carbs!!

sana66
sana66 Posts: 54 Member
edited September 26 in Food and Nutrition
hi guys..im really struggling to calculate how much carbs is hould be having a day! myfitnesspal recomended above 200grams which i think is waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much! im trying to stick to a 100, but not sure if thats right?
im not on the atkins diet or anything, I just want to be on a good balanced diet where i have a bit of everything. Could any1 reccomend how many grams of carbs is sufficient to loose a steady amount of weight..
thanks :)
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Replies

  • lorinjer
    lorinjer Posts: 233 Member
    I set mine at 20%
  • shipleyd
    shipleyd Posts: 94 Member
    I have always found this calculator to be very useful. Hope it helps!

    http://www.freedieting.com/tools/nutrient_calculator.htm
  • Deloge
    Deloge Posts: 9 Member
    i think 100 wouldnt be enough, but thats just my thought, as long as yr getting all the nutrients your body needs
  • Angela4Health
    Angela4Health Posts: 1,319 Member
    Generally it's recommended that about 50% of your calories come from carbs, but if you work out hard, and often, maybe up it to 55%, which is what I do, and haven't had any problems losing weight.
  • mrphil86
    mrphil86 Posts: 2,382 Member
    I struggle to understand why carbs are so bad? If you exercise with the diet, there is no reason in the world to worry.

    Unless you like your body to take away from the muscles instead of carbs.

    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ammonia.htm
  • Alphastate
    Alphastate Posts: 295 Member
    Carbs are not bad. Carbs are burned as energy and produce serotonin, the chemical that makes us happy. I adjust my clients percentages on here to be 45% carbs, 30% protein, and 25% fat. If you want to try something a bit more dramatic, you can adjust them to 40% carbs, 40% protein, 20% fat.
  • kelika71
    kelika71 Posts: 778 Member
    So many people thing carbs are bad. Well, there are good carbs (like veggies and fruits) and then there are bad carbs (like a candy bar). I'm Type 2 Diabetic and I eat carbs!! My setting for carbs are at 45%. I make sure my highest carb meal is about an hour before a workout. You need 'fuel' to get through it.

    Exactly what Alphastate said: 45% carbs, 30% protein and 25% fat are my settings.
  • k_ewilliams
    k_ewilliams Posts: 43
    You are supposed to get 45 to 65 percent of you daily calories from carbohydrates. So just multiply your recommended cals by .65 and that's you prime number. Then 25 percent are fat calories and 10 percent from protein. Obviously these numbers can vary, these are just guidelines..
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    You are supposed to get 45 to 65 percent of you daily calories from carbohydrates. So just multiply your recommended cals by .65 and that's you prime number. Then 25 percent are fat calories and 10 percent from protein. Obviously these numbers can vary, these are just guidelines..

    This is so not true.............

    I get about 70% fat, 25% protein and 5% carbs. Today my carbs will be a bit more, probably about 10% because I had some grapes.

    The mainstay of my eating plan is fat.
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    You are supposed to get 45 to 65 percent of you daily calories from carbohydrates. So just multiply your recommended cals by .65 and that's you prime number. Then 25 percent are fat calories and 10 percent from protein. Obviously these numbers can vary, these are just guidelines..

    This is so not true.............

    I get about 70% fat, 25% protein and 5% carbs. Today my carbs will be a bit more, probably about 10% because I had some grapes.

    The mainstay of my eating plan is fat.

    If I may ask, what eating plan is this? That's a LOT of fat to be getting in your diet, no? Three times the amount of fat than protein? Is it for a medical reason? :indifferent:
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    You are supposed to get 45 to 65 percent of you daily calories from carbohydrates. So just multiply your recommended cals by .65 and that's you prime number. Then 25 percent are fat calories and 10 percent from protein. Obviously these numbers can vary, these are just guidelines..

    This is so not true.............

    I get about 70% fat, 25% protein and 5% carbs. Today my carbs will be a bit more, probably about 10% because I had some grapes.

    The mainstay of my eating plan is fat.

    If I may ask, what eating plan is this? That's a LOT of fat to be getting in your diet, no? Three times the amount of fat than protein? Is it for a medical reason? :indifferent:


    It is based on Paleo standards and is an anti-inflammatory plan. There are many medical reasons why I and many others eat this way and get to optimum health.
  • k_ewilliams
    k_ewilliams Posts: 43
    Hey, as I said it is just a guide, but I got the values actually from a course I just finished at university. It was focused on nutrition, and there were studies that back up the values. So they are not just pulled out of thin air lol.
    Personally, I do not eat so much of the higher extremity of fat. Since it goes right to the hips...
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Hey, as I said it is just a guide, but I got the values actually from a course I just finished at university. It was focused on nutrition, and there were studies that back up the values. So they are not just pulled out of thin air lol.
    Personally, I do not eat so much of the higher extremity of fat. Since it goes right to the hips...

