Low Carb vs. Moderate Carb

TakinSexyBack
TakinSexyBack Posts: 300 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone on here ever gone from Atkins to a more moderate carb diet including potatoes, whole wheat breads, brown rice, etc? Did you see big gains? I dont think I want to do super low carb (20 or less) all the time but would like to try what I would call moderate going over no more than 50 or so carbs a day. Im wondering how eating low carb but adding a little of the above mentioned foods may affect the diet as a whole. Definitely don't want to do it if it will sabotage the low carb part of it all! Or..........do I just need to find really good substitutes for the carb-heavy foods I love?

Any advice from people who have been down this road will be much appreciated!! Add me if you would like too!
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Replies

  • TakinSexyBack
    TakinSexyBack Posts: 300 Member
    Anyone..............anyone???
  • monty619
    monty619 Posts: 1,308 Member
    ive done low carb... can tell u its not the road you want to go down. eat your carbohydrates. count your calories.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I'm doing high carb, moderate fats and protein. It's wonderful!
  • willnorton
    willnorton Posts: 995 Member
    i have used the low carb (20 or less to eat bad stuff...butter mayo fat....

    im a firm believer in 100 grams or less of carbs...did you know taht 100 or less is still considered low carb.....eat fruit, whole grains and i dont eat alot of dairy..maybe 2% cheese and I drink Almond milk...

    eat more carbs...i think our bodies need them....to be honest..our brains need carbs to operate
  • campi_mama
    campi_mama Posts: 350 Member
    my personal "sweet spot" is about 70-85g of carbs a day. if i go much higher i get bad cravings. i also feel my best when eating that way. to each their own :)
  • betoarango
    betoarango Posts: 222 Member
    Low carb 20-40g/day rocks...its the "only "way to go. No cravings, no hunger, feel great.
    If your body likes it, you`ll know, if it doesn`t..oH boy will you know...
    There is no "One" way to do it, or preset carb level, everybody has to find his/her way. Best of luck you deserve to give yourself the chance to succeed.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Why exactly do you want to do the low-carb? What I'm reading is "I want to do low-carb, but I want to eat bread, rice, and potatoes" If there's some medical necessity for limiting your carbs, then I get it. But if it's just for the sake of weight loss, it sound like you're going to be depriving yourself of the food you really want. It would be more sensible to eat a moderate-calorie controlled diet that includes the food you like, so you don't feel deprived and end up riding the diet yo-yo train.

    I recently did a couple weeks of low carb before an event. It was a one-off for me, and I felt tortured and was a carb craving monster! I craved carby things I don't even typically like, just because they were off limits. I don't recommend it at all unless there is some specific need.
  • Flowers4Julia
    Flowers4Julia Posts: 521 Member
    I do:


    60% FAT
    25% PROTEIN
    15% carbs (for me that is 50 grams give or take.)

    I did go even lower but not necessary for me anymore, I did add sweet potato, some white rice and have done just fine maintaining.

