Carb Free, or Everything in small Portions???

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Replies

  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited May 2015
    whmscll wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    So, I am struggling with creating a food plan. I have always been a horrible judge of food and how much of something I can or can not have. I have been cracking every cell of my brain on what is the better route to go. I have done weight watchers a long time ago but I found myself saving my points in order to eat the worst items possible. My mom is telling me that Atkins is the way to go. So, please some advice in this category would help me tremendously. If you must be brutal that is fine I can take it, just try to be constructively brutal lol..

    Eat what you want but eat at a deficit. Pretty simple. Let's not make it harder than what it is.

    It is NOT that simple. If you eat a lot of junk you will have trouble eating at a deficit because you are not getting the nutrition your body needs and you will have cravings. You may also cause your blood sugar to spike, causing cravings. So, eating "whatever you want," even at a deficit, will leave you feeling hungry and craving and make weight loss much harder than it needs to be. You need to eat at a deficit, but ALSO focus on eating balanced, nutritious meals, with the occasional treat thrown in. This will also allow you to KEEP the pounds off long-term.

    I think a lot of this comes down to a basic disagreement about how much you should trust others to act sensibly.

    For weight loss, all you need is a calorie deficit.

    Ideally, people will also care about nutrition, and if they do I think most people understand the basics. (Eat a balanced diet full of nutrient-rich foods, including plenty of veggies and adequate protein, don't go overboard on high calorie, lower nutrient extras, like sugary treats.) Although some people get confused based on all sorts of extremist advice (NO grains, fruit is scary because fructose, carbs are scary, occasionally fat is bad or all meat, etc.), I think most people do get the basics here. Lots of people just think it's boring, so want some special fast weight loss hack.

    Beyond this, how your diet affects your ability to keep a deficit is going to vary from person to person. Some find that lower carb helps, or getting more fat, or focusing on volume. Some find that they need starchy carbs. Many find that adding more protein helps. Most probably don't get as satiated on sugary treats, but even that can probably vary. The bigger point, though, if that if you start with your calorie limit and experiment you will learn what fills you up. We don't really need to tell people that they won't be able to lose weight unless they eat a particular way (that happens to work for us) and it's not true.


    I never said this.

    It was more of a general comment aimed at these kinds of discussions in general; wasn't meant to characterize your comments specifically, so I'm sorry if it came across that way.

    The broader point is that you seem to be critical of comments that in essence assume that the dieter will manage to figure out the satiety piece of it on his or her own.
  • 365andstillalive
    365andstillalive Posts: 663 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    So, I am struggling with creating a food plan. I have always been a horrible judge of food and how much of something I can or can not have. I have been cracking every cell of my brain on what is the better route to go. I have done weight watchers a long time ago but I found myself saving my points in order to eat the worst items possible. My mom is telling me that Atkins is the way to go. So, please some advice in this category would help me tremendously. If you must be brutal that is fine I can take it, just try to be constructively brutal lol..

    Eat what you want but eat at a deficit. Pretty simple. Let's not make it harder than what it is.

    It is NOT that simple. If you eat a lot of junk you will have trouble eating at a deficit because you are not getting the nutrition your body needs and you will have cravings. You may also cause your blood sugar to spike, causing cravings. So, eating "whatever you want," even at a deficit, will leave you feeling hungry and craving and make weight loss much harder than it needs to be. You need to eat at a deficit, but ALSO focus on eating balanced, nutritious meals, with the occasional treat thrown in. This will also allow you to KEEP the pounds off long-term.

    In regards to nutrition; no, it's not that simple. For weight loss, it really is.

    There is no difference (from a weight loss perspective) of someone eating 1600 calories of lean meats, veggies, fruits, and other "whole" foods than there is of someone eating 1600 calories of pizza and brownies. They'll both drop the same amount of weight.

