Here we go again...lol

Galileo83
Galileo83 Posts: 2 Member
edited September 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
So I've finally had it with being obese and I'm going to do something about it in a big way.
My friend told me about a new diet he found on amazon so I'm gonna be trying that out.
It's high carb, low fat. Hopefully it works long term. Sounds like it could work and he's been on it a few days and lost a bit of weight and likes it.
There's so much info online about what's better, low carb vs high carb etc. I hope I'm on the right path here.

Anyone able to succeed on a low fat/high carb diet or?

Replies

  • Sarah_Shapes_Up
    Sarah_Shapes_Up Posts: 76 Member
    Congrats on doing something to make a change. Personally, I'm not a fan of diets. I like to think about it as a lifestyle change. Can I see myself eating the same way now as in 5 years? No? It's a diet that won't give lasting results. Yes? I'll make the changes I want and keep the weight off.
  • fattothinmum
    fattothinmum Posts: 218 Member
    I don't like diets. Over the years I tried loads, but counting calories and eating what fitted in, and food I like, has got me to over 100lbs down, when the faddy food phenomenons didn't. We have to find out what works for us, then go with it.

    I'd struggle with high carb, low fat. High carbs make most of us crave, but I guess it depends on each individual person. I try to be moderate carb, moderate fat, moderate protein, as I can't seem to cope with long spells of extremes of anything at all. I don't always get it right, and don't always count it exactly either.

    You're in the right mindset to get going, so well done to you. Once we're in the right frame of mind, any weight loss is an easier goal to achieve.
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    Try just sticking to a reasonable calorie goal. Choose 1 pound loss per week and stick with it for at least 1 month. If you can do that then maybe start to venture out into macro manipulation. Weight loss comes from calorie deficits so it doesn't matter if it is high carb/protein/fat, keto, paleo...just create a deficit and stick to it. Weigh all your foods. Log everything you eat/drink. Drink at least 64oz water. Have patience.
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    I also say just stick with the MFP calorie goal that is given to you based on your profile. Fit foods into your caloric allotment. Keep an eye on protein numbers because it helps with satiation. But that's it. No magic. Just patience and perseverance.
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    There is no magic diet that is going to help you lose weight. I agree with the posters above who mention tracking what you eat in MFP.

    However, if you enjoy eating a higher carb, lower fat diet, and it helps you stick to your calorie goals, then great! Just remember that it is not the diet itself that makes people lose weight, but CICO. This is good knowledge to have because if you decide in a couple of weeks that you hate HCLF, there is no need to feel like a failure and give up. Just try a different approach to help you stick to your calorie goal. It takes trial and error for us to figure out what helps us stay satiated.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    I lost weight on low fat, but I can't keep it off eating that way. There's so much information on diets because lots of people earn money from the confusion.

    I don't understand what you'll be paying for, all you need to lose weight is right here at this site, along with your own determination and commintment.
  • gonetothedogs19
    gonetothedogs19 Posts: 325 Member
    Whatever works for you. But always remember - fat in itself, has NOTHING to do with making you fat. We've been brainwashed for thirty years by the USDA. They finally admitted they were wrong.

    Repeat - fat does not make you fat.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,171 Member
    I did low fat in the 90's and I lost weight. But it sucked. I was miserably unhappy. I felt deprived all the time and I was hungry a lot. I got pregnant after that and after the baby I could not make myself go low fat again. It took me 20 years to lose weight again because I was so resistant to restrictive diets. I felt that I would be happier fat and for a while I was. Thank God I found mfp. I lost weight just counting calories and learning to moderate my portions. Even with a goal of 1250-1350 I never felt deprived and I rarely felt hungry unless it was mealtime. I eat what I want and fit it in. You can certainly lose weight going low fat, but in my opinion it is not a good long term solution and I think you are likely to give up on it, or reach your goal and then start adding back fats and the weight will creep back on. That was my experience. Once I started eating fats again that was it for me.
  • cathipa
    cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
    Whatever works for you. But always remember - fat in itself, has NOTHING to do with making you fat. We've been brainwashed for thirty years by the USDA. They finally admitted they were wrong.

    Repeat - fat does not make you fat.

    ^^^THIS.
  • Missiz_B
    Missiz_B Posts: 13 Member
    Congrats on doing something to make a change. Personally, I'm not a fan of diets. I like to think about it as a lifestyle change. Can I see myself eating the same way now as in 5 years? No? It's a diet that won't give lasting results. Yes? I'll make the changes I want and keep the weight off.
    I agree!
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Whatever works for you. But always remember - fat in itself, has NOTHING to do with making you fat. We've been brainwashed for thirty years by the USDA. They finally admitted they were wrong.

    Repeat - fat does not make you fat.

