why do people think carbs are so bad/evil?

I do low (ish) carb because of PCOS, it's advised to avoid high processed foods, and high carb foods. It helps when I lower the intake of it, so thats what I do, whether or not its beneficial to weight loss isn't actually the main reason :-)

In america, the average persons eats 600g+ carbs/day when they should be eating less than 300g.

this^^^^^

people don't just have "a" piece of pizza or lasagna...they have 2 or 3 , its all about portions too...goes for everything

On a side note, two slices of cheese pizza have over 3000mg sodium.

In america, the average persons eats 600g+ carbs/day when they should be eating less than 300g.

this^^^^^

people don't just have "a" piece of pizza or lasagna...they have 2 or 3 , its all about portions too...goes for everything

On a side note, two slices of cheese pizza have over 3000mg sodium.

False. And entire large pizza maybe has that much sodium.

If you eat an entire lasagna in one sitting the calories and carbs are going to adversely effect you if you don't burn them off. Many Americans are couch potatoes and on average eat 3500 calories a day (average on thanksgiving is 4500).

If you ate an entire lasagna pan full of hamburger or chicken (all protein) and didn't burn off the calories, you would gain weight. It isn't the CARBS that are the issue. It's too many calories.

I don't watch my carbs. I eat cheese and crackers and pasta and fruit. I restrict calories and I have no problem losing weight.

In america, the average persons eats 600g+ carbs/day when they should be eating less than 300g.

this^^^^^

people don't just have "a" piece of pizza or lasagna...they have 2 or 3 , its all about portions too...goes for everything

On a side note, two slices of cheese pizza have over 3000mg sodium.

False. And entire large pizza maybe has that much sodium.

try looking it up before claiming false.

http://www.cdc.gov/salt/pdfs/sodium_fact_sheet.pdf

Sodium content can vary significantly within food categories. For example, a regular slice of frozen cheese pizza can range from 450 mg to 1200 mg,

1200 + 1200 +1200 = 3600 (3 slices)

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years- my entire adult life-

In your vegetarian case, you are not gouging yourself on fast food getting massive amounts of unneeded carbs. I would imagine, after 20 years, you have learned exactly what you need to eat to survive and then stop there. Carbs from beans and veggies are not the same, to me, as carbs from fast food.

a carb is a carb....fast food, fruit, pasta, its all carbs

They all may be carbs, but what else are you getting with the fast food that you don't get with a vegetable...that is point I was making.

Nothing wrong with carbs at all. For me, though, they tend to guzzle up quite a lot of my calories, meaning most carb-laden foods are more caloric. And for only having 1200 to eat in a day, it makes me look at the fills-you-up factor, and make smarter decisions about what I'm going to eat. Can I have that slice of pizza? Yes. It WILL fit into my calorie allotment, but it will probably be all I get to have for lunch. And then I need to ask myself: will it keep me full till dinner better than a really big chicken salad loaded with veggies? Probably not. So chicken salad it is!

So nothing bad/evil about carbs, they just have to be eaten in moderation, and you have to eat the RIGHT KIND of them, i.e. whole wheat over white flour, brown rice over white, etc.

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years- my entire adult life-

In your vegetarian case, you are not gouging yourself on fast food getting massive amounts of unneeded carbs. I would imagine, after 20 years, you have learned exactly what you need to eat to survive and then stop there. Carbs from beans and veggies are not the same, to me, as carbs from fast food.

a carb is a carb....fast food, fruit, pasta, its all carbs

They all may be carbs, but what else are you getting with the fast food that you don't get with a vegetable...that is point I was making.

ooops I meant to quote the oter poster who quoted you, saying carbs are different in fast food, soory ,my bad!:blushing: I agree with you totally !

I didn't read all seven pages, I just skipped straight to giving my opinion....

I think it mostly has to do with the fact that most people pig out on carbs and then sit down on their *kitten*. If you are doing something to burn them off, they are just making you fat.

On a side note, two slices of cheese pizza have over 3000mg sodium.

False. And entire large pizza maybe has that much sodium.

try looking it up before claiming false.

http://www.cdc.gov/salt/pdfs/sodium_fact_sheet.pdf

Sodium content can vary significantly within food categories. For example, a regular slice of frozen cheese pizza can range from 450 mg to 1200 mg,

1200 + 1200 +1200 = 3600 (3 slices)

I did look it up. Those slices would have to be huge to contain that much sodium. Sorry to break the news to you.

