why do ppl do low carb for weight loss?
Replies
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They think it's a quick way to lose weight, when really, as soon as you touch carbs again, you will probably blow up like a balloon
True; but the same with any diet - as soon as you revert to your old ways, the weight piles on with a vengeance. Low fat/low calorie is no exception.
I guess what I meant to say is there is no longevity in a low carb diet.
There's a 95% failure rate for long term weight loss success, regardless of what plan you follow. Only 5% of us will actually keep the weight off for more than five years-regardless if we follow a lower carb or lower calorie diet for weight loss and maintenance. I don't do a low carb plan (I don't really track anything), but low carb is no better or worse than a low calorie diet and for some people it does work better for them, and they can do it long term.
A great book to read, for more info on the studies that have been done, is Rethinking Thin, By Gina Kolata. One of the best books I've read about the realities of dieting/losing weight.0 -
Because, when based on unprocessed foods, it works, is biologically appropriate, and healthy. Many people find a way to lose weight while eating tons of starches and sugars, others cannot. Hormones play a huge role in fat gain, retention and loss and metabolic syndrome is treated best by lowering carbs and increasing fat. MFP recommendations of around 300 gram of carbs and 50 grams of fat is ridiculous imo. But if it works for you, great. Just because you love rice, or whatever, don't assume those of us who don't eat it are depriving ourselves. I hate rice and I hate how wheat makes me feel. Eating ribeye steaks, mushrooms fried in butter, and a salad with homemade dressing isn't my idea of being being deprived. I love it.
What about health? Or is weight loss the only way you measure your progress? Speaking from experience, when one gets super healthy, weight loss is quite effortless.0 -
Not sure. Wondered this myself. I love carbs. All of them. Plus, when I tried out Atkins (back-in-the-day) I was so lethargic and yucky feeling that I couldn't stick to it for long. I find it easier to watch my caloric intake and be active. It works better for me!
This is a well known phenomenon known as "carb flu" or "induction flu". While your body is becoming fat-adapted you may not feel as good for a week or two, but if you stick it out you will feel a-m-a-z-i-n-g after that. Also for those doing induction you need to make sure to eat plenty of sodium (3-5 g/day), that will help prevent a lot of the yucky feelings. A couple of cups of salty broth added to your food intake would have done wonders.
Most of my adult life I've tried to avoid salt because I retain water SO easily. eat out gain 10 pounds by morning. no kidding. but I've been trying to make a point of adding reduced sodium salt to stuff for the potassium and iodine.
Have you looked into the amount of potassium you can get from natural foods without having to resort to eating salty stuff? I did this recently and was pretty surprised. The daily recommended for most people is about 3500mg/ day and you can get 925mg from a baked potato with skin on, 425mg from a banana, 290mg from a tomato, etc. I also have water retention and sodium issues and I was really excited to realize that I do not need to eat a ton of salty stuff in order to get plenty of potassium.
http://www.drugs.com/cg/potassium-content-of-foods-list.html
Many people who are on low carb are there because all of those things you mentioned spike insulin levels. We can't eat potatoes and bananas without adverse effects. Tomatoes are ok for some people and others can't do those either. While in theory yes all of those things are healthy, for people who have to watch insulin levels and blood sugar they are terrible!0 -
What works for some doesn't necessarily work for others. So to each their own
I eat 213 g of carbs a day. Yes you read that right! I could never sustain my marathon training or strength routine low carb. The fat has still melted off. Not a chance in hell I'd give up my oats, Ezekiel bread, sweet potatoes, or bananas. Love me some carby goodness.0 -
I don't eat low carb, but I do try to balance breads; grains.
When I was pregnant with my now 6 year old, I seemed to not tolerate cakes/cookies--baked goods. Still kind of the same thing. I also find that if I have cereal or toast for breakfast, I get hungry later to the point where I am shaking. I tend to have eggs for breakfast.
I often pass on the cookies/cupcakes that students bring in for their birthdays (kids from other classes come in and offer). if I do take one, I'll give to my own child. If I eat it, I get sluggish and a stomach ache. I typically pass on birthday cakes, too.
