Low carb
thegrahams2010
Posts: 2 Member
I am trying to make a lifestyle change by losing weight with low carbs.. I need to lose 150lbs. I need to know how many carbs you can have in a day. And when using fitness pal is it giving you your net carbs or total carbs? Please respond
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are you planning on being low carb for life?
MFP does gross carbs.
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It's just not carbs it is also total calories consumed that gives you weight loss. That said 40+ lbs down by limiting carbs. I keep the carbs well under what MFP gives me, and keep calories about at MFP level. It's working for me. I'm about 15 lbs from ultimate goal weight.4
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very low carb diets should be limited to amount of time run unless the only goal is weight loss. Muscle waste is inevitable on a low carb diet for most if not all who try that route.0
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If you've decided to embark on a lower carb way of eating I'm going to recommend you join this group:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-lcd-group
But more importantly, I'm going to strongly urge you to do your research. There's more to it than just finding a percentage of carbs to eat. The "launch pad" on that group's page can help you start.
PS: this guy is low carb. He looks okay muscle wise.
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/688580177283055616/RbXGQK8V.jpg
http://www.burnfatnotsugar.com/images/img_4582.jpg1 -
Why are you choosing low carb and what do you consider to be low carb?
Low carb isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it has gotten WAY more hype than it deserves for a couple of reasons. First, you lose quite a bit of water weight in your first couple of weeks when you switch from a typical American diet to a low carb diet. Secondly, due to the extreme amount of publicity and advertising it gets, people tend to think there is something magical about it.
It has its merits, but it isn't anything special. Losing weight is still about eating less than you burn over a long period of time. Cutting carbs is a pretty easy way to do this for a lot of people. Americans eat a very carb heavy diet on average, so cutting them can be a good thing. However, understand what you are getting in to.
If you are just getting started down the weight loss path, I would personally suggest that you focus on eating a balanced diet with a moderate calorie deficit for a month. I would almost bet that a "balanced diet" would reduce your fat and carb intake while increasing protein. After that, if you want to go low carb, then switch.6 -
First of all, focus on finding a calorie level that makes you lose weight healthily, and a way of eating that makes sticking to the right calorie level as easy as possible for you. This may or may no be low carb, and this will take care your first question. Then your second question will sort itself out, or prove to be irrelevant.0
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thegrahams2010 wrote: »I am trying to make a lifestyle change by losing weight with low carbs.. I need to lose 150lbs. I need to know how many carbs you can have in a day. And when using fitness pal is it giving you your net carbs or total carbs? Please respond
For some people low carb is indeed the way to go. Check out the group linked above.
All I needed to do was to create a calorie deficit by reducing carbs from flour and increase protein and exercise.1 -
If you're relying on low carb to reduce your appetite (so you eat less naturally without counting calories) you need to eat a strict, ketogenic level of carbohydrate. If that's your goal under 50g of carbs a day is where you want to be.
If you're going to be consistently weighing and logging your food with MFP you can afford to be more liberal with your carbs because you can use your food diary to ensure you're eating at a calorie deficit.
Definitely join the Low Carbers Daily group Sabine_Stroehm mentioned and best wishes.
Source: Low Carb for Beginners3 -
Is that 50 total or 50 net and I do use mfp and stay below my calorie allowed amount1
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thegrahams2010 wrote: »Is that 50 total or 50 net and I do use mfp and stay below my calorie allowed amount
You can use net carbs or total - whichever you prefer and seems easiest for you. The important part is to evaluate how you feel once you've lowered your carbs. If after a few weeks of eating low carb you're experiencing cravings and hunger outside of meal times you'll probably want to reduce your carbs further.
As for MFP? Nothing but good things can come from knowing how to count calories and being calorie aware so I highly recommend you log your calories with MFP.
But the first two weeks of going low carb your main focus should be keeping under your carb goal, making sure to get 3 to 5 grams of sodium a day (so, so important) and eating protein and fat until you're full. If that means you go over your MFP calorie goal in those first few days that's ok. You can't keep going over your calorie goal and expect to lose weight but while you're adjusting to eating low carb in the very beginning if you're hungry, eat more. Especially fat.0 -
GauchoMark wrote: »Why are you choosing low carb and what do you consider to be low carb?