Sorry to break the news to you but a 40oz container of stir fry bowl has at least 1300mg sodium. When it comes to sodium, size does not matter for how much is in there. lo, you probably suffer from high blood pressure and your sodium amount misconceptions are most likely the reason.

My BP is 110/60. Every time, without fail, since I was a teenager. My resting heart rate is 52. I normally ingest less than 1,000 mg of sodium a day.

However, at times I like to indulge and I will eat pizza and I track it and on those days, even though I may eat an entire pizza, my total sodium intake is not anywhere near the amount you're claiming. It just isn't the case.

carbs get processed differently by everyone. it's usually women who have a harder time with carb management because we have less muscle mass to burn fat.

there are carbs in almost everything though- doesn't mean just bread, or breaded things.

if you are eating the healthy carbs, like veggies, fruit and whole grains, it makes your body more efficient.

i think a good rule for high-carb intake is: only before vigorous exercise or on cheat days.
for example: i have oatmeal in the morning before i go to the gym. other than that, the only other grain product i eat is quinoa or granola with greek yogurt, sushi once in a while.

sometimes i have ONE bad thing on a cheat day, like pizza or pasta, and cheat days are almost always on heavy weight lifting or intense cardio days.

I have pcos and insulin resistance so I have to limit my carbs more than the average person. It makes a difference to me but people without issues like these have no problem with carbs!

same here! I just recently discovered this from my Dr. I am healthy, all tests for me are normal or excellent except my my glucose levels. When I should be at cloise to zero after fasting, my level was at 37. I am filipino and it iss a genetic thing. My mom is 4'11, about 105 pounds, exercises, eats right and still ended up with type 2. So she and I are on limited carbs and are on low carb diets monitored by our doctors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=95fpzu38r44

By posting this, you've pretty much ensured that nobody can take anything you say seriously from this point forward.

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years- my entire adult life- and I even find this statistically meaningless and offensive.

I'm sorry that I wasted my time explaining carbohydrates to you, you obviously have zero grasp on how nutrition or health works.

offensive? how?
my point was only to show that if following their own advice the people claiming carbs are so bad are not the thin people they claim their diet will make you...I dont know how anyone can take atkins seriously when he died overweight and of heart disease.
Sorry I did not know you were the resident expert on all things nutrition and vegetarian. I was expressing an opinion...tis all. Sorry to offend you ms expert.

Hey! Happy Holidays everyone!

I've always done well when lowering my carbs. If I eat a high carb diet at 1400 cals and a low carb diet plan at 1400 cal I always lose weight. I learned a lot after meeting w/my colonics specialist. She shared a book with me called EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR BLOOD TYPE. A lot of our diet (When I say diet, I mean meal/food consumption as a lifestyle,,,,not fads)-is based on hormone and also your blood type and how your body metabolizes certain foods. Each person is different, thats just how God made us. So what works for one person, may not work for somone else.That's why its critical to record what you do and figure out what works best thru trial and error. In regards to the book, since I'm O-Positive she told me to look at it like 'Caveman days'...My blood type works better with lean meats and greens. (i.e. In caveman days, they lived off the land and were hunters! So meat was their main diet and fruits/veggies from the earth). So my blood type doesn't do well w/wheat , corn, and a lot of carb based foods. I still to this day eat wheat and multi grains and I LOVEEEE CORN, but I try to do in moderation. If I eat carbs I try to consume healthy carbs and avoid processed and 'enriched' rice, white startches etc.

But again each person is different. I think we have to all remember that slow and steady wins the race of life, its not a sprint! I've lost 20 the last several months(since joining MFP)-its been slow, but thats how i've managed to keep it off. Before joining I lost 30 over the last 2 years. Just making this a lifestyle change..working out and varying my workouts...adding light weights to tone and reduce body fat and I pack all my meals, including snacks in my cooler. I'm a Realtor, so I'm always on the go. So having my food prepared has helped alot. I know whats in my food, I know the right serving sizes and I can plan ahead and not make bad choices. It also is a great way to budget and save money instead of eating out spending $15-20/day. That can add up to be $450/month+ on just eating out!

Enjoy the journey!! God bless u and thanks for posting! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! XOXOXOXOXO
-ATLANTA, GA