Carbohydrates

BlaZeN13x
BlaZeN13x Posts: 25
in Food and Nutrition
I've found from personal experience that carbs prevent or slow down my weight loss. I don't know if this is entirely true or just what's in my head. Maybe my diet has been wrong or my exercise training? I've completely cut them out of my diet recently but I don't know if I should be doing this? Any advice would be great.

Sorry if I seem very knew to this (which I am).
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Replies

  • AmyZ46
    AmyZ46 Posts: 694 Member
    Carbs totally throw a wrench into my weight loss too. I cut them out as much as possible .
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Hmmmm, loaded question.

    If you've completely cut out carbohydrates, I assume you're in ketosis, in which case, yes, carbohydrates will immediately make you gain weight. But, in the absence of metabolic disease, carbohydrates won't make a person gain weight if their total calories are less than their maintenance calorie expenditure (TDEE).

    Healthy people (no metabolic disease) don't need to completely cut carbs, for most moderately active people (aka the population of this site) around 40% of your total calories from carbs is a good amount, which allows for adequate protein and fat within your calorie limits.

    Carbs are actually not even close to as important as getting the right amount of protein and fat. If you get enough protein and fat, the remainder of your calories can be all carbs, or any combination of protein, fat, and carbs and you will achieve the same results.

    (slight exception for workout-specific carb needs which I'm not going to delve in to here)
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I've found from personal experience that carbs prevent or slow down my weight loss.

    Nope.
  • eahill4
    eahill4 Posts: 60 Member
    I try to keep it low carb but sometimes find it hard to meet my calorie goals as I am trying to make a conscious effort to cut out a lot of fats too (which tend to be 0 carbs).
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    Do you mean all carbs, or are you really talking about grains?
  • Sierra_christine89
    Sierra_christine89 Posts: 156 Member
    Okay, well it depends on what type of carbs you are eating. If you aren't eating complex carbs, that's probably why the carbs, so you think, are stunting your weightloss.

    You shouldn't cut out carbs completely because its not realistic to a lifestyle. That sounds like some quick fix "Cut this out to lose weight" diet. but once you start incorporating them into your diet again what will happen? You will gain because you haven't been allowing yourself them.
    Eat a specific amount of carbs a day, and you should figure out what amount is right for you because what MFP gives you for your daily amount is not realistic for everyone, as its based off of the average person, and none of us meet up to that "average person" status since each and every one of our bodies are completely different.

    Again, make sure you are eating COMPLEX carbs. That way your body can use those carbs for energy. Noncomplex carbs get turned into fat, or stored as fat.

    Complex carbs..complex carbs..complex carbs..can I stress that enough? :P
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I try to keep it low carb but sometimes find it hard to meet my calorie goals as I am trying to make a conscious effort to cut out a lot of fats too (which tend to be 0 carbs).

    Low carb *and* low fat?
  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
    Since I went keto, my weight loss began again. So carbs can be an issue for some people. I try to keep my net carbs below 30.
  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
    I try to keep it low carb but sometimes find it hard to meet my calorie goals as I am trying to make a conscious effort to cut out a lot of fats too (which tend to be 0 carbs).

    Low carb *and* low fat?

    Does. Not. Compute. :noway: :huh:
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I try to keep it low carb but sometimes find it hard to meet my calorie goals as I am trying to make a conscious effort to cut out a lot of fats too (which tend to be 0 carbs).

    Low carb and low fat don't work together. Protein-only is quite dangerous.
  • BlaZeN13x
    BlaZeN13x Posts: 25
    I have basically cut out pasta/bread/rice/potato but I am going to reintroduce them. I signed up to here today and have got my MFP figures so I will give them a try and see what results I get.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I have basically cut out pasta/bread/rice/potato but I am going to reintroduce them. I signed up to here today and have got my MFP figures so I will give them a try and see what results I get.

    Fine idea. No particular food or nutrient should be off-limits. Focus on getting enough protein, fat, and fiber; getting the right number of calories; and eating a few servings of varied veggies or fruits a day. The rest is just noise.
  • maillemaker
    maillemaker Posts: 1,253 Member
    The main reason people lose weight on low-carb diets is because they are cutting out a large source of calorie-dense food from their usual diets.

    Also, a diet rich in protein can mitigate hunger feelings making it easier to stick to a calorie deficit.
  • prettylittleliarxx
    prettylittleliarxx Posts: 8
    Most of them are bad, but you can have the healthy version of stuff. Whole grain seeded brown bread, whole grain rice, whole grain pasta, whole grain tortillas etc. I avoid white rice/ white bread/ white pasta.
  • prettylittleliarxx
    prettylittleliarxx Posts: 8
    .
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Try the whole grain versions, they don't break down everything down into sugar like normal bread/pasta/rice and they give you lots of fibre :)

    Carbs are not bad or unhealthy.
  • prettylittleliarxx
    prettylittleliarxx Posts: 8
    I have basically cut out pasta/bread/rice/potato but I am going to reintroduce them. I signed up to here today and have got my MFP figures so I will give them a try and see what results I get.