I eat fruit and vegetables...I don't limit any of those.0 -
Low carb diets work because they force one to give up or severely limit things that many people love to snack and binge on. Sugars, chips, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. This is also why low carb diets have a statistically poor long term record. So before starting, you should ask yourself if you are prepared to limit or give these things up permanently. If not, you stand a good chance of become one of the statistics that gain all the weight back.
Every diet has a statistically poor long term record.
Every. Single. One.
Before starting any attempt at losing weight you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to eat that way indefinitely.
Low carb diets are not special in this regard0 -
Low carb (e.g. under 50g carbs/day) is a huge deviation from standard eating habits. However, being aware of and reducing carb intake is a very easy way to reduce caloric intake.0
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I have Type 2 Diabetes and no matter how much the American Diabetes Association tells me it's good for me to eat 100s of grams of carbs every day as long as they are "good" carbs, it's not true. My body does not process carbs well at all. In fact, if I eat too many salads during the week, my fasting blood sugars begin to rise. I have to monitor even healthy carbs from vegetables in order to keep my blood sugar within normal ranges. I keep my carbs under 50 most days and my recent labwork tells me that my body is happy and healthy that way.
Everyone is different and not everyone needs a low carb diet. But for those of us that do, we really wish people would understand that everyone needs to eat what is right for their body and not just label it as a "fad" or "unhealthy." Thanks for asking a non-judgmental question instead of just criticizing something you didn't understand.
+1
I also had to adopt a low-carb lifestyle due to being diagnosed with diabetes and then Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The misconceptions surrounding LCHF are astounding.
"it's only water weight" I suppose I was a water balloon, instead of being fat?
"it's not sustainable" Since diabetes isn't curable, only controllable, I'll be eating this way for the rest of my life.
"you gain it all back as soon as you start eating normally" I suppose this is true. However, I'd gain it all back regardless of how I lost it if I went back to eating what was "normal" for me before.
it's not healthy" My lipid panel begs to differ.
"you won't have any energy" BS. I have no trouble with energy following LCHF - Zumba 4-5 days per week, strength training 3 days per week, 1-2 miles on the elliptical most days, walking/jogging 2-5 miles with the dog most days, swimming whenever the weather permits and frequent spins of the stationary bike. In fact, I have much more energy than I've had for a long, long time. I can't recall the last time I took a nap now that my blood sugar is stable and I no longer experience spikes and reactive hypoglycemia. The dreaded 'carb flu" is also individual. I never experienced it.
Thank you!! All of this is true! My blood sugar, blood glucose, and insulin levels are already ridiculously better after only 1 month of being on the diet! My blood pressure, though never considered high, is even lower!0 -
Different strokes for different folks. I could never do it myself but everyone is different!0
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Because a lot of people don't understand there is a difference between processed carbs (= sugar) and natural carbs (fiber, and a combo of complex and simple sugars).
One should not be concerned at all with carbs from fruits and veggies. In whole grains, I need to look out for calories, but still fine. Our body needs those type of carbs. But today, most people's caloric intake comes from highly processed carbs like bread, pastas, cereals, snacks... That is why cutting down on carbs helps. But it is too simplistic to just say "low carb is good". We should not cut down on good carbs.0 -
Because a lot of people don't understand there is a difference between processed carbs (= sugar) and natural carbs (fiber, and a combo of complex and simple sugars).
One should not be concerned at all with carbs from fruits and veggies. In whole grains, I need to look out for calories, but still fine. Our body needs those type of carbs. But today, most people's caloric intake comes from highly processed carbs like bread, pastas, cereals, snacks... That is why cutting down on carbs helps. But it is too simplistic to just say "low carb is good". We should not cut down on good carbs.
What does the body need whole grains for?0 -
Because a lot of people don't understand there is a difference between processed carbs (= sugar) and natural carbs (fiber, and a combo of complex and simple sugars).
One should not be concerned at all with carbs from fruits and veggies. In whole grains, I need to look out for calories, but still fine. Our body needs those type of carbs. But today, most people's caloric intake comes from highly processed carbs like bread, pastas, cereals, snacks... That is why cutting down on carbs helps. But it is too simplistic to just say "low carb is good". We should not cut down on good carbs.
