The Dreaded Carbohydrate
kshadows
Posts: 1,315 Member
I don't buy into the low-carb diets. I did Atkins about 10 years ago and lost weight but that's definitely not something I could ever do long term. Ever.
Anyways, I know carbs are not the devil but if I'm hitting my protein macro, how bad is it to go over in carbs? Because I do it...like every single day. I have a 40/30/30 for my macros and I try to get at least 1g of protein per pound of LBM and .35g fat and then the carbs kinda fall wherever...but they're always over my 40%.
Do I need to do something differently or can I keep on enjoying how I've got things right now?
PS - I don't eat tons of white bread or anything...most of my carbs are from oatmeal, brown rice and bananas!
Anyways, I know carbs are not the devil but if I'm hitting my protein macro, how bad is it to go over in carbs? Because I do it...like every single day. I have a 40/30/30 for my macros and I try to get at least 1g of protein per pound of LBM and .35g fat and then the carbs kinda fall wherever...but they're always over my 40%.
Do I need to do something differently or can I keep on enjoying how I've got things right now?
PS - I don't eat tons of white bread or anything...most of my carbs are from oatmeal, brown rice and bananas!
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Replies
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I go over carbs a lot too, and like you, I usually go over because of fruit and stuff like that. If I have grapes, I know I'm bound to go over. As long as you stick to your calorie deficit, going over carbs will not harm your weight loss.0
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I go over carbs a lot too, and like you, I usually go over because of fruit and stuff like that. If I have grapes, I know I'm bound to go over. As long as you stick to your calorie deficit, going over carbs will not harm your weight loss.
BEAUTIFUL! That's what I was hoping to hear
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I Prefer to go over on Protien then fat...
If you are over your carbs chances are you aren't hitting the important one..protien. I find that with my "fat' macro.
INstead of a banana how about banana greek yogurt...0 -
I lost all the weight I needed to lose by aiming for my protein goal and calorie target and letting carbs and fats land where they will. Some days I'd eat higher carbs; some days would be higher fat. Depends on what I'm craving and the types of workouts I'm doing. Long run day gets more carbs, generally speaking.0
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I hit my protein target and keep fats around 25-35g. Carbs are often 250g+ for workout days and quite frankly... carbs are the best0
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Maybe change your carb ratio to 45%?
Mine is:
Carbohydrates 45% -- 281.0g
Protein -- 20% -- 125.0g
Fat 35% -- 97.0g0 -
Anyways, I know carbs are not the devil but if I'm hitting my protein macro, how bad is it to go over in carbs?
I I <
this bad0 -
Its not carbs that are good or bad, but going over your total calorie goal, whether its on a deficit for weight loss, surplus for a gain or just at maintenance. So, if your total calories are in line with your goal, deficit, surplus or maintenance, that's the first most important thing taken care of. Then the question becomes what your macros should be. I don't think significant reduction in carbs is healthy in the long run. Instead, eat 6 or 7 times a day, at least 2 hours apart, keeping your metabolism active and you will do well. Once you figure your macros, you then should focus on the time of carbs and the type of carbs to consume. E.g. eat low glycemic load carbs (previously referred to as complex carbs) all day, except after your workout, consume high GL carbs (previously referred to as simple carbs), to replenish glycogen expended in your workout.
So, as you see, it all depends on what you are trying to do. Also, by the way, protein is recommended to be around 1gram/LB of target body weight and not as a macro percentage. In the long run, it is possible that too much protein creates ill effects on your kidneys.
Hope that helps.0 -
I'll be a certified nutritionist by the end of May.
Carbs aren't bad. A lot of people think low carb diets are healthy but unless they're done properly and knowledgeably they're often not. The AMDR (acceptable macronutrient distribution range) for adults is 45-65% of carbs, 10-35% of protein, and 20-35% of fat for your total daily calories. So actually, if you're only eating 40% of carbs a day (assuming you're over the age of 19 and younger than 50), you're not eating enough. Carbs are the body's preferred source of energy so don't worry too much about eating too many. If increasing your carbohydrate intake drastically increases your calorie intake, try lowering your fat intake just a bit.
Edit: I would recommend something more like 50/25/25 instead of 40/30/30.0 -
Fat intake is very low,Why?I hit my protein target and keep fats around 25-35g. Carbs are often 250g+ for workout days and quite frankly... carbs are the best0 -
Nothing wrong with Carbs0
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Eat whatever you want as long as what you consume is less than what you burn. Everyone has his/her own food preference so it's not about uplifting one way or putting down another.
Whatever works for you is what will help you achieve your goals.0 -
Do I need to do something differently or can I keep on enjoying how I've got things right now?
Presuming no medical conditions, if your goal is to be slim and healthy then yes, you can keep doing what you are doing now and avoid extremes (for mental sanity if nothing else.)
If your goal is to be a bit more "ripped" you may need to focus more on your macros but really that is a minority goal rather than a majority goal.0 -
Not bad in the slightest as long as it doesn't take you over your calorie goal.Anyways, I know carbs are not the devil but if I'm hitting my protein macro, how bad is it to go over in carbs?
