Low Carb diet worth it?
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Foamroller wrote: »LolBroScience wrote: »Foamroller wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »The only way I would consider low carb as an option would be if I was far less active than I am. I think less active individuals can definitely benefit from going low carb...if you're active, it's completely unnecessary and counterproductive to fitness goals.
How do you know this?
From The Big Lebowski
I'm active, 1-2 hours/day. I logged 57 hrs active physical activity in the past month. In fact, since I no longer have to feed my body every few hours because of low glucose, last bikeride was for 4.5 hrs WITHOUT energycrashing or bonking. So in my experience LCHF diet helps my fitness goals.
I can't speak for anyone else. I still would guess that people like Ben Greenfield who is a tri-athlete, would probably not do low carb, if he thought it would be bad for his athletic aspirations.
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2013/05/low-carb-triathlon-training/
Edit: for clarity. Oh, I forgot. I even did a sprint up to 95% maxpulse at the end of that 4.5 hours ride.
So... pit one athlete against the vast majority of athletes ? Yes, there are outliers.. but the vast majority of studies out there point to the fact that carbohydrates are EXTREMELY beneficial for those that are training or exercising vigorously compared to low carb or no carb diets.
Can you just accept that we are different. I don't slag your diet. Why would I if you mean it's working FOR YOU. Be a little generous. There isn't a one size fits all. Your goals are not the same as mine. I only care about MY fitness goals. What other people choose to do for THEIR goals, I don't care. End of story.
Where did I not acknowledge differences? I acknowledged outliers. I don't care what you do with your intake. I made a statement that the majority of scientific literature out there points towards the benefits of moderate to high carb intake for those engaged in vigorous activity.
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All I know for myself low carbs low sugars i burn fat or lose weight since Jan 1 i have cut all breads out of my life for the time being and all sodas been drinking matcha tea and watching all carbs lost 29 pounds so far i cant complain. what works for me may not work for everyone so you just need to find what your body likes. Good luck you can do this if i can anyone can!!!!0
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I have been limiting my carbs and sugars the last few months and I hardly notice it (except in the weight loss).
I am not hardcore low carb, I try to keep mine toward 100. I eat all the fruits and veggies I want. I felt a little weak / weird once but I just added more fat / proteins to bring up my total calories.
I try to eat a protein bar and a creatine drink before my workout on weight training days and this gives me plenty of energy to lift heavy and lift to failure.
I REALLY appreciate everyone who posted here. The 30 year old male bodybuilders around the forums think that there is only one way for nutrition.0 -
There is one simple answer to this question, really. It's worth it if it's the easiest diet to follow for you. If it's not then it's not worth it. Everything else is just details. You will have to decide if the decrease in your running performance is worth it, and sometimes it is if you are not competing professionally.0
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cwolfman13 wrote: »The only way I would consider low carb as an option would be if I was far less active than I am. I think less active individuals can definitely benefit from going low carb...if you're active, it's completely unnecessary and counterproductive to fitness goals.
You may have a good point! There is so much information on this subject It gets me dizzy. My main goal is to burn 3,200 calories a week. That's just walking and running. Not sure what the weight room will do.
Building up a good base of muscle will ramp up your metabolism, increase calories burned through everyday movement, and decrease the risk of injury. Both men and women should build muscle. It is essential for weight loss.0 -
Thanks JimFsfitnesspal!
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The problem I have with keto or real low carb is that for most people (there are always exceptions) it isn't a lifestyle change. Most people on this website want to lose the weight and keep it off. I have yet to meet one person (and I know a lot) who have done low carb, lost the weight and not gained most of it back. It's very difficult to maintain for life.
Apparently you've never ventured over to the low carb or keto forums.0 -
I have researched this topic a bit and have no idea what the truth is. Looking for some hands on experiences good or bad. I am very active with running and will be lifting soon.
