Low carbers! What do yall eat to only have 20g a day limit???

jonnie256
jonnie256 Posts: 169 Member
edited November 15 in Food and Nutrition
I just don't see how you can consistantly only get 20g everyday. I mean so many foods have carbs even fruits. I have been trying low carbs but I still end up around 50-60g a day. Can yall give me examples of your daily diet?thanks
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Replies

  • phabstarr
    phabstarr Posts: 3 Member
    I usually end up with around 35-40g of carbs on my careful low carb days. When doing low carb, i keep fruits to a minimum. Blueberries and some other lower gi fruits are better than higher gi fruits like bananas, apples.. One way I stay under 50g of carbs a day (I'll find 20g too challenging). I eat more protein and salad when hungry instead of other higher carb fruits. A typical breakfast would consist of bread made with coconut flour, omelette. My breakfast can be around 10g of carbs from eating several slices of coconut bread (6g) and omelette. My lunch would usually be seafood or chicken with salad. Something like white fish with crunchy salad. And fruits such as berries. Dinner usually chicken or meat based. Doing very low carb isn't so easy but what works for me is having meals consisting more of protein and fibre (chicken, fish, coconut flour, hemp seeds..
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Today I had a can of tuna, a serving of protein powder w/ milk, and ~350g of chicken breast. I think the total for the day was 16g of carbs.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Think leaves -- romaine, spinach, kale. Also asparagus, cucumbers, green peas, snow peas, . . . .Almonds are lowish in carbs if you only have a few.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    Greek yogurt, cheese, coffee w/ heavy whipping cream, tuna, avocado, olives, tomato, celery, pecans, beef/chicken/pork, spinach, onions, mushrooms, butter, coconut oil, cream cheese, berries, cocoa/chocolate.

    I'm at 22g, and usually I don't come close unless I have yogurt and additional fruit on the same day.
  • kuranda10
    kuranda10 Posts: 593 Member
    I aim for 30 or less of NET carbs, which means I may eat up to 50 grams a day.

    I found that as long as I don't eat anything white, it's a lot easier. I eat a lot of green veggies. 2 cups of raw broccoli only has 4.4 net carbs. 1 cup of frozen spinach has 3 grams ...

  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    kuranda10 wrote: »
    I aim for 30 or less of NET carbs, which means I may eat up to 50 grams a day.

    I found that as long as I don't eat anything white, it's a lot easier. I eat a lot of green veggies. 2 cups of raw broccoli only has 4.4 net carbs. 1 cup of frozen spinach has 3 grams ...

    Oh, that's a good point. OP, are you including fiber in your carb count? That 20g recommendation is not including the fiber, only what's left after you deduct it (other countries do that up front on their labels).
  • kuranda10
    kuranda10 Posts: 593 Member
    JPW1990 wrote: »
    kuranda10 wrote: »
    I aim for 30 or less of NET carbs, which means I may eat up to 50 grams a day.

    I found that as long as I don't eat anything white, it's a lot easier. I eat a lot of green veggies. 2 cups of raw broccoli only has 4.4 net carbs. 1 cup of frozen spinach has 3 grams ...

    Oh, that's a good point. OP, are you including fiber in your carb count? That 20g recommendation is not including the fiber, only what's left after you deduct it (other countries do that up front on their labels).

    Right, so for me today, I had 60 g of almonds which was 12g of carbs and 7g of fiber, for a net of 5 carbs
  • amitkatz0
    amitkatz0 Posts: 61 Member
    Why are you eating so few carbs? You need carbs for basic metabolic functions.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    amitkatz0 wrote: »
    Why are you eating so few carbs? You need carbs for basic metabolic functions.

