Anyone Else doing Low Carb?

When I signed up for this site I did what it told me in way of calories and such but I found that after two week I had gained some weight. I might have need to add more veggies or something but I don't want to waist more time not loosing weight. I have decided to go back to the only thing that ever seemed to work for me. Which is counting carbs. I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem?
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Replies

  • Vaisaxena
    Vaisaxena Posts: 109 Member
    When I signed up for this site I did what it told me in way of calories and such but I found that after two week I had gained some weight. I might have need to add more veggies or something but I don't want to waist more time not loosing weight. I have decided to go back to the only thing that ever seemed to work for me. Which is counting carbs. I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem?

    Counting carbs without counting calories will do nothing except rid you of water weight very quickly; this water weight will return upon resuming a normal eating style.

    Low carb works wonders, but ONLY with lowered calories, high protein, cyclical carb refeeds, and intense weight training (not cardio).
  • pink_ribbon_1
    pink_ribbon_1 Posts: 46 Member
    In a way - I am trying to avoid wheat and sugar. So, bring on the veggies, but hold the bread, pasta, candy, etc. These are big trigger foods for me.

    It's been a month and I feel much more in control of my eating. Probably because my blood sugar is not bouncing all over the place!

    I am also counting total calories.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    How many calories where you eating? Two weeks is not enough time to determine if you were on a goal plan or not. Make your diary public so we can see what you have been eating.
  • pink_ribbon_1
    pink_ribbon_1 Posts: 46 Member
    When I signed up for this site I did what it told me in way of calories and such but I found that after two week I had gained some weight. I might have need to add more veggies or something but I don't want to waist more time not loosing weight. I have decided to go back to the only thing that ever seemed to work for me. Which is counting carbs. I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem?

    Counting carbs without counting calories will do nothing except rid you of water weight very quickly; this water weight will return upon resuming a normal eating style.

    Low carb works wonders, but ONLY with lowered calories, high protein, cyclical carb refeeds, and intense weight training (not cardio).

    Somewhat new here... what is a cyclical carb refeed? Thanks!
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I haven't "lowered" my carbs...I have just been sticking close to my 40/30/30 macros. I rather learn how figure out the correct servings than cut them nearly out. Besides, I like pasta, bread, and stuff like that to know that an extremely low carb diet would set me up for failure.
  • saverys_gal
    saverys_gal Posts: 808 Member
    I did Atkins years ago and lost a bunch of weight. Then I started to get really into exercise and started doing more than low impact cardio. I found that I couldn't eat LC and workout like that.

    Here I am two years later with a totally screwed metabolism from multiple reasons, LC eating being one of them. Don't restrict your diet unless you have a real reason to. Eating like that must be a way of life for you or the weight will come back. Use moderation, good whole foods and MFP to help drop the lbs. :drinker:
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    Opening your diary will help... Also, when you say "low carb", I think we all assume you mean that you eat carbs, but in the form of fruits & veggies (and maybe whole grains) but not processed, sugary, yeasty carbs. You need to stick to any new eating plan for at least a month to tell a difference, but if you're eating veggies with lots of sugar (corn, carrots) versus leafy greens, and high fat protein you may not be exploiting the plan as much as you can. Just a thought.
  • singer201
    singer201 Posts: 563 Member
    The default carb recommendation on MFP is way too high. I modified my macro goals to give me about 100 gms at my average base + exercise calories and lost 70 lbs. in a year.

    Check out marksdailyapple.com for more info.
  • Vaisaxena
    Vaisaxena Posts: 109 Member
    When I signed up for this site I did what it told me in way of calories and such but I found that after two week I had gained some weight. I might have need to add more veggies or something but I don't want to waist more time not loosing weight. I have decided to go back to the only thing that ever seemed to work for me. Which is counting carbs. I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem?

    Counting carbs without counting calories will do nothing except rid you of water weight very quickly; this water weight will return upon resuming a normal eating style.

    Low carb works wonders, but ONLY with lowered calories, high protein, cyclical carb refeeds, and intense weight training (not cardio).

    Somewhat new here... what is a cyclical carb refeed? Thanks!

    Cyclical carb diets focus 5-6 days on lowered carbohydrates with 1-2 days of high-carbohydrates in conjunction with strength training. This keeps your fat loss from plateau'ing.
  • pink_ribbon_1
    pink_ribbon_1 Posts: 46 Member
    When I signed up for this site I did what it told me in way of calories and such but I found that after two week I had gained some weight. I might have need to add more veggies or something but I don't want to waist more time not loosing weight. I have decided to go back to the only thing that ever seemed to work for me. Which is counting carbs. I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem?