Unless you are avoiding carbs for a health reason (diabetes), there is no reason to go low-carb. Calories in vs. calories out is what matters. As long as you are eating at a deficit, you will lose weight.0 -
Here is my personal experience. Last year I decided to concentrate on building muscle while losing body fat, after losing 100lbs. I went on Scooby Workshop calorie calculator, it gave me macros of 35%P, 45%C, 20% F and around 1,700 calories (without exercise). Months would go by with no progress, I would change up my calories, eating more, eating less, change up my workouts, less cardio, more weights to no avail. I thought it was menopause or lack of sleep. 2 months before my vacation I did Insanity, stuck with 1,600 calories and lost 1lb. About this time I was reading about a certain basketball player who did Keto and lost a bunch of weight while keeping lean muscle, did some research and decided to give it a try. For the first time in almost a year, I finally saw my BF% go down. I got off track during the holidays, but now I'm down less than what I was before the holidays. I am finding, FOR ME, low carb is best to get to my goals. I was afraid of some of the side effects, but haven't noticed them, but what I have noticed is that I started sleeping better, I'm still getting stronger in the gym and I don't seem to get the afternoon drag like I used to do. This may not work for everyone, but it worked for me.0
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Taking 125g of carbs out of your diet may be easier than eating 25% less of everything and it doesn't impair your protein or fat intake (ie things that you actually need). Try it and see. It worked for me and many others - I lost ~45 lbs in 6 months in 2010 and I'm still below that weight. (so much for the "you'll put it all back on" asshats.0
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The problem I have with keto or real low carb is that for most people (there are always exceptions) it isn't a lifestyle change. Most people on this website want to lose the weight and keep it off. I have yet to meet one person (and I know a lot) who have done low carb, lost the weight and not gained most of it back. It's very difficult to maintain for life.
Apparently you've never ventured over to the low carb or keto forums.
I have not but I'm still guessing most won't stick with it for many years. Plus I personally believe there are health issues with it but that's a whole other thread.0 -
Over the past 3+ years, my experience has been that low carb (15% or less of calories from carbs) has helped me reduce my weight, lower my LDL, tryglycerides, and blood sugar levels as well as complete my last marathon in 3:46. My experience has been that endurance events can be fueled with fat while shorter, faster events require carbs.0
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OP...ultimately there are any number of ways to create a calorie deficit...for some people it's just easier to drop carbs...some people go low fat (really bad idea from a nutritional standpoint) while others simply count calories and just work everything in.
For me personally it was just easier to reduce my consumption by 500 calories or so and call it a day...it's basically a couple of snacks. I did attempt the low carb route at one point but my fitness suffered...I would also add that I have a fairly moderate carb intake though and most of these come from fruit and veg and sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, rice, and the occasional pasta dish; my intake of "junk" is pretty minimal save for the occasional soda a couple times per month...and I'm a big craft beer guy but I try to stick to wine and spirits and leave my beer for a treat after a long ride or something.
At any rate, different things work for different people for different reasons.0 -
The problem I have with keto or real low carb is that for most people (there are always exceptions) it isn't a lifestyle change. Most people on this website want to lose the weight and keep it off. I have yet to meet one person (and I know a lot) who have done low carb, lost the weight and not gained most of it back. It's very difficult to maintain for life.
Apparently you've never ventured over to the low carb or keto forums.
I have not but I'm still guessing most won't stick with it for many years. Plus I personally believe there are health issues with it but that's a whole other thread.
Well that's a logical argument.0 -
The problem I have with keto or real low carb is that for most people (there are always exceptions) it isn't a lifestyle change. Most people on this website want to lose the weight and keep it off. I have yet to meet one person (and I know a lot) who have done low carb, lost the weight and not gained most of it back. It's very difficult to maintain for life.
Apparently you've never ventured over to the low carb or keto forums.
I have not but I'm still guessing most won't stick with it for many years. Plus I personally believe there are health issues with it but that's a whole other thread.
Well that's a logical argument.
Not trying to win an argument, just stating my opinion and experience.0 -
I do lower carb, but I love sweet potatoes, and brown rice and quinoa. I love my veggies and fruits. I do not eat alot of bread or oatmeal and stuff.0
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The problem I have with keto or real low carb is that for most people (there are always exceptions) it isn't a lifestyle change. Most people on this website want to lose the weight and keep it off. I have yet to meet one person (and I know a lot) who have done low carb, lost the weight and not gained most of it back. It's very difficult to maintain for life.
I have to disagree... I know people that have done Keto for years and get to a weight that they are happy with and maintain it. Its about being in a calorie deficit for losing weight, whether you are eating carbs or not. Yes, you do put on a few pounds when you stop keto because of the initial water, but if people are putting back on all the weight, its because they have slipped back into their old ways.
When you decide to end Keto, you have to just introduce carbs back into your diet gradually and then you can continue with a normal diet and eat healthy. Its not for everyone, but if you have the will power to stick to it, you WILL achieve and maintain it.
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heres the thing... you will only know if its worth it, if you try it for awhile and see how it goes.
as you can see, some people love it, others hate it, others are middle of the road. its all okay. we are all on our own journey, and are doing what works for us, as individuals.