Low carb isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it has gotten WAY more hype than it deserves for a couple of reasons. First, you lose quite a bit of water weight in your first couple of weeks when you switch from a typical American diet to a low carb diet. Secondly, due to the extreme amount of publicity and advertising it gets, people tend to think there is something magical about it.
It has its merits, but it isn't anything special. Losing weight is still about eating less than you burn over a long period of time. Cutting carbs is a pretty easy way to do this for a lot of people. Americans eat a very carb heavy diet on average, so cutting them can be a good thing. However, understand what you are getting in to.
If you are just getting started down the weight loss path, I would personally suggest that you focus on eating a balanced diet with a moderate calorie deficit for a month. I would almost bet that a "balanced diet" would reduce your fat and carb intake while increasing protein. After that, if you want to go low carb, then switch.
this...
OP at the end of the day it comes down to calories in vs calories out...
carbs are not bad and should only be avoided if someone has a medical condition that requires avoiding carbs...1 -
To the OP: Using MFP you should set your settings and goals to track carbs, fat, protein, sugar and fiber IMO. Some may suggest that since sugar rolls up into carbs anyway, that you track sodium instead of sugar since you need a fair amount of sodium on a low carb diet to keep things in balance. Then to get net carbs you subtract the fiber grams from the carb grams. You just have to do that in your head as you monitor your net carb intake for the day. Most people seem to be on 25-50 grams of net carbs to be low carb depending on how your body reacts to carbs. I would do some research online (I personally think its quicker and more thorough than only researching on MFP) different low carb articles/blogs etc.. Google things like "low carb high fat", "ketogenic diet", "Atkins 20 and Atkins 40" etc. It will help you figure out how many carbs are best for you if you do want to go the low carb route. For what its worth, my sister-in-law needed to lose about 130 lbs and she is more than halfway there after 6 months on Atkins 20. It requires discipline but she swears by it after trying the moderation/calorie counting approach and it not working for her for various reasons. Whatever route you take, Good luck!0
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Why are you going Low Carb? Answer that first? I think Low Carb has become the latest "fad" (Just my opinion)
It's become the new "low fat" diet.
It is not necessary for weight loss. I would suggest doing your research on weight loss and how it works.
Diets fail all the time. Why? because people choose something they will not stick with for life.
My only advice is do your research. Get active. Eat a healthy balanced diet. Burn more calories than you take in.
Good luck in whatever you decide is right for you.
(BTW..I am also diabetic and I don't do low carb) I have lost 70 pounds in 5 months.
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I had diabetes in pregnancy so considered as 'prediabetic'. I always think I should go low carb but in reality any attempt at all leaves me feeling very hungry. I now try to make 'better' carb choices like wholemeal but I do still eat carbs in my calories. Hopefully losing weight will in turn help me fend off diabetes so I won't need to go low carb. Each to their own but can't think of anything worse really.
I have a lot to lose as well...150lb would leave me in a healthy range but I'm going for mini goals as I feel that's out of reach just now. Managing to lose 3lb per week on average with calorie counting.0 -
sweetilemon wrote: »I had diabetes in pregnancy so considered as 'prediabetic'. I always think I should go low carb but in reality any attempt at all leaves me feeling very hungry. I now try to make 'better' carb choices like wholemeal but I do still eat carbs in my calories. Hopefully losing weight will in turn help me fend off diabetes so I won't need to go low carb. Each to their own but can't think of anything worse really.
I have a lot to lose as well...150lb would leave me in a healthy range but I'm going for mini goals as I feel that's out of reach just now. Managing to lose 3lb per week on average with calorie counting.
if you had gestational diabetes it doesnt mean you are considered prediabetic unless tests show that you are. gestational diabetes for most goes away after giving birth. I would say being 150lbs overweight is what caused it. low carb can help those with diabetes and insulin resistance and other health issues and for some it helps them to eat lower calories or stick to their calorie goals,but its not a magical way to lose weight. if you want to try it then you are free to do so. its hard to stick to for some though.but if thats what you want to do then I dont see why you cant.1 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »sweetilemon wrote: »I had diabetes in pregnancy so considered as 'prediabetic'. I always think I should go low carb but in reality any attempt at all leaves me feeling very hungry. I now try to make 'better' carb choices like wholemeal but I do still eat carbs in my calories. Hopefully losing weight will in turn help me fend off diabetes so I won't need to go low carb. Each to their own but can't think of anything worse really.
