low carb or count calories

nat1324
nat1324 Posts: 4 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone,

I have loosley been following the lchf principals but haven't lost any weight due to not being fully low carb and having too many calories. This eating style can't continue because it's not helping achieve my goals.

I'm really wanting to lose weight but I am finding that lchf can be limiting and you can't be half committed.
I find you can get a lot of low cal low fat food but it doesn't fill me up.
So I would be grateful for your advice as to what to do...calories or low carbs? Or can you successfully do both?
Thank you.
«1

Replies

  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    oh lord... here we go....
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    OP, calories are all that matters. Eat less calories and you will lose. Eat more and you weight gain weight. Eat all your calories from carbs in a deficit and you will lose weight.

    No one macronutrient is evil.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited June 2015
    .
  • Mycophilia
    Mycophilia Posts: 1,225 Member
    nat1324 wrote: »
    Hi everyone,

    I have loosley been following the lchf principals but haven't lost any weight due to not being fully low carb and having too many calories. This eating style can't continue because it's not helping achieve my goals.

    I'm really wanting to lose weight but I am finding that lchf can be limiting and you can't be half committed.
    I find you can get a lot of low cal low fat food but it doesn't fill me up.
    So I would be grateful for your advice as to what to do...calories or low carbs? Or can you successfully do both?
    Thank you.

    There's the problem. That'll be 10$ sent to me by hawk.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited June 2015
    Deficit... deficit... deficit... !

    If you do low carb and wanting to do keto, good luck ... the carb flu sucks.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    oh lord... here we go....

    where?!? Venus? Jupiter? Mars? Bruno Mars? heheheheh okay back to the epic "Lawdy, what do I do?!?"

  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Count calories. If eating lower (or low) carbs helps you feel satisfied within your calories, do that too.

    When I started I did 1250 and found that I felt good eating around 100 grams of carbs and keeping my protein and fat higher than they would have been with MFP's default macros. Some people find lower levels than that works for them, whereas some would find 100 grams too low. Now that I'm more active and eating more calories I prefer doing about 40% carbs, but the carb level that works for people tends to vary a lot.
  • audiojister
    audiojister Posts: 14 Member
    It is possible, but not necessary, to do both. Calorie deficit is the requirement, low carb can help, but it's not required. Furthermore, if you can't sustain low carb, then you shouldn't go that way.
  • Debmal77
    Debmal77 Posts: 4,770 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    oh lord... here we go....

    my thoughts right away
  • pedidiva
    pedidiva Posts: 199 Member
    Nat you have a PM
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    edited June 2015
    shell1005 wrote: »
    If you are doing low carb, it shouldn't be an or. It should be low carb AND calorie counting since the common denominator for every single weight loss plan that works is eating at a deficit.

    I choose to do a low carb program since it is the easiest way for me to get and maintain a deficit...however, if it is not the easiest and from your description it doesn't sound like it is, then maybe low carb just isn't for you.

    It's the calories.

    ^This.

    Calories are key.

    How you allocate the calories is preference. If you don't find low fat satisfying (although eating carbs does not have to mean cutting fat), OP, then continue to eat low carb, high fat within your calorie goals.

    For many people low carb eating will fill them up and satisfy their hunger so they stop eating before they eat too much. Relying on this mechanism allows low carbing to "work" without counting calories for them. HOWEVER, this is not true for everyone, and I wish I had known this and more was written about it in books like Dr. Atkins. I might have been more successful had the calorie-counting aspect been stressed as well when I did low carb.

    Eat in a way that satisfies you while you watch your calories, and you'll find success. Good luck.

  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    It's an honest question. But no one can give an honest answer until you truly want to lose weight.
  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
    For losing weight, calorie deficit is a requirement. After that, it's all personal preference, performance based, etc. I find that if my carbs are too low, I can't get through my workouts as well.
  • professionalHobbyist
    professionalHobbyist Posts: 1,316 Member
    Do both

    See how you do on a lower carb diet. It is a fine choice. If you don't like it then try a different mix of food types.

    Just remember not to eat too much of whatever type of diet you get on. There is no magic diet type where you can eat more than you can burn off.

  • nosebag1212
    nosebag1212 Posts: 621 Member
    you have to eat less calories on either, low carb in and of itself doesn't make you lose fat, you need a deficit
  • daniwilford
    daniwilford Posts: 1,030 Member
    If you really want to know how to lose weight search and read the following discussions:
    Logging Accurately..step by step guide
    Calorie Counting 101
    Small But Super Helpful Habits
    Logging accuracy, consistency, and you're probably eating more than you think.
    Diagnosed/Living With PCOS? READ ME!
    Starvation Mode - Adaptive Thermogenesis and Weight Loss
    The Starvation Mode Myth...again.
    Dont lose weight...
    BMR and TDEE Explained for Those Needing a Guide
    HELP !!!!!!!17 Day, Weight Watchers, Fast Metabolism, DASH or WHAT?????
    The really blunt list of things to consider when losing weight.
    In Place of a road Map: Short N' Sweet
    Looking for a detox/cleanse?
    Just Another Plateau and Weigh-In Thread
    It is unlikely that you will lose weight consistently (i.e., weight loss is not linear)
    So you want a nice stomach
    Confession Time! ((ABSOLUTELY NO JUDGEMENT))
    Why Aspartame Isn't Scary
  • nat1324
    nat1324 Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks everone I was interested in your advice as there is so much information out there...I wanted to hear fron the people who have had results for themselves...and daniwilford I will read through those sugestions.