My husband eats a pretty low carb diet because hes diabetic. i love my bread and am not giving up my carbs
I go by the calories in/ calories out method- and for ME that is working (19 pounds since jan 9). that is the method that, for my lifestyle, will be sustainable, which is a big deal for me. I've known people who have lost weight a variety of methods- from low carb to keto to shakes and more. Most of those people gained weight back after awhile. Why? I don't know - I'm not living in their shoes.
I am a huge proponent of individuals finding not only what WORKS for them, but also what they can live with for the rest of their life
Best of luck to you, we are all on this bumpy road together... just in different shoes 0 -
Personal experience: Low carb has been worth it to me. I started right around when I injured my back and couldn't exercise. So, I lost 18 lbs from my diet alone and the weight loss was just icing on the (almond flour) cake, as I was changing it up for medical reasons, first and foremost. It's been four months and I think I'll stick with it for life. It's not hard if you cook your own food. I've cooked some of the best meals of my life since cutting out grains, legumes, and sugar. Just like some people do better restricting their wardrobe to certain colors (I've cut out neon and burgundy), some people do better restricting their diet to certain foods.0
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cwolfman13 wrote: »The only way I would consider low carb as an option would be if I was far less active than I am. I think less active individuals can definitely benefit from going low carb...if you're active, it's completely unnecessary and counterproductive to fitness goals.
I didn't find that to be true at all. I still prefer low carb because I'm not tempted by extraneous junk food while eating that way but I ended up giving up on it because it was just too much of a hassle with a family who wasn't interested in switching with me. A few years ago I reached my goal weight on 20-40g per day while training for and running half marathons. I had plenty of energy and it wasn't counterproductive at all.
You mean when you ran/walked them and never improve.
I'd call that counterproductive.-1 -
I did very low carb for 5-7 years (I honestly don't remember). I didn't cheat, ever. When gluten free oatmeal came onto the market, I was done for. It had been easy for me to leave carbs behind, having celiac disease. Gluten free substitutes just aren't as good as their counterparts. But oatmeal had always been a weakness of mine.
So yeah, I wasn't tempted by sweets, or pasta, or pizza. It was oatmeal. And meat was becoming an issue for me. My intestines were increasingly rumbly every time I ate it. I became a pescetarian for a while, until even that bothered me.
I started adding some other things back into my diet, here and there, like potatoes. I missed them. I've built a diet as a vegetarian that's moderate carb (usually less than 150 a day, far less than that net because I usually get around 45-50 g of fiber a day) and if I want something, I plan for it and eat it.
So, the moral of my story? You have to decide what you'll be happy eating. If you want to low-carb, give it a go. If it doesn't work, tweak it. Keep tweaking until you have a diet full of foods that you're happy with that keep you satisfied. Count calories no matter what you do, and you'll lose weight.0 -
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Eating low carb is worth it if you feel good, enjoy your diet, and have no problem adhering to it. It isn't worth it if you end up feeling icky or if you are hungry or if you end up binging or going off plan cause you miss favorite foods. There is no particular reason to give up carbs to lose weight unless you have a medical/metabolic issue. But, if it works for you and you see it as a permanent lifestyle vs a temporary fix, then it's perfectly fine0
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Eating low carb is worth it if you feel good, enjoy your diet, and have no problem adhering to it. It isn't worth it if you end up feeling icky or if you are hungry or if you end up binging or going off plan cause you miss favorite foods. There is no particular reason to give up carbs to lose weight unless you have a medical/metabolic issue. But, if it works for you and you see it as a permanent lifestyle vs a temporary fix, then it's perfectly fine0
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the answer is NO... unless* you are diabetic or pre-diabetic or very overweight... in that case you have built up an insulin resistance and going relatively low carb will help. healthy adults generally should eat their carbohydrates as it is great for training and WILL fill you up if you have proper hormone function.0
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Foamroller wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »The only way I would consider low carb as an option would be if I was far less active than I am. I think less active individuals can definitely benefit from going low carb...if you're active, it's completely unnecessary and counterproductive to fitness goals.
How do you know this?
From The Big Lebowski
I'm active, 1-2 hours/day. I logged 57 hrs active physical activity in the past month. In fact, since I no longer have to feed my body every few hours because of low glucose, last bikeride was for 4.5 hrs WITHOUT energycrashing or bonking. So in my experience LCHF diet helps my fitness goals.
I can't speak for anyone else. I still would guess that people like Ben Greenfield who is a tri-athlete, would probably not do low carb, if he thought it would be bad for his athletic aspirations.
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2013/05/low-carb-triathlon-training/
Edit: for clarity. Oh, I forgot. I even did a sprint up to 95% maxpulse at the end of that 4.5 hours ride.
