calories or carbs???
nicoholecma
Posts: 7 Member
I am just wondering is it better to count calories, or is it better to do a low carb diet such as Atkins, I think that it is easier to count calories, but a friend of mine swears that its better to count carbs which I think is too much work, help please, Thanks..
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Calories
With any diet type, calories still have to be at a deficit to lose weight0 -
Calorie counting is easier because you don't have to give up any foods that you like. I believe it's also simpler.0
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so its better to just count my calories? I swear I been eating right and all I have been drinking is water lots of water and my scale stays the same, I just want to see some results fast0
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You can still over eat and gain weight just by counting carbs, you still have to be aware of how many calories you are eating to lose0
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I still stay within my calorie range but I have also been paying more attention to my carbs and trying to eat less of them. My weight was not going down, but since I am doing lower carbs, I am losing weight again.0
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I try to stay around 30 carbs but I also really watch calories. For me personally once I get the carbs and sugar out of my system I don't crave them. I did it in February of 2015 and lost 23 lbs and got to my goal weight. I gained it back because I wasn't paying attention to anything, in was a eating free for all. I'm back at it and have lost 7 lbs in 9 days and don't have any cravings.0
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ChrisM8971 wrote: »You can still over eat and gain weight just by counting carbs, you still have to be aware of how many calories you are eating to lose
QFT
Atkins works because it's low calorie. If you follow it to the end, you'll eventually figure out at what calorie level (via carb count) you maintain at. If you don't you'll either run up and down the same 10-20 lbs and/or flat out gain.
If you are going to do Atkins, do yourself a favor and do the Atkins the good doctor wrote. Not what his company has turned into since he died.0 -
I still stay within my calorie range but I have also been paying more attention to my carbs and trying to eat less of them. My weight was not going down, but since I am doing lower carbs, I am losing weight again.
Is your calorie range based on TDEE or BMR? If so, have you been adjusting it appropriately as you lose/lost weight? Just curious since you didn't say.0 -
If you are actually eating at a calorie deficit, you will eventually lose weight. Do you use a food scale? You may be eating more calories than you think.nicoholecma wrote: »so its better to just count my calories? I swear I been eating right and all I have been drinking is water lots of water and my scale stays the same, I just want to see some results fast
Forget about "fast" because slow and steady wins the race. Weight loss isn't linear so your weight may bounce around but you are aiming for an overall month-to-month weight loss.
Low-carb will have an initial fast loss because people lose water weight but that water weight will just come back when more carbs are eaten.
There isn't an overall long-term difference between carb counting and calorie counting as long as you have a calorie deficit. It's all about what works best for you.0 -
Calories for sure. With that said, I do a bit lower carb (nothing extreme - aiming for no more than 25% of my calories from carbs) because I'm carb sensitive (long family history of T2 diabetes).
I do intend to add more unrefined carbs once I've dropped a few and up the weight training.0 -
Forgot to add, I also find that having a bit more of my calories from fat and protein keeps me full longer. But a bit of carbs also helps, so I don't go too low on those.0
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nicoholecma wrote: »so its better to just count my calories? I swear I been eating right and all I have been drinking is water lots of water and my scale stays the same, I just want to see some results fast
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I don't count carbs but I do try to watch how much carb loaded foods I eat throughout the day. But my main focus is staying under calories. My dad swears by low carb dieting and it works for him, but I don't want to be miserable trying to lose and I enjoy carbs.0
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Calories
Do you think if you ate at a caloric surplus of low carb foods that you wouldn't still gain weight? Because you would. Calorie surplus- weight gain. Calorie deficit - weight loss.
I have eaten @190 g of carbs throughout my entire weight loss process and maintenance and have had no problems. Carbs don't cause people to get fat, a calorie surplus does.
There are some people with medical conditions that warrant them to watch their carbs though.
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I would say it depends on the person. A calorie deficit is needed to lose weight, but how you get into that deficit is up to you. Some people prefer to do low carb because the types of food appeal to them and help them stay in a deficit. Even with low carb, you have to pay attention to calories. Some people will count calories while doing low carb, while others find that the types of foods leave them feeling full and they find themselves in a deficit without doing the actual counting.0
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Thanks for all the advise, I have been counting my calories and I try to stay away from carbs, I'm just wanting to see a change on the scale, I think I may need to start measuring my food and then maybe that will help.0
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kshama2001 wrote: »nicoholecma wrote: »so its better to just count my calories? I swear I been eating right and all I have been drinking is water lots of water and my scale stays the same, I just want to see some results fast
Thanks for this chart it is really helpful.0 -
nicoholecma wrote: »Thanks for all the advise, I have been counting my calories and I try to stay away from carbs, I'm just wanting to see a change on the scale, I think I may need to start measuring my food and then maybe that will help.
Bingo ! You got it !! Get yourself a food scale and learn how to properly weigh your portions.0 -
nicoholecma wrote: »Thanks for all the advise, I have been counting my calories and I try to stay away from carbs, I'm just wanting to see a change on the scale, I think I may need to start measuring my food and then maybe that will help.
