.com


    Hope this is helpful, and good luck
  • H_Factor
    H_Factor Posts: 1,722 Member
    first, there are LOTS of nutrition plans to choose to lose weight. You should choose one that you believe you can stick with for the rest of your life. so, while doing a low carb diet like Atkins can be effective while you're on it...if you don't think you can sustain it for the long haul, then you may just gain the weight back when you've had enough of "no or little carbs". I know. I did Atkins in 2005. lost 50. stopped. gained it back plus some.

    second, carbs are commonly misunderstood. not all carbs are created equal. non-processed carbs give you energy and should not be sharply restricted. its the processed foods that contain the carbs you want to restrict (although you don't have to eliminate them either). One reason for this is the insulin reaction caused by carbs with a high GI value....and since insulin is the hormone that stores food as body fat, you really don't want too much of it running around your body too often. Read this blog of mine for more information....

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/H_Factor/view/a-story-about-insulin-glucagon-and-the-glycemic-index-chart-411155
  • DMW914
    DMW914 Posts: 368 Member
    Have you ever try using sprouted grain products? These types of products would be the better for you type of carbs when you eat them. Ezekiel brand is one of them. They have breads, muffin and cereal products that you may enjoy w/o the guilt. Check in to your local health food market or health food aisle at your local grocer. You will find some really yummy, good for you low carb options that you can eat when you get the urge. Trader Joe's (if you have one in your area) has sprouted breads that are a little more affordable. I like my spouted bread sandwiches panini style. Good luck to you & I hope this helps. :smile:
  • sazloufox
    sazloufox Posts: 24
    I tried cutting carbs out and it's hard/not good for a few reasons:
    1. It's hard to think of different meals, especially at breakfast where I didnt really have time to cook meats and egg and a yoghurt just didn't do it for me EVERYDAY
    2. My skin went really greasy from all of the fats and oils, especially my face
    3. I felt like I lacked energy
    4. It does help you lose weight but the minute you start eating carbs again it goes back on.
    5. Eating away from home was a nightmare
    6. It set a bad example to my daughter
    7. You'd body needs carbs

    There are more reasons but I could go on forever. Switch to complex carbs, ie white pasta to whole meal, white rice to brown and even a slice of whole meal toast won't pile the pounds on. Sticking to 100g is do-able if you weigh stuff and plan ahead. But my best advice is to eat a balanced diet, with smaller portions! Good luck :-)
  • jesusHchris
    jesusHchris Posts: 1,405 Member
    Have you ever try using sprouted grain products? These types of products would be the better for you type of carbs when you eat them. Ezekiel brand is one of them

    Man, that stuff is delicious.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Carbs are not the enemy.

    There's countries (and regions of the world) where people live longer than anywhere else on Earth.

    Guess what? Their diets include healthy carbs. Of course they have a strong focus on eating local and they get plenty of outdoor activity. It's all about balance.
  • mahlerosa
    mahlerosa Posts: 56
    I do low carb. It helps me from feeling hungry all the time and also helps me moderate my blood glucose.
  • jbella99
    jbella99 Posts: 596 Member
    I have completely cut out all grains, processed foods and starchy vegetables after reading the Primal blueprint and I feel amazing. I eat between 50 and 100g of carbs a day.
  • H_Factor
    H_Factor Posts: 1,722 Member
    as for breakfast, I typically choose one of the following:

    1. 2 eggs over medium, cooked with a little bit of butter, and one cup of berries...either blackberries, raspberries or blueberries. 3 cups of water. note: blackberries and raspberries give you 8 grams of fiber per cup...so that's nice too. (this is my most common breakfast)

    2. one package of instant oatmeal with one cup of berries. 3 cups of water

    3. one scoop of protein powder mixed with water and then one cup of berries...or sometimes I skip the berries and have two scoops of protein powder mixed with water. 3 cups of water (in addition to the water used to mix the protein powder)

    berries have a low GI value and the extra fiber is nice...plus they taste good :)
  • jbella99
    jbella99 Posts: 596 Member
    Carbs are not the enemy.

    There's countries (and regions of the world) where people live longer than anywhere else on Earth.

    Guess what? Their diets include healthy carbs. Of course they have a strong focus on eating local and they get plenty of outdoor activity. It's all about balance.

    Read the Primal Blueprint.... It's not CARBS it's all the processed carbs we scarf that effect out blood sugar that's the enemy

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