    No, you don't.
  • minties82
    minties82 Posts: 907 Member
    Chicken
    Eggs
    Cheese
    Cream cheese
    Leafy greens
    Small amounts of cashew nuts
    Butter
    Brocolli

    I don't eat any fruit and I don't drink milk.
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    edited March 2015
    I eat maybe 40-50 grams of carbs... things like dark leafy greens, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, cabbage, cauliflower, avocado, zucchini, berries, nuts, cheese, protein of all kinds, butter, heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, coconut oil, eggs. There are so many recipes for creating low carb dishes from those ingredients. There's no need to eat just protein and butter.
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    jonnie256 wrote: »
    I just don't see how you can consistantly only get 20g everyday. I mean so many foods have carbs even fruits. I have been trying low carbs but I still end up around 50-60g a day. Can yall give me examples of your daily diet?thanks

    The why is because people are trying to get into a ketogenic state. The way to do it is to cut the carbs down dramatically. Once you're in keto you can tinker with the carbs to see up to what level you can increase your carbs and still be in ketosis. I find I can eat 50 grabs of carbs and still not get kicked out of ketosis. I dropped the weight I wanted to by eating low carb.
  • RockstarWilson
    RockstarWilson Posts: 836 Member
    edited March 2015
    amitkatz0 wrote: »
    Why are you eating so few carbs? You need carbs for basic metabolic functions.

    This is not true at a basic level, so please get informed before you assert yourself. The body can operate efficiently on a diet of 70-80% fat.
    kuranda10 wrote: »
    I aim for 30 or less of NET carbs, which means I may eat up to 50 grams a day.

    I found that as long as I don't eat anything white, it's a lot easier. I eat a lot of green veggies. 2 cups of raw broccoli only has 4.4 net carbs. 1 cup of frozen spinach has 3 grams ...

    Op....my diary is open. I could list some things, but it wont give you a clear picture. I have a high carb tolerance, so please understand that you might not. But most days I log, I am in a ketogenic state. I have not logged consistently for a couple weeks, but most days I do log are ketogenic. I will add you as a friend too!

    But, short and sweet, to save face: avocados, fatty cuts of meat, almondmilk, butter, bacon, nuts, heavy whipping cream, cheese, eggs, and buttermilk ranch that is 95% fat.
  • jonnie256
    jonnie256 Posts: 169 Member
    Thanks for all the helpful tips! I did low carb(75 and under)diet a couple years ago and it's the only thing that I have found if followed to a T will make me lose weight.

    Also what do yall do as a fiber source other than broccoli? I have been eating blackberries, but if you eat to many the carb count starts to go way up.
  • kuranda10
    kuranda10 Posts: 593 Member
    strawberries, kale, spinach, cauliflower, almonds, peanuts ...
    all high(er) fiber foods.
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    jonnie256 wrote: »
    Also what do yall do as a fiber source other than broccoli? I have been eating blackberries, but if you eat to many the carb count starts to go way up.

    Avocado is great for fiber. One medium avocado has about 12 grams of fiber. That's more than in a regular serving of broccoli. Swiss chard, collard greens and spinach are also good for fiber, not as good as the avocado though.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    jonnie256 wrote: »
    Thanks for all the helpful tips! I did low carb(75 and under)diet a couple years ago and it's the only thing that I have found if followed to a T will make me lose weight.

    Also what do yall do as a fiber source other than broccoli? I have been eating blackberries, but if you eat to many the carb count starts to go way up.

    i.imgur.com/95xl2Te.jpg

    Again, remembering if you're aiming for 20, you should deduct the fiber from the total carbs (use the "net carbs" number on that chart, it's already computed for you). Everything from the top down to plums is 5g net or less for 100g serving. It's unlikely you'll ever eat 100g serving of most of it.

    Avocado and berries will get you the best numbers for the least net carbs.
  • shawnamay590
    shawnamay590 Posts: 12 Member
    For fruit, stick with berries, especially raspberries. I also go for hard boiled eggs, broccoli, and unsweetened almond milk.
  • jonnie256
    jonnie256 Posts: 169 Member
    Awesome tips for fiber. I also have been taking the Metamucil capsules just to make sure I'm not shatin marbles b/c of all the protein I eat.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    jonnie256 wrote: »
    Awesome tips for fiber. I also have been taking the Metamucil capsules just to make sure I'm not shatin marbles b/c of all the protein I eat.