    In the end, no matter what others opinions are, you'll have to experiment with the numbers, because we are all different! :smile:
  • ckelly181
    ckelly181 Posts: 1
    Hi - I am not losing weight at the moment, but working on maintenance. I lost about 85 lbs. last year on a moderate carb diet. I was able to lose weight pretty consistently all year on a restricted calorie, moderate carb diet. I can't compare to a low carb diet, but for me, this way of eating is practical and easy to live with . Good luck!
  • nickgarner6
    nickgarner6 Posts: 106 Member
    I did the Adtkins diet a few years ago and it not a pleasant experience. Now my carbohydrate approach is to avoid refined or processed carbs. I eat a lot of vegetables and for the most part only eat things I have made from scratch instead of pre prepared. This way I control what is in my food and avoid all of the added sugars and sodium. I still eat the occasional rice, pasta, potatoes etc in moderation (each one less than once a week usually). One thing I have found is when I make things from scratch I can eat more of them and fit within my calories count and macros. I have a busy schedule so preparing a lot of veggies makes things simple.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    I eat high carb and lose weight. Stop subscribing to the "low-carb" nonsense.
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    Well we are already friends but I do moderate carb. I just eliminated the junky useless carbs. : )
  • axialmeow
    axialmeow Posts: 382 Member
    Yes. Tried it and gained. But I have health issues and dont do well with carbohydrates. Most people can eat those foods and not have a problem if they stay within their calorie goal.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    I used to do Atkins to lose because I lost a ton right at the beginning (up to 10 lbs. the first 2 weeks, but it's mostly water). I was never very good at adding carbs back really slowly, tho. I was eating about 100-125 g when I was losing this time--little or no processed carbs, mostly veggies and fruit plus dairy. Upped the carbs to stop losing once I reached my goal. Now I'm eating around 200 g per day. Still not really comfortable with it--eating too much sugar, frankly--but I'm maintaining and it's the holidays, so I'm just gonna deal with it for now. After the first of the year, I plan to reconsider cutting out more of the sugar.
  • quill16
    quill16 Posts: 373 Member
    I try to eat 100g carb, !00g protein, and 50 g fat. It was suggested for me by my nutrtionist. It works for me.
  • NerdyTXChick
    NerdyTXChick Posts: 155 Member
    I've been doing low carb and have found it to be a real eye opener. I think the reason for that is because I was so dependent on carbs before. Once I cut out all the high carb foods, I had to learn to build my meals around lean meat and low carb vegetables. It took a while to break the dependence, not to mention convincing myself I could actually create a meal without pasta, potatoes or rice. But once I did, I found I had developed a whole new love for vegetables! I don't think that would have happened if I hadn't completely cut those things out. Plus, there's the matter of eating carbs making you crave more carbs. By cutting them out you cut out a lot of the cravings, which makes things far easier.

    As for the moderate carb versus low carb, personally I think it's best to start low carb and then gradually add things back in after you've lost the weight you want to lose. This is not only because of the whole cravings business, but because it's pretty hard to keep your carbs down even not eating high carb foods. I try to stay under 40 grams of carbs a day, but I could still hit 50+ easily. So eating even small amounts of high carb foods would completely blow me out of the water.

    Once I reach my goal weight, I will up it to 100 grams a day, which will allow for the occasional serving of brown rice or oatmeal, but still require me to keep a careful eye on things. I know I will always have to keep a tight reign on my carbs in order to stay in control - it's a slippery slope for me. But everybody is different, so I think it's best to try different things and see what works best for you. Just don't be afraid to challenge yourself to try something difficult, because like me, you could be pleasantly surprised with the results. Lord knows I never thought I could cut out all sugar, flour, and starchy foods, but I did!

    Good luck, and I hope this helps!
  • Zeromilediet
    Zeromilediet Posts: 787 Member
    I guess I'd be low carb depending on your definition: probably 60-75 g per day. Carbs for me are vegetables and fruit. Everyone has a different adaptation to carbs. Experiment on yourself and find what works for you. When it comes to this stuff, you ARE special ;-)
  • LowcarbNY
    LowcarbNY Posts: 546 Member
    I net about 50 carbs a day but I could not get there eating
    potatoes, whole wheat breads, brown rice, etc?

    I get my carbs from veggies & berries mostly.

    you do realize that one cup of rice is about 50 carbs.
  • Becky388
    Becky388 Posts: 157 Member
    Low carb 20-40g/day rocks...its the "only "way to go. No cravings, no hunger, feel great.
    If your body likes it, you`ll know, if it doesn`t..oH boy will you know...
    There is no "One" way to do it, or preset carb level, everybody has to find his/her way. Best of luck you deserve to give yourself the chance to succeed.

    Ditto! For me low carb means no migraines, no cravings, no hunger, no gluten, more energy, better sleep, clearer skin, and less weight to carry around. My body loves it!
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    50g is hardly "moderate carb"; most medical and nutritional guidelines say anything under 150g carbs (not counting net carbs) as being low carb, with a window up to 180g as more moderate.

    Your carbs don't have to come from grains; the biggest source of my carbs is sweet potatoes and occasional 100% fruit juices post lifting. Even when I go over from time to time (for those days I drink my craft beer or go out), I don't see any drastic effects, but hell, I've fit pizza into my carbs and been alright.

    Any time you're making a big change in your diet, be it an increase/decrease in something, you're going to see initial "blips"; you may gain briefly, but it could be purely water retention/bloat while your body adjusts.

    Give it a try if 20-30g isn't working for you.
  • gr8pillock
    gr8pillock Posts: 374 Member
    Brains need carbs. If you do try low carb, do it one or two days a week, but low carb in general is asking for a serious weight gain when you finally start eating them again, because they'll go on as fat.