JUST FYI, I'm extremely insulin resistant with PCOS/Hashimotos AND taking a Dr. prescribed medicine for insulin resistance. I ate watermelon the other day and spiked a blood sugar of 140. I had 1/2 cup of tomato soup, blood sugar 142. So, OBVIOUSLY my body doesn't process carbs the same way your body does. I can eat fruits, but have to make choices on which fruits and how MUCH of the fruit I want to eat based on the amount of carbs. I also will eat Ezekiel bread and an occasional 1/2 sweet potato. I just can't eat rice, pasta, cereals, breads, or high carb fruits in excess of my allotted carb allowance per my doctor. This isn't just something I willy-nilly started, but something that blood work verified, dietitian and doctor monitor...
I also have MORE THAN AMPLE energy for the exercise I do. I do at minimum of 35-50 minutes of cardio 5-6 days a week as well as 50-60 minutes of major strength training (kettlebells, dumbbells, barbells, weight machines, etc) 4 days a week. I can assure you that I have the energy to complete all those tasks with my 'lower' carb lifestyle.
Good carbs for some may be not so good for someone else. I personally feel like everyone should try to figure out what works for THEIR body and physical needs. For me, what I'm doing is working. 51 pounds down as of this morning...0 -
That's just not true for everyone. Fruit, beans or cake it doesn't matter -- too many carbs is too many carbs no matter what the source for those of us who don't tolerate them well.Because a lot of people don't understand there is a difference between processed carbs (= sugar) and natural carbs (fiber, and a combo of complex and simple sugars).
One should not be concerned at all with carbs from fruits and veggies. In whole grains, I need to look out for calories, but still fine. Our body needs those type of carbs. But today, most people's caloric intake comes from highly processed carbs like bread, pastas, cereals, snacks... That is why cutting down on carbs helps. But it is too simplistic to just say "low carb is good". We should not cut down on good carbs.0 -
I have Type 2 Diabetes and no matter how much the American Diabetes Association tells me it's good for me to eat 100s of grams of carbs every day as long as they are "good" carbs, it's not true. My body does not process carbs well at all. In fact, if I eat too many salads during the week, my fasting blood sugars begin to rise. I have to monitor even healthy carbs from vegetables in order to keep my blood sugar within normal ranges. I keep my carbs under 50 most days and my recent labwork tells me that my body is happy and healthy that way.
Everyone is different and not everyone needs a low carb diet. But for those of us that do, we really wish people would understand that everyone needs to eat what is right for their body and not just label it as a "fad" or "unhealthy." Thanks for asking a non-judgmental question instead of just criticizing something you didn't understand.
Thank you for this. Took the words right out of my mouth.0 -
Low carb diets work because they force one to give up or severely limit things that many people love to snack and binge on. Sugars, chips, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. This is also why low carb diets have a statistically poor long term record. So before starting, you should ask yourself if you are prepared to limit or give these things up permanently. If not, you stand a good chance of become one of the statistics that gain all the weight back.
Every diet has a statistically poor long term record.
Every. Single. One.
Before starting any attempt at losing weight you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to eat that way indefinitely.
Low carb diets are not special in this regard
Correct. I. Never. Suggested. Otherwise.
Although statistically, low carb has a worse record for long term sustainability than eating a balanced diet including all the macronutrients. All diets that eliminate large groups of common foods rate statistically lower than those that don't.0 -
Low carb diets work because they force one to give up or severely limit things that many people love to snack and binge on. Sugars, chips, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. This is also why low carb diets have a statistically poor long term record. So before starting, you should ask yourself if you are prepared to limit or give these things up permanently. If not, you stand a good chance of become one of the statistics that gain all the weight back.
Every diet has a statistically poor long term record.
Every. Single. One.
Before starting any attempt at losing weight you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to eat that way indefinitely.
Low carb diets are not special in this regard
Correct. I. Never. Suggested. Otherwise.
Although statistically, low carb has a worse record for long term sustainability than eating a balanced diet including all the macronutrients. All diets that eliminate large groups of common foods rate statistically lower than those that don't.