    Nutrition is a different beast; but you really can eat what you want. You'll notice, anyone who has ever given that advice gives it from the IIFYM perspective; aka eat what you want, so long as it fits your macros; so if I'm still hitting my protein, fats, and carb goals, I'm eating a balanced diet, it just means that I'm not necessarily eating the same foods as you chose to.

    So, no eating whatever you like doesn't make weight loss impossible, it doesn't mean that you won't feel satiated. It just means that you still need to create a deficit, plain and simple.

    I'm glad you've found what works for you though!

    I never said this.

    I sincerely apologize.

    The moral of your post was that though; that losing weight while eating lots of "junk" isn't doable because of cravings. Whereas, my experience has been different. Weight loss is less doable with out "junk" food. Pizza actually tends to provide me better macros than a lot of "healthy" meals do. It's all about individual goals.

    Everybody's journey is different. I don't advocate that everyone needs to eat like me, but telling others that to lose weight (or even to keep weight off) that they can't eat what they want to is not supported by science, research and peer reviewed studies released in the past decade. It's literally just CICO.

    To each their own, and again, I'm glad you've found what works for you.
  • AllOfTheStars77
    AllOfTheStars77 Posts: 25 Member
    I really just want to thank everyone for every bit of your kind thoughts and helpful information. I understand a lot more than I did before I added this topic to the discussion boards and will continue to learn as my path gets stronger. I do not plan on keeping carbs out forever so I will not completely ban them for now. I don't eat a lot of junk foods so I am pretty safe there. I just happen to eat lots of whatever it is that I am eating. I will need to make sure that whatever I am planning on eating is within a reasonable amount of the right calories. I am still not sure how much that is. However, I will learn I'm sure of it. I am planning on eating no more than 1800 calories to start. I will kind of run around the amounts and make sure I stay within that limit. Again, thank you all so very much for all the advice.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    So, I am struggling with creating a food plan. I have always been a horrible judge of food and how much of something I can or can not have. I have been cracking every cell of my brain on what is the better route to go. I have done weight watchers a long time ago but I found myself saving my points in order to eat the worst items possible. My mom is telling me that Atkins is the way to go. So, please some advice in this category would help me tremendously. If you must be brutal that is fine I can take it, just try to be constructively brutal lol..

    Eat what you want but eat at a deficit. Pretty simple. Let's not make it harder than what it is.

    It is NOT that simple. If you eat a lot of junk you will have trouble eating at a deficit because you are not getting the nutrition your body needs and you will have cravings. You may also cause your blood sugar to spike, causing cravings. So, eating "whatever you want," even at a deficit, will leave you feeling hungry and craving and make weight loss much harder than it needs to be. You need to eat at a deficit, but ALSO focus on eating balanced, nutritious meals, with the occasional treat thrown in. This will also allow you to KEEP the pounds off long-term.

    In regards to nutrition; no, it's not that simple. For weight loss, it really is.

    There is no difference (from a weight loss perspective) of someone eating 1600 calories of lean meats, veggies, fruits, and other "whole" foods than there is of someone eating 1600 calories of pizza and brownies. They'll both drop the same amount of weight.

    Nutrition is a different beast; but you really can eat what you want. You'll notice, anyone who has ever given that advice gives it from the IIFYM perspective; aka eat what you want, so long as it fits your macros; so if I'm still hitting my protein, fats, and carb goals, I'm eating a balanced diet, it just means that I'm not necessarily eating the same foods as you chose to.

    So, no eating whatever you like doesn't make weight loss impossible, it doesn't mean that you won't feel satiated. It just means that you still need to create a deficit, plain and simple.

    I'm glad you've found what works for you though!

    I never said this.
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    So, I am struggling with creating a food plan. I have always been a horrible judge of food and how much of something I can or can not have. I have been cracking every cell of my brain on what is the better route to go. I have done weight watchers a long time ago but I found myself saving my points in order to eat the worst items possible. My mom is telling me that Atkins is the way to go. So, please some advice in this category would help me tremendously. If you must be brutal that is fine I can take it, just try to be constructively brutal lol..

