Carbs

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Replies

  • hamlet1222
    hamlet1222 Posts: 459 Member
    agree with everything posted above. I find just watching my calorie and protein goals, and letting the fats and carbs take care of themselves works for me.
  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    hamlet1222 wrote: »
    agree with everything posted above. I find just watching my calorie and protein goals, and letting the fats and carbs take care of themselves works for me.

    Awesome. My friend insisted that unless she restricts carbs, she can't lose weight. I was struggling to lose, although I think that had to do with the exercise and the fact that I'd been getting a little lazy with my portions. I'm much more strict about my food now and still having trouble with the scale but I think that's the exercise. So for now, I'm measuring progress with the measuring tape and trying to stay off of the scale.
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  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    It makes sense. They only thing is my friend also tracks her calorie intake...she's not just eliminating the food group, she counts calories too. I still think what she's saying is off but for whatever reason it works for her. She's also an omnivore and it takes less planning for her. For me, I don't want to spend my whole day trying variations of food that will let me fit my macros perfectly with such a low carb ratio. I don't want to have to obsess over food that much. So, for me, if drastically cutting carbs isn't necessary, I don't want to do it. It doesn't sound like it's necessary.

    I measure my food. I know I need to be weighing it too and I have a digital scale, I just haven't done it.
  • CasperNaegle
    CasperNaegle Posts: 936 Member
    Unless you have a doctor and some medical reason cutting carbs is not a good idea. Your body needs carbs for fuel. I do measure my macros to get enough protein to maintain muscle while losing.. but really you need to run a calorie deficit to lose weight.. that is all. I run about 45% protein, 35% carbs, and 20% fats.
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  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    I feel like the more I obsess over food the hungrier I feel. It is so much better to me to have a set amount of calories and fill it with the most wholesome foods I can find regardless of the macros. I could EASILY go over my daily carb count on veggies alone. I just can't tolerate the idea that I shouldn't eat all these veggies because they have carbs. I eat mostly whole foods--lots of veggies, moderate fruit, nuts, root vegetables, quinoa, organic soy products, etc...and I'm coming to the conclusion that these foods are healthy for me and if I'm eating at a deficit I shouldn't have to worry if another cup of broccoli will put me over my carb count for the day.
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  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    Agreed. I don't want to do a diet where I have to obsess over everything I'm eating...I want something that I can maintain in the long term. In the long term, I'm not going to be obsessing over carbs so I might as well learn how to eat a balanced, varied diet now so that when it comes time to maintain I'm set up for success.
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    taracan25 wrote: »
    I feel like the more I obsess over food the hungrier I feel. It is so much better to me to have a set amount of calories and fill it with the most wholesome foods I can find regardless of the macros. I could EASILY go over my daily carb count on veggies alone. I just can't tolerate the idea that I shouldn't eat all these veggies because they have carbs. I eat mostly whole foods--lots of veggies, moderate fruit, nuts, root vegetables, quinoa, organic soy products, etc...and I'm coming to the conclusion that these foods are healthy for me and if I'm eating at a deficit I shouldn't have to worry if another cup of broccoli will put me over my carb count for the day.

    Go ahead and eat those veggies, they are good for you.

    And use your food scale. Honestly, it's easier, faster and less mess than measuring!

    Good luck, you've got lots of good advice in here.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    taracan25 wrote: »
    I feel like the more I obsess over food the hungrier I feel. It is so much better to me to have a set amount of calories and fill it with the most wholesome foods I can find regardless of the macros. I could EASILY go over my daily carb count on veggies alone. I just can't tolerate the idea that I shouldn't eat all these veggies because they have carbs. I eat mostly whole foods--lots of veggies, moderate fruit, nuts, root vegetables, quinoa, organic soy products, etc...and I'm coming to the conclusion that these foods are healthy for me and if I'm eating at a deficit I shouldn't have to worry if another cup of broccoli will put me over my carb count for the day.

    It looks like you've gotten a lot of good input already, but I am a vegan who lost weight eating about 60% carbohydrates (a lot of which were from vegetables and grains). I didn't find I had to restrict carbs at all to lose weight as long as my calorie deficit was in place.
  • pennysuede
    pennysuede Posts: 11 Member
    So I have tried it all like most of you. I have lost with everything I have tried, but the thing that seems to be working best for me is low carb diet. I have lost half the weight I wanted doing that. BUT, on the weekends I will have normal meals in the right proportion, and even allow myself maybe ONE treat, as well in the right proportion. I do gain a pound or even two after the weekend, but it falls off in the beginning of the week after I go on a very low carb diet and then I even lose a couple pounds more. So far so good. :) Good luck to all of you!!
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    Unless you have a doctor and some medical reason cutting carbs is not a good idea. Your body needs carbs for fuel. I do measure my macros to get enough protein to maintain muscle while losing.. but really you need to run a calorie deficit to lose weight.. that is all. I run about 45% protein, 35% carbs, and 20% fats.

    @CasperNaegle carbs can be OK but they are not a requirement for good health, muscle and energy for humans. If one has never just burned mainly protein and fats there will be an adaption period of weeks for anyone but longer for jocks. I did not know carbs were totally optional for humans until last year.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Best of success with finding a plan that works for you. There is nothing magical about cutting the carbs.

    I can share what I finally did over a year ago after 40 years of yo yo dieting ending fatter every time.

    13 months ago I cut out all grains/grain related products and most all foods containing sugars. That was a strange animal but after many missteps I got it figured out. While I did lose some weight over the last year the best part was my pain levels took a nose dive after the first 30 days and has not returned. Then the prediabetic conditions when away as well as my long term IBS.

    To stay in nutritional ketosis I have to eat <50 grams of carbs daily. If one is eating 300 and drops down to just 150 carbs that can be a huge plus. <150 grams is called low carb when <50 grams of carbs is called Very Low Carb High Fat. My current macro is like 5% carbs, 15% protein and 80% fat. You will have to overcome the false teachings that saturated fats are bad for your long term health because the opposite is medically factual based on the research of the past 10 years and prior to 1970.

    It makes me excited to see young people to start eating for health before you wreck your bodies like I did living on mainly carbs until I was 63.

    Again best of success.

    @rabbitjb yes you remember well.
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