I'll have to do some digging around and see if I can find the info, but there's a study that's discussed in depth in the book Rethinking Thin, where two groups were put on Atkins vs the low calorie diet that's done at university weight loss clinics. The book was published before the study was completed. However, I read the follow up for the study in an article and the low carb group actually did have a very slight better success rate-still an overall failure, like those in the low calorie group, but some of the low carbers were able to stick with it long term vs. almost no one sticking to the low calorie diet. Off to do some googling to see if I can find the article!0 -
Low carb diets work because they force one to give up or severely limit things that many people love to snack and binge on. Sugars, chips, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. This is also why low carb diets have a statistically poor long term record. So before starting, you should ask yourself if you are prepared to limit or give these things up permanently. If not, you stand a good chance of become one of the statistics that gain all the weight back.
Every diet has a statistically poor long term record.
Every. Single. One.
Before starting any attempt at losing weight you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to eat that way indefinitely.
Low carb diets are not special in this regard
Correct. I. Never. Suggested. Otherwise.
Although statistically, low carb has a worse record for long term sustainability than eating a balanced diet including all the macronutrients. All diets that eliminate large groups of common foods rate statistically lower than those that don't.
I'll have to do some digging around and see if I can find the info, but there's a study that's discussed in depth in the book Rethinking Thin, where two groups were put on Atkins vs the low calorie diet that's done at university weight loss clinics. The book was published before the study was completed. However, I read the follow up for the study in an article and the low carb group actually did have a very slight better success rate-still an overall failure, like those in the low calorie group, but some of the low carbers were able to stick with it long term vs. almost no one sticking to the low calorie diet. Off to do some googling to see if I can find the article!
I would be interested to see it, because I like to read studies about nutrition. But seriously, one study? That doesn't change statistics.0 -
If that's true, I wonder if it's because everyone keeps telling us how unhealthy it is? I know personally I never would have considered eating this way until I was convinced the lipid hypothesis was flat out wrong and the recommendations for fat intake were not evidenced based. But what if you weren't convinced of that? I imagine it would make sticking to a low carb diet pretty difficult if the people around you are concerned for your health and you wondered yourself if your diet was doing more harm then good.Low carb diets work because they force one to give up or severely limit things that many people love to snack and binge on. Sugars, chips, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. This is also why low carb diets have a statistically poor long term record. So before starting, you should ask yourself if you are prepared to limit or give these things up permanently. If not, you stand a good chance of become one of the statistics that gain all the weight back.
Every diet has a statistically poor long term record.
Every. Single. One.
Before starting any attempt at losing weight you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to eat that way indefinitely.
Low carb diets are not special in this regard
Correct. I. Never. Suggested. Otherwise.
Although statistically, low carb has a worse record for long term sustainability than eating a balanced diet including all the macronutrients. All diets that eliminate large groups of common foods rate statistically lower than those that don't.0 -
I eat carbs, I just stay under.0
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Low carb diets work because they force one to give up or severely limit things that many people love to snack and binge on. Sugars, chips, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. This is also why low carb diets have a statistically poor long term record. So before starting, you should ask yourself if you are prepared to limit or give these things up permanently. If not, you stand a good chance of become one of the statistics that gain all the weight back.
Every diet has a statistically poor long term record.
Every. Single. One.
Before starting any attempt at losing weight you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to eat that way indefinitely.
Low carb diets are not special in this regard
Correct. I. Never. Suggested. Otherwise.
Although statistically, low carb has a worse record for long term sustainability than eating a balanced diet including all the macronutrients. All diets that eliminate large groups of common foods rate statistically lower than those that don't.
I'll have to do some digging around and see if I can find the info, but there's a study that's discussed in depth in the book Rethinking Thin, where two groups were put on Atkins vs the low calorie diet that's done at university weight loss clinics. The book was published before the study was completed. However, I read the follow up for the study in an article and the low carb group actually did have a very slight better success rate-still an overall failure, like those in the low calorie group, but some of the low carbers were able to stick with it long term vs. almost no one sticking to the low calorie diet. Off to do some googling to see if I can find the article!
I would be interested to see it, because I like to read studies about nutrition. But seriously, one study? That doesn't change statistics.
