Carbs = bad?

LittleVikki
LittleVikki Posts: 88 Member
edited September 26 in Food and Nutrition
Is going over Carbs bad?

I went 31g over today mainly due to pasta.

Will i gain weight?

Replies

  • jamie1888
    jamie1888 Posts: 1,704 Member
    31g of carbs wont determine if you gain weight. Exceeding your calories will make you gain weight.

    Correction:
    Heavy meals can mess with the scale in the short term. But, the gain is temporary and due to sodium/water retention, etc. But, if you stay within your calories and don't step on the scale every 3 minutes, you wont notice it.
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    Simple answer: Weight gain would come from going over calories, not the individual quantities you set for Carbs, Fats and Proteins.

    The Standard %ages the site gives you are 55% Carb, 30% Fat and 15% protein.

    So if you went over by 31 g on your carbs (124 Calories), it's highly likely that you're under elsewhere and thus it all balances out.

    Depending on how you're eating, you can vary your ratios to suit your personal choices for what your goals are.
  • smylex
    smylex Posts: 14
    There's been some debate as to whether or not there are specific food groups that lead to weight gain. According to one news article, a professor lost 27 pounds eating nothing but junk food (i.e. Twinkies, donuts). Here's the article from CNN.

    http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

    After I ended up in the emergency room with tachardia (accelerated heart rate), my physician looked over my blood and urine sample work. Not only was I dehydrated, I was also consuming too much protein. She then explained that a friend of hers, who is an oncologist, showed her the problems that arose from high protein diets, specifically cancer. She then explained the best diet is 40% carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats.

    You're not necessarily going to gain the weight from the pasta depending on your exercise levels.
  • stevemcknight
    stevemcknight Posts: 647 Member
    It depends on if you're worried about gaining weight or gaining fat. There are kind of two questions and two answers there.
  • lisabernard
    lisabernard Posts: 59 Member
    I've had to learn to think of food as fuel. Carbs give us energy in the short term and protein gives us energy in the long term. Carbs are good before exercise or when you need a boost of energy, but then turn to sugar. (thats why too many simple carbs are bad for diabetics and high triglycerides etc.) Without the protein, you will get tired and hungry quickly. Eating protein, keeps me full longer and give me more energy for the long term...

    - Lisa
  • What I'd add to this is that even if you did go over today, tomorrow is another day. Every day is another chance to do better. Just keep your calories under the limit and there's almost no way you can fail.
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    Is going over Carbs bad?

    I went 31g over today mainly due to pasta.

    Will i gain weight?

    b201320964.jpg
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
    There's been some debate as to whether or not there are specific food groups that lead to weight gain. According to one news article, a professor lost 27 pounds eating nothing but junk food (i.e. Twinkies, donuts). Here's the article from CNN.

    http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

    After I ended up in the emergency room with tachardia (accelerated heart rate), my physician looked over my blood and urine sample work. Not only was I dehydrated, I was also consuming too much protein. She then explained that a friend of hers, who is an oncologist, showed her the problems that arose from high protein diets, specifically cancer. She then explained the best diet is 40% carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats.

    You're not necessarily going to gain the weight from the pasta depending on your exercise levels.

    40/20/20? Do you mean 40/40/20?
  • CassarahW
    CassarahW Posts: 93 Member
    Carbs are a very needed part of our diet. Highly restricted carbs diets may get great results but it's at a very high price, decreased mental and physical health. Proccessed foods are the bad guy. Pasta, breads, sweets, etc... Imo I'd say don't count the carbs in your fruits, veggies, nuts, beans etc because they are good carbs. Limit processed foods and you'll see great results while staying healthy and maintaining your energy.
  • @ stevemcknight - could you explain the fat gain vs. weight gain? I'm always under my calorie goal but I do tend to go over my fat goal for the day.

    Much Thanks!
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    my physician looked over my blood and urine sample work. Not only was I dehydrated, I was also consuming too much protein. She then explained that a friend of hers, who is an oncologist, showed her the problems that arose from high protein diets, specifically cancer. She then explained the best diet is 40% carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats.


    Find a new doctor. This one can't do math. Wonder how she passed Med School?
  • vjh431
    vjh431 Posts: 38
    That all depends on variables. If you workout or work outdoors going over on your carb intake once and a while may not be such a bad thing. If your sedentary like most of us be on guard. Carbohydrates ultimately in the end break down into sugar and that's all processed foods (white rice, flour, bread, pasta, etc) which wreaks havoc with fat and insulin. Natural sources of carbohydrates can be found in spinach, carrots, parsnips, turnips and fructose heavy fruits such as pears and oranges. I would recommend at least a hundred grams of carbohydrate daily but never go over your recommended daily allotment. Mind the calories and you should keep on the straight and narrow path of good health.
  • DrBorkBork
    DrBorkBork Posts: 4,099 Member
    Carbs have a tendency to retain more water than other energy sources, so if you gain a couple ounces it's most likely water retention.

    The best diet is the one that makes you feel like Superman. Find it. LIVE IT.
  • LittleVikki
    LittleVikki Posts: 88 Member
    It depends on if you're worried about gaining weight or gaining fat. There are kind of two questions and two answers there.


    gaining fat is my biggest concern
  • crystal_sapphire
    crystal_sapphire Posts: 1,205 Member
    my physician looked over my blood and urine sample work. Not only was I dehydrated, I was also consuming too much protein. She then explained that a friend of hers, who is an oncologist, showed her the problems that arose from high protein diets, specifically cancer. She then explained the best diet is 40% carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats.