    Try the whole grain versions of bread/pasta/rice, they don't convert into sugar and they have lots of fibre. Also sweet potato burns fat :)
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I have basically cut out pasta/bread/rice/potato but I am going to reintroduce them. I signed up to here today and have got my MFP figures so I will give them a try and see what results I get.

    Try the whole grain versions of bread/pasta/rice, they don't convert into sugar and they have lots of fibre. Also sweet potato burns fat :)

    These "facts" are incorrect.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I like carbs....
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I have basically cut out pasta/bread/rice/potato but I am going to reintroduce them. I signed up to here today and have got my MFP figures so I will give them a try and see what results I get.

    Try the whole grain versions of bread/pasta/rice, they don't convert into sugar and they have lots of fibre. Also sweet potato burns fat :)

    That's not true, all carbohydrates (including all starches) are broken down in to sugars by digestion. Fiber is only slightly digestible, so it passes through your system largely undigested, but carbohydrate digestion IS breaking down the molecules in to simple sugars. No exceptions.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    I have basically cut out pasta/bread/rice/potato but I am going to reintroduce them. I signed up to here today and have got my MFP figures so I will give them a try and see what results I get.

    Try the whole grain versions of bread/pasta/rice, they don't convert into sugar and they have lots of fibre. Also sweet potato burns fat :)

    There's accurate about those statements. Because, science.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    Try the whole grain versions, they don't break down everything down into sugar like normal bread/pasta/rice and they give you lots of fibre :)

    Carbs are not bad or unhealthy.

    +1
  • eahill4
    eahill4 Posts: 60 Member
    I try to keep it low carb but sometimes find it hard to meet my calorie goals as I am trying to make a conscious effort to cut out a lot of fats too (which tend to be 0 carbs).

    Low carb *and* low fat?
    I should say unhealthy fats.... Oil, butter mayo. The ones with 0 carbs that can add calories. My fat comes from meat, nuts and avacodos mostly.
  • eahill4
    eahill4 Posts: 60 Member
    I try to keep it low carb but sometimes find it hard to meet my calorie goals as I am trying to make a conscious effort to cut out a lot of fats too (which tend to be 0 carbs).

    Low carb *and* low fat?

    Does. Not. Compute. :noway: :huh:
    It does for me and the weight loss is there::bigsmile:
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member


    Try the whole grain versions of bread/pasta/rice, they don't convert into sugar and they have lots of fibre. Also sweet potato burns fat :)
    double-facepalm.png
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I try to keep it low carb but sometimes find it hard to meet my calorie goals as I am trying to make a conscious effort to cut out a lot of fats too (which tend to be 0 carbs).

    Low carb *and* low fat?

    Does. Not. Compute. :noway: :huh:
    It does for me and the weight loss is there::bigsmile:

    Your diary is closed. What are your carb/protein/fat targets like?
  • BlaZeN13x
    BlaZeN13x Posts: 25
    Great responses, thanks for all the help. Really making things a lot clearer to understand and make the changes needed.
  • Deborah100660
    Deborah100660 Posts: 45 Member
    Carbohydrates provide energy and are needed by the body. Carbohydrates are good for you and provide fiber depending on which you carbohydrates you consume. I get my carbs through fruits and vegetables and very little starches. Stick to carbs that are low on the glycemic index. You can look up the glycemic index on the internet. These are high fiber and also help with digestion. A no carb diet is not a balanced diet. I limit my starches and substitute sweet potato for regular potatoes. Green beans, peppers, and onions are also carbohydrates.

    Deborah
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Okay, well it depends on what type of carbs you are eating. If you aren't eating complex carbs, that's probably why the carbs, so you think, are stunting your weightloss.

    You shouldn't cut out carbs completely because its not realistic to a lifestyle. That sounds like some quick fix "Cut this out to lose weight" diet. but once you start incorporating them into your diet again what will happen? You will gain because you haven't been allowing yourself them.
    Eat a specific amount of carbs a day, and you should figure out what amount is right for you because what MFP gives you for your daily amount is not realistic for everyone, as its based off of the average person, and none of us meet up to that "average person" status since each and every one of our bodies are completely different.

    Again, make sure you are eating COMPLEX carbs. That way your body can use those carbs for energy. Noncomplex carbs get turned into fat, or stored as fat.

    Complex carbs..complex carbs..complex carbs..can I stress that enough? :P

    No no no.

    Excess calories get stored as fat, no matter what they are from
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I eat a lot of carbs and as far as I know it has never hindered my progress. But carbs are my last priority. First I make sure I'm hitting calories. Second I make sure I'm getting enough protein (my goal is 1 gram per pound of LBM since I lift weights). Third I make sure I'm getting .35 grams of fat per pound of body weight, which to be honest has never been a challenge. :laugh: Whatever calories I have left I use for carbs. That includes my fruits/veggies, as well as bread and baked goods.

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