Anyone else on a high-carb, low-protein diet?

Only 10-20% of your diet needs to be protein. Anything more is just excess. Read about the 80/10/10 diet. It's an even more extreme version of my diet and people thrive on it. It's been proven that too much protein in your system actually leaches calcium from the bones.

Go do research! I didn't decide on high-carb for kicks. I read books! Read The China Study, The 80/10/10 Diet, Diet for a New America. Google it! There are lots of sites to explain why high-complex-carb diets are good.

Only 10-20% of your diet needs to be protein. Anything more is just excess. Read about the 80/10/10 diet. It's an even more extreme version of my diet and people thrive on it. It's been proven that too much protein in your system actually leaches calcium from the bones.

Go do research! I didn't decide on high-carb for kicks. I read books! Read The China Study, The 80/10/10 Diet, Diet for a New America. Google it! There are lots of sites to explain why high-complex-carb diets are good.

I love when people say "go do research" but have clearly never, ever even read a scientific journal article, let alone done any actual original research themselves.

That's cute. Really. But it's time to stop reading diet books and listen to people who actually DO do research.

I am. By virtue of being a vegetarian. It's hard to do high protein.

I wonder where cows get their protein from. Do they eat other cows? :laugh:

quite frankly, and good luck finding filling sources of fat that don't have protein in them anyway.

quite frankly, and good luck finding filling sources of fat that don't have protein in them anyway.

Avocado, unfiltered cold pressed virgin olive oil, unsweetened coconut, coconut oil, coconut milk, dark chocolate...even nuts really have very little protein as compared to fat.

I'm not "doing" low protein high carb on purpose, but I only seem to comfortably manage 60-80 grams a day with the occasional 100+ day, which translates to 10%-20% of my total intake (depending on the number of calories I consume that day).

I tried to go higher on protein, I really did, but it stressed me out trying to find reliable and easy sources, since most of the sources I like happen to also be rich in carbs, so I decided that I should forget about macros for now. Losing weight comfortably until I'm at a healthy weight is better than trying to stick to a higher protein then quitting halfway through.

This is very important imo.

Unless someone is on some extreme macro mix, the benefits of losing weight often outweighs the possible risk of losing some muscle mass. Adherence is key. If you are trying to hit macros that mean that adherence is significantly impacted (or even your mental well being), then it is just not worth it imo. To me, if someone has say 100lb to lose, there is no point losing only 10lb due to adherence issues and ensuring that 100% is fat and not muscle (which with 100lb to lose, their protein would have to be so low as to be virtually non existent in any event) when they could get a macro mix that significantly impacts adherence in a positive way, and lose the 100lb, even if slightly more of it is muscle than would be the case with higher protein). Which is best, a 250lb female with 130lb LBM or a 150lb female with 100lb LBM. I would suggest the latter (from a health perspective).

Obviously I am using a more extreme example, but the cost/benefits still apply. It also depends very much on a persons goals and other individual factors.

It's all personal preference. After all these studies I've noticed one thing: there are very minimal differences. It's all about calories in - calories out. If loading up on carbs helps you do that, go for it.

The average adult needs 55g of protein a day. I personally have trouble hitting that so protein is a big factor in what I eat. Even a body builder only needs 115g of protein per day. Anything more is overkill and has been proven to leech calcium.

The environmental effects of these meat based diets is devastating. In one acre of land, a few years, pounds upon pounds of grains and water, I can make 16 lbs. of beef. In that same acre, I can make 20k lbs of potatoes in one season. No grain, no water to feed that grain, and just water to feed the potatoes. Do the math. If people don't start cutting their meat intake and eating more fruits and vegetables, we'll be in a severe food crisis by 2020.

It's all personal preference. After all these studies I've noticed one thing: there are very minimal differences. It's all about calories in - calories out. If loading up on carbs helps you do that, go for it.

The average adult needs 55g of protein a day. I personally have trouble hitting that so protein is a big factor in what I eat. Even a body builder only needs 115g of protein per day. Anything more is overkill and has been proven to leech calcium.

The environmental effects of these meat based diets is devastating. In one acre of land, a few years, pounds upon pounds of grains and water, I can make 16 lbs. of beef. In that same acre, I can make 20k lbs of potatoes in one season. No grain, no water to feed that grain, and just water to feed the potatoes. Do the math. If people don't start cutting their meat intake and eating more fruits and vegetables, we'll be in a severe food crisis by 2020.

Look, I work in ecology and environmental fields and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but going plant based really isn't going to fix this issue. Especially if you're from a first world country. I encourage everyone to make environmentally mindful choices when it comes to their food, but the simple fact of the matter is there are too many damn people in locations where infrastructure or govt. issues prevent adequate distribution of food. Going plant based sounds great on the surface, but there can be severe consequences depending on how that change over is handled.

It's my understanding that we continue to produce sufficient food but that issues are related to distribution and waste. Even in Western Europe, a rapid switch to a different food sourcing pyramid risks radically changing social landscapes and killing off the small farms which are the backbone historical cultures. France without a thousand cheeses? What sadness.

The end of world scenario by 2020 seems rather scaremongering than realistic.

As to the numbers proposed the are ridiculously low. My own RDA based on US standard equation as a minimum is 72 grams for and endurance athlete.
Reference: Dietary Reference Intakes For Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids,Cholesterol, Protein,and Amino Acids, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Link: www.nap.edu

However, given current best recommendation for a bodybuilder these are closer to 140 g/day for my current training. That 55g/115g that the OP proposes as best fit, just isn't true. At least based on educated primary research review.

