Need to lose 50 Pounds and I am going Low-Carb

2

Replies

  • WifeofPJ
    WifeofPJ Posts: 312
    What kind of low carb are you going? I are you doing Low simple carbs or low carb in general? I Eat Low Carb because I am insulin resistant and I still get from 80-150 grams of carb a day. I eat Brown Rice, Wild Rice, one serving of Fruit, and Lots of Veggies for my carbs along with Quinoa. There are lots of recipe's out there that warm up nicely in the microwave. I cook on the weekends when I have time and freeze meals in individual sized servings. I use Skinny Taste and Like the page "Just Eat Real Foods" I get a lot of receipes from there.

    Just remember that good low-carb dieting is not removing all carbs from your diet it is removing the BAD Carbs from your diet.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    Wait, is low carb under 100g a day? Will that help at all? Curious.
    Technically there is no medical or scientific definition for low-carb.

    For example, the American Diabetes Association considers "low-carb" under 45% intake of calories from carbohydrate ... which is most-certainly NOT low carb (but that's what they base their 'low-carb doesn't work for diabetes' evidence on.)

    Atkins 'low-carb' uses an induction phase, which is around 20g of carbohydrate a day, followed by a 25-45g phase and a 50-70g phase.

    Most people who are diabetic or insulin-resistant for any other reason have under 100g.

    Those who opt for a more-strict ketogenic approach usually start with 20-30g a day and level off at between 5 and 10% of calories once keto-adaptation is achieved, with a minumum of 65% of calories from fat.
  • jenns1964
    jenns1964 Posts: 384 Member
    I did low carb (South Beach) when I started in December. I stayed in phase 1 for more than a month because I felt so good doing it. Once I started adding healthy whole grain carbs and fruit back into my diet I found it easy to lose weight. I don't eat too many white carbs and can do without sweets. If it works for you... do it and don't worry about other people!! You are the one living in your body and know what it needs.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    good luck but that has never worked for me...mainly because if u dont do low carb basically forever you will gain back the weight FAST...

    That is not true... That is nothing to do with low carb... That is the same reason why every diet fails... People lose commitment and focus and fall back into bad habits and that's why they put on weight. Low carb is a very effective way to lose fat and there is no reason why it can't be sustainable in the long run providing you remain committed, which is what is required for any healthy diet and lifestyle.

    ^^^Amen to this.^^^ The only way that you would gain weight faster after going off of a lower carb regimen is if you lost more muscle mass on that type of diet (as opposed to a conventional low calorie or low fat diet) and the jury is still out on that one.


    What has been really helpful to me OP is using whey protein for one meal a day (usually dinner). I fix dinner for my husband and he can have whatever he wants (he loves high carb stuff like ravioli or spaghetti for dinner, which is a no-no for me on my plan) and I get a yummy shake that keeps me going till bedtime.

    My favorite is two scoops of (stevia-sweetened) whey protein, 4 oz. of fresh organic strawberries, 1/4 cup of organic full-fat yogurt, 1/3 cup of a cup of avocado (or sometimes organic raw baby spinach and coconut oil) and a cup of water. If you decide to go that route, you should get the best whey protein you can find. I use one that comes from New Zealand and it contains other good-for-you substances. Plus, they test regularly for noxious substances. Most of the best ones now are stevia-sweetened (an herb). I don't particularly care for the taste of stevia but when you get all the other stuff in there, you don't notice. Good luck! :smile:
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    I did low carb (South Beach) when I started in December. I stayed in phase 1 for more than a month because I felt so good doing it. Once I started adding healthy whole grain carbs and fruit back into my diet I found it easy to lose weight. I don't eat too many white carbs and can do without sweets. If it works for you... do it and don't worry about other people!! You are the one living in your body and know what it needs.

    ^^^^THIS^^^^

    I will probably never go back to eating much grain because, other than rice or steel-cut oats, it doesn't appear to agree with me. My arthritis has been amazingly better since I cut out gluten (I cut out wheat first and now I've cut out rye as well). Even though I only ate one piece of rye bread a day (at the most) I can totally tell the difference since I cut that out as well--must be the gluten as my chronic digestive problems have gone away as well. Not everyone needs to do that though.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Hi I'm also looking for some buddies on here, I have about 30lb to loose and am doing reduced carbs, its worked for me so far and I've lost about 25lb. Only just really got into using myfitness pal a couple of weeks ago. I registered a couple of years ago but it wasn't as user friendly then. I set myself quite a low calorie level and bump it up with exercise, this makes me do more so I can eat more.

