Low Calorie vs Low Carb
warriorqueenkate
Posts: 15
Hi guys,
So i've been on my weight loss journey for about three years now. I lost 80 pounds and gained about 30 back. I lost the 80 on the low carb diet, it worked GREAT! But after a while I found myself to be too restricted with what I could and couldnt eat and the weight began to creep back on as i couldnt stay disciplined. So now in the past few months i've switched to low calories and i've been much happier with the food choices, but I havent seen the same amount of success as I did on the low carb. I don't know whether my calories are creeping in and i'm not logging them correctly or what, but I wanted your opinion on what works for you! It's SO hard going out to eat on the low carb and it's so restrictive, and i'm in college so of course i'm going to go out with my friends and get a drink here and there and live life. What have you found better success with and do you have any advice for me?
Kate
So i've been on my weight loss journey for about three years now. I lost 80 pounds and gained about 30 back. I lost the 80 on the low carb diet, it worked GREAT! But after a while I found myself to be too restricted with what I could and couldnt eat and the weight began to creep back on as i couldnt stay disciplined. So now in the past few months i've switched to low calories and i've been much happier with the food choices, but I havent seen the same amount of success as I did on the low carb. I don't know whether my calories are creeping in and i'm not logging them correctly or what, but I wanted your opinion on what works for you! It's SO hard going out to eat on the low carb and it's so restrictive, and i'm in college so of course i'm going to go out with my friends and get a drink here and there and live life. What have you found better success with and do you have any advice for me?
Kate
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Replies
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Good for you for figuring it out early and making a change! I did the same as you on low carb (lost 40 lbs), but gained double that back!
My belief is that very-low-carb (fewer than 30g/carb day, or little enough to put you into ketosis) is unbelievably effective. It actually creates a metabolic cheat where you excrete unburned calories, so you can eat more calories (for practical purposes, unlimited calories) while still losing. HOWEVER, this comes with a heavy price tag: restricted food choices, development of habits that are not particular healthy (bacon, butter, red meat), and absolutely no cheat days/meals allowed.
Most people can't sustain that. It takes all the pleasure out of food. And as soon as you start cheating a little here, a little there, you'll find that you regain because you're probably not in a calorie deficit. And most people regain more than they lost, because they're used to all that bacon and butter.
Low-cal (without regards to carbs) is far more flexible and sustainable. You can set your goals, and there's a linear relationship between how much you eat/workout and your body weight. It's easier to understand what's happening, and you won't get derailed with a night or a weekend "off" your plan. You're also getting used to healthier and lighter foods, which will benefit you no matter what your weight loss strategy.
Back in the 70's there was this diet called Scarsdale which takes advantage of this difference. The idea was you'd do 2 weeks of very-low-carb (enough to get into ketosis), and then 2 weeks of standard low-cal for maintenance. You could drop as much as 5-10 lbs in 2 weeks of low-carb, then a pound or two in the maintenance cycle. I did lose on that diet, but I never got into the 2-weeks-on, 2-weeks-off cycle, so it never stayed off. I could see someone highly disciplined getting the best of both worlds that way.
But really, it's a marathon, not a sprint. At this point in my life I'm happiest building a set of sustainable eating habits that will let me control my weight forever by continuing to do the same thing: set a reasonable calorie target goal, and work toward it on a daily basis.
Currently losing about 1.25 lbs/week on pure calories-in/calories-out while completely ignoring "macros". I tend to not eat a lot of garbage carbs like sugar and bread, but I'm at about 35% carbs most days and losing really well.
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While you would need to define "LOW" why not do both at the same time?0
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I eat with a reduced carb plan, not very low carb, and keep an eye on overall calories. I definitely lose quicker with the lower I go on carbs but this isn't a diet for me, it's a lifestyle change, so it has to be a bit more flexible to make it doable. My goal is 30gm carbs at meals, 15gm for snacks, for s total of 120gm or less for the day. Moderate carbs but much less than I was eating before starting this journey.0
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Maybe you lose quicker on low carb but, as you can attest, it is not as sustainable as low calorie. Are you weighing everything and what not?0
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Good for you for figuring it out early and making a change! I did the same as you on low carb (lost 40 lbs), but gained double that back!