    Just moderate, cut calories, move more, drink ENORMOUS amounts of water and avoid sodas, even diet. My approach was to plan my entire day around ONE item I absolutely could not live without, Mint Patty Frozen Yogurt. It was about 200 calories (3-4 points on old weight watchers) and I would write it in with breakfast, despite not letting myself have it until right before bed. Ate AROUND those already tallied numbers, lost 100 lbs. AND I could keep this up for life, easy. That's what matters in the end. :)
  • purple_tux1
    purple_tux1 Posts: 250 Member
    I"m on low carb. Most days I stay around 50 grams net (carbs - fiber grams). It has been very helpful for me in terms of appetite reduction. I find if I add wheat back my appetite increases like crazy.
  • clobercow
    clobercow Posts: 337 Member
    Crashing into a low carb diet is rarely enjoyable. There are withdraw symptoms and time it takes the body to transition to being a fat burner. So it's best to ramp down slowly. Crashing from anything that has addictive properties is a bad idea.

    However: I think low carb on a cut is the way to go. Since protein and fats are critical to lean mass and hormones, carbs should be the modifier for hitting goals. When on a cut, low carb helps quite a bit to reduce hunger and appetite and promotes the correct hormones for fat oxidation. The reverse is true when eating carbs. Hormones are promoted for growth. I feel like I'm working backwards and setting myself up for failure when I'm moderate or high carb. My appetite is constantly high and I feel deprived.
  • myfitnessval
    myfitnessval Posts: 687 Member
    i didnt do atkins but there is a 2lb water weight difference for my body if i switch from 30-35% to 50-55% carbs. its crazy but it totally makes a diff for me.
  • ashumeow
    ashumeow Posts: 151 Member
    I do follow moderate carbs... I consume less than 130g per day and during special occasion, it increases a little bit. I cannot follow 20-30g carbs since i am a vegetarian and most of the veg foods have carbs. I can never eat less than 75g... =) If your bmi is on healthy rate, u must not try to be on low-carb because it might affect central nervous system slowly (proved fact).
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    50g is not considered moderate - it is still low.

    However, what reason are you looking to do low carb?
  • triggsta
    triggsta Posts: 140
    I've been working towards a lower carb diet personally, around 1/3 macro each, 30-35% (or trying to limit to 100g per day). I worked my way down to it though. I did Nutrisystem at the beginning of my weight loss and started cutting back and feel a lot better than I have before. Carbs bog me down through the day. I'm waiting to finish all my NS foods so I can start using fruits and veggies as my main intakes of carbs rather than NS entrees.
  • GiGiBeans
    GiGiBeans Posts: 1,062 Member
    Been on Atkins almost 6 months and am in later stages where I've added back most carbs except rice and pasta. No food is off limits per se unless it causes cravings. I've had mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes with no problem, the key is to eat ONE portion with fat. As far as bread I've had rye, pumpernickel and low carb pitas with no problems.

    I don't eat these foods as often as I did before a low carb diet because they lost their appeal and addictive hold on me. In fact I had a French Fry the other day and it tasted so bland I gave the rest away.

    Pasta isn't something I will attempt until maintenance as it is so high carb, if I even want it at that point. Once the cravings are gone thankfully these foods make a backseat.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Just slowly increase your carbs.. you will definitely gain weight, not fat. When you increase carba your body stores more glycogen/ater. There is nothing to be afraid of as its natural. I generally limit my carbs to 35%-40% of my intake... most of which is from fruit and veggies
  • DawnEH612
    DawnEH612 Posts: 574 Member
    How about just focusing on getting the proper amount of calories from a healthy balance of macronutrients and stop worrying about no or low carb options... A good blend is 50% carbs and 25% fat and protein. If you still think that thats too many carbs try something like "the zone" philosophy with a 40/30/30 option... Choose healthy carb options like fresh fruits and veggies, WHOLE grains, legumes/beans and limit simple carbs like white flours, refined wheat and grain products...those are the things that will instigate cravings.
    A DIET low in carbs is not sustainable for a lifetime.. If you are looking for lifetime changes adopt an eating style that you can sustain for your lifetime... Otherwise its all in vain.
    Check out the USDA website for some sound nutritional information.
    http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/

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