    Have you set your macros to losing 1/2 pound per week? That is usually what they advise here for being within ten pounds of your goal weight.
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    I am getting to suggest something a little different - not low carb but lower carb...

    By this I mean about 100g or so on non training days. This will be enough to keep liver glycogen topped up (for both men and women as the storage capacity is roughly the same) which effects stuff like CNS and brain function.

    This gives you wiggle room for maybe a few sweet treats you make like but will help you focus on keeping the amount of fresh veg high in your diet and helps with cravings.

    On training days then add in about 30 - 50g more carbs if you are involved in high intensity training (like weights or HIIT) or long endurance work. Calories will rise therefore.

    I don't see much compelling reason to drop below this unless you have a specific medical reason and you won't experience the downsides of keto diets (such as the transition period which I understand can be horrendous.)

    Good luck whatever you do!
  • The grill, crock pot and pressure cooker are my favorite tools in the kitchen.

    My nutritional regime is constantly getting tweaked. However I feel better on a Lower Carb (definitely under 175 usually less- mostly higher fiber, nutrient dense fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, some beans and grains) . My protein macro is 100+g of Protein a day. usually strive for 1g/lb of lean body mass.

    Very Low Carb (VLC)/Keto can work for many people. I loved its ability to help break my sweet tooth and go back to it occasionally for 3 weeks to help balance out.

    Pay attention to your body's signals. In doing that you will find the magic ratio of what will work for you. Just do your research as the are many resources out there. Find what resonates with you and go from there.
  • KatLifter
    KatLifter Posts: 1,314 Member
    DO NOT GO LOW CARB...ABSOLUTELY THE WORST WAY THE MOST UNHEALTHY WAY AND THE WAY THAT NEVER WORKS OR HAS! I WILL GUIDE YOU...CONTACT ME!!!
    KRISTIAN ROCCO GOOD TIMEEZZZ

    Yes, pizza beer and wine is MUCH healthier..
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    DO NOT GO LOW CARB...ABSOLUTELY THE WORST WAY THE MOST UNHEALTHY WAY AND THE WAY THAT NEVER WORKS OR HAS! I WILL GUIDE YOU...CONTACT ME!!!
    KRISTIAN ROCCO GOOD TIMEEZZZ
    Please ignore everything this spammer says.
    low carb sometimes can take twice the time and effort.

    Sounds like a good reason not to do low carb to me.

    Life's too short to make eating twice as hard as it needs to be.
    Well, when a person is insulin-resistant it's worth the effort. Honestly, I've been low-carb (to ketogenic levels) for 2 and a half years and don't find it takes any more time or effort than any other style of healthy eating.

    It takes more time and effort than pulling through McDonald's 3x a day, sure, but if you're insulin-resistant and need to watch your carbohydrate intake then you do what you need to.

    That being said though, you could still eat low-carb and eat fast-food multiple times a day if you want... Burgers without buns, salads without croutons and full-fat dressings and cheese, (extra full-fat dressing), subway turned into a salad instead of in a bun, get a few cheap tacos and throw it in a bowl without the tortilla, etc... Tom Naughton did exactly that in his documentary "Fat Head", eating nothing but fast-food and staying well under 100g of carbohydrate a day, losing weight and improving his health tremendously.

    There just doesn't need to be THAT much effort put into eating low-carb once you realize all the possibilities.

    I would agree totally with what albertabeefy has said. Once you get into the swing of things, it isn't difficult. And it helps you to avoid trouble. I already know what I'm not going to eat before I go to a party, etc. instead of having to obsess over " is that 1/2 cup or 1/3 of a cup---wah!...where's my food scale?!" I just eat a normal portion of salad, seafood, meat, vegetables, etc. and skip the cake or pie. I then just nurse a cup of decaf or tea while they're stuffing their faces full of dessert. :wink: Simple, easy...
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Wait, is low carb under 100g a day? Will that help at all? Curious.