My belief is that very-low-carb (fewer than 30g/carb day, or little enough to put you into ketosis) is unbelievably effective. It actually creates a metabolic cheat where you excrete unburned calories, so you can eat more calories (for practical purposes, unlimited calories) while still losing. HOWEVER, this comes with a heavy price tag: restricted food choices, development of habits that are not particular healthy (bacon, butter, red meat), and absolutely no cheat days/meals allowed.
Most people can't sustain that. It takes all the pleasure out of food. And as soon as you start cheating a little here, a little there, you'll find that you regain because you're probably not in a calorie deficit. And most people regain more than they lost, because they're used to all that bacon and butter.
Low-cal (without regards to carbs) is far more flexible and sustainable. You can set your goals, and there's a linear relationship between how much you eat/workout and your body weight. It's easier to understand what's happening, and you won't get derailed with a night or a weekend "off" your plan. You're also getting used to healthier and lighter foods, which will benefit you no matter what your weight loss strategy.
Back in the 70's there was this diet called Scarsdale which takes advantage of this difference. The idea was you'd do 2 weeks of very-low-carb (enough to get into ketosis), and then 2 weeks of standard low-cal for maintenance. You could drop as much as 5-10 lbs in 2 weeks of low-carb, then a pound or two in the maintenance cycle. I did lose on that diet, but I never got into the 2-weeks-on, 2-weeks-off cycle, so it never stayed off. I could see someone highly disciplined getting the best of both worlds that way.
But really, it's a marathon, not a sprint. At this point in my life I'm happiest building a set of sustainable eating habits that will let me control my weight forever by continuing to do the same thing: set a reasonable calorie target goal, and work toward it on a daily basis.
Currently losing about 1.25 lbs/week on pure calories-in/calories-out while completely ignoring "macros". I tend to not eat a lot of garbage carbs like sugar and bread, but I'm at about 35% carbs most days and losing really well.
No need to make things up. The supposed metabolic advantage to keto diets as been repeatedly shown to not exist, save for 3 or 4 trials such as kekwick and one of the rabst studies off the top of my head.
Why would you think you could eat unlimited calories and still lose weight if you eat the diet you are talking about?
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warriorqueenkate wrote: »Hi guys,
So i've been on my weight loss journey for about three years now. I lost 80 pounds and gained about 30 back. I lost the 80 on the low carb diet, it worked GREAT! But after a while I found myself to be too restricted with what I could and couldnt eat and the weight began to creep back on as i couldnt stay disciplined. So now in the past few months i've switched to low calories and i've been much happier with the food choices, but I havent seen the same amount of success as I did on the low carb. I don't know whether my calories are creeping in and i'm not logging them correctly or what, but I wanted your opinion on what works for you! It's SO hard going out to eat on the low carb and it's so restrictive, and i'm in college so of course i'm going to go out with my friends and get a drink here and there and live life. What have you found better success with and do you have any advice for me?
Kate
The most important thing is a diet you can adhere too and hopefully one that allows a little flexibility so you can still have a social life. To me neither low carb or low cal really fit that bill.
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"Eat right and exercise."
It works for me.
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^^ this0
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*0
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"Eat right and exercise" That doesnt really help because eating right is different for everyone. As someone that has little to no background in nutrition how is that supposed to help me?0
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warriorqueenkate wrote: »Hi guys,
So i've been on my weight loss journey for about three years now. I lost 80 pounds and gained about 30 back. I lost the 80 on the low carb diet, it worked GREAT! But after a while I found myself to be too restricted with what I could and couldnt eat and the weight began to creep back on as i couldnt stay disciplined. So now in the past few months i've switched to low calories and i've been much happier with the food choices, but I havent seen the same amount of success as I did on the low carb. I don't know whether my calories are creeping in and i'm not logging them correctly or what, but I wanted your opinion on what works for you! It's SO hard going out to eat on the low carb and it's so restrictive, and i'm in college so of course i'm going to go out with my friends and get a drink here and there and live life. What have you found better success with and do you have any advice for me?