    Actually eating a higher percentage of fat will cause your body to burn fat so my hips are actually about 4 inches smaller in the past 6 weeks............
  • k_ewilliams
    k_ewilliams Posts: 43
    What!?! That is actually nuts to me! I've never heard of those values before, I'm such a major carb eater... I love them. How do you manage lot only eat 10 percent? I would last less then a day following that...props haha
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    You are supposed to get 45 to 65 percent of you daily calories from carbohydrates. So just multiply your recommended cals by .65 and that's you prime number. Then 25 percent are fat calories and 10 percent from protein. Obviously these numbers can vary, these are just guidelines..

    This is so not true.............

    I get about 70% fat, 25% protein and 5% carbs. Today my carbs will be a bit more, probably about 10% because I had some grapes.

    The mainstay of my eating plan is fat.

    If I may ask, what eating plan is this? That's a LOT of fat to be getting in your diet, no? Three times the amount of fat than protein? Is it for a medical reason? :indifferent:


    It is based on Paleo standards and is an anti-inflammatory plan. There are many medical reasons why I and many others eat this way and get to optimum health.

    Is there a reason behind such a high fat intake? It seems to go against what the medical community advocates.

    I don't think the other poster was wrong though, you've just adopted an nontraditional diet :wink:
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    Hey, as I said it is just a guide, but I got the values actually from a course I just finished at university. It was focused on nutrition, and there were studies that back up the values. So they are not just pulled out of thin air lol.
    Personally, I do not eat so much of the higher extremity of fat. Since it goes right to the hips...

    Actually eating a higher percentage of fat will cause your body to burn fat so my hips are actually about 4 inches smaller in the past 6 weeks............

    Please link me the article!! If there's any way I get to eat fat and lose it, I'm all for it :bigsmile:
  • mrphil86
    mrphil86 Posts: 2,382 Member
    Paleo diet just makes no sense to me. If you eat what nature gave you, I'm pretty sure nature gave carbs.

    Fat get produced from carbs... I mean... The whole thing makes no sense.
  • k_ewilliams
    k_ewilliams Posts: 43
    Oh that's super interesting, I'd like to read it too. I learnt that because it is already fat, the body requires less energy to convert the fat into stored fat... Whereas for the amino acids from proteins and monosaccharides from carbs have to change into the fat structure.
    As I said, super interesting that it seems the reverse is true, as well.
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    Oh that's super interesting, I'd like to read it too. I learnt that because it is already fat, the body requires less energy to convert the fat into stored fat... Whereas for the amino acids from proteins and monosaccharides from carbs have to change into the fat structure.
    As I said, super interesting that it seems the reverse is true, as well.

    Agreed. At the moment I think it's insane & a way to justify eating fat, lol. But I'm keeping a completely open mind until I read the link she provides. It seems to go against all basic nutrition/medical/health principles :huh:
  • Rockin33
    Rockin33 Posts: 58
    I set mine at 20%

    I've been trying to figure out how to set my numbers differently. Can you guide me through the steps or tell me where to go. Thank you.
  • Rockin33
    Rockin33 Posts: 58
    Paleo diet just makes no sense to me. If you eat what nature gave you, I'm pretty sure nature gave carbs.

    Fat get produced from carbs... I mean... The whole thing makes no sense.

    But nature did not combine bread, muffins, granola bars etc. If you eat fruit, veggies, oats etc. they are carbs but in natural form. That is what I understand about paleo diet. I am not following that diet in particular but I can see how a bagel does not fit into that equation.
  • TrainerRobin
    TrainerRobin Posts: 509 Member
    You are supposed to get 45 to 65 percent of you daily calories from carbohydrates. So just multiply your recommended cals by .65 and that's you prime number. Then 25 percent are fat calories and 10 percent from protein. Obviously these numbers can vary, these are just guidelines..

    Agreed. That's about where I fall too, although I may vary anywhere within the RANGE endorsed by the Cooper Institute (Fat: 20% to 35%, Protein 10% to 35%, and Carbs 45% to 65%), depending on my activity, goals and just "life."

    Those ranges have worked GREAT for me in terms of losing a significant number of pounds (close to 100 ... 76 since joining MFP) and MORE importantly, really dropping my body fat percentage and increasing my lean muscle mass (and getting my medical numbers together -- my doctor is THRILLED) and keeping it that way for almost four years. I've had the same success with my clients. Not trendy. Not complicated. Just a balanced, sustainable way of eating.