    Eat what you want but eat at a deficit. Pretty simple. Let's not make it harder than what it is.

    It is NOT that simple. If you eat a lot of junk you will have trouble eating at a deficit because you are not getting the nutrition your body needs and you will have cravings. You may also cause your blood sugar to spike, causing cravings. So, eating "whatever you want," even at a deficit, will leave you feeling hungry and craving and make weight loss much harder than it needs to be. You need to eat at a deficit, but ALSO focus on eating balanced, nutritious meals, with the occasional treat thrown in. This will also allow you to KEEP the pounds off long-term.

    I think a lot of this comes down to a basic disagreement about how much you should trust others to act sensibly.

    For weight loss, all you need is a calorie deficit.

    Ideally, people will also care about nutrition, and if they do I think most people understand the basics. (Eat a balanced diet full of nutrient-rich foods, including plenty of veggies and adequate protein, don't go overboard on high calorie, lower nutrient extras, like sugary treats.) Although some people get confused based on all sorts of extremist advice (NO grains, fruit is scary because fructose, carbs are scary, occasionally fat is bad or all meat, etc.), I think most people do get the basics here. Lots of people just think it's boring, so want some special fast weight loss hack.

    Beyond this, how your diet affects your ability to keep a deficit is going to vary from person to person. Some find that lower carb helps, or getting more fat, or focusing on volume. Some find that they need starchy carbs. Many find that adding more protein helps. Most probably don't get as satiated on sugary treats, but even that can probably vary. The bigger point, though, if that if you start with your calorie limit and experiment you will learn what fills you up. We don't really need to tell people that they won't be able to lose weight unless they eat a particular way (that happens to work for us) and it's not true.


    I never said this.

    It was more of a general comment aimed at these kinds of discussions in general; wasn't meant to characterize your comments specifically, so I'm sorry if it came across that way.

    The broader point is that you seem to be critical of comments that in essence assume that the dieter will manage to figure out the satiety piece of it on his or her own.

    Oh, I don't disagree with that; I think the OP has it pretty much dialed in, especially with some of the very good feedback people have provided in this thread. However, not everyone has this figured out yet, from some of the other posts I have read on this forum about "will this work" and about various fad diets/supplements.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    It is NOT that simple. If you eat a lot of junk you will have trouble eating at a deficit because you are not getting the nutrition your body needs and you will have cravings. You may also cause your blood sugar to spike, causing cravings. So, eating "whatever you want," even at a deficit, will leave you feeling hungry and craving and make weight loss much harder than it needs to be. You need to eat at a deficit, but ALSO focus on eating balanced, nutritious meals, with the occasional treat thrown in. This will also allow you to KEEP the pounds off long-term.

    This is true for me as well. Also, when I have too much sugar, I have less energy and thus less inclination to exercise.

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Quieau wrote: »
    Just balance your diet and eat in moderate portions that fit your calorie goal. I use 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat with great success.

    40-30-30 works well for me too. I have energy and am satisfied, and cravings are only an issue once a month. I don't really feel like I am dieting, but I am losing a pound per week.

  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    All things in moderation. Eat the carbs. Carbs are good for you. Can't stand that low carb nonsense.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    So, I am struggling with creating a food plan. I have always been a horrible judge of food and how much of something I can or can not have. I have been cracking every cell of my brain on what is the better route to go. I have done weight watchers a long time ago but I found myself saving my points in order to eat the worst items possible. My mom is telling me that Atkins is the way to go. So, please some advice in this category would help me tremendously. If you must be brutal that is fine I can take it, just try to be constructively brutal lol..

    Eat what you want but eat at a deficit. Pretty simple. Let's not make it harder than what it is.

    It is NOT that simple. If you eat a lot of junk you will have trouble eating at a deficit because you are not getting the nutrition your body needs and you will have cravings. You may also cause your blood sugar to spike, causing cravings. So, eating "whatever you want," even at a deficit, will leave you feeling hungry and craving and make weight loss much harder than it needs to be. You need to eat at a deficit, but ALSO focus on eating balanced, nutritious meals, with the occasional treat thrown in. This will also allow you to KEEP the pounds off long-term.