I'm still looking, but it was quite a big study done by Penn. Rethinking Thin walks you through most of the study and interviews participants, but then the book was published before the study ended, which frustrated me. I found the follow up somehow- I'm determined to find it again
I'm sure the book has the study name in it but I borrowed it from the library so I don't have it anymore. Bu the overall theme of the book and of the studies discussed, is that there's no one plan that has a better success rate than the other. They pretty much all fail 
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i have been on Atkins (around 1997-98) and was very successful but it was hard to stick with. Over the years, I've tried Weight Watchers (on and off) and liked the healthier eating lifestyle but the PROBLEM THERE is that you are calculating points, and unlike MFP, you don't see all the other important stuff - carbs, sodium, etc.
I recently had an annual check up and pretty much got the works... the doc said I was virtually perfect on paper (could stand to lose a few more pounds - she didn't say that cuz she's nice, I did :-)... but my triglycerides were a little elevated (bad cholesterol). She said that if I just cut down on carbs, I would 1.) probably shed the last 15-20 pounds I want to lose and 2.) bring down the bad cholesterol number.
The doctor is a HUGE fan of MFP because of the fact we can see all the nutritional facts and agreed with me about W.W. - great diet but sometimes something low in points could be a carb-nightmare.
So, my plan is to cut down on pasta, rice and bread - to start. I'm hoping this will break my weight loss plateau (need to exercise more, too) and get my "bad numbers" down.0 -
This is an oversimplification and for the most part completely false. Not all carbs are bad for you, and some are absolutely essential (fruits to begin with). It is about cutting back on those that cause a spike in your insulin (white flour and certain sugars) and keeping those that have a lower glycemic index.
I did a modified Atkins approach 10 years ago and it worked really well in getting rid of the last 5-10 lbs. I felt really good and liked the way I looked. But after awhile, it is hard (as a runner) to cut out all pasta's and other things that you love so what I have found is that with a lower carb approach you either have to make it a life style choice or you could put back a lot of the weight you lose.
And I never went lower than 70-80 carbs per day and tried to keep it around 100. You can eat a piece of fruit and have some multi-grain bread now and then and still stay around those levels. When I decided I needed to lose some weight recently I did this in the first two weeks of June and dropped 7 lbs very quickly. It does work. But I have gone back and probably have 150-200 carbs per day, but because of my workout load and focus on calorie intake thanks to MFP I haven't reversed, but have actually dropped another 5 which has me very close to my goal.
I also have a weakness for pretzels and chocolate. It is really hard to not binge but I can still have a little of both as long as I'm careful and keep working out. I don't like the word diet, and have never consciously put myself on one. It is never just one thing. You have to eat healthy, in moderation, but also get your workouts in.0 -
Low carb diets work because they force one to give up or severely limit things that many people love to snack and binge on. Sugars, chips, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. This is also why low carb diets have a statistically poor long term record. So before starting, you should ask yourself if you are prepared to limit or give these things up permanently. If not, you stand a good chance of become one of the statistics that gain all the weight back.
Every diet has a statistically poor long term record.
Every. Single. One.
Before starting any attempt at losing weight you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to eat that way indefinitely.
Low carb diets are not special in this regard
Correct. I. Never. Suggested. Otherwise.
Although statistically, low carb has a worse record for long term sustainability than eating a balanced diet including all the macronutrients. All diets that eliminate large groups of common foods rate statistically lower than those that don't.
I'll have to do some digging around and see if I can find the info, but there's a study that's discussed in depth in the book Rethinking Thin, where two groups were put on Atkins vs the low calorie diet that's done at university weight loss clinics. The book was published before the study was completed. However, I read the follow up for the study in an article and the low carb group actually did have a very slight better success rate-still an overall failure, like those in the low calorie group, but some of the low carbers were able to stick with it long term vs. almost no one sticking to the low calorie diet. Off to do some googling to see if I can find the article!
I would be interested to see it, because I like to read studies about nutrition. But seriously, one study? That doesn't change statistics.
Ok, sort of success on my search lol
An excerpt from The New York Times, in a book review of Rethinking Thin, by Gina Kolata-
-Kolata follows a two-year clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania designed to test the low-carbohydrate, high-fat Atkins diet against a traditional low-calorie, low-fat one. Kolata wrote her book before she had the results for the trial, though a different study, published in March in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that Atkins beats the low-cal diet for keeping off weight. The diet-versus-diet contest, however, isn’t her real story.