    I average slightly less than 100 grams of carb a day (more on my heavier exercise days, less on my rest days) and I am doing just fine. Losing about a pound a week. I would call what I do "lower carb" and I do not eat gluten or sugar. Get pretty much all of my carbs from vegetables and a bit of rice or steel cut oats and some from fruit. Works for me (and believe me, I have tried every diet there is). But, some people prefer keto as they need the appetite suppression it gives. My plan gives what I would call "appetite control" but not suppression.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    I average slightly less than 100 grams of carb a day (more on my heavier exercise days, less on my rest days) and I am doing just fine. Losing about a pound a week. I would call what I do "lower carb" and I do not eat gluten or sugar. Get pretty much all of my carbs from vegetables and a bit of rice or steel cut oats and some from fruit. Works for me (and believe me, I have tried every diet there is). But, some people prefer keto as they need the appetite suppression it gives. My plan gives what I would call "appetite control" but not suppression.
    See, and this is the nice thing about "low-carb" ... people CAN be low-carb without being ketogenic, and still reap the benefits.

    Some of us need the ketogenic ratio not just for appetite suppression - as mulberry mentioned - but also for glycemic control. Not everybody does.

    You CAN go low-carb without being ketogenic. Heck, if you simply cut out refined carbs (flours and sugars) you'll more than likely be under 150g a day (unless you eat a ton of starchy veggies and high calorie fruits), which many consider 'low-carb'.

    The idea that low-carb is "dangerous" or causes "ketoacidosis" or is "too low to fuel your brain", etc., is all nonsense. People can be as low-carb as they want or need to be with no issues.
  • kdarcy66
    kdarcy66 Posts: 2
    Hey-

    I am trying to keep my carbs at a reasonble level-blood sugar a little high. I have found a lot of Trader Joe frozen or refrigerated meals that are low carb and can heat up in crock pot. I bought a mini crock pot for work-it"s been working great.

    Now if I could only control myself in the evening! Work in progress.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    so is 150g low carb? or do i need to cut even more? I did carb nite solution and hated the 30g a day lol but I think i can go a little lower
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    so is 150g low carb?
    ... that depends on your opinion of 'low carb' ... It's lower than normal intake for most people, but it's certainly not going to get you into ketosis or become keto-adapted...
    or do i need to cut even more?
    That depends on your metabolic condition... do you have a metabolic reason to go lower carb, ie: a diagnosis of diabetes, insulin-resistance from pre-diabetes, metabolic-syndrome, PCOS, Hashimoto's thyroiditis or are you what's considered 'morbidly obese'?

    If you don't fall under any of those criteria, you don't necessarily need to go lower carb.

    If you have trouble with hunger cravings while eating higher carb, but sufficient calories, that may indicate an undiagnosed issue with carbohydrate metabolism and it might be wise to cut back to see if it reduces cravings...
    I did carb nite solution and hated the 30g a day lol but I think i can go a little lower
    Again, unless you have a real medical reason to do so, not everybody needs low-carb. Certainly most of us benefit from reducing our intake of refined-carbohydrate and replacing some of it with more nutritious sources such as non-starchy fresh veggies and some fruit, but without a metabolic or other medical reason to do so, it's not really necessary to be low-carb for weight-loss.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    so is 150g low carb?
    ... that depends on your opinion of 'low carb' ... It's lower than normal intake for most people, but it's certainly not going to get you into ketosis or become keto-adapted...
    or do i need to cut even more?
    That depends on your metabolic condition... do you have a metabolic reason to go lower carb, ie: a diagnosis of diabetes, insulin-resistance from pre-diabetes, metabolic-syndrome, PCOS, Hashimoto's thyroiditis or are you what's considered 'morbidly obese'?

    If you don't fall under any of those criteria, you don't necessarily need to go lower carb.

    If you have trouble with hunger cravings while eating higher carb, but sufficient calories, that may indicate an undiagnosed issue with carbohydrate metabolism and it might be wise to cut back to see if it reduces cravings...
    I did carb nite solution and hated the 30g a day lol but I think i can go a little lower
    Again, unless you have a real medical reason to do so, not everybody needs low-carb. Certainly most of us benefit from reducing our intake of refined-carbohydrate and replacing some of it with more nutritious sources such as non-starchy fresh veggies and some fruit, but without a metabolic or other medical reason to do so, it's not really necessary to be low-carb for weight-loss.

    Thank you for that input....there is a medical reason why my body doesn't do carbs like everyone else's. But it's more hormonal. Low carb is the only thing that seems to work for me, I just didn't want to be fooling myself in thinking that 150g was low carb when it isn't. I will stick to this plan of action then, and see where I'm at in 6 months.
  • CallieM15
    CallieM15 Posts: 910 Member
    DO NOT GO LOW CARB...ABSOLUTELY THE WORST WAY THE MOST UNHEALTHY WAY AND THE WAY THAT NEVER WORKS OR HAS! I WILL GUIDE YOU...CONTACT ME!!!
    KRISTIAN ROCCO GOOD TIMEEZZZ


    .... some times... some people.... gah.