Use a digital food scale to weigh all of the solids and measure the liquids, be wary of the bar code scanner because it regularly takes you to an inaccurate member entry. Check entries against nutrition labels, accuracy is a really important part of counting calories0 -
If you are actually eating at a calorie deficit, you will eventually lose weight. Do you use a food scale? You may be eating more calories than you think.nicoholecma wrote: »so its better to just count my calories? I swear I been eating right and all I have been drinking is water lots of water and my scale stays the same, I just want to see some results fast
Forget about "fast" because slow and steady wins the race. Weight loss isn't linear so your weight may bounce around but you are aiming for an overall month-to-month weight loss.
Low-carb will have an initial fast loss because people lose water weight but that water weight will just come back when more carbs are eaten.
There isn't an overall long-term difference between carb counting and calorie counting as long as you have a calorie deficit. It's all about what works best for you.
No I have not use a scale but I thought I was eyeing pretty good but maybe not, I will get the scale today.0 -
nicoholecma wrote: »I am just wondering is it better to count calories, or is it better to do a low carb diet such as Atkins, I think that it is easier to count calories, but a friend of mine swears that its better to count carbs which I think is too much work, help please, Thanks..
Carbs are not directly related to weight loss. You can lose weight, maintain weight, or gain weight on a low carb diet. You can lose weight, maintain weight, or gain weight on a high carb diet. Calories are what drives fat gain or fat loss.
Even for those with insulin resistance, I haven't seen compelling studies that low carb dieting is overall superior to higher carb for either improvement of insulin sensitivity or fat loss. Somewhat higher levels of weight loss are typical of low carb, but the difference is lean mass, mainly glycogen and water.
Some people prefer to eat low carb because they like it or it keeps them feeling more full, and that's totally fine, and some people might do so for medical reasons, and that's certainly good as well. If neither are true for you (as neither are true for me) then there's really no need.0 -
rankinsect wrote: »nicoholecma wrote: »I am just wondering is it better to count calories, or is it better to do a low carb diet such as Atkins, I think that it is easier to count calories, but a friend of mine swears that its better to count carbs which I think is too much work, help please, Thanks..
Carbs are not directly related to weight loss. You can lose weight, maintain weight, or gain weight on a low carb diet. You can lose weight, maintain weight, or gain weight on a high carb diet. Calories are what drives fat gain or fat loss.
Even for those with insulin resistance, I haven't seen compelling studies that low carb dieting is overall superior to higher carb for either improvement of insulin sensitivity or fat loss. Somewhat higher levels of weight loss are typical of low carb, but the difference is lean mass, mainly glycogen and water.
Some people prefer to eat low carb because they like it or it keeps them feeling more full, and that's totally fine, and some people might do so for medical reasons, and that's certainly good as well. If neither are true for you (as neither are true for me) then there's really no need.
I really don't know. I know that its easier for me to count my calories than to do a carb diet, but I guess I need to to be accurately measuring my food if I do calorie, so that could be why I have not seen a change, I have felt a little funny not having the carbs I'm use to eating in my system. I guess if calories is what drives fat loss this maybe thats the way for me, but I'll keep trying and see, thanks for advise...0 -
Calories are king. And counting calories teaches you how to eat a balanced diet, eating things you enjoy. You can count your calories to lose, maintain, and even gain weight.0
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Calories for sure.
That being said, I think it is wise to think about the TYPE of carb you are enjoying. Whole wheat bread and pasta vs. refined wheat? One will add more fiber to your diet and help your sense of fullness.0 -
There may not be a lot of scientific studies on it, but I have seen plenty of anecdotal accounts of people with insulin resistance who have managed their blood glucose a lot better on a lower carb diet. Not that it has to be extremely low in carbs, but many will say that 50% of their calories from carbs doesn't work for them.rankinsect wrote: »Even for those with insulin resistance, I haven't seen compelling studies that low carb dieting is overall superior to higher carb for either improvement of insulin sensitivity or fat loss. Somewhat higher levels of weight loss are typical of low carb, but the difference is lean mass, mainly glycogen and water.
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For me it is both. I cut my calories to lose about 1.5 lbs per week, still ate over that goal but when I did it on a very low carb diet I lost 2-3 ls per week instead. Doing both gave me great results.
I do have some insulin resistance though, and I have seen studies where those with IR do lose better on a low carb diet.0 -
nicoholecma wrote: »I am just wondering is it better to count calories, or is it better to do a low carb diet such as Atkins, I think that it is easier to count calories, but a friend of mine swears that its better to count carbs which I think is too much work, help please, Thanks..
It's less work to count carbs as several food groups don't have any.0 -
At 300 grams per day, I can safely say calories.0
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nicoholecma wrote: »I am just wondering is it better to count calories, or is it better to do a low carb diet such as Atkins, I think that it is easier to count calories, but a friend of mine swears that its better to count carbs which I think is too much work, help please, Thanks..
I've done it both ways and had success both ways. The important thing is if you're counting carbs, don't go crazy with calories. You still have to eat within a certain calorie range to lose weight (at least in my experience). Now I'm focusing on calories, but I limit my carbs to whole grains, fruits and veggies as much as possible. I eat about 130-150g of carbs per day now, but I did lose weight eating under 100g per day in the past. I just found that when I was eating that few carbs I was pretty much eliminating all grains and it was harder than being able to focus on healthier grains. There are some people who will swear by a super low carb diet though, but it's not easy to maintain, imo.
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I've been doing low carb now and it does work. that being said you do need to pay attention to your macros (macronutrients) as well as your calorie intake. I make sure everything is balanced and make sure I'm eating enough, and the weight comes off0
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