High Protein / Low Carb?

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If you're doing heavy weight training, then yes, more protein/less carbs is the way to go. I don't think cutting out carbs all together is a good idea for the long haul however. Also, an excessively high protein diet for a prolonged period of time can be harmful as well. The trick is to find the right balance so your muscles are getting the fuel they need without overkill.

Do what works best for you. I'm one of those people that thrives on a lower carb type diet - I'm awesome with fatty proteins and dense crunchy veggies. My head is clearer, I have more energy... Some people are the opposite - a low carb style life leaves them feeling ill. So, if you are feeling great then keep it up. The biggest thing is making sure you get the proper nutrients and your body is functioning well.

What does bump mean? i keep seeing it

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Low carb is ok, but no carb isn't good. Carbs are fuel for your body, and you need them to be healthy. Also, you have to keep in mind your long-term goals. Cutting out carbs is great for a quick weight loss, but it's not sustainable for the long-term because when you add the carbs back in, you'll regain the weight. (My parents have done this 3 times now.) Carbs are not evil -- they're good for you! You just need to make sure you're eating complex carbs instead of simple carbs (whole grains rather than white bread, etc.) and make sure you're getting a good amount of protein to go along with it.

No. Not good. You might as well throw the protein in the garbage. For each gram of protein to be used by your body, it needs 4 grams of carbos. When your protein is high, it is only filling your stomach, but not being used by your body (so its not fueling muscles/muscle growth without the carbs present). It stresses your digestive system (but you may not feel it) and other organs. A balanced low-fat diet with real food and a variety of exercise (cardio and strength) is the way to go. "They" say 30% calories from fat, but from many health experts, that is too high. Use this site, set your weight loss goal (1 to 1.5 pounds lost per week is safe and managable without stressing out) and you will get there. It will take longer than your friends method, but you will be at your goal when she is still pounding the weights eating a rigid diet and you'll be used to a healthy diet, fun exercise, and enjoying your accomplishment. Think of this, the extra weight that you want to lose--how long did it take to put on? It may take that long to burn it off. Don't expect overnight success, but demand success in the end. GOOD LUCK!

I'm doing the same thing. I did South Beach two years ago and did AMAZING on it!!! So I kind of started doing it again this year, only I've modified it a bit. I watch my starches, white-floured stuff. I try to stay away from bread and pasta, but limit to special occasions only. I make a lot of salads, lean meats, and veggies for my meals. Breakfast can be a bit of a challenge because I love cereal - so I usually eat oatmeal+almonds during winter or Egg white omelets with turkey bacon. I love protein shakes, but usually eat them with a light meal. Most of all, I try to REALLY watch processed stuff - that's where I get in to trouble.

Just like what you said, I feel TONS better. Carbs kill me. The Low carb way is not for everyone, but I find it really helps me. I have energy, I found a lot of stuff I like to eat, and it helps with watching my sodium too.

I do cardio and free weights for my work outs.

The short answer to your question is yes, that is the way to go. How many gms carbs are you consuming?

No. Not good. You might as well throw the protein in the garbage. For each gram of protein to be used by your body, it needs 4 grams of carbos. When your protein is high, it is only filling your stomach, but not being used by your body (so its not fueling muscles/muscle growth without the carbs present). It stresses your digestive system (but you may not feel it) and other organs. A balanced low-fat diet with real food and a variety of exercise (cardio and strength) is the way to go. "They" say 30% calories from fat, but from many health experts, that is too high. Use this site, set your weight loss goal (1 to 1.5 pounds lost per week is safe and managable without stressing out) and you will get there. It will take longer than your friends method, but you will be at your goal when she is still pounding the weights eating a rigid diet and you'll be used to a healthy diet, fun exercise, and enjoying your accomplishment. Think of this, the extra weight that you want to lose--how long did it take to put on? It may take that long to burn it off. Don't expect overnight success, but demand success in the end. GOOD LUCK!

http://www.drbriffa.com/2010/11/26/higher-protein-lower-carbohydrate-diets-win-in-the-war-on-weight/

http://www.drbriffa.com/2010/06/25/study-reminds-us-of-the-superior-performance-of-low-carb-diets-over-low-fat-ones-for-weight-loss/