Instead, she focuses on how little weight those who follow any diet usually manage to keep off. (The average participant on the Atkins diet reported in JAMA lost only 10 pounds over the course of a year.) Kolata tells the stories of four dieters in the Penn trial who are smart and likable. They had the benefit of a professionally led support group and the status of taking part in a well-financed study. They started exercising; they stopped eating mindlessly. After two years, they’re a bit lighter. But none achieved the 50- to 100-pound weight loss they strove for (though one lost more than 30 pounds, 15 percent of his body weight).
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/books/review/Bazelon.t.html?_r=0
However, I still can find a direct link to the actual studies, though I know I've read an in depth article about the one Kolata includes in her book somewhere-if I find it I'll post it 0 -
I somewhat agree with what you state here. Different diets work for different people, but was he counting his calories also? I think if he was, maybe he would have seen he was in a deficit, but maybe not! He lost that much weight....good for him:)
No, it was a calorie deficit.You lose a lot of weight to begin with, though it's not fat.
My brother lost 98lbs in 7 months; I can assure you it wasn't all water :laugh:
erm....no :laugh: His breakfast alone was bacon, eggs, frankfurters & mushrooms *every* day - always fried.
His coffees (several a day) were made with thick cream.
He ate lots of butter, cheese and full-fat mayo.
He lost the weight purely and simply because he cut the carbs to <20 a day and upped his protein & fats.
You can't knock something you haven't tried, just because it sounds too good to be true. It DOES work, as anyone who has done it (properly) knows0 -
Personally, my body doesn't process them well and they cause my thyroid to be sluggish. When I'm not managing my carbs my triglycerides double,and I put on weight like crazy. However, when I try to keep them at a low amount, I drop weight very rapidly. I'm sure everyone has different reasons,and I don't know the "scientific" answer. I just know why it works for me.
BOTH of these for me! (FINALLY someone else who has this problem besides me!) High triglycerides, sugar crash, and a wonky thyroid are the three main reasons for me.0 -
I feel so much better on a low-carb eating plan than any low-fat diet I have ever been on before. I feel full and satisfied, not like I was on low-fat. I eat none of that processed crap in a box that is loaded with sugar and salt. I have friends that this has worked for and they have maintained it as a lifestyle - not just a diet and I plan on doing the same. It has proven to me that my body doesn't react well to breads, sweets, white flour and pasta and I really don't miss eating them that at all. 0
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Low carb diets work because they force one to give up or severely limit things that many people love to snack and binge on. Sugars, chips, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. This is also why low carb diets have a statistically poor long term record. So before starting, you should ask yourself if you are prepared to limit or give these things up permanently. If not, you stand a good chance of become one of the statistics that gain all the weight back.
Every diet has a statistically poor long term record.
Every. Single. One.
Before starting any attempt at losing weight you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to eat that way indefinitely.
Low carb diets are not special in this regard
Correct. I. Never. Suggested. Otherwise.
Although statistically, low carb has a worse record for long term sustainability than eating a balanced diet including all the macronutrients. All diets that eliminate large groups of common foods rate statistically lower than those that don't.
I'll have to do some digging around and see if I can find the info, but there's a study that's discussed in depth in the book Rethinking Thin, where two groups were put on Atkins vs the low calorie diet that's done at university weight loss clinics. The book was published before the study was completed. However, I read the follow up for the study in an article and the low carb group actually did have a very slight better success rate-still an overall failure, like those in the low calorie group, but some of the low carbers were able to stick with it long term vs. almost no one sticking to the low calorie diet. Off to do some googling to see if I can find the article!
I would be interested to see it, because I like to read studies about nutrition. But seriously, one study? That doesn't change statistics.
Ok, sort of success on my search lol
An excerpt from The New York Times, in a book review of Rethinking Thin, by Gina Kolata-
-Kolata follows a two-year clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania designed to test the low-carbohydrate, high-fat Atkins diet against a traditional low-calorie, low-fat one. Kolata wrote her book before she had the results for the trial, though a different study, published in March in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that Atkins beats the low-cal diet for keeping off weight. The diet-versus-diet contest, however, isn’t her real story.