Assuming you mean .35g of fat per lb of total body weight then you are doing exactly the same as me - I'm finding it a very good fit with my food choices although most days I have a protein shake to hit that goal. Protein and fats as minimum targets and the rest I'm not too concerned about. My actual percentages work out something like 50/25/25 but percentages are pretty meaningless.I try to get at least 1g of protein per pound of LBM and .35g fat and then the carbs kinda fall wherever...but they're always over my 40%.
The only time I prioritise carbs is when I'm cycling a long distance.
[/quote]0 -
I don't buy into the low-carb diets. I did Atkins about 10 years ago and lost weight but that's definitely not something I could ever do long term. Ever.
Anyways, I know carbs are not the devil but if I'm hitting my protein macro, how bad is it to go over in carbs? Because I do it...like every single day. I have a 40/30/30 for my macros and I try to get at least 1g of protein per pound of LBM and .35g fat and then the carbs kinda fall wherever...but they're always over my 40%.
Do I need to do something differently or can I keep on enjoying how I've got things right now?
PS - I don't eat tons of white bread or anything...most of my carbs are from oatmeal, brown rice and bananas!
don't worry about carbs unless you have a medical reason to worry about them. i don't even track them.
make sure your daily fats and protein goals are set properly. meet or exceed those. then any leftover calories can be whatever you want them to be.
set your fats and protein goals based on your bodyweight and not as a % of your daily calories.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets0 -
If you're happy eating carbs then munch on. Eating high carbs can be just as healthy as eating low carbs.
If it works for you then great - just make sure you're getting enough protein.
Good luck.0 -
I don't buy into the low-carb diets. I did Atkins about 10 years ago and lost weight but that's definitely not something I could ever do long term. Ever.
What? You were doing Atkins 10 years ago when you were only 14????!!!!!0 -
I don't buy into the low-carb diets. I did Atkins about 10 years ago and lost weight but that's definitely not something I could ever do long term. Ever.
What? You were doing Atkins 10 years ago when you were only 14????!!!!!
Yes...well I guess it was 8-9 years ago because I was 15 or 16 (but I'm almost 25!). I wasn't really doing it to lose weight, my older brother (10 years my senior) was doing it to lose weight and I did it with him (I had a whopping 5 pounds to lose from working at McDonalds and eating garbage every day). I definitely don't have an unhealthy relationship with food or anything.0 -
I don't buy into the low-carb diets. I did Atkins about 10 years ago and lost weight but that's definitely not something I could ever do long term. Ever.
What? You were doing Atkins 10 years ago when you were only 14????!!!!!
Yes...well I guess it was 8-9 years ago because I was 15 or 16 (but I'm almost 25!). I wasn't really doing it to lose weight, my older brother (10 years my senior) was doing it to lose weight and I did it with him (I had a whopping 5 pounds to lose from working at McDonalds and eating garbage every day). I definitely don't have an unhealthy relationship with food or anything.
Just as a side comment, I know and know of people doing diets younger than 14-15. And just as another aside, Atkins has been around since around the 1970s, so I'm sure there are more out there.0 -
I don't think it'll do you much harm but remember not to neglect your fat intake.
Depending on your goals protein intake may or may not be important but your body does need a certain amount of fat to operate optimally (not sure what that level is though
) 0 -
If you're happy eating carbs then munch on. Eating high carbs can be just as healthy as eating low carbs.
If it works for you then great - just make sure you're getting enough protein.
Good luck.
I thought you didn't like carbs? Don't you eat Paleo or something? Or am I mistaken?0 -
"Dreaded" and "carbohydrate" don't register in the same sentence in my brain. I love my carbs. Whatever works for you though, it's the overall calorie deficit that matters.0
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If you're happy eating carbs then munch on. Eating high carbs can be just as healthy as eating low carbs.
If it works for you then great - just make sure you're getting enough protein.
Good luck.
I thought you didn't like carbs? Don't you eat Paleo or something? Or am I mistaken?
I love carbs (veggies, fruit etc), just not a big fan of grains, trans fats and refined sugars.
I don't eat more that 150g a day - I'm normally around the 100g mark.
If other people want to eat more than 150g, that's great.
At the end of the day, whatever works for them.0 -
If you're happy eating carbs then munch on. Eating high carbs can be just as healthy as eating low carbs.
If it works for you then great - just make sure you're getting enough protein.
Good luck.
I thought you didn't like carbs? Don't you eat Paleo or something? Or am I mistaken?
I love carbs (veggies, fruit etc), just not a big fan of grains, trans fats and refined sugars.
I don't eat more that 150g a day - I'm normally around the 100g mark.
If other people want to eat more than 150g, that's great.
At the end of the day, whatever works for them.
I see. Makes sense ( for the Paleo thing).0 -
I don't fear carbs, but whenever I'd consume mainly carbs I get some sort of carb face! Lol like my face puffs up. Goes away after low carbing for a few days.0
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I don't fear carbs, but whenever I'd consume mainly carbs I get some sort of carb face! Lol like my face puffs up. Goes away after low carbing for a few days.
Have you told your doctor about this? Maybe it's an allergy of some sort?0 -
I don't fear carbs, but whenever I'd consume mainly carbs I get some sort of carb face! Lol like my face puffs up. Goes away after low carbing for a few days.
You might have a gluten allergy. Maybe Celiac.0
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