Kate
The most important thing is a diet you can adhere too and hopefully one that allows a little flexibility so you can still have a social life. To me neither low carb or low cal really fit that bill.
So what would you suggest nutrition wise?0 -
ummm...that wasn't snarky?0
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And to answer your question, eating right-to lose fat that is, is eating less.0
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arditarose wrote: »And to answer your question, eating right-to lose fat that is, is eating less.
Yes but less what? carbs? calories? just quantity in general?0 -
warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »And to answer your question, eating right-to lose fat that is, is eating less.
Yes but less what? carbs? calories? just quantity in general?
Calories. That's what this site is about. You can track your nutrition if you like, but fat loss is about calories in vs. calories out. You must consume less than you burn.-1 -
arditarose wrote: »warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »And to answer your question, eating right-to lose fat that is, is eating less.
Yes but less what? carbs? calories? just quantity in general?
Calories. That's what this site is about. You can track your nutrition if you like, but fat loss is about calories in vs. calories out. You must consume less than you burn.
Yeah, that was the point of my post because everyone has found their own success trying different methods, I just wanted everyones opinions on what worked for them to gain more knowledge about things I could try or not try.0 -
warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »And to answer your question, eating right-to lose fat that is, is eating less.
Yes but less what? carbs? calories? just quantity in general?
Calories. That's what this site is about. You can track your nutrition if you like, but fat loss is about calories in vs. calories out. You must consume less than you burn.
Yeah, that was the point of my post because everyone has found their own success trying different methods, I just wanted everyones opinions on what worked for them to gain more knowledge about things I could try or not try.
I get you, but since this is a calorie counting site the majority of people on here are most concerned with that...since that's how you lose weight. There are definitely low carb dieters too. I don't know much about those diets. I do all the diets....I think it's called the balanced diet.
Anyway, do you have your account set up. How many calories does it give you to lose whatever weight you picked per week?0 -
arditarose wrote: »warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »And to answer your question, eating right-to lose fat that is, is eating less.
Yes but less what? carbs? calories? just quantity in general?
Calories. That's what this site is about. You can track your nutrition if you like, but fat loss is about calories in vs. calories out. You must consume less than you burn.
Yeah, that was the point of my post because everyone has found their own success trying different methods, I just wanted everyones opinions on what worked for them to gain more knowledge about things I could try or not try.
I get you, but since this is a calorie counting site the majority of people on here are most concerned with that...since that's how you lose weight. There are definitely low carb dieters too. I don't know much about those diets. I do all the diets....I think it's called the balanced diet.
Anyway, do you have your account set up. How many calories does it give you to lose whatever weight you picked per week?
I stay under 1900 a day, thats how much it gives me to lose 2 pounds a week. I'm just not seeing as much of a change on the scale as I did when I was eating low carb, and i'm pretty strict about my intake.0 -
warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »warriorqueenkate wrote: »arditarose wrote: »And to answer your question, eating right-to lose fat that is, is eating less.
Yes but less what? carbs? calories? just quantity in general?
Calories. That's what this site is about. You can track your nutrition if you like, but fat loss is about calories in vs. calories out. You must consume less than you burn.
Yeah, that was the point of my post because everyone has found their own success trying different methods, I just wanted everyones opinions on what worked for them to gain more knowledge about things I could try or not try.
I get you, but since this is a calorie counting site the majority of people on here are most concerned with that...since that's how you lose weight. There are definitely low carb dieters too. I don't know much about those diets. I do all the diets....I think it's called the balanced diet.
Anyway, do you have your account set up. How many calories does it give you to lose whatever weight you picked per week?
I stay under 1900 a day, thats how much it gives me to lose 2 pounds a week. I'm just not seeing as much of a change on the scale as I did when I was eating low carb, and i'm pretty strict about my intake.