This doesn't even bring in to account issues affecting waterways and ocean eutrophication from the additional chemical load required to produce the plant mass necessary for consumption. And the fact that when most people go off farm animals for their protein they often move to fish/shellfish as an alternative, and there are real numbers indicating that our large fish consumption is already well beyond maxed out.

Honestly, you really want to make a difference, start eating bugs, 100% serious on this.

It's all personal preference. After all these studies I've noticed one thing: there are very minimal differences. It's all about calories in - calories out. If loading up on carbs helps you do that, go for it.

The average adult needs 55g of protein a day. I personally have trouble hitting that so protein is a big factor in what I eat. Even a body builder only needs 115g of protein per day. Anything more is overkill and has been proven to leech calcium.

The environmental effects of these meat based diets is devastating. In one acre of land, a few years, pounds upon pounds of grains and water, I can make 16 lbs. of beef. In that same acre, I can make 20k lbs of potatoes in one season. No grain, no water to feed that grain, and just water to feed the potatoes. Do the math. If people don't start cutting their meat intake and eating more fruits and vegetables, we'll be in a severe food crisis by 2020.

Look, I work in ecology and environmental fields and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but going plant based really isn't going to fix this issue. Especially if you're from a first world country. I encourage everyone to make environmentally mindful choices when it comes to their food, but the simple fact of the matter is there are too many damn people in locations where infrastructure or govt. issues prevent adequate distribution of food. Going plant based sounds great on the surface, but there can be severe consequences depending on how that change over is handled.

It's my understanding that we continue to produce sufficient food but that issues are related to distribution and waste. Even in Western Europe, a rapid switch to a different food sourcing pyramid risks radically changing social landscapes and killing off the small farms which are the backbone historical cultures. France without a thousand cheeses? What sadness.

The end of world scenario by 2020 seems rather scaremongering than realistic.

As to the numbers proposed the are ridiculously low. My own RDA based on US standard equation as a minimum is 72 grams for and endurance athlete.
Reference: Dietary Reference Intakes For Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids,Cholesterol, Protein,and Amino Acids, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Link: www.nap.edu

However, given current best recommendation for a bodybuilder these are closer to 140 g/day for my current training. That 55g/115g that the OP proposes as best fit, just isn't true. At least based on educated primary research review.

This doesn't even bring in to account issues affecting waterways and ocean eutrophication from the additional chemical load required to produce the plant mass necessary for consumption. And the fact that when most people go off farm animals for their protein they often move to fish/shellfish as an alternative, and there are real numbers indicating that our large fish consumption is already well beyond maxed out.

Honestly, you really want to make a difference, start eating bugs, 100% serious on this.

I've always wanted to try fried grasshoppers. I wonder if they are like Tamagogani or Kanikko (basically sweetened dried/roasted mini crabs).

My Hispanic students in LA used to bring me roasted crickets all the time. Very tasty, and an excellent low ecological impact protein source.

It's all personal preference. After all these studies I've noticed one thing: there are very minimal differences. It's all about calories in - calories out. If loading up on carbs helps you do that, go for it.

The average adult needs 55g of protein a day. I personally have trouble hitting that so protein is a big factor in what I eat. Even a body builder only needs 115g of protein per day. Anything more is overkill and has been proven to leech calcium.

The environmental effects of these meat based diets is devastating. In one acre of land, a few years, pounds upon pounds of grains and water, I can make 16 lbs. of beef. In that same acre, I can make 20k lbs of potatoes in one season. No grain, no water to feed that grain, and just water to feed the potatoes. Do the math. If people don't start cutting their meat intake and eating more fruits and vegetables, we'll be in a severe food crisis by 2020.

Look, I work in ecology and environmental fields and I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but going plant based really isn't going to fix this issue. Especially if you're from a first world country. I encourage everyone to make environmentally mindful choices when it comes to their food, but the simple fact of the matter is there are too many damn people in locations where infrastructure or govt. issues prevent adequate distribution of food. Going plant based sounds great on the surface, but there can be severe consequences depending on how that change over is handled.

It's my understanding that we continue to produce sufficient food but that issues are related to distribution and waste. Even in Western Europe, a rapid switch to a different food sourcing pyramid risks radically changing social landscapes and killing off the small farms which are the backbone historical cultures. France without a thousand cheeses? What sadness.

The end of world scenario by 2020 seems rather scaremongering than realistic.

As to the numbers proposed the are ridiculously low. My own RDA based on US standard equation as a minimum is 72 grams for and endurance athlete.
Reference: Dietary Reference Intakes For Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids,Cholesterol, Protein,and Amino Acids, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Link: www.nap.edu

However, given current best recommendation for a bodybuilder these are closer to 140 g/day for my current training. That 55g/115g that the OP proposes as best fit, just isn't true. At least based on educated primary research review.

This doesn't even bring in to account issues affecting waterways and ocean eutrophication from the additional chemical load required to produce the plant mass necessary for consumption. And the fact that when most people go off farm animals for their protein they often move to fish/shellfish as an alternative, and there are real numbers indicating that our large fish consumption is already well beyond maxed out.

Honestly, you really want to make a difference, start eating bugs, 100% serious on this.

I've always wanted to try fried grasshoppers. I wonder if they are like Tamagogani or Kanikko (basically sweetened dried/roasted mini crabs).

My Hispanic students in LA used to bring me roasted crickets all the time. Very tasty, and an excellent low ecological impact protein source.

I eat bugs. Well, when I'm back in Mexico, especially the south. Fried grasshoppers, chapulines, taste like lemon and salt, just crunchy. We also eat a small type of worm called jumlies while they are still alive in central Mexico. Various escarabajos or beetles are eaten in the south - cooked or raw. But it will never be a major dietary part. They are just snacks. Getting sufficient volume on insects isn't going to happen.