Low Calorie vs Low Carb

sodakat wrote: »

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?

I learned a lot from ACG .... Gale on the other hand not so much

OP, when it comes to weight loss, preferences on macros (carbs, protein, etc) are really about satiety. I think low carb has become so popular because a lot of people feel "fuller" when they get more protein and fat in their diet. If you are finding it difficult to keep your carbs under a certain number, then that number probably isn't right for you. I personally don't pay any attention to carbs, i just try to hit my protein number and make sure my fat isn't too low and I let the carbs fall where they may. I've only lost 8 lbs in like 8 months, but I only have a few more lbs to go and I'm not really trying all that hard . Other than keeping a calorie deficit, all the other stuff is going to vary from person to person. Good luck!

Everyone says you won't lose a lot on a high carb diet. I have lost 130 pounds in the past 7 months by eating high carb low fat! My diet is mainly rice brown pasta chicken and potatoes! Works wonders for me and I love the food I eat! X

When you go to the goals section of MFP and let it figure out your calories for you, how many calories does it say you should have per day? And what are the amounts of fat, protein and carbs that it says you should have? That's what I'd go by. It's set to help you achieve your goals in the healthiest way possible.

lilme21baby wrote: »

Everyone says you won't lose a lot on a high carb diet. I have lost 130 pounds in the past 7 months by eating high carb low fat! My diet is mainly rice brown pasta chicken and potatoes! Works wonders for me and I love the food I eat! X

And that is awesome! You're taking care of business. We're all different. We need to find what works for us and work the hell out of it, whichever plan it is.

kimny72 wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

OP, I've done both. Currently, I'm doing keto, <20g carbs and calorie counting. I lose a lot faster doing low-carb diets than higher-carb diets. I've lost 72lb in just over 6 mo. Weight loss CRAWLS on higher carbs for me.

But how fast you lose isn't what matters. What matters is sustainability. I have no trouble sustaining low-carb and plan on staying low-carb forever, higher than 20g once I hit maintenance but still low-carb. But for you it doesn't seem sustainable. If you can't keep the weight off, then it doesn't matter how fast you lose. Choose what you can incorporate into your lifestyle long term. It's not a race. There is no finish line. You always have to not overeat, whether you are losing weight or maintaining lost weight. So if higher carb, lower calorie is sustainable for you, do that.

Best wishes.

Great answer! Plus... Bacon. And... Minions.

Aren't they cute? I made those for my best friend's kids.

If you like the results Low Carb gives you there is a way to be able to have carbs and live a healthy life. Ultimately, what it boils down to in low carb to continue to lose weight is stay away from starchy and sugary foods. Eat fruits low in sugar like berries and melon. As much as people hate to see "Atkins" look into the program. It teaches you to cut out all the junk and slowly add foods back in while losing weight. Phase 2 OWL (on going weight loss gives you a wide variety of food to eat just no breads, grains or high in sugar foods) then by the time you are in the maintain mode( phase 4) most people can eat all sorts of foods like fruits whole grains and etc. it teaches you to learn about your body and what it can and can not tolerate. it also teaches you what your carb tolerance is. Hope this helps.

OP: as you have a decent amount of weight to lose, you may do better with lower carbs (not low carbs). As has been mentioned, the 'best' diet is the one you will stick to. Possibly keeping carbs to a moderate level (130 - 180 say) will be the best balance.

warriorqueenkate wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

OP, I've done both. Currently, I'm doing keto, <20g carbs and calorie counting. I lose a lot faster doing low-carb diets than higher-carb diets. I've lost 72lb in just over 6 mo. Weight loss CRAWLS on higher carbs for me.

But how fast you lose isn't what matters. What matters is sustainability. I have no trouble sustaining low-carb and plan on staying low-carb forever, higher than 20g once I hit maintenance but still low-carb. But for you it doesn't seem sustainable. If you can't keep the weight off, then it doesn't matter how fast you lose. Choose what you can incorporate into your lifestyle long term. It's not a race. There is no finish line. You always have to not overeat, whether you are losing weight or maintaining lost weight. So if higher carb, lower calorie is sustainable for you, do that.

Best wishes.

That sounds interesting, would you mind giving me an example of what you eat on a regular day for meals, snacks, etc? I'm trying to figure out a more balanced way of eating and I definitely want to cut my carbs at least a little right now on top of staying in my calorie goal

Sure.

Breakfast:
LC Scramble (2 eggs, half oz shredded cheese, 1 TBSP half n half)
Coffee with 4 TBSP half n half and Torani sugar-free choc syrup

Lunch:
3 large slices smoked ham rolled around and oz of colby jack slickes
1oz nuts (usually mixed of roasted almonds and pecans)

Supper:
1 or 2 servings of non-starchy veggies (brussell sprouts, sauteed cabbage, greens, green beans)
4.5 oz of meat (chicken, porkchop, steak, or fish)
3 TBSP of sour cream mixed with spices (as a dip) or ranch dressing

And loads of water all day. I drink about 10-12 cups.


But that's a keto menu. Less than 20g net carbs. It's very hardcore low-carb and isn't for everyone, though I certainly like it. . What you might want to be doing is to reduce added sugar foods and stick with non-starchy veggies, lower-carb fruits, and reduce grains. Don't shy away from fats (they aren't a villain) as they work with your protein to keep you satisfied.

Lots of programs suggest you cut your carb intake to about 40% which varies based on your cal level but is around 200g carbs. That isn't really low-carb, though it is less than many people. It all depends on whether you want to cut out more bread, pasta, and rice. If you don't mind cutting that more, you can nudge your carbs under 200g. Plans aren't usually considered low-carb unless the carb count is under 150g. And if you do net carbs, you can probably exist pretty happily around that number, getting to have lots of veggies, fruits, some beans, and nuts. And if you focus on eating the foods I just mentioned, with some good proteins and fats, you won't need to worry about a plan or carb counting as much.

It's all up to you. Cutting carbs naturally helps with portion control (and it also helps some people lose cravings for added sugar foods and starchy foods), which leads to keeping your calories naturally lower.

So here's the cutting carbs low-down:

• Focus on non-starchy veggies, lower carb fruits, a little beans, some nuts
• Avoid added sugars and starches/grains (or just cut down to 1 or 2 servings per day if you can't live without them)
• Eat lower carb dairy if it doesn't bother you
• Eat about 4 oz of protein for your 2 or 3 main meals
• Fill the rest with fat (fat's good for you)
• Keep the calorie count in a deficit

If you are concerned with macro percentages, then set your carbs to 20-30%. ( 5% is keto level and where I'm at most of the time). You'll want the fat percentage slightly higher than your protein. But you can do it however you like. You may have to experiment some to find your perfect ratios. And that is good. If you end up needing the carbs being higher, you can certainly do that. We're looking for what works best for you.

If you have more questions, I help mod the Low Carber Daily Forum group. There are many different folks who eat carbs at different levels, and some who've been eating low-carb for a long time.

Hope you find your sweet spot.