    Find a new doctor. This one can't do math. Wonder how she passed Med School?

    oh come on. most likely was written wrong by the poster
  • crystal_sapphire
    crystal_sapphire Posts: 1,205 Member
    my physician looked over my blood and urine sample work. Not only was I dehydrated, I was also consuming too much protein. She then explained that a friend of hers, who is an oncologist, showed her the problems that arose from high protein diets, specifically cancer. She then explained the best diet is 40% carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats.


    Find a new doctor. This one can't do math. Wonder how she passed Med School?

    oh come on. most likely was written wrong by the poster
  • PJilly
    PJilly Posts: 22,114 Member
    my physician looked over my blood and urine sample work. Not only was I dehydrated, I was also consuming too much protein. She then explained that a friend of hers, who is an oncologist, showed her the problems that arose from high protein diets, specifically cancer. She then explained the best diet is 40% carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats.


    Find a new doctor. This one can't do math. Wonder how she passed Med School?
    I thought those ratios were perfect. The first thing that went through my mind was, "Awesome! I'd have 20% left over to use for alcohol!" :tongue: :drinker: :laugh:
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    my physician looked over my blood and urine sample work. Not only was I dehydrated, I was also consuming too much protein. She then explained that a friend of hers, who is an oncologist, showed her the problems that arose from high protein diets, specifically cancer. She then explained the best diet is 40% carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats.


    Find a new doctor. This one can't do math. Wonder how she passed Med School?
    I thought those ratios were perfect. The first thing that went through my mind was, "Awesome! I'd have 20% left over to use for alcohol!" :tongue: :drinker: :laugh:

    Bwahahahaha! Love it! The Wine Percentage Category" Can't forget that one!
  • stevemcknight
    stevemcknight Posts: 647 Member
    Carbs are a very needed part of our diet. Highly restricted carbs diets may get great results but it's at a very high price, decreased mental and physical health. Proccessed foods are the bad guy. Pasta, breads, sweets, etc... Imo I'd say don't count the carbs in your fruits, veggies, nuts, beans etc because they are good carbs. Limit processed foods and you'll see great results while staying healthy and maintaining your energy.

    This is untrue, sorry :(

    There are absolutely no essential carbs - it's written plainly in every medical text book ever. The brain can function fine on keytones and the heart actually treats keytones in preference to glucose.

    I agree 10000000% about avoiding anything processed! Including bread and wheat!

    When you say good carbs vs. bad carbs - are you talking about glucose or fructose?
  • stevemcknight
    stevemcknight Posts: 647 Member
    my physician looked over my blood and urine sample work. Not only was I dehydrated, I was also consuming too much protein. She then explained that a friend of hers, who is an oncologist, showed her the problems that arose from high protein diets, specifically cancer. She then explained the best diet is 40% carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats.


    Find a new doctor. This one can't do math. Wonder how she passed Med School?
    I thought those ratios were perfect. The first thing that went through my mind was, "Awesome! I'd have 20% left over to use for alcohol!" :tongue: :drinker: :laugh:

    I thought the same exact thing :)
  • stevemcknight
    stevemcknight Posts: 647 Member
    @ stevemcknight - could you explain the fat gain vs. weight gain? I'm always under my calorie goal but I do tend to go over my fat goal for the day.

    Much Thanks!

    The bigger question is what influences fat gain and the retention of triglycerides within fat cells. Fatty acids move seemlessly in and out of cells all day long and is used for energy, so it's not a concern. Insulin, however, causes the formation of triglycerides in fat cells and prevents the breakdown to fatty acids. Any foods that cause an insulin spike is something to seriously avoid when trying to actively lose fat.

    The number one food that influences insulin is easily digestible carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, (yes even whole wheat), sugars, corn and rice. If you can limit those (or better just stop it all together) then you will see dramatic and quick changes in your body.

    Best of luck!

    Steve
  • TimWeis75
    TimWeis75 Posts: 30
    I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that I can relax when it comes to the nitty gritty of carb/fat/protein counts.

    I figure I'll be "fine" if I keep my carbohydrate-rich food servings (grain/fruit/tubers) to 2-3 a day and eat vegetables, eggs, cheese or meat instead. That should consistently put me at 75g a day of carbohydrates, give or take 10 or so either way.
  • PJilly
    PJilly Posts: 22,114 Member
    I'm going to keep with my 50/25/25 (carbs, protein, fat) ratios, with the bulk of my carbs coming from whole grains. I've lost all my weight and kept it off eating this way. I feel amazing, and my blood-work results are better than they were before, when I was eating more fat and needed to lose some weight. (I'm happy to share any numbers I have from my results if anyone wants to know what they are.)
  • @ Steve - Thanks for answering my question

    @ VH431 – I agree, about 100 grams of carbs a day is what my doctor said I should aim for (I need to lower my A1C), and to cut out wheat and yes as Steve said whole wheat too! Veggies and fruits are unlimited. It’s been 4 weeks and I feel great!

    Not to be gross but I’m using the bathroom on a regular basis now and I’ve lost 5 lbs. so far. I truly believe the whole wheat and grain products were binding me up!

    @ PJilly – I’m with you on the extra 20%
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