    Not sure what your macros are, but if you get enough fat, that should help with that problem, too.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I'd need to be buried in a pine box on 20 grams of carbs. Had over 200 grams today.
  • Mistizoom
    Mistizoom Posts: 578 Member
    jonnie256 wrote: »
    I just don't see how you can consistantly only get 20g everyday. I mean so many foods have carbs even fruits. I have been trying low carbs but I still end up around 50-60g a day. Can yall give me examples of your daily diet?thanks

    There's nothing wrong with 50-60 g carbs/day if that works for you. It's still low carb. Please feel free to join others eating low carb in The Low Carber Daily Forum: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-lcd-group
  • RockstarWilson
    RockstarWilson Posts: 836 Member
    edited March 2015
    jonnie256 wrote: »
    Awesome tips for fiber. I also have been taking the Metamucil capsules just to make sure I'm not shatin marbles b/c of all the protein I eat.

    I don't take powdered fiber supplements. I watched too much Price is Right as a kid (I was a homebody), so every time I think of Metamucil, I think of old people. Hence, taking metamucil would make me feel old...
  • sannaf36
    sannaf36 Posts: 19 Member
    Cheese, cheese, cheese! Mostly dairy and veggies. Have you coffee with half and half instead of milk. Abound fruits high in sugar, instead go for berries.
  • CorinnaShaw
    CorinnaShaw Posts: 136 Member
    jonnie256 wrote: »
    I just don't see how you can consistantly only get 20g everyday. I mean so many foods have carbs even fruits. I have been trying low carbs but I still end up around 50-60g a day. Can yall give me examples of your daily diet?thanks

    Meat, fish, veggies, eggs, oils, butter, occasionally berries or nuts or seeds. It is easy to stay under 20 carbs. Just read the labels. Also remember that when you read the labels, under the carb count you will find sugar and fiber counts indented. That is because those are counted in the total carbs because they are forms of carbohydrates. Subtract the fiber from the total carbs. The reason behind that is that fiber is a carbohydrate that gets counted in the total on the label but it is actually a carb that your body does not absorb. Instead it passes through and carries waste out with it.
  • CorinnaShaw
    CorinnaShaw Posts: 136 Member
    newmeadow wrote: »
    JPW1990 wrote: »
    jonnie256 wrote: »
    Awesome tips for fiber. I also have been taking the Metamucil capsules just to make sure I'm not shatin marbles b/c of all the protein I eat.

    Not sure what your macros are, but if you get enough fat, that should help with that problem, too.

    I notice a lot of ketogenic and low carb folks will eat butter straight or consume fat or oil by the spoonful. Or at least I'm assuming they are when I look at some of their open diaries. Am I mistaken about this? In order to stay regular, what would be the tastiest way to get the fat intake high enough?

    A tbsp of coconut oil blended in a cup of coffee. I also cook everything in butter, olive oil, or coconut oil. I love to sauté my veggies. I also like to cook with bacon grease. Lard or tallow is also good. Or any kind of animal fat really.
  • kuranda10
    kuranda10 Posts: 593 Member
    when you tell me how they add fiber to broccoli, kale or almonds, then I might pay attention.
  • 4theking
    4theking Posts: 1,196 Member
    If your goal is 20gms of carbs a day then I say go for it but most experts would agree that there is no added benefit from going that low vs say 100gms a day.
  • kuranda10
    kuranda10 Posts: 593 Member
    many (more often than not) people need to go lower than 50 or even down to the 30/20 level to reach ketosis.

    For me, 50g is almost maintenace level.
  • kuranda10
    kuranda10 Posts: 593 Member
    tell that to the diabetics that have to eat like this all the time.

    I'll be honest. After your rantings in the "My husband cheated on me" thread, your opinion on anything doesn't really hold any water. If there was a way to block people I would have done it already.
    So this will be the last time I respond to one of your posts.
This discussion has been closed.