You must be pretty active...and tall. Are you weighing all your solid food?0 -
I'm 5'10. I don't weigh my food because a lot of what I eat is soup or frozen meals, i'm a student and don't ever really have time to cook, so weighing hasn't seemed necessary to me when the calories are based on "x amount" and not weight.0
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Kate this is about Low Carb High Fat so may not be your cup of tea just if you are interested in the article please read the dieters' comments at the end. Based on my kids I think few young people are sick enough yet to give up sugar laced foods. The first month is hard but after that many feel so much better that keeping this eating lifestyle is a no-brainer.
authoritynutrition.com/10-benefits-of-low-carb-ketogenic-diets/0 -
Kate-it may seem like most people aren't answering your question, but they are. In the first instance, it's calorie deficit, whether the calorie are cotton candy or spinach. Of course, a cotton candy diet isn't going to provide a sense of satiety and wellness. But it's a very individual thing figuring out what does. I'm succeeding with eating 5 times/day, with 4 of the meals being closer to a snack--200 calorie or so--and 1 larger meal, which I eat as dinner. In my mind, I'm eating lowish carb, but they are about 50%of my calorie, through fruit, vegetables, oatmeal and the occasional beer. But the thing you learn on these boards is that everyone is different in terms of how they achieve a sustainable deficit. The only constant is the deficit.0
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GaleHawkins wrote: »Kate this is about Low Carb High Fat so may not be your cup of tea just if you are interested in the article please read the dieters' comments at the end. Based on my kids I think few young people are sick enough yet to give up sugar laced foods. The first month is hard but after that many feel so much better that keeping this eating lifestyle is a no-brainer.
authoritynutrition.com/10-benefits-of-low-carb-ketogenic-diets/
Lol authority nutrition is a biased shill who just cherry picks studies0 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »Kate this is about Low Carb High Fat so may not be your cup of tea just if you are interested in the article please read the dieters' comments at the end. Based on my kids I think few young people are sick enough yet to give up sugar laced foods. The first month is hard but after that many feel so much better that keeping this eating lifestyle is a no-brainer.
authoritynutrition.com/10-benefits-of-low-carb-ketogenic-diets/
Lol authority nutrition is a biased shill who just cherry picks studies
Sounds like the shills posting on MFP does it not who cherry pick the science that supports them?
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GaleHawkins wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »Kate this is about Low Carb High Fat so may not be your cup of tea just if you are interested in the article please read the dieters' comments at the end. Based on my kids I think few young people are sick enough yet to give up sugar laced foods. The first month is hard but after that many feel so much better that keeping this eating lifestyle is a no-brainer.
authoritynutrition.com/10-benefits-of-low-carb-ketogenic-diets/
Lol authority nutrition is a biased shill who just cherry picks studies
Sounds like the shills posting on MFP does it not who cherry pick the science that supports them?
You realize that the vast majority of points in that article, such as reduction in blood pressure, reduction in triglycerides, reduced risk for type 2 diabetes etc. are all attributed to improved body composition and weight reduction as opposed to simply following a ketogenic diet right?0 -
Kate,
You lost previously using low carb so it worked to lose weight, but not to maintain. This time you need to work on learning proper portion control and moderation.
Learn from the mistakes in the past and keep improving. I know I would have quit long ago if I had tried low carb. Good luck0 -
As a former diabetic in remission, I am partial to a balanced diet with all macros in the diet preserved. That is much more sustainable and satisfying.
I think your weight will come off. Slower this time, but more sustainable.0 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »GaleHawkins wrote: »Kate this is about Low Carb High Fat so may not be your cup of tea just if you are interested in the article please read the dieters' comments at the end. Based on my kids I think few young people are sick enough yet to give up sugar laced foods. The first month is hard but after that many feel so much better that keeping this eating lifestyle is a no-brainer.
authoritynutrition.com/10-benefits-of-low-carb-ketogenic-diets/
Lol authority nutrition is a biased shill who just cherry picks studies
Sounds like the shills posting on MFP does it not who cherry pick the science that supports them?
I don't know, the people that post studies that are in support of what the current body of literature supports?
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Just gotta say, Givemecoffee has lost over 100 pounds while Gale and Acg67 show pretty much no loss on their tickers. Who might have a handle on what works for weight loss?0
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Just gotta say, Givemecoffee has lost over 100 pounds while Gale and Acg67 show pretty much no loss on their tickers. Who might have a handle on what works for weight loss?
Eh.... ACG has very good body composition... logic?
It may shock you to know that there are people out there who utilize the site for more than losing lbs.0
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