Instead, she focuses on how little weight those who follow any diet usually manage to keep off. (The average participant on the Atkins diet reported in JAMA lost only 10 pounds over the course of a year.) Kolata tells the stories of four dieters in the Penn trial who are smart and likable. They had the benefit of a professionally led support group and the status of taking part in a well-financed study. They started exercising; they stopped eating mindlessly. After two years, they’re a bit lighter. But none achieved the 50- to 100-pound weight loss they strove for (though one lost more than 30 pounds, 15 percent of his body weight).
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/books/review/Bazelon.t.html?_r=0
However, I still can find a direct link to the actual studies, though I know I've read an in depth article about the one Kolata includes in her book somewhere-if I find it I'll post it
I'm not sure I get your point. This one sentence - "found that Atkins beats the low-cal diet for keeping off weight" - in a newspaper article is your argument? And it sounds as if it was only compared to another low-macro diet, not a balanced sensible diet.
But again, I'm sure there is a study or two out there where low carb came out of top. But statistically, it performs lower than non-restrictive diets.0 -
No, it was a calorie deficit.You lose a lot of weight to begin with, though it's not fat.
My brother lost 98lbs in 7 months; I can assure you it wasn't all water :laugh:
Calories are (always) a factor.
That said, limiting carbs does help SOME people maintain their required calorie load and avoid some trigger foods without having to be hyper-vigilant about counting calories. There is a certain satiation factor that many people experience. If someone is insulin resistant or carb sensitive, avoiding high GI foods appears to be of some benefit in that regard.
Personally, I don't excessively limit carbs. I don't do the Atkin's induction phase of less than 30 g carbs. (I did it once many, many years ago. It worked -- weight, blood work, everything. But, it wasn't the perfect solution for me, because of my dietary preferances. Nothing is 'perfect.' But we need to find what's we can personally work with and can maintain long term. That's not always the same for all people.)
I am, however, learning to avoid added sugar to a large degree (largely getting my sugar from eating fresh fruit and vegetables) and I avoid refined wheat/flour products. Doing this while eating about as many vegetables as I could possibly want (even including potatoes periodically) along with regular daily servings of fruit. Doing this, I have no problem maintaining around 100g of carbs a day, and in doing so staying within my calorie goals without undue hunger or pesky cravings or feeling deprived. It actually seems 'easier' to me than when I eat many refined carbs. As soon as I add bread and sugar back, it's really easy to see how my calorie count very, very quickly climbs due to the addition of bread or pasta or sugar. And, truth be told, my degree of hunger is actually worse on those days.
Anecdotal and personal perception? You bet. But it's my body and it's going to come down to what I can comfortably maintain so it's going to be personal and anecdotal. Experience will differ from person to person.
Some people are more sensitive to carbs than others. Some work out more than others. Some have issues of insulin resistance. Others do not. Some simply have food preferences. All of these are factors.
For myself, reducing the amount of refined sugar and refined flour in my diet makes it easier for me to maintain my calorie goals.
So, yeah, it still functions on how many calories I eat, but some ways of eating help ME to adhere to my calorie goals more easily than other ways of eating.
Each person needs to find what works best for them. It's not always exactly the same.0 -
If you're interested in low sugar/starch eating, have a look at the film 'Fat Head', it's on youtube. It's about 1hr 40min, but there is some interesting stuff in the about the politics of the so-called food pyramid and what happens in your body when you eat complex carbs.0
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I can only speak from personal experience, obviously everyone is different. I am following a low carb lifestyle, because it is the only way I am able to control my caloric intake. When I consume carbs such as bread, sugar, starchy vegetables, and junk food, I always overeat. When I remove those items from my diet, I am able to stick to a 1200 to 1500 calorie diet filled with healthy foods, not junk. It works for me. It's still all about the calories.
this...and because my hormones hate me, and due to being pre-menopause, my body wants to hold on to the fat for safe keeping. I also find my binge foods is simple carbs. When I start eating them, I don't stop.0
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