    Find your own healthy sweet spot and go for it! :)
  • TS65
    TS65 Posts: 1,024 Member
    Here's what I do - I eat carbs... BUT I try to stick to complex carbs (brocolli, tomatoes, berries, etc.). Maybe an english muffin or a slice of whole grain toast for breakfast - but RARELY pasta or potatoes (and I really, really try to stay away from processed foods or sugar... no, I'm not always successful but I try). When you eat "Clean", you don't really need to count your carbs. Of course, this is only my opinion and not based on any medical documentation so take it for what it's worth.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Paleo diet just makes no sense to me. If you eat what nature gave you, I'm pretty sure nature gave carbs.

    Fat get produced from carbs... I mean... The whole thing makes no sense.

    I eat carbs...........the carbs are in the form of vegetables.

    Read some of the books, it makes perfect sense.
  • TrainerRobin
    TrainerRobin Posts: 509 Member
    Here's what I do - I eat carbs... BUT I try to stick to complex carbs (brocolli, tomatoes, berries, etc.). Maybe an english muffin or a slice of whole grain toast for breakfast - but RARELY pasta or potatoes (and I really, really try to stay away from processed foods or sugar... no, I'm not always successful but I try). When you eat "Clean", you don't really need to count your carbs. Of course, this is only my opinion and not based on any medical documentation so take it for what it's worth.

    Amen. Good common sense. :)
  • mrphil86
    mrphil86 Posts: 2,382 Member
    Paleo diet just makes no sense to me. If you eat what nature gave you, I'm pretty sure nature gave carbs.

    Fat get produced from carbs... I mean... The whole thing makes no sense.

    I eat carbs...........the carbs are in the form of vegetables.

    Read some of the books, it makes perfect sense.

    I read plenty of books and studies on the subject and many other diets. I've read most of the references from websites like cross fit trying to understand it.

    I understand you eat carbs, but why so little? I never read anything that fully explained why. It always just says crap about insulin spikes... But that's only simple carbs. Yet you eat fruits that are made up of simple carbs. This all follows the paleo diet but it contradicts yourself. I have access to plenty of nutritionists and doctors (a decent amount into sports medicine), not once did I hear the paleo diet is the way to go. It seems barely 1% (if even that) of the medical community endorses it.

    Yet eating fat that requires more energy to breakdown into energy is the thing to do? What happens when you run out of carbs that provide the quick energy? Your body starts breaking down muscles. Is that the goal? To have no muscle mass what so ever?

    I'd love the see an ACTUAL scientific study showing me other wise.
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    Paleo diet just makes no sense to me. If you eat what nature gave you, I'm pretty sure nature gave carbs.

    Fat get produced from carbs... I mean... The whole thing makes no sense.

    I eat carbs...........the carbs are in the form of vegetables.

    Read some of the books, it makes perfect sense.

    But can you please give us your source from where you found that a healthy diet is 70% fat? :smile:
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Paleo diet just makes no sense to me. If you eat what nature gave you, I'm pretty sure nature gave carbs.

    Fat get produced from carbs... I mean... The whole thing makes no sense.

    I eat carbs...........the carbs are in the form of vegetables.

    Read some of the books, it makes perfect sense.

    But can you please give us your source from where you found that a healthy diet is 70% fat? :smile:

    Read The Primal Blue Print, Go to the website Mark's Daily Apple, go to Dr Mercola's website. Read ANY of the blogs or books by Gary Taubes or Dr Mary Enig.

    There are plenty of sources..........
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Paleo diet just makes no sense to me. If you eat what nature gave you, I'm pretty sure nature gave carbs.

    Fat get produced from carbs... I mean... The whole thing makes no sense.

    I eat carbs...........the carbs are in the form of vegetables.

    Read some of the books, it makes perfect sense.

    I read plenty of books and studies on the subject and many other diets.

    I understand you eat carbs, but why so little? I never read anything that fully explained why. It always just says crap about insulin spikes... But that's only simple carbs.

    I'd love the see an ACTUAL scientific study showing me other wise.

    Actually NO it is not just simple carbs. Any carbs and protein cause an insulin response. Fats do not.
  • mrphil86
    mrphil86 Posts: 2,382 Member
    Paleo diet just makes no sense to me. If you eat what nature gave you, I'm pretty sure nature gave carbs.

    Fat get produced from carbs... I mean... The whole thing makes no sense.

    I eat carbs...........the carbs are in the form of vegetables.

    Read some of the books, it makes perfect sense.

    I read plenty of books and studies on the subject and many other diets.

    I understand you eat carbs, but why so little? I never read anything that fully explained why. It always just says crap about insulin spikes... But that's only simple carbs.

    I'd love the see an ACTUAL scientific study showing me other wise.

    Actually NO it is not just simple carbs. Any carbs and protein cause an insulin response. Fats do not.

    And those references you stated (I have read parts of the primal blueprint before.) have no real scientific backing.
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