Any fellow carb counters?

usnwifey
usnwifey Posts: 8 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey guys..to tell you about me, I am 30/5'6"/had 3 kids all csection in 2008/2009/2013.

Just to track my weight history some

As a child/teen/early 20's I stayed small'ish. When I was 20 I was about 120lbs. By age 23 I was about 175 then got a divorce and dropped weight like crazy from working 2 jobs,I got to about 125.

Then I met my husband and we found out we were pregnant, I was 136 at my first dr visit and 163 at 9 months and 2 days past due. I lost the weight fast even though I went from working 2 jobs to being a stay at homework at home mom. When our oldest was 9 months we found out I was pregnant with our daughter.

(kid2) I was 128 at my first dr. visit and 156 at 9 months pregnant. She suffered from a rare genetic disease and passed at 3 months old so I couldn't have careless about my weight. We then moved (military) away from the hometown I had known for 27 years of my life. No friends, with anxiety I no longer drove.

(kid3)Then I got pregnant with our youngest and was 158 at the first dr visit and got to 190 at 9 months pregnant (he was almost 10 lbs).

I work from home 60 hours a week and am a work at home mommy of 2 boys and military wife/plus go to college online full time (4 classes in a 8 week period yikes!). So I do not exercise much but do yoga!

I started using the MFP tracker to calorie count, tried 1200 didn't lose, tried 1100 nothing. Was told to UP my calories and watch sodium/more water (I already drink about 120oz a day), still nothing. THEN I started carb counting and started to FINALLY LOSE!!!I was overjoyed!

I also watch sodium and calories but with carb counting the calories are not an issue I have found out. I eat 20-30 total carbs a day..not net..total. BUT the issue I am having is not enough CALORIES! I end up eating 20 carbs but eat about 250-350 calories a day...

Any suggestions from fellow carb counters??? Would love motivation also! I have lost about 19 lbs so far and am around 154-156 depending on the day. I want to get back to 125-130 again!

Replies

  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    I also watch sodium and calories but with carb counting the calories are not an issue I have found out. I eat 20-30 total carbs a day..not net..total. BUT the issue I am having is not enough CALORIES! I end up eating 20 carbs but eat about 250-350 carbs a day...
    What? you eat 20-30 total carbs a day but you eat 250-350 whats per day?


    I've got about 18 more pounds to go, and I'm a fellow carb counter/watcher as well. But only because carbs are my only weakness. If there is a bag of potato chips around, or snack mix, instant, ready to eat, just grab a handful carbs to eat, I'll do this:

    carbs_zpsf2311947.jpg
  • usnwifey
    usnwifey Posts: 8 Member
    HAHAH CUTE POST!!! When I eat 20-30 carbs I only end up eating about 250-350 calories...haha sorry was focused on carbs hahaha!
  • kmash32
    kmash32 Posts: 275 Member
    I too am a fellow carb counter. I have had weight issues all my life and just recently joined MFP. I have PCOS so in order to loose weight I really need to watch my carbs and calories. I love carbs so it is definately a challenge.

    On a good day I allow myself one piece of toast with breakfast and then I have a serving of either brown rice or whole wheat pasta for lunch and I try not to have any carbs for dinner, and if I do allow myself carbs for dinner I make sure I am going to be eating my dinner 3 hours before bed.

    My carb in take is usually around 100 a day and my calorie in take is 1200 to 1300. So far it is working for me I have lost 10 pounds in my first 3 weeks.
  • Terree_G
    Terree_G Posts: 69 Member
    I don't know how you can even be alive and posting here if you eat only 350 calories a day.
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    Total for the day??
  • kcaffee1
    kcaffee1 Posts: 759 Member
    From sugar fiend to carb restriction for me. Like the previous poster, the carb crunch came mostly due to medical issues (Type II diabetes in my case). I can fully sympathize about having trouble meeting calorie goals on some days.

    If you are looking to boost your calorie counts, try the following:

    Full fat dairy
    Or if you are trying to stay away from the carbs that hide in dairy, go with the alternative "milks" like soy milk or almond milk. Some have a nice nutrition spectrum, you will just have to watch the lables and make sure it will fit your chosen menu.

    Full fat EVERYTHING - meats (red, white, fish), salad dressings
    Good fat veggies - avocados and I'm sure there's a ton more I just haven't learned about yet
    Nuts - not the salted kind, but the ones you use to "cook" with. They may just become a best friend!
    Change your recipes using flour to using almond an/or nut flours instead. (Still have some carb, but a bunch lower than in wheat flours!)

    Cut out the soda if you are watching carbs - the sugars will sabotage your carb counts. If you HAVE to have sodas (And, this is another addiction I can say I'm still in recovery from) then try the carbonated, flavored waters. There are several delicious ones out there, I'm sure you can find one or two that will suit your taste.

    Real peanut butter and/or other nut butters are both nutrient dense and calorie dense, so you won't be trying to stuff yourself just to meet calorie goals.

    Cheese - lots of cheese!

    Protein powders - if you'll hunt through Walmart, there are several decent brands of protein powders that have a low carb count and a nice high protein count along with a smallish calorie count for those times you need something RIGHT now, but don't want to use a ton of calories for it.

    I know that the general consensus is that protein keeps you full longer, but from personal experience, protein alone doesn't "stick" with me between meals. But, if you'll mix proteins and fats with a LITTLE carb, then it will stay with you a nice, long time. Potentially even through workouts.

    And just to give a little perspective on what I eat (besides having an open diary), I have my macros set at 15/40/45 (carbs/protein/fat) and am limiting my daily carbs to around 120 g or less per day.

    Hope this helps.
  • Raybug0903
    Raybug0903 Posts: 86 Member
    Congrats on your weight loss so far. That is remarkable. I have recently started carb counting again because I find that is the only thing that really works for me. I love carbs just as much as the next person, but if I work on avoiding sweets (my weakness) altogether I can usually curb those intense cravings within a week or two. I am doing my macros at 20% carbs, 30% protein, and 50% fat. This is something I have been experimenting with so we will see how it turns out and I will adjust accordingly. This puts me at about 80 net carbs per day. I would like to eventually get lower but will adjust that too when my weight loss stalls. Best of luck to you! Feel free to add me.

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