And what does Ben, that you quoted, say on that page?
I'll pass.
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cwolfman13 wrote: »Foamroller wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »The only way I would consider low carb as an option would be if I was far less active than I am. I think less active individuals can definitely benefit from going low carb...if you're active, it's completely unnecessary and counterproductive to fitness goals.
How do you know this?
From The Big Lebowski
I'm active, 1-2 hours/day. I logged 57 hrs active physical activity in the past month. In fact, since I no longer have to feed my body every few hours because of low glucose, last bikeride was for 4.5 hrs WITHOUT energycrashing or bonking. So in my experience LCHF diet helps my fitness goals.
I can't speak for anyone else. I still would guess that people like Ben Greenfield who is a tri-athlete, would probably not do low carb, if he thought it would be bad for his athletic aspirations.
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2013/05/low-carb-triathlon-training/
Edit: for clarity
Personal experience...
also, while many athletes do some low carb training, most don't train like that all of the time.
Personally, I like having my rocket fuel...and again...outside of certain medical conditions it's completely unnecessary to low carb...carbs aren't the devil. I can tell you right now I run a better cyclocross race carb loaded than not...sure I can still ride, but not like I can when I'm loaded.
This is such a sensationalizing argument. Nobody has said carbs are the devil, and everything everyone does on this site is unnecessary. It's all done by choice and personal preference, so people who feel the need to single out one combination of things some people choose to do as somehow "less than" feels more like proselytizing than giving advice.
+1. OP- low carb is worth it for some. Some do have medical conditions that require low carb but low carb does not require a medical condition. Some people try it and find it doesn't work for them, others find it easy and enjoyable. The only way to really know is to try it and see. All the opinions here, including mine, only go so far. I can tell you there is a level of commitment involved, just like any other "diet" plan - including CICO. If you think it will be super hard to give up pasta and potatoes then maybe start with CICO for now.0 -
EvgeniZyntx wrote: »Foamroller wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »The only way I would consider low carb as an option would be if I was far less active than I am. I think less active individuals can definitely benefit from going low carb...if you're active, it's completely unnecessary and counterproductive to fitness goals.
How do you know this?
From The Big Lebowski
I'm active, 1-2 hours/day. I logged 57 hrs active physical activity in the past month. In fact, since I no longer have to feed my body every few hours because of low glucose, last bikeride was for 4.5 hrs WITHOUT energycrashing or bonking. So in my experience LCHF diet helps my fitness goals.
I can't speak for anyone else. I still would guess that people like Ben Greenfield who is a tri-athlete, would probably not do low carb, if he thought it would be bad for his athletic aspirations.
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2013/05/low-carb-triathlon-training/
Edit: for clarity. Oh, I forgot. I even did a sprint up to 95% maxpulse at the end of that 4.5 hours ride.
And what does Ben, that you quoted, say on that page?
I'll pass.
Now that needs repeating.0 -
I have researched this topic a bit and have no idea what the truth is. Looking for some hands on experiences good or bad. I am very active with running and will be lifting soon.
It was worth it for me.
I'm active, and found that I had tonnes of energy, especially in the morning, without having to eat until noon.
I'm not a big lover of bread, pasta or rice - I am on the other hand a big lover of meat (the decent fatty cuts), so for me the food on low carb is perfect. I can eat as much as I want, of what i want.
That's not to say I can eat unlimited food, to lose weight on Low carb you still need to be in a deficit, but protein and fat are very filling and I personally have found I'm full and satisfied a lot quicker than when i was eating more carbs (so it's a great calorie deficit tool).
There's no magic to it! Eat low carb in a calorie surplus and you will gain weight.
But for having all that energy on tap (for activities of less than 75% ish effort), for me it's worth it.
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The problem I have with keto or real low carb is that for most people (there are always exceptions) it isn't a lifestyle change. Most people on this website want to lose the weight and keep it off. I have yet to meet one person (and I know a lot) who have done low carb, lost the weight and not gained most of it back. It's very difficult to maintain for life.
Apparently you've never ventured over to the low carb or keto forums.
I have not but I'm still guessing most won't stick with it for many years. Plus I personally believe there are health issues with it but that's a whole other thread.
Well that's a logical argument.
Not trying to win an argument, just stating my opinion and experience.
But you just made an assumption about people that are NOT you and you just said you didn't know?
I'd also like to here about these health issues that you personally believe will happen.
OP - No one can tell you if it will work for you. I didn't know low carb WOE would work for ME until I tried it with a real effort. People run while eating low carb, people lift while eating low carb. I agree with tennisdude that I have MORE energy eating this way.
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