Low Carb vs Carb Cycling - which is better for Fat Loss?

brock2k12
brock2k12 Posts: 21 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi Guys,

I'm a 5ft 2", CW is 155 (HW - 175/GW - 120).

I have been following a relatively low carb diet (<30 net carbs per day). I do not believe that low carb helps you lose more weight (long term) than calorie counting but I find that it works best for me (Apple body shape & PCOS). I have been getting my carbs mostly from green veg., cream, greek yoghurt and some nuts. I've also been counting calories to ensure to stay under my 1400 calorie target (500 deficit).

Recently, I have been reading about carb cycling and have been considering having a "high" carb day (<200 net carbs) once a week, however, I am afraid this will stall my weight loss. I am not overly concerned with building muscle until I reach my closer to my GW.

I was wondering whether any of you guys have tried low carbing vs carb cycling and how both or either of these diet approaches compared in terms of weight loss?

Really appreciate anyone's feedback! Also, great to see all these board threads, really helps to keep me motivated :)

Thanks,
Laura.

Replies

  • Unknown
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  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    edited March 2015
    Best bet is to try one night a week eating a higher carb meal and see if it help you.

    http://carbnite.com/ and http://caloriesproper.com/carb-back-loading-take-ii/ for further reading.
  • brock2k12
    brock2k12 Posts: 21 Member
    edited March 2015
    yarwell wrote: »
    Best bet is to try one night a week eating a higher carb meal and see if it help you.

    http://carbnite.com/ and http://caloriesproper.com/carb-back-loading-take-ii/ for further reading.

    Thanks for the response! I still count calories meticulously but I just find it hard to lose weight on calorie counting alone as it's too hard to curb the sweet tooth! :)
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    edited March 2015
    yarwell wrote: »
    Best bet is to try one night a week eating a higher carb meal and see if it help you.

    http://carbnite.com/ and http://caloriesproper.com/carb-back-loading-take-ii/ for further reading.

    CICO is for weight loss. Low-carb, carb cycling, low-fat, low/high WHATEVER, is a means to an end towards CICO.

    If OP has to reduce carbs for medical reasons then she should discuss this with her doctor, not with MFP. For all we know, having a single or a few high carb days will interfere with the PCOS or make the condition worse. Or there might be no reason for keto-level carb intake at all and thus the balanced carb intake will still be low enough to work for her medical condition.

    Doctor.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    brock2k12 wrote: »
    yarwell wrote: »
    Best bet is to try one night a week eating a higher carb meal and see if it help you. Ignore the CICOpath trolling.

    http://carbnite.com/ and http://caloriesproper.com/carb-back-loading-take-ii/ for further reading.

    Thanks for the response! I still count calories meticulously but I just find it hard to lose weight on calorie counting alone as it's too hard to curb the sweet tooth! :)

    Then eat sweets within your calorie and macro needs.
  • aishlynn
    aishlynn Posts: 181 Member
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-lcd-group
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    carb cycling has nothing to do with weight loss …calorie deficit does.

    That being said, if you find carb cycling helps you maintain your deficit then go for it;..however, it is not some superior method that is going to burn fat faster …..
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited March 2015
    low carb, carb cycling, this diet, that diet...they are all just a means to an end. Outside of certain metabolic health issues, going low carb isn't any different than anything else. All diets work on the same basic premise...energy deficit.

    with your PCOS you are obviously in the metabolic health issue category...but low carb or cycling carbs isn't going to make one bit of difference. Do whatever keeps you on track.
  • runnrchic
    runnrchic Posts: 130 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    carb cycling has nothing to do with weight loss …calorie deficit does.

    That being said, if you find carb cycling helps you maintain your deficit then go for it;..however, it is not some superior method that is going to burn fat faster …..

    This. It's another way to a deficit. If calorie, carb, protein cycling helps you get there, then do it. The cycling part is more about mentally staying on your deficit track though.
  • earth_echo
    earth_echo Posts: 133 Member
    The advantage of keeping carbs low is appetite suppression. Depending on how your body deals with carbs the days following a high carb day might be hungry days. Dealing with increased hunger may or may not be worth it fat loss-wise. Try and see.
  • VitaSh
    VitaSh Posts: 113 Member
    The response you're going to get from your body is highly individual. I find carb cycling really leans me out and being on a chronically low carb diet affects my mood. On strenuous workout days I do high carb, on others moderate, on off day zero carb (well in the form of fibrous veggies only). I also find that for many people when they do low carb all the time they can rebound and gain fat really quickly if they change anything later. But when I transition back into my maintenance mode, it is easier for me to maintain my weight with moderate carbs if I carb-cycled before and did not just do only super low carb and then transitioned back into "normal". Also easier to stick with imo.
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