  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member
    You know it is so nice around here mid year. In the beginning of the year when the yoyo people are around it hurts my head to read "Eat more calories or you will hurt your metabolism" or "I don't eat this type of calories and as long as I avoid that I will lose weight" or "muscle weighs more than fat so you are losing fat and building muscle if you gain weight while dieting". A few months in the majority of them fall away (until next New Year's resolution) and most of those left are sane.

    OP The only reason that low carb diets actually work is that people eat less when they eat a higher fat higher protein diet. It is true that for most people you don't have to count to cut when you are eating no carbs. This is not because there is some magic happening though, you simply get so sick of seeing meat meat and more meat that you don't feel like eating. It takes planning to find something you can eat and like most diets it just doesn't always feel like it is worth the trouble so you just don't eat. They conducted studies on the Atkin's diet and people eat less calories even without intending to. Carbs are the easy calories so they probably make up more of the average person's diet than they know cut those out and you will easily eat 1/2 the calories you were eating.
  • nat1324
    nat1324 Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks triciab79. :smile:
  • jonnybhoy
    jonnybhoy Posts: 84 Member
    I am eating low/moderate carb and logging, I am eating a deficit of about 1K calories a day - the bonus for me is that I don't feel hungry between meals
  • Caitoriri
    Caitoriri Posts: 87 Member
    I just want to add, some people do a low carb diet because they like low carb.
    If you're not enjoying it, then quit!! Find a way of eating that doesn't stress you, you're bound to stick to it for longer. As long as you're in a calorie deficit you'll lose weight, low carb, low fat, whatever (even low protein, though I definitely wouldn't recommend that while you're actively losing weight)
  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
    You need to count calories on low carb. Some don't because they naturally create the deficit needed to lose weight., but those who can't do that must count. You can't think of it as a diet, nor think about what you can't have on the eating plan or it won't work. Think about what you can have and focus on how that way of eating makes you feel in general. Then go from there.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    daniwilford wrote: »
    If you really want to know how to lose weight search and read the following discussions:
    Logging Accurately..step by step guide
    Calorie Counting 101
    Small But Super Helpful Habits
    Logging accuracy, consistency, and you're probably eating more than you think.
    Diagnosed/Living With PCOS? READ ME!
    Starvation Mode - Adaptive Thermogenesis and Weight Loss
    The Starvation Mode Myth...again.
    Dont lose weight...
    BMR and TDEE Explained for Those Needing a Guide
    HELP !!!!!!!17 Day, Weight Watchers, Fast Metabolism, DASH or WHAT?????
    The really blunt list of things to consider when losing weight.
    In Place of a road Map: Short N' Sweet
    Looking for a detox/cleanse?
    Just Another Plateau and Weigh-In Thread
    It is unlikely that you will lose weight consistently (i.e., weight loss is not linear)
    So you want a nice stomach
    Confession Time! ((ABSOLUTELY NO JUDGEMENT))
    Why Aspartame Isn't Scary


    Ahhh now whilst you mean well copying and pasting the stickies doesn't really work because they have stickied completely gumby threads like "super unhelpful habits"

    OP -Just read these two and OP focus on your calories and work out the way that works for you to reach your defecit happily ..it may be low carb but it may be eat everything in moderation (I'm the latter)

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1

  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Eat low carb, if you don't lose weight after a month eat less food.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    yarwell wrote: »
    Eat low carb, if you don't lose weight after a month eat less food.

    Or eat fewer calories than you burn .. and if you want to try low carb as a way to get to your defecit and think you can stick with it do that.. if you don't don't

    then you won't have to wait a month
  • nat1324
    nat1324 Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks for all your suggestions everyone :smile:
  • Monklady123
    Monklady123 Posts: 512 Member
    There are also different ways of eating "low carb" -- there's "lower carb", and "low carb" and "no carb"... lol. For me, I don't restrict my vegetables and fruit, except for a few that upset my stomach (like apples and, sadly, watermelons :( ). My "low carb" comes from cutting out grains almost entirely. I still eat some oatmeal, and Ezekiel bread. But that's about it. So that makes it easy to cut calories in things. Like for instance I had a burger the other night for dinner. I've discovered frozen Angus beef patties at Costco. They're pretty big so I eat just one. I put a slice of cheese on it, sliced a tomato, and 1/4 of an avocado. But no bun. For me that bun would be "empty" calories simply because bread adds a lot of calories, especially when it's just your basic ordinary white hamburger bun. I prefer to eat those somewhere else, if I have them leftover.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    ladymiseryali wrote: »
    You need to count calories on low carb. Some don't because they naturally create the deficit needed to lose weight., but those who can't do that must count. You can't think of it as a diet, nor think about what you can't have on the eating plan or it won't work. Think about what you can have and focus on how that way of eating makes you feel in general. Then go from there.

    SOME people need to count calories on low carb.
    Some don't.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    ladymiseryali wrote: »
    You need to count calories on low carb. Some don't because they naturally create the deficit needed to lose weight., but those who can't do that must count. You can't think of it as a diet, nor think about what you can't have on the eating plan or it won't work. Think about what you can have and focus on how that way of eating makes you feel in general. Then go from there.

    SOME people need to count calories on low carb.
    Some don't.

    How is what you said any different than what she said except to argue very tiny semantics? She pointed out that calorie counting wasn't always necessary for low carbing. What's your point?

    I'll remind you what she said:
    You need to count calories on low carb. Some don't because they naturally create the deficit needed to lose weight., but those who can't do that must count. You can't think of it as a diet, nor think about what you can't have on the eating plan or it won't work. Think about what you can have and focus on how that way of eating makes you feel in general. Then go from there.


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