I have a lot to lose as well...150lb would leave me in a healthy range but I'm going for mini goals as I feel that's out of reach just now. Managing to lose 3lb per week on average with calorie counting.
if you had gestational diabetes it doesnt mean you are considered prediabetic unless tests show that you are. gestational diabetes for most goes away after giving birth. I would say being 150lbs overweight is what caused it. low carb can help those with diabetes and insulin resistance and other health issues and for some it helps them to eat lower calories or stick to their calorie goals,but its not a magical way to lose weight. if you want to try it then you are free to do so. its hard to stick to for some though.but if thats what you want to do then I dont see why you cant.
That is only sort of true. Gestational diabetes confers something like a 1 in 2 chance of developing diabetes within 5 years (according to my endocrinologist). Women who have had gestational diabetes absolutely need to do everything in their power to mitigate other risk factors. Low carb high fat is one strategy to do so, as it does have benefits for those who are insulin resistant as well as promoting satiety in many individuals (which then helps with weight loss).4 -
MFP as several people have said will give you total rather than net carbs. I've lost 80lbs doing keto but it's not magic and if you intend on eating a SAD again it's better to look into IIFYM for long term success instead (just my opinion though). I do find keto really superior athletic performance wise as a runner, but that is purely anecdotal. I hope regardless of what way of eating you choose that you are very successful in dropping the 150lbs!2
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A low carb diet is considered to be under 100-150g of carbs per day. A ketogenic diet is usually under 50g of carbs per day, Those that follow a keto diet tend to do so because of the health benefits. Some of us feel better when we run on fat instead of sugar. It's a safe way to eat... and doesn't cause muscle wasting.
Some of us find that our appetite is lower, the lower carb we go. Eat whatever you feel best at. Carbs are a non-essential macronutrient so if you want to drop almost all carbohydrates, it is fine to do so as long as your diet is nutritious.
Some people count net and some go with total. I go with total because that is what is listed on food labels. It's easier.
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CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »sweetilemon wrote: »I had diabetes in pregnancy so considered as 'prediabetic'. I always think I should go low carb but in reality any attempt at all leaves me feeling very hungry. I now try to make 'better' carb choices like wholemeal but I do still eat carbs in my calories. Hopefully losing weight will in turn help me fend off diabetes so I won't need to go low carb. Each to their own but can't think of anything worse really.
I have a lot to lose as well...150lb would leave me in a healthy range but I'm going for mini goals as I feel that's out of reach just now. Managing to lose 3lb per week on average with calorie counting.
if you had gestational diabetes it doesnt mean you are considered prediabetic unless tests show that you are. gestational diabetes for most goes away after giving birth. I would say being 150lbs overweight is what caused it. low carb can help those with diabetes and insulin resistance and other health issues and for some it helps them to eat lower calories or stick to their calorie goals,but its not a magical way to lose weight. if you want to try it then you are free to do so. its hard to stick to for some though.but if thats what you want to do then I dont see why you cant.
That is only sort of true. Gestational diabetes confers something like a 1 in 2 chance of developing diabetes within 5 years (according to my endocrinologist). Women who have had gestational diabetes absolutely need to do everything in their power to mitigate other risk factors. Low carb high fat is one strategy to do so, as it does have benefits for those who are insulin resistant as well as promoting satiety in many individuals (which then helps with weight loss).
thats why I said it goes away for most after giving birth. I didnt say all,but weight has a lot to do with becoming prediabetic/diabetic(usually type 2) a lot of the time as well.I know quite a few women who had GD while pregnant and so far none of them are prediabetic or diabetic and a few of them are quite overweight..(they all have kids over 5 and hadnt had the GD with subsequent children either.but then again maybe it has to do with genes as well? as none of their family have a history of diabetes?0 -
I had GD when I was pregnant with my oldest, may have had it with the youngest (the doctor thinks I didn't and the lab reversed some numbers), almost everyone on my dads side including him and my sister are diabetic. The endo predicted I would be by age 40. I do have pcos and am insulin resistant but am 57 with no diabetes so far. I am doing low carb ( meaning less than 100g per day) along with cico because that works for me.
Everyone needs to find was works and is sustainable for them.0
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