    In regards to nutrition; no, it's not that simple. For weight loss, it really is.

    There is no difference (from a weight loss perspective) of someone eating 1600 calories of lean meats, veggies, fruits, and other "whole" foods than there is of someone eating 1600 calories of pizza and brownies. They'll both drop the same amount of weight.

    Nutrition is a different beast; but you really can eat what you want. You'll notice, anyone who has ever given that advice gives it from the IIFYM perspective; aka eat what you want, so long as it fits your macros; so if I'm still hitting my protein, fats, and carb goals, I'm eating a balanced diet, it just means that I'm not necessarily eating the same foods as you chose to.

    So, no eating whatever you like doesn't make weight loss impossible, it doesn't mean that you won't feel satiated. It just means that you still need to create a deficit, plain and simple.

    I'm glad you've found what works for you though!

    I never said this.
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    whmscll wrote: »
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    So, I am struggling with creating a food plan. I have always been a horrible judge of food and how much of something I can or can not have. I have been cracking every cell of my brain on what is the better route to go. I have done weight watchers a long time ago but I found myself saving my points in order to eat the worst items possible. My mom is telling me that Atkins is the way to go. So, please some advice in this category would help me tremendously. If you must be brutal that is fine I can take it, just try to be constructively brutal lol..

    Eat what you want but eat at a deficit. Pretty simple. Let's not make it harder than what it is.

    It is NOT that simple. If you eat a lot of junk you will have trouble eating at a deficit because you are not getting the nutrition your body needs and you will have cravings. You may also cause your blood sugar to spike, causing cravings. So, eating "whatever you want," even at a deficit, will leave you feeling hungry and craving and make weight loss much harder than it needs to be. You need to eat at a deficit, but ALSO focus on eating balanced, nutritious meals, with the occasional treat thrown in. This will also allow you to KEEP the pounds off long-term.

    I think a lot of this comes down to a basic disagreement about how much you should trust others to act sensibly.

    For weight loss, all you need is a calorie deficit.

    Ideally, people will also care about nutrition, and if they do I think most people understand the basics. (Eat a balanced diet full of nutrient-rich foods, including plenty of veggies and adequate protein, don't go overboard on high calorie, lower nutrient extras, like sugary treats.) Although some people get confused based on all sorts of extremist advice (NO grains, fruit is scary because fructose, carbs are scary, occasionally fat is bad or all meat, etc.), I think most people do get the basics here. Lots of people just think it's boring, so want some special fast weight loss hack.

    Beyond this, how your diet affects your ability to keep a deficit is going to vary from person to person. Some find that lower carb helps, or getting more fat, or focusing on volume. Some find that they need starchy carbs. Many find that adding more protein helps. Most probably don't get as satiated on sugary treats, but even that can probably vary. The bigger point, though, if that if you start with your calorie limit and experiment you will learn what fills you up. We don't really need to tell people that they won't be able to lose weight unless they eat a particular way (that happens to work for us) and it's not true.


    I never said this.

    It was more of a general comment aimed at these kinds of discussions in general; wasn't meant to characterize your comments specifically, so I'm sorry if it came across that way.

    The broader point is that you seem to be critical of comments that in essence assume that the dieter will manage to figure out the satiety piece of it on his or her own.

    Oh, I don't disagree with that; I think the OP has it pretty much dialed in, especially with some of the very good feedback people have provided in this thread. However, not everyone has this figured out yet, from some of the other posts I have read on this forum about "will this work" and about various fad diets/supplements.

    I don't disagree and I tend to give more specifics about what I do in answer to those kinds of posts.

    To a certain extent I think anyone really trying will figure it out and those who don't--those who give up because they aren't satiated on 1200 calories of cookies or whatever (to use one version of the junk food only diets that are posited, not claiming that that's what you are saying)--probably just aren't ready.