    Lowcarb can work. Eating all carbs in sight after wont work. Feel free to add me. If you think about olden day people, majority of thier diet was veggies and meat. Potatoes/whole grains/Corn/ Carrots are good carbs. But your body really doesnt need the pasta, candy, sugar, and obvious crap carbs.
  • missmegan831
    missmegan831 Posts: 824 Member
    good luck but that has never worked for me...mainly because if u dont do low carb basically forever you will gain back the weight FAST...

    That is not true... That is nothing to do with low carb... That is the same reason why every diet fails... People lose commitment and focus and fall back into bad habits and that's why they put on weight. Low carb is a very effective way to lose fat and there is no reason why it can't be sustainable in the long run providing you remain committed, which is what is required for any healthy diet and lifestyle.

    HIGH 5'S TO THIS GUY ^^ :happy: :happy: :happy: :happy: :happy:
  • rosemaryhon
    rosemaryhon Posts: 507 Member
    Amen!! :happy:

    That is not true... That is nothing to do with low carb... That is the same reason why every diet fails... People lose commitment and focus and fall back into bad habits and that's why they put on weight. Low carb is a very effective way to lose fat and there is no reason why it can't be sustainable in the long run providing you remain committed, which is what is required for any healthy diet and lifestyle.
    [/quote]es


    Right ~ I'm determined to never go back to the super high carb diet I'd eaten for decades. I don't intend to do NO carb, but LOW, yes, I hope to make this my forever lifestyle. It works for *me*, but I wouldn't insist it does for *all*.
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    Another book: The Smarter Science of Slim, or if you want the info for free, try the website: thesmarterscienceofslim.com or listen to the podcasts on iTunes or youtube.com. LowER carb, but only advocates giving up starches, not carbs.
  • Kimdbro
    Kimdbro Posts: 922 Member
    good luck but that has never worked for me...mainly because if u dont do low carb basically forever you will gain back the weight FAST...

    That is not true... That is nothing to do with low carb... That is the same reason why every diet fails... People lose commitment and focus and fall back into bad habits and that's why they put on weight. Low carb is a very effective way to lose fat and there is no reason why it can't be sustainable in the long run providing you remain committed, which is what is required for any healthy diet and lifestyle.

    I can effectively say that I am a walking proof that weight comes back if you don't look at fitness and eating right as a lifestyle rather than just a journey to a goal. Bad habits do return, so whatever it is you use to lose the weight, make sure you have a maintenance plan that includes a lifestyle that you can maintain. As far as the low carb part... totally can be sustained, and that doesn't mean you can't ever have a slice of bread or tasty pastry now and then, just making smarter decisions on the whole. And I can't stress enough how important it is to keep at exercise rather than stopping at your goal. I also need to lose 50 - 80lb depending how I feel at each goal (Again and this time I have a whole different outlook) add me if you wish. best of luck.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    DO NOT GO LOW CARB...ABSOLUTELY THE WORST WAY THE MOST UNHEALTHY WAY AND THE WAY THAT NEVER WORKS OR HAS! I WILL GUIDE YOU...CONTACT ME!!!
    KRISTIAN ROCCO GOOD TIMEEZZZ


    .... some times... some people.... gah.


    Lowcarb can work. Eating all carbs in sight after wont work. Feel free to add me. If you think about olden day people, majority of thier diet was veggies and meat. Potatoes/whole grains/Corn/ Carrots are good carbs. But your body really doesnt need the pasta, candy, sugar, and obvious crap carbs.

    ^^^This^^^ Our ancestors did not eat much sugar (it was pretty expensive until modern times). In 1900, the average person ate 1 pound of sugar per year, now the per capita consumption has been estimated at 150 pounds a year! Our total calories have increased since 1900 but the amount of fat has remained about the same and the amount of meat has actually gone down a bit. Guess what is responsible for the increase in calories---sugar and simple carbohydrates. Since the vast increase in "convenience foods" in the last several decades (almost all of which contain obvious or "hidden" sugars), our national waistline has expanded as never before.:frown:
  • CaptainHNNNGGG
    CaptainHNNNGGG Posts: 205 Member
    I'm cutting with 495 carbs a day. You jelly?
  • Dianafrance8
    Dianafrance8 Posts: 126 Member
    Low carb Really works for a sugar addict like me.