    Counting carbs without counting calories will do nothing except rid you of water weight very quickly; this water weight will return upon resuming a normal eating style.

    Low carb works wonders, but ONLY with lowered calories, high protein, cyclical carb refeeds, and intense weight training (not cardio).

    Somewhat new here... what is a cyclical carb refeed? Thanks!

    Cyclical carb diets focus 5-6 days on lowered carbohydrates with 1-2 days of high-carbohydrates in conjunction with strength training. This keeps your fat loss from plateau'ing.

    Interesting. Thanks so much!
  • shushy70
    shushy70 Posts: 26 Member
    i am LC right now also , I also see no changes when I count calories not to mention the intense cravings I get from eating small amounts of carb . I am trying out the carbohydrate addicts diet because I need to have one normal meal per day
  • Wow so many replies so quickly! Umm to answer some of your questions I am watching my calories eating under 1200 calories a day. Yes by low carb I mean good carbs not bad ones. Carbs in veggies ect. Also eating back (or trying to eat back) my exercise calories. I have just lost weight by watching carbs before. I understand it needs to be a way of life.

    Also I thought after two weeks it wasn't working because the site said I would loose 2 pounds a week if I ate under that. I have never had a problem eating too many calories I always just pick the wrong foods.
  • I've tried to go low carb so many times I've lost count - kept losing and gaining the same 10 pounds. What I'm doing this time is trying to front load my carbs by eating them early in the day - I try to use noon as my cut off time
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    With a hundred pounds to lose you likely have a basal metabolic rate higher than 1200 calories. Eating that low may not be sustainable, and often can lead to weight loss stalls. While I often recommend sticking with a program for 4-6 weeks before trying something new, you might want to look into how many calories your body uses. You need to fuel your body.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • I've tried to go low carb so many times I've lost count - kept losing and gaining the same 10 pounds. What I'm doing this time is trying to front load my carbs by eating them early in the day - I try to use noon as my cut off time


    good information, I usually work from 7am to noon so that might not work for me
  • Thrasherbabe
    Thrasherbabe Posts: 68 Member
    I have gone gluten-free... so technically I'm eating less carbs? (bad carbs anyways):happy:
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    Wow so many replies so quickly! Umm to answer some of your questions I am watching my calories eating under 1200 calories a day. Yes by low carb I mean good carbs not bad ones. Carbs in veggies ect. Also eating back (or trying to eat back) my exercise calories. I have just lost weight by watching carbs before. I understand it needs to be a way of life.

    Also I thought after two weeks it wasn't working because the site said I would loose 2 pounds a week if I ate under that. I have never had a problem eating too many calories I always just pick the wrong foods.

    There is always that possibility you were not eating enough. Heck, you were even eating enough to maintain your metabolic rate. The best advice is to set a moderate deficit and if you exercise either include it in your lifestyle or eat back 50% of those calories. But there about 0 chance of gaining new fat at 1200 calories unless you have a severe metabolic issue.
  • With a hundred pounds to lose you likely have a basal metabolic rate higher than 1200 calories. Eating that low may not be sustainable, and often can lead to weight loss stalls. While I often recommend sticking with a program for 4-6 weeks before trying something new, you might want to look into how many calories your body uses. You need to fuel your body.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    well when I first started the site I tried to eat the calories required but I always felt way too full. 1200 is like almost perfect. I feel full and energized and if I eat more than 1200 a day I feel slugish and bloated.
  • I've tried to go low carb so many times I've lost count - kept losing and gaining the same 10 pounds. What I'm doing this time is trying to front load my carbs by eating them early in the day - I try to use noon as my cut off time

    I did low carb when I was in high school and I lost about 70 pounds. I think just different things work for different people.
  • When I signed up for this site I did what it told me in way of calories and such but I found that after two week I had gained some weight. I might have need to add more veggies or something but I don't want to waist more time not loosing weight. I have decided to go back to the only thing that ever seemed to work for me. Which is counting carbs. I was just wondering if anyone else has this problem?

    Counting carbs without counting calories will do nothing except rid you of water weight very quickly; this water weight will return upon resuming a normal eating style.

    Low carb works wonders, but ONLY with lowered calories, high protein, cyclical carb refeeds, and intense weight training (not cardio).

    yes I have counted carbs before back in high school and I lost about 70 pounds, I am making my calories 1200 which I can't even seem to quite eat them all. I might try the cyclical carb refeeds, that is something that I haven't tried before thanks!
  • i am LC right now also , I also see no changes when I count calories not to mention the intense cravings I get from eating small amounts of carb . I am trying out the carbohydrate addicts diet because I need to have one normal meal per day

    Yay happy to know that someone else doing LC! I haven't heard of the carbohydrate addicts I will look into that!
  • The default carb recommendation on MFP is way too high. I modified my macro goals to give me about 100 gms at my average base + exercise calories and lost 70 lbs. in a year.

