So, are carbs evil or not?

No if you eat the right amount!

Well, as a diabetic, I have to watch my carb intake. They are not evil, but they do turn into sugar which can have adverse affects on someone with my condition. If you take in carbs or a lot of them, then you really need to consider exercise to keep energy levels up and avoid "sugar" spikes. Ultimately though calories are calories. I say be mindful of how many carbs you take in and calories in general.

Side note: When our diets were more of a high carb diet (potatoes, grains, rice, root veggies) people were A LOT more active. We were farmers, construction workers, etc.. There was much more manual labor. Today we sit more and have automated factories, and large screen t.v.'s that keep us less active. The problem is that we never changed our diet.

I've seen this question asked a lot, and I've seen a hundred different responses. I personally think that you simply have to find what works for you. Try different things, find something you're happy with - that you can live with and sustain - and do that. I, and again, personally, cut out a lot of processed grains and refined sugar. That's not to say I never have them. I do, and I enjoy them when I have them. I do not beat myself up if I have a cookie. I've lost nearly 70 lbs - in 6 months. I still like pizza, cookies, and chips and salsa. I just don't have copious amounts of these foods. I'm also diabetic. I don't count carbs like a maniac. If I have something that I know has a lot of carbs in it, I just take a long walk...brings the glucose level right down. I exercise, I lift weights like a maniac, and I feel the best I have in my whole life. All of this while eating (moderate) carbs. You have to find balance, something you can live with, otherwise you're just wasting your time.

what about that is good? it also has zero to do with the average MFP-er who isn't on anabolic steroids...

If you new anything about Alberto Nunez you'd know he's not on them either.

I don't believe that for a second.

haha we can at least agree on that.

You don't have to believe - and honestly I can't give two hoots if you don't.

why does me "demonizing" a certain kind of carb have any effect on you or cause you ANY problems? out of curiosity.

Look at the thread title. People are scared of them!

As for me, lots of people who come to me for help and I help diet are scared of carbs again because people wrongly say specific carbs are bad. That's why.

You still haven't given me a good example of any carbs that are bad yet tho?

Nunez isn't even freakishly huge, he's just super diced. People always are quick to pull that gear talk when they see a physique out of their work limits.

Carbs have a direct correlation to leptin levels (hormone that regulates metabolism) carbs are good and should be where the majority of your cals come from.

Yes, that is true in non-obese individuals (particularly men). But leptin is already elevated in obese individuals and the blood level of leptin that women have is already, 2 to 3 times that of men at the same level of body fat. The problem is leptin-resistance and that is curbed the same way that insulin resistance is curbed, by cutting carbs. In fact, leptin-resistance predicts insulin-resistance. It just isn't so simple. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/707432_7

Leptin resistance is far few and between for the average dieter.

they must be cos they taste sooooo good

Removing carbs is just an easy way of making most meals have less calories.

Take I dunno, a basic meal of steak, potatoes, a sauce and broccoli. Replace one of the first three with more broccoli and maybe 1/4-1/3 of the calories are gone.

Protein helps keep most people full for longer and fat makes everything more yummy. So the easiest thing to remove is the potatoes and the low carb diet does that. Low fat removes the sauce and vegetarian diets(low protein diets?) would remove the meat.

You make some good points. I would add that removing sugar and starch from the diet eliminates a lot of non-nourishing calories that could be spent on other more nourishing items. For me, "empty" carbohydrates are an extravagance that I simply cannot afford on my 1390 calories a day. And there are other bio-chemical issues involved with eating carbohydrates as well.

Removing carbs is just an easy way of making most meals have less calories.

Take I dunno, a basic meal of steak, potatoes, a sauce and broccoli. Replace one of the first three with more broccoli and maybe 1/4-1/3 of the calories are gone.

Protein helps keep most people full for longer and fat makes everything more yummy. So the easiest thing to remove is the potatoes and the low carb diet does that. Low fat removes the sauce and vegetarian diets(low protein diets?) would remove the meat.

i think this is a little oversimplified though... fats have much more importance in your diet than just making things yummy, and vegetarian diets are not inherently low protein

also, I'm technically eating "low carb" - as they only make up 25% of my diet and mostly come from fruits and veggies - but I eat 188g of them and hit 3000 cal daily. So low carb/restricted carb/etc can mean a helluva lot of different things.

True, dat.

nope,i still eat SOME carbs and have been steadily losing a pound or two a week for the last few months. As always, everything in moderation so you won't feel deprived! Nothing is forbidden, just well-managed

Then there are people like me who lost their weight on 55% carbs. Mostly from grains, veggies , & sugar. Everyone does it differently. Bottom line is simple caloric deficit WILL lead to weight loss.

Then there are people like me who lost their weight on 55% carbs. Mostly from grains, veggies , & sugar. Everyone does it differently. Bottom line is simple caloric deficit WILL lead to weight loss.

But the question is, will it lead to a healthful weight loss for everyone? I would have become quite ill were I to follow your Rx. Eating only 1390 calories a day of "mostly grains, vegetables and sugar" would guarantee it.

Then there are people like me who lost their weight on 55% carbs. Mostly from grains, veggies , & sugar. Everyone does it differently. Bottom line is simple caloric deficit WILL lead to weight loss.

But the question is, will it lead to a healthful weight loss for everyone? I would have become quite ill were I to follow your Rx. Eating only 1390 calories a day of "mostly grains, vegetables and sugar" would guarantee it.