    For me that means mostly great vegetables, berries, healthy proteins and some good fats like avocados, raw nuts and olive oil. Little by little I try and create cleaner, less processed meals and really like watching my sodium (so bacon is very minimal for me)

    I have lots of quick, easy prepare ahead meal ideas. Use Lots of products that are already pre measured and pre packed like string cheese, hard boiled eggs, tuna pouches, turkey burger patties (awesome from Trader Joes), snack bags of nuts. There are some great 3 net carb tortillas by La Tortilla (50 cals), 5 net carb breads(45 cals) too.

    Other items I just weight and bag up for the week so it's quick to grab. (Get a scale@$10 at Walmart .)
    I like to bake a tray of tilapia,and a crock pot of chicken each weekend to bag up in 4 ounce portions for the week.

    I make my own salad dressing for the week and put them in containers.
    "Honey" mustard (1T. Apple cider vinegar , 1 t. Mustard, 1 pkg. Stevia-30 calories, no carbs)
    Sweet and sour(1T. Apple cider vinaigrette, 2/3 T. Olive oil, 1 pkg. Stevia-60 calories, no carbs)
    I can take my dressing in my purse to any restaurant to top a grilled chicken salad, so I'm always "safe" eating out too.

    I could go on and on. Just want to encourage you on your journey. Try to not let other people discourage your efforts, I'm sure they mean well, but clearly different things work for different people.

    Blessings,
    Diana
  • dmjansen
    dmjansen Posts: 1 Member
    What do you find most effective to eat on carb nite.. Tomorrow will be my second one
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    What do you find most effective to eat on carb nite.. Tomorrow will be my second one

    I often will eat mashed potatoes the night before a workout. Recharges the glycogen about as well as anything I expect.
  • simonkurth
    simonkurth Posts: 395 Member
    good luck but that has never worked for me...mainly because if u dont do low carb basically forever you will gain back the weight FAST...

    That is not true... That is nothing to do with low carb... That is the same reason why every diet fails... People lose commitment and focus and fall back into bad habits and that's why they put on weight. Low carb is a very effective way to lose fat and there is no reason why it can't be sustainable in the long run providing you remain committed, which is what is required for any healthy diet and lifestyle.

    I agree with the above statement. Low carb really means eating in a way our bodies are designed for. Our ancestors were never exposed to the insane amount of refined sugar that is present in modern day diets. Will you put on weight if you go back to eating too much sugar? Absolutely, a balanced long term sustainable approach is to never over do refined sugar. Natural sugar found in berries and citrus is so beneficial, but the white refined sugar should be used sparingly.

    I don't miss it at all, and this is my new lifestyle not a diet.
  • simonkurth
    simonkurth Posts: 395 Member
    Another book: The Smarter Science of Slim, or if you want the info for free, try the website: thesmarterscienceofslim.com or listen to the podcasts on iTunes or youtube.com. LowER carb, but only advocates giving up starches, not carbs.

    Great podcast, it has helped me so much
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    enjoy staying fat....low carb is bad news..let me know how gaining weight feels!:)

    I have been eating lower carb for three years and have not gained an ounce in all that time (and have lost a lot of weight, as you can see). When I followed a strictly low-calorie format, I was constantly frustrated, hungry and exhausted.
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    good luck but that has never worked for me...mainly because if u dont do low carb basically forever you will gain back the weight FAST...

    That is not true... That is nothing to do with low carb... That is the same reason why every diet fails... People lose commitment and focus and fall back into bad habits and that's why they put on weight. Low carb is a very effective way to lose fat and there is no reason why it can't be sustainable in the long run providing you remain committed, which is what is required for any healthy diet and lifestyle.

    I agree with the above statement. Low carb really means eating in a way our bodies are designed for. Our ancestors were never exposed to the insane amount of refined sugar that is present in modern day diets. Will you put on weight if you go back to eating too much sugar? Absolutely, a balanced long term sustainable approach is to never over do refined sugar. Natural sugar found in berries and citrus is so beneficial, but the white refined sugar should be used sparingly.

    I don't miss it at all, and this is my new lifestyle not a diet.

    I so agree. I have not eaten any sugary foods for three years and I never miss it. I am so much healthier for optimizing my diet.