Going low carb! Who is with me?

look into the program iifym.com it really helps figure out great numbers that work for you... not cookie cutter numbers

It differs from person to person. MFP's defaults set carbs way too high and protein way too low. This link has been posted which is an online calculator to work out your macro targets

http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

Just plug in some numbers and you'll have some better figures to work with. Remember, it's just an online estimate obtained via a couple of algorithms and the info you provide. You can always tweak a bit from there to suit you better.

How many Carbs is considered Low Carb! I am 5'2 and wonder how much I should have MFP sets me at 165 per day?!!

There's a reason why people were much skinnier before the 50's. When the American government started advising a low-fat over low-carb diet, the average weight of Americans drastically increased.

Eating fat in a diet doesn't make one fat. Eating carbs, which digest quickly and get stored in fat cells because the energy isn't quickly burned off does.

Need a boost of quick energy for an intense workout, run, or sporting event? Have a plate of wheat pasta. No need for significant amount of carbs otherwise.

I won't go low-carb with you simply given the fact that the good fruits and veggies we need fall under carbs. I will, however, promise to go low processed carbs :-)

I've been doing it 3 months. I'm in. I eat less than 50 grams a day and make sure to work out 45 to 60 minutes a day 5 or 6 times a week. I'm a meat eater and this way of life is great for me. Sometimes my fitness pal will make ya cringe though at the calories, LOL! Ignore them!

My doctor suggested under 100 and he also suggested one of the newer ideas such as paleo or primal. There is also a Paleo group on here that is very helpful. I was going to drop my carbs this week but my menu isn't suitable. Not enough money to do over either. Best of luck to you.

another thing you can supplement with is the pre-made shakes. I prefer E,A,S, Advantedge shakes. they taste the best and I keep them in the refrig for those times when I don't HAVE time. The string cheese is another goodie and my best all-time bread saver for low carb is at Walmart in their deli dept. JOSEPHS flax and oat bran lavash bread wraps. Entire sheet is oly 100 cals and a serving is 50 or half of the sheet. I even cut those in half for a quick sammie. I use these as lasagna noodles and as tortillas, and I cut them in bite size pieces spray with olive oil and come celery salt and I toast them on both sides in the oven. Makes a wonderful treat for the movies OR to use as a crunchy in your soups or salads OR just to crunch when you need a crunchy thing. Good luck--I found the first month kinda slow with the low carbs--BUT now I am to the point I use good carbs and NO bad carbs. I pre-think everything I eat. I don't even use brown rice. I use cauliflower rice, and put it under spaghetti as well.

Almost all meat have 0 carbs: Chicken, fish, shrimp, runs, brisket, steak, sausage, bacon,tuna, pork, beef, & even most lunch meats are low in carb.
Gouda cheese slices are good for protein and low carb--melts easy too

Quest protein bars are Yummy

salad--- taco salad, dinner salad, chicken, fajita salad,
eggs--deviled eggs, or cooked any way. I fix at times over easy eggs in the place of potatoes for dinner at night.

Beans---They do have carbs in them but they also hv protein. I fix refried beans a lot at dinner time.

Green beans--- onion powder, garlic,, real bacon bits-- I cook on low the whole tIm Im cooking dinner. I now love green beans cooking them this way.

lots of veggies are low carbs except corn

ranch dressing in moderation---it is high calorie though. lots of other good dressings that are carb friendly

cheese--processed cheese is higher in carbs I would stay away from this. Sliced gouda cheese is very good. Protein plus It melts easy.

A good snack is cheese sticks--- weight watchers has some good ones.

beef stick, jerky for snack. Turkey bits, peanuts and almonds portioned out

fat free cream cheese is low in carbs

Yogurt: Danon light & fit Greek yogurt is a good protein source n good snack.

Sugar free popsicles hv 4 carbs and are 15 calories. Its a good snack to me.

flatout bread (light) 16 carb, 9 fiber=7 net carbs, 9 protein,
Josephs heart healthy pita bread 10 carbs, 5 fiber=5 net carbs, 7 protein and josephs flax oat bran and whole wheat lavish bread 7 carbs, 3 fiber=4 net carbs, 5 protein.
All of these are very good. Excellent to make your lunch. Roll your meat, cheese, spinach leaf or lettuce whatever you put in it. You can fix eggs, sausage, onions, ham, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, salsa and roll up and eat.
I toast the pita bread by spraying Pam in a skillet and toast on each side. You can make tostados or fold in half and make tacos and Hot sandwiches

Hamburger meat is high in fat but learning to eat like this you need some fat.
Turkey burgers

Pork rinds---0 carbs. Good snack and awesome to use to bread meat!!!! I make your parmesan chicken breading with pork rinds
Grind pork rinds up--- add seasoning such as Italian, onion powder, garlic powder, Greek , poultry seasoning, ect
Yummy

For quick easy ideas there is frozen chicken and beef fajita meat add your healthy veggies that you want-- low carb ones.

Kochs oven cravers pepper jack, swiss and bacon chicken--- found in the freezer section

Protein pancakes are AWESOME! feels like you're cheating lol

2 oz fat free cream cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon

Mix well, spray Pam in pan and pour in hot skillet cook.
208 calories
6.6 carbs
20 protein

Topping ideas:
Cinnamon
sugar free cool whip
Spray butter has zero carbs ( i can't believe its not butter)
Roll meat in them and eatem
I bet spreading yogurt on them would be good
cottage cheese



There are lots of crockpot recipes out there.Here is one

4 frozen chicken beast-- place in crockpot after spraying with pam
Mix:. 1 pkg dry ranch mix
1pkg taco seasoning
1 jar of salsa
1 can rotel (optional)
Cheese---I have used weight watchers shredded or velveeta

pour over chicken and cook 4-6 hours. Shred chicken with fork then add some cheese cook until cheese is melted.
Great by itself or on tacos, salad, tostados---eating on Joseph's pita bread














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For those who asked, anything under 130g is considered low carb and under 50g is considered a very low carb ketogenic diet.

Low-carb ketogenic diet (LCKD): less than 50g carbs and 10% calories daily
Low-carb diet (LCD): 50-130g carbs daily and between 10-26% of calories
Moderate-carb diet (MCD): 130-225g carbs daily and between 26-45% of calories

http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/what-is-a-low-carb-diet-researchers-have-now-defined-it/6648