low carb/high protein confusion

jillybeanpuff
jillybeanpuff Posts: 144 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hello everyone! I'm new here so I apologize if this topic has already been addressed. I'm trying to do a lowER carb diet. I have my macros set at 25% now and I'm trying to get in 1600 cals a day as per my TDEE (25 y/o, CW 175, 5'2). I'm not really doing too much as far as exercise as of yet, I'm trying to get my diet in check and hope to lose some weight that way first. I'm having a hard time staying within my carb limit while maintaining high protein. Whenever I try to add in more protein to meet that, I go over in my carbs. Any foods that I can eat that will help this?? I was thinking eggs and lean meats, but are there any others? Thank you!!

Replies

  • bearwith
    bearwith Posts: 525 Member
    cottage cheese but not the ones with fruit in because they add sugar to them.

    Grate some cheese, add chopped apple and add a teaspoon of peanut butter.

    Lots of frozen veggies cooked in microwave fro 3 mins covered with seeds and nuts (only a pinch)
  • jillybeanpuff
    jillybeanpuff Posts: 144 Member
    I've recently discovered that I really like cottage cheese. I usually put some cinnamon in it to make it sweet. Veggies are good, but I need some that up my calories. I find if I eat "healthy" I can't meet my calories, and if I do meet my calories then I go over in my carbs.
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    Boneless skinless chicken breast <----CHEAP & nearly 100% protein
    Eggs. <---- EVEN CHEAPER. Protein & fat
    Bacon. Protein & fat
    Lean cuts of sirloin. Mostly protein and some fat.
    Greek Yogurt (UNFLAVORED). Protein & few carbs
    Egg whites. Protein
    Fish. See sirloin above.

    Carbs are not your enemy. Especially if you stick to quality foods.

    Picture a dinner plate. Half meat. Half vegetables. Simple.
  • jillybeanpuff
    jillybeanpuff Posts: 144 Member
    I do eggs and veggies for breakfast and then a lean meat and veggies for lunch. Snack I will do veggies with cottage cheese or yogurt and I'll usually have only 1 fruit a day because I'm trying to watch my sugars too. The problem is that I can't meet my calories this way. I usually only get 1100 or so and then I have to find something to get in the rest of my calories, which usually pushes me over my carbs.
  • MissyI30
    MissyI30 Posts: 382 Member
    Greek yogurt and ww string cheese any cheese really, lean meats shrimp is really good for lots of protein. Also premier protien shakes and syntrax nectar protein shakes are really low cal and carb but have a lot of protein in them. I use PB2 for peanut butter lower in calories and carbs then reg peanut butter.
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    If vegetables are causing you to exceed your carb goal...that should be the least of your worries.

    If having trouble meeting your calorie goals, add a healthy fat to your vegetables. Something like coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, avocado oil etc. Some oil and seasonings are fantastic on vegetables.

    It's surprising how you can reduce your calories and be fuller on less overall food when you cut out all the processed foods.
  • sandylion
    sandylion Posts: 451 Member
    This seems sort of easy to fix. Double the serving size of the eggs, 'lean meat' and cottage cheese you are eating.
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    What are your fat and protein goals?
  • jillybeanpuff
    jillybeanpuff Posts: 144 Member
    I know! I have a gluten allergy that I found out about a year ago, so for the past year I've been eating processed gluten free crap, which is worse for you (and more expensive) than the "normal" food. So this leads me to another question. I know sugar is sugar whether it comes from fruit or cake. Is it the same with carbs? If all of my carbs are coming from peanut butter, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and veggies, should I just not worry about it because these are "good" carbs? simple vs complex?
  • Textmessage
    Textmessage Posts: 387 Member
    Don't forget protein powders and bars! Though chicken breast is my preference as I like to actually EAT. :o
  • jillybeanpuff
    jillybeanpuff Posts: 144 Member
    carbs:80, fat:62, protein:180
  • MadeToCraveHIM
    MadeToCraveHIM Posts: 213 Member
    Try a protein shake with almond milk. It's a treat and helps get your protein in for the day!
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    What is the driving factor to keep carbs low? Most of us whose diets are "in check" simply aim to get ample protein and fat, and let carbs fall where they may, while staying within our calorie target. Barring some medical necessity, there is no reason to actively limit your carbs, and in fact, would be counter-productive to spend any effort trying to do so.
  • jillybeanpuff
    jillybeanpuff Posts: 144 Member
    I suppose I've fallen victim to the "my friend ate low carb and lost a lot of weight" thing. So what would the "ideal" amount of carbs for me be? I have my macros set at 25% carbs right now and I'm eating 1600 calories, which gives me 80g a day. Should I try to stay with that or go up to 100? I read somewhere that if you want to maintain to keep you carbs between 100-150 a day and if you want to lose weight to keep them from 50-100 a day.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    I suppose I've fallen victim to the "my friend ate low carb and lost a lot of weight" thing. So what would the "ideal" amount of carbs for me be? I have my macros set at 25% carbs right now and I'm eating 1600 calories, which gives me 80g a day. Should I try to stay with that or go up to 100? I read somewhere that if you want to maintain to keep you carbs between 100-150 a day and if you want to lose weight to keep them from 50-100 a day.

    it is completely irrelevant to fat gain or fat loss.
    hit your protein
    hit your fat
    hit your calories

    whatever carbs you end up with within the parameters above is the answer.
  • jillybeanpuff
    jillybeanpuff Posts: 144 Member
    [/quote]

    it is completely irrelevant to fat gain or fat loss.
    hit your protein
    hit your fat
    hit your calories

    whatever carbs you end up with within the parameters above is the answer.
    [/quote]

    Ok, I'm gonna go in and change my macros to 30 fat, 40 protein, 30 carb. and eat more cottage cheese and eggs. And maybe a protein shake. And that should fix the issue. Thanks everyone!

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