    Check out marksdailyapple.com for more info.

    wow nice! thanks for the info I will check it out!
  • along with low carb... a few of us as also on no carbs after 3 pm for the month of feb. check out my post on 31/1/2013
  • along with low carb... a few of us as also on no carbs after 3 pm for the month of feb. check out my post on 31/1/2013

    oh ok! I will! That sounds doable!
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    With a hundred pounds to lose you likely have a basal metabolic rate higher than 1200 calories. Eating that low may not be sustainable, and often can lead to weight loss stalls. While I often recommend sticking with a program for 4-6 weeks before trying something new, you might want to look into how many calories your body uses. You need to fuel your body.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    well when I first started the site I tried to eat the calories required but I always felt way too full. 1200 is like almost perfect. I feel full and energized and if I eat more than 1200 a day I feel slugish and bloated.

    If you want to yo yo diet forever ignore this good advice and just worry about those carbs for no good reason. The above works for LONG term weight loss which is what you want right?
  • VeinsAndBones
    VeinsAndBones Posts: 550 Member
    Hey..... anybody else smell that?! Smells like, like Broscience... -_- Just cut of 20% of the calories from your TDEE and you will lose weight, simple... as... can... BE >.<
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    Wow so many replies so quickly! Umm to answer some of your questions I am watching my calories eating under 1200 calories a day. Yes by low carb I mean good carbs not bad ones. Carbs in veggies ect. Also eating back (or trying to eat back) my exercise calories. I have just lost weight by watching carbs before. I understand it needs to be a way of life.

    Also I thought after two weeks it wasn't working because the site said I would loose 2 pounds a week if I ate under that. I have never had a problem eating too many calories I always just pick the wrong foods.

    Good to know. Figuring out your BMR is a great idea to see how many calories you need (I stick to 1200 and don't eat back exercise calories but I also have a very slow metabolism). Do you have any food allergy symptoms? IE: when you eat a certain group of foods, do you feel any better or worse? I ask because if you have an intolerance to any food group, cutting things out can be a good idea to see how your body reacts. I've been overweight my whole life and 18 months ago, really cut back on the amount of dairy & gluten I eat, and I feel SO MUCH BETTER, to the point where I sleep better, can exercise every day, etc. If you know you feel better, it makes it easier to stick to a certain eating plan for life :) Last thing: with me (and most women), we may not steadily lose the 2lbs/week that MFP says we're going to lose. I wind up staying exactly the same 3 weeks out of the year, and will lose all of the weight I'm going to lose for the month in 1 week. It's strange to drop 5lbs in 2 days, but that's what happens and the rest of the month is super frustrating (but now I know what to expect!). Good luck!
  • With a hundred pounds to lose you likely have a basal metabolic rate higher than 1200 calories. Eating that low may not be sustainable, and often can lead to weight loss stalls. While I often recommend sticking with a program for 4-6 weeks before trying something new, you might want to look into how many calories your body uses. You need to fuel your body.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    well when I first started the site I tried to eat the calories required but I always felt way too full. 1200 is like almost perfect. I feel full and energized and if I eat more than 1200 a day I feel slugish and bloated.

    If you want to yo yo diet forever ignore this good advice and just worry about those carbs for no good reason. The above works for LONG term weight loss which is what you want right?

    so you are basically saying I should eat the amount they tell me too even though it makes me feel bad? that doesn't seem like good advice to me
  • jillwhite12
    jillwhite12 Posts: 102 Member
    I'm doing low carb (under 30 g / day) and all those carbs come from veggies. I keep my calories under 1200 and my protein intake is at least 76 g / day and it's working great. Lost 20 lbs since january 7th. I'm not weight training either.
  • corneredbycorn
    corneredbycorn Posts: 267 Member
    I'm low carb. My macro ratios are 50/25/25 fat/protein/carb. High fat works very well for me and the things I like to eat, but at 25% carbs, I still have plenty of room for pasta or pizza if I make a minimal amount of effort to fit it in. My regular carbs usually come from veggies, fruit, and dairy. I consume no sugar outside of fruit (though I do use stevia in my coffee and plain yogurt (once in a blue moon for peanut butter cookies)). I lose weight very well with this set up and I have no trouble maintaining it because, again, it works with the things I like to eat.