@ lodro. Thanks for the articles. The person who posted this asked if high protein/low carb is the way to go. My answer was solid. Its not the way to go. The links you provide show studies of which diets work the best for weight loss. High protein/low carb will drop the weight faster almost every time. I don't argue that. However, is that the way to go? I don't think so. Usually people on these diets go for the obvious high protein food: meat (and some cheeses). Not good. High in cholesterol, low in nutrients, rough on your system and colon. To make up for the nutrients, the high protein diets have you on a vitamin supplement regimine. Its ok to get some vitamins/minerals from supplements, but they are always best from the source--the food. If high protein seekers ate bunch of beans/legumes for protein they'd probably get sick. The best 'diet' is not a diet at all, eat how we evolved--tons of veggies, fruit for quick fuel (which also satisfies sweet cravings), complex carbs for sustained energy (brown rice, ancient grains, whole wheats--which also provide a lot of protein), no to very little processed carbs, very little white carbs (white bread/rice/potatoes), legumes , and if you have to, fish/other meats (but non processed) for protein, some nuts/seeds which have protein and necessary oils (omega). Contrary to popular belief (and the latest caveman diet trend), we did not evolve on meat (no refridgeration, lack of technology to hunt, no mass farming to feed herds, etc). No, I am not an animal rights activist. Civilizations of the past, and even our grandparents, ate meat sparingly, and on "occasions" and when they could afford it. Our digestive systems are not equipped to digest high protein diet meat quantities without something going wrong--eventually. You can eat masses and masses of vegetables which are LOW in calories, but nutrient dense. The weight will fall off, naturally.

Low carb diets end up low calorie diets because you eat less--and what you do eat (mainly protein) goes in one end and out the other because most of the calories in the protein/meat aren't counting because they don't digest/get processed without 4x the carbs. Its a high cholesterol-kidney-stone-causing-low-nutrient math equation that ends up low cal, low nutrition.

So this discussion will boil down to what you meant by "way to go". Yes, in the short term, eating very little carbs can put your body into ketosis and you will burn your body fat (there is a lot I'm leaving out, but that's the basics). However, like supermario said, it may not be the best over the long term. What are your goals? Short term? Long term? How much do you exercise? There are a lot of questions that go into this high protein or high carb diet. It will all depend on your goals, and needs.

Ok, I sounded a bit ranty. Sorry about that. Knittnponder summed it up--too many carbs=sluggish; too few=low energy.

Whoever has a few extra pounds to lose probably got there by consuming too many calories made up of excess carbs, protein, and fat--most of which was probably processed. Basically, overeating. Tracking it without changing things for a week or two will show what needs to be reduced.

For me, I can't believe how many little snacky crappy things I end up with at the end of the week! They gotta go.

Carbs are a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle. The type of carb is the key. Complex carbs are what give you energy for long periods of time as opposed to simple carbs that you find in junk food that give you a huge crash. Fruits contain simple carbs, but they are great when combined with proper amounts of protein and complex carbs as a general rule. After a heavy weightlifting session, protein and simple carbs help to refuel the muscles.
A great program that helped me to get to my goal is www.burnthefat.com. This program explains how important carbs, protein, and fat are. It also explains that you should eat 5 small meals a day and that in order to change the way your body looks you need to lift weights.

Forgot to mention that I taper my carbs. My macronutrients are 40-30-30. I get most of my complex carbs in the morning and the early part of the day and have very few at dinner. I also do not eat anything 3 hours before bedtime.

Is the 40% your protein?

Low carb is a good idea but high protein is not.

High carb diets often mean a lot of muscle wastage due to your body always needing a supply of energy from glucose which means whenever you try to exercise you will only burn muscle because it needs glucose and the best way of doing it to convert protein stores (muscle) into it. Also carbs tend to cause an insulin spike; complex or simple.

High protein diets will make the body acidic and like the carb diet give a decency on always having energy there otherwise you will get muscle breakdown. I actually think a high protein diet is WORSE than a high carb diet due the amount of amonia that will be produced as a waste product when protein is converted into glucose (with about 60% efficiency btw).

That really only leaves the one macro nutrient left which is fat. Supplying your body with fat sets your metabolism to burn fat, once the fat you've eaten is all used up your body will then start using your fat stores to supply it's needs, leaving the protein you've eaten for repair. I eat a minimum of 55% fat, with a maximum of 10% carbs but really I'm aiming for 70% fat, 25% protein and 5% carbs. I really believe this causes the least catabolism and maximum fat loss.

Low carb long term again is something that even professional bodybuilders don't tend to use when cutting for a competition. Yes they make sure they strictly eat clean but they also carb cycle.

A friend of mine is carb cycling to get to a boxing weight and his typical carb cycle is (whilst keeping protein / fat intake relatively stable throughout the week):

Mon: Low Carb
Tue: Normal
Wed: Low Carb
Thurs: High Carb
Fri: Low Carb
Sat: Normal
Sun: High Carb

He does say the low carb after his high carb days are very difficult but he has seen results. It makes it easier knowing he has another high carb day in a few days and he doesnt have to go without for weeks at a time. He tends to trim down to 5-7% BF maintaining lean muscle, so it does work. Just don't deprive yourself for long periods of time. Let yourself have one or two days a week where you up your carb intake.

Or something similar. PLay around with the number