    For me, "eat whatever you want" doesn't mean mostly junk food, though--I do assume that most people aren't interested in eating mostly junk food, so it's more about being able to include some extras beyond a diet that is only so-called "good" foods.

    On the whole I think most of us agree about what works and just have different assumptions that we start with in the abstract. I assume people know what a healthy diet is, so if they choose not to eat a balanced healthy diet, it's not because they don't know the benefits, but simply a choice.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    holly55555 wrote: »
    Small portions. Atkins only works if you stick with it forever. If you ever start eating carbs again, your weight will go back up. It DOES work well and quickly, but it doesn't teach you portion control or maintaining after the fact. Plus, depriving yourself of an entire food group is really difficult and a lot of people feel very sick on Atkins. It's difficult to stay with, especially for forever!

    On the other hand, you can eat whatever you want, just smaller portions of it. You know what is healthy and what isn't. But if you really want that burger and fries once a week, you can budget it into your calories. You probably won't be able to eat it every day, so you'll find healthier alternatives. Calorie counting teaches you how much you should really be eating and because you're not deprived - you can eat anything, just maybe not every day or huge amounts of it - it's much easier to stick to.

    Good luck!

    Please explain how CICO magically stops working for anyone who adds carbs to their diet?
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    edited May 2015
    Because the people marketing low-carb diets have told us it does. :p That said, I have found that personally I do better getting most of my carbs from fruits and veggies rather than grain-based products (even whole grain ones). But that's just me. My carb macro is 50% and it hit it nearly every day.
  • Live2InspireHope
    Live2InspireHope Posts: 157 Member
    RabbitJB Thanks i have never heard of the TDEE I will look it up and thanks for sharing that Info. I feel moderation is where i want to get when i am fine with who i am again after being well over 100 pounds over weight it was time to take control :D have a great day

    You mean TDEE not BMR

    You eat 500-1000 below TDEE, not BMR

    But well done finding your own path

    I personally find eating everything in moderation is perfect for me


  • krazyforyou
    krazyforyou Posts: 1,428 Member
    So, I am struggling with creating a food plan. I have always been a horrible judge of food and how much of something I can or can not have. I have been cracking every cell of my brain on what is the better route to go. I have done weight watchers a long time ago but I found myself saving my points in order to eat the worst items possible. My mom is telling me that Atkins is the way to go. So, please some advice in this category would help me tremendously. If you must be brutal that is fine I can take it, just try to be constructively brutal lol..

  • krazyforyou
    krazyforyou Posts: 1,428 Member
    So, I am struggling with creating a food plan. I have always been a horrible judge of food and how much of something I can or can not have. I have been cracking every cell of my brain on what is the better route to go. I have done weight watchers a long time ago but I found myself saving my points in order to eat the worst items possible. My mom is telling me that Atkins is the way to go. So, please some advice in this category would help me tremendously. If you must be brutal that is fine I can take it, just try to be constructively brutal lol..

  • SciranBG
    SciranBG Posts: 97 Member
    There's no such thing as good or bad foods.

    Except trans-fats, even sat-fat loving low carbers say to stay away from it.

  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    JPW1990 wrote: »
    holly55555 wrote: »
    Small portions. Atkins only works if you stick with it forever. If you ever start eating carbs again, your weight will go back up. It DOES work well and quickly, but it doesn't teach you portion control or maintaining after the fact. Plus, depriving yourself of an entire food group is really difficult and a lot of people feel very sick on Atkins. It's difficult to stay with, especially for forever!

    On the other hand, you can eat whatever you want, just smaller portions of it. You know what is healthy and what isn't. But if you really want that burger and fries once a week, you can budget it into your calories. You probably won't be able to eat it every day, so you'll find healthier alternatives. Calorie counting teaches you how much you should really be eating and because you're not deprived - you can eat anything, just maybe not every day or huge amounts of it - it's much easier to stick to.

