Low carb - fruits? macros? I don't get it.

40misti · November 2013

Ok, so I have always had a lot of success in low carb dieting, but then as soon as I start adding things back to my diet, I just gain it back. So here are my questions,
1. You don't have to count most fruits and vegetables on Weight Watchers because they believe it teaches you to reach for something healthy if you are hungry. - But, on low carb - the vegetables and fruits can make you go over in carbs for the day
2. How many carbs are yall eating, I've always done 20 or less a day to hit ketosis
3. Anybody have any great substitutes for chips??? I'm a wuss for chips and salsa!
4. What does it mean when people are talking about macro carbs?

40misti · November 2013

bump

micheleb15 · November 2013

May I ask why you do low-carb if you just gain it back? What's the point of putting in the work if it's not sustainable?

1. You count everything with MFP - this isn't WW and the points aren't added into other foods.
2. I eat about 200g of carbs a day
3. No, unless you are making kale chips, there is no substitution for chips
4. Calories are broken down into macros (carbs, protein, fat). People try to hit their macros within their calories

Obviously, I am not a low-carb-er.

bcattoes · November 2013

Ok, so I have always had a lot of success in low carb dieting, but then as soon as I start adding things back to my diet, I just gain it back. So here are my questions,
1. You don't have to count most fruits and vegetables on Weight Watchers because they believe it teaches you to reach for something healthy if you are hungry. - But, on low carb - the vegetables and fruits can make you go over in carbs for the day
2. How many carbs are yall eating, I've always done 20 or less a day to hit ketosis
3. Anybody have any great substitutes for chips??? I'm a wuss for chips and salsa!
4. What does it mean when people are talking about macro carbs?

1. WW is not low carb. You might want to look into Atkins or similar if you want to do low carb. Atkins also adds some carbs back with the different phases.
2. I don't do low carb, so mine vary a lot. About 120 total and 90 net on average.
3. No help.
4. Carbs are a macro. Fat, protein and carbs are macronutrients. Things like vitamins, minerals, antioxidents, etc. are micronutrients.

But, if you want to add carbs back, then why eliminate them in the first place? For long term success it might be better to find a diet that you can live once you reach your goal.

40misti · November 2013

Thanks - I appreciate the information. I know I ask myself the same thing - why do it if I gain it back. I guess because I know I will lose and have been counting calories and not seeing results. So I was thinking if I could reach my weight loss goal, then adapt to a real healthy diet. I guess just frustrated and wanting to see results. I had a terrible knee injury 7 months ago and after surgery had complications so I have gained back all the weight I lost so feeling depressed.

TavistockToad · November 2013

Thanks - I appreciate the information. I know I ask myself the same thing - why do it if I gain it back. I guess because I know I will lose and have been counting calories and not seeing results. So I was thinking if I could reach my weight loss goal, then adapt to a real healthy diet. I guess just frustrated and wanting to see results. I had a terrible knee injury 7 months ago and after surgery had complications so I have gained back all the weight I lost so feeling depressed.

I think starting with a 'real healthy diet' is a better idea!

smc864 · November 2013

Frequently people feel that they have "a lot of success" with low carb diets because of the initial weight loss you experience -- which is mostly water weight. There is no reason to put yourself in ketosis or have extremely low levels of carbohydrates to lose weight.

Macros are Protein, Fat, and Carbs. I set mine at 35% Carbs, 35% Protein, 30% Fat. This is what works for me.

1. I've never understood these "free calories". Fruit and vegetables aren't magical calories. They are foods that need to be accounted for in your log.
2. I eat about 130 carbs/day and still manage to lose 2lbs/week consistently.
3. I put my homemade salsa on egg whites when I need my Mexican fix, and it works brilliantly.
4. I've already answered this question.

micheleb15 · November 2013

Thanks - I appreciate the information. I know I ask myself the same thing - why do it if I gain it back. I guess because I know I will lose and have been counting calories and not seeing results. So I was thinking if I could reach my weight loss goal, then adapt to a real healthy diet. I guess just frustrated and wanting to see results. I had a terrible knee injury 7 months ago and after surgery had complications so I have gained back all the weight I lost so feeling depressed.

You don''t look like you have a lot to lose - the last bit of weight is the hardest. I honestly gave up on the scale and haven't looked back. I only go by measurements now. You have to be diligent when you have so little to lose. If you have a deficit of 400 a day and forget to log an extra tbsp of coffee creamer or a few mints or don't weigh your meat, that deficit can easily become 100 which will take a very long time to show on the scale.

I won't knock low-carb, but it seems that everyone follows the same trend and gains it back. I'd become better at logging everything (weighing and measuring). If you weren't losing, you weren't eating at a deficit. Unless you were weight training, that's a whole other story.

smc864 · November 2013

Thanks - I appreciate the information. I know I ask myself the same thing - why do it if I gain it back. I guess because I know I will lose and have been counting calories and not seeing results. So I was thinking if I could reach my weight loss goal, then adapt to a real healthy diet. I guess just frustrated and wanting to see results. I had a terrible knee injury 7 months ago and after surgery had complications so I have gained back all the weight I lost so feeling depressed.

Another reason people gain the weight back after going off a low carb diet is because:

1. Being on a low carb diet causes water loss
2. Low carb diet depletes glycogen in muscles.
3. Water follows carbohydrates.

When a person begins eating carbohydrates again the glycogen in your muscles is restored and you gain water weight that was previously lost. Depending on how low carb your diet is, this can be a significant amount of weight. 5+ pounds.

40misti · November 2013

Thanks Ladies, I appreciate your honesty. You are right, I do like it because it's a quick fix. And going with healthier from the get go is better. I guess I need to figure out my macro's but I'm not sure how to do that?

CeleryStalker · November 2013

I eat 250g of carbs a day. A good low carb swap for chips and salsa is cut up bell pepper strips and use them as your scoop for salsa. I don't know if you can manage bell peppers and salsa on a diet with 20g or less of carbs tho. That's insane. What do you eat? (not being rude, just honestly curious, as most veggies have carbs, and even in small amounts wouldn't take long to total 20g, dairy has carbs as well, so im just asking out of curiosity)

My two cents: If you don't limit carbs, you don't have to worry about 'weight gain' when you blow out of ketosis. Weight loss and body transformation are both entirely achievable by eating a balanced diet chock full of carbs.

40misti · November 2013

I agree Celery Stalker

I was looking for something faster. I know I know, not the way to go. When I have done it before I was strictly meats and cheese with itty bitty amounts of vegetables. It was very hard, but I lost 20 lbs like it was nothing. But the truth is, I did gain it back. I've done MFP before and just ate better and lost and it worked, just took longer. The pic of me is last time I did MFP. I've gained 25 lbs since my knee injury and just really want to look good again.

Low carb - fruits? macros? I don't get it.

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