So I guess you are the unique and special snowflake. Many people eat like this all over the world everyday. You may be the exception but the whole world is not you. And 55% carbs is not mostly grain and vegetables. It's 55% (duh). Just over half. The other 45 % is fats and protein. Why are you always trying to represent things in such a way as to fit your agenda?

Was thinking that myself too. Magerum said that 55% of his diet is carbs - not all.

Mulberry: out of interest, what percentage carbs do you find works best for you? I've tried lots of different levels over the years (have been as low as 20g a day, currently at 40%, more if I'm doing a big hike) and always interesting to see what works for other people.

To me carbs are evil, but I am a T2 diabetic. I eat around 20g of carbs a day in the form of fruit and veggies. I make up my calories with natural foods, meat, fish, dairy, nuts, seeds etc. I eat a LOT of saturated fat <shock horror> along with my very low carb diet and in 54 weeks I have lost 102 pounds, as a very nice if unintentional bi product of my LC diet.

HOWEVER... this works for me, I have a superb Doctor here in England who keeps an eye on me, and works with me, and while he would like me to replace my lard diet with an olive oil diet he accepts my figures are stunning, and my diabetes reversed.

One thing I did notice, once I got over the carb flu last year, I found I had more energy than I know what to do with, my mind is sharp and alert, I sleep so, so much better, and all carb cravings have gone. My body is now fully keto adapted, and I am happy to keep it that way. I love my diet - nothing is processed or has more than one ingredient except cheese and Greek yogurt, I eat only the purest, cleanest of foods. This is all my choice to help me avoid diabetes complications, and it is all dependent on me staying well away from bread, rice, past, potato's anything that has more than 10g of carbs per 100g.

I don't ask any one to follow my example (I eat Primal opposed to low carb) but it works for me. One year down and I am the best I have been in years, and I look 10 years younger than I am, which at my age is a huge boost. :-)

My advice with any and all diets, don't listen to what anyone tells you, try things for your self. I believe carbs are a huge part of the obesity epidemic in the USA and here in the UK. At the end of the day, it matters not what I or anyone believes, it is what you must find out for yourself.

Good luck.

To me carbs are evil, but I am a T2 diabetic. I eat around 20g of carbs a day in the form of fruit and veggies. I make up my calories with natural foods, meat, fish, dairy, nuts, seeds etc. I eat a LOT of saturated fat <shock horror> along with my very low carb diet and in 54 weeks I have lost 102 pounds, as a very nice if unintentional bi product of my LC diet.

HOWEVER... this works for me, I have a superb Doctor here in England who keeps an eye on me, and works with me, and while he would like me to replace my lard diet with an olive oil diet he accepts my figures are stunning, and my diabetes reversed.

One thing I did notice, once I got over the carb flu last year, I found I had more energy than I know what to do with, my mind is sharp and alert, I sleep so, so much better, and all carb cravings have gone. My body is now fully keto adapted, and I am happy to keep it that way. I love my diet - nothing is processed or has more than one ingredient except cheese and Greek yogurt, I eat only the purest, cleanest of foods. This is all my choice to help me avoid diabetes complications, and it is all dependent on me staying well away from bread, rice, past, potato's anything that has more than 10g of carbs per 100g.

I don't ask any one to follow my example (I eat Primal opposed to low carb) but it works for me. One year down and I am the best I have been in years, and I look 10 years younger than I am, which at my age is a huge boost. :-)

My advice with any and all diets, don't listen to what anyone tells you, try things for your self. I believe carbs are a huge part of the obesity epidemic in the USA and here in the UK. At the end of the day, it matters not what I or anyone believes, it is what you must find out for yourself.

Good luck.

Excellent post. Congratulations on your weight loss.

To me carbs are evil, but I am a T2 diabetic. I eat around 20g of carbs a day in the form of fruit and veggies. I make up my calories with natural foods, meat, fish, dairy, nuts, seeds etc. I eat a LOT of saturated fat <shock horror> along with my very low carb diet and in 54 weeks I have lost 102 pounds, as a very nice if unintentional bi product of my LC diet.

HOWEVER... this works for me, I have a superb Doctor here in England who keeps an eye on me, and works with me, and while he would like me to replace my lard diet with an olive oil diet he accepts my figures are stunning, and my diabetes reversed.

One thing I did notice, once I got over the carb flu last year, I found I had more energy than I know what to do with, my mind is sharp and alert, I sleep so, so much better, and all carb cravings have gone. My body is now fully keto adapted, and I am happy to keep it that way. I love my diet - nothing is processed or has more than one ingredient except cheese and Greek yogurt, I eat only the purest, cleanest of foods. This is all my choice to help me avoid diabetes complications, and it is all dependent on me staying well away from bread, rice, past, potato's anything that has more than 10g of carbs per 100g.

I don't ask any one to follow my example (I eat Primal opposed to low carb) but it works for me. One year down and I am the best I have been in years, and I look 10 years younger than I am, which at my age is a huge boost. :-)

My advice with any and all diets, don't listen to what anyone tells you, try things for your self. I believe carbs are a huge part of the obesity epidemic in the USA and here in the UK. At the end of the day, it matters not what I or anyone believes, it is what you must find out for yourself.

Good luck.

Excellent post. Congratulations on your weight loss.

Indeed - but this applies to people who are diabetic - not the 20 year old male op. ( I don't think you said you were)

I wish I were 20 something :-) I am considerably older and female, and yes, this would suit a diabetic mostly. A non diabetic could eat the same as I do, but I would suggest that like me, they do see a Doctor at least quarterly, just to be on the safe side. :-)