    Good luck!

    Please explain how CICO magically stops working for anyone who adds carbs to their diet?


    @JPW1990
    I have always been curious about this. Back story: My mother was overweight her whole life, 2005 she starts doing low carb, looses 50 pounds and she's been low carb ever since. She is CONVINCED that even if she eats at a deficit, if she adds carbs back into her diet she's going to gain everything back.

    So if she did add carbs, even at a deficit, would she gain it all back?
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    JPW1990 wrote: »
    holly55555 wrote: »
    Small portions. Atkins only works if you stick with it forever. If you ever start eating carbs again, your weight will go back up. It DOES work well and quickly, but it doesn't teach you portion control or maintaining after the fact. Plus, depriving yourself of an entire food group is really difficult and a lot of people feel very sick on Atkins. It's difficult to stay with, especially for forever!

    On the other hand, you can eat whatever you want, just smaller portions of it. You know what is healthy and what isn't. But if you really want that burger and fries once a week, you can budget it into your calories. You probably won't be able to eat it every day, so you'll find healthier alternatives. Calorie counting teaches you how much you should really be eating and because you're not deprived - you can eat anything, just maybe not every day or huge amounts of it - it's much easier to stick to.

    Good luck!

    Please explain how CICO magically stops working for anyone who adds carbs to their diet?


    @JPW1990
    I have always been curious about this. Back story: My mother was overweight her whole life, 2005 she starts doing low carb, looses 50 pounds and she's been low carb ever since. She is CONVINCED that even if she eats at a deficit, if she adds carbs back into her diet she's going to gain everything back.

    So if she did add carbs, even at a deficit, would she gain it all back?

    Nope, she wouldn't. At best, she might gain 2-3 lbs of water weight, depending on other factors like medications, activity, etc. If she did it gradually and ramped up, she probably wouldn't even see that much.
  • allenpriest
    allenpriest Posts: 1,102 Member
    Unless you can follow your plan for the rest of your life then don't adopt it. Don't try a diet. You have to change your lifestyle permanently. Thst means you eat things you want, just less of it and plan for it. If you don't change your lifestyle you are likely to yo-yo which is not at all healthy.
  • Phoenix_Down
    Phoenix_Down Posts: 530 Member
    JPW1990 wrote: »
    holly55555 wrote: »
    Small portions. Atkins only works if you stick with it forever. If you ever start eating carbs again, your weight will go back up. It DOES work well and quickly, but it doesn't teach you portion control or maintaining after the fact. Plus, depriving yourself of an entire food group is really difficult and a lot of people feel very sick on Atkins. It's difficult to stay with, especially for forever!

    On the other hand, you can eat whatever you want, just smaller portions of it. You know what is healthy and what isn't. But if you really want that burger and fries once a week, you can budget it into your calories. You probably won't be able to eat it every day, so you'll find healthier alternatives. Calorie counting teaches you how much you should really be eating and because you're not deprived - you can eat anything, just maybe not every day or huge amounts of it - it's much easier to stick to.

    Good luck!

    Please explain how CICO magically stops working for anyone who adds carbs to their diet?


    @JPW1990
    I have always been curious about this. Back story: My mother was overweight her whole life, 2005 she starts doing low carb, looses 50 pounds and she's been low carb ever since. She is CONVINCED that even if she eats at a deficit, if she adds carbs back into her diet she's going to gain everything back.

    So if she did add carbs, even at a deficit, would she gain it all back?

    Outside of water weight replenishing (not fat and it wouldn't. Ounce you back up 50 lbs. Like a few lbs max), adding carbs back to a low carb diet wouldn't cause a magical regain of all the weight lost.

    What often happens, unless you're restricting for medical reasons, people drop their "diets" once the hit goal weight and regain all of it back because they fail to remain at maintenance from adding back things the cut because they never learned how to moderate. Plus, if you're like me, the longer I deprive myself, the more I want it and am more likely to go hogwild when I can eat it again.

    This is why I lost 40 lbs in 2012 only to regain it back in 2013. I've remained 50 lbs down for over a year now because my last attempt turned to a path of moderation not deprivation.

    But if someone where to jump off of low carb and remain at maintenance with more carbs, they won't magically bounce back to square one.
  • DevilsFan1
    DevilsFan1 Posts: 342 Member
    I could never go carb-free because ... BEER!

    If you're working out, you absolutely NEED carbs. They are the primary fuel source for exercise. Just be reasonable.
  • Phoenix_Down
    Phoenix_Down Posts: 530 Member
    Carb free? Does that mean my all bacon diet has come to fruition?
  • harmar21
    harmar21 Posts: 215 Member
    edited May 2015
    There's no such thing as good or bad foods. The sooner you come to terms with this, the sooner you can decide on a diet that works for you. I eat anything I want in moderation, but some people love eating a low carb diet. Low carbs doesn't = weight loss though, so keep that in mind.
    Of course there is such things as good foods or bad foods.. maybe not for weight loss but for overall health.. Unless of course you are telling me that somehow 120 calories of pepsi is just as healthy as 120 calories of spinach. Love to hear that logic.

    Anyways op, the only person who can answer that is yourself by just trying it. Low carb worked wonders for me. However this past month I transitioned off of low carb and now have carbs again and still progressing fine (but still somewhat lower carb, I limit myself to about 100-150g range, instead of the 20g range I did before). If I would have started off with just reducing portions I would have failed (like I have failed many times in the past by doing exactly that). There are still foods I completely avoid though such as snacky type foods (chips, salted nuts) just due to the fact that I seem to lose complete self control around them.. so I just avoid them altogether... If I had self control around those foods I would have no problem eating them. I also eat at a 1000+ calorie deficit so I just dont have the calories to spare on junky food that dont help me meet my macro goals.
  • harmar21
    harmar21 Posts: 215 Member
    edited May 2015
    DevilsFan1 wrote: »
    I could never go carb-free because ... BEER!

    If you're working out, you absolutely NEED carbs. They are the primary fuel source for exercise. Just be reasonable.

    No you dont. worked out 5 months in a row doing keto.The last 2 of those months I was going 5 days a week.. 3 days/week of those being C25K.
    This past month when I started added carbs back in I have not noticed any difference in endurance or lifting capabilities.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    I think eating in the manner you plan to eat once you reach your goal is best for weight loss. If you plan to include junk in your diet after, I'd include it now. If you don't plan to eat low carb once you are at goal, I would not eat it now. Eat in the manner that you feel is best for you while keeping a calorie deficit. And you can tweak your diet as you go along, as you find what does and does not work for you.

    Eating just for weight loss while planning to completely change when you are at goal may work for you, but I think the odds are against it. Other than number of calories, of course.

    This is my thoughts on the subject as well and over time I evolved into a Low Carb High Fat eating lifestyle. After 40 years of yo yo dieting my health was failing fast. After 8 months on LCHF it fits like a glove and my 40 years of carb abusing is showing some signs of reversing but I know it will be slow at best.
  • casinsf
    casinsf Posts: 2 Member
    I DO think there are good foods and bad foods. I used to believe that a calorie was a calorie, but that is just not true. Eating 1600 in ice cream a day, vs 1600 calories of veggies, fruits, and whole grains is different the way it is metabolized in your body and over time makes a difference. Not just for weight, but overall body function: brain, cells, muscle, etc. I think media has us thinking we need way more protein than we really do. There is protein in veggies and whole grains. I think eating clean is more important that anything. As far as portion control, if you don't like to measure, there are "eyeball" methods that work. For example, the tip of your thumb is approx. 1 oz. of cheese, a deck of cards = 1 meat/protein serving, handful = 1 cup. This will work, Concentrate of quality vs quantity of foods. Personally, I think any food that comes in it's natural state is basically good.