    To be fair to the USDA did they ever officially claim that fat makes you fat or was it more that fat has the most calories per gram (which is true) and people just ran with that.
  • Lucy1752
    Lucy1752 Posts: 499 Member
    edited September 2016
    kgirlhart wrote: »
    I did low fat in the 90's and I lost weight. But it sucked. I was miserably unhappy. I felt deprived all the time and I was hungry a lot. I got pregnant after that and after the baby I could not make myself go low fat again. It took me 20 years to lose weight again because I was so resistant to restrictive diets. I felt that I would be happier fat and for a while I was. Thank God I found mfp. I lost weight just counting calories and learning to moderate my portions. Even with a goal of 1250-1350 I never felt deprived and I rarely felt hungry unless it was mealtime. I eat what I want and fit it in. You can certainly lose weight going low fat, but in my opinion it is not a good long term solution and I think you are likely to give up on it, or reach your goal and then start adding back fats and the weight will creep back on. That was my experience. Once I started eating fats again that was it for me.


    I could have written that!
    I did low fat in the mid-90s and lost about 40 pounds. I was thinner than ever and thought I was doing really well, but then a high-risk pregnancy and bedrest and BOOM - weight back on.
    In the ensuing years I ended up gaining much more than the 40 pounds, but I understand why now. Food is not a cure. No matter how happy it makes me temporarily.
    My son is 19 now and I'm losing what I should have lost 19 years ago and then some. :smiley:
    I just stay within my calories here and I'm doing fine.
    47- down, 33 - to go
  • gonetothedogs19
    gonetothedogs19 Posts: 325 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    Whatever works for you. But always remember - fat in itself, has NOTHING to do with making you fat. We've been brainwashed for thirty years by the USDA. They finally admitted they were wrong.

    Repeat - fat does not make you fat.

    To be fair to the USDA did they ever officially claim that fat makes you fat or was it more that fat has the most calories per gram (which is true) and people just ran with that.

    Unfortunately, maybe 1% understood calories per gram. People just thought fat makes you fat. And the new nutrition labels will no longer have the percentage from fat line.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,171 Member
    Lucy1771 wrote: »
    kgirlhart wrote: »
    I did low fat in the 90's and I lost weight. But it sucked. I was miserably unhappy. I felt deprived all the time and I was hungry a lot. I got pregnant after that and after the baby I could not make myself go low fat again. It took me 20 years to lose weight again because I was so resistant to restrictive diets. I felt that I would be happier fat and for a while I was. Thank God I found mfp. I lost weight just counting calories and learning to moderate my portions. Even with a goal of 1250-1350 I never felt deprived and I rarely felt hungry unless it was mealtime. I eat what I want and fit it in. You can certainly lose weight going low fat, but in my opinion it is not a good long term solution and I think you are likely to give up on it, or reach your goal and then start adding back fats and the weight will creep back on. That was my experience. Once I started eating fats again that was it for me.


    I could have written that!
    I did low fat in the mid-90s and lost about 40 pounds. I was thinner than ever and thought I was doing really well, but then a high-risk pregnancy and bedrest and BOOM - weight back on.
    In the ensuing years I ended up gaining much more than the 40 pounds, but I understand why now. Food is not a cure. No matter how happy it makes me temporarily.
    My son is 19 now and I'm losing what I should have lost 19 years ago and then some. :smiley:
    I just stay within my calories here and I'm doing fine.
    47- down, 33 - to go

    I lost about 40 pounds that time too, which was what I needed to lose. This time I lost about 60 pounds. I've been at maintenance for about 7 weeks and I really feel like I can keep the wight off forever this time. No more restrictive dieting for me.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,171 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    Whatever works for you. But always remember - fat in itself, has NOTHING to do with making you fat. We've been brainwashed for thirty years by the USDA. They finally admitted they were wrong.

    Repeat - fat does not make you fat.

    To be fair to the USDA did they ever officially claim that fat makes you fat or was it more that fat has the most calories per gram (which is true) and people just ran with that.

    I don't know if the USDA ever claimed that fat makes you fat. But there was a book out in the 90's (maybe late 80's) called the T-factor diet, and the author of that one definitely said that fat makes you fat.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    kgirlhart wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    Whatever works for you. But always remember - fat in itself, has NOTHING to do with making you fat. We've been brainwashed for thirty years by the USDA. They finally admitted they were wrong.

    Repeat - fat does not make you fat.

    To be fair to the USDA did they ever officially claim that fat makes you fat or was it more that fat has the most calories per gram (which is true) and people just ran with that.

    I don't know if the USDA ever claimed that fat makes you fat. But there was a book out in the 90's (maybe late 80's) called the T-factor diet, and the author of that one definitely said that fat makes you fat.

    Well yes, people have said that...people say lots of things. Big difference between saying some people said something and a governmental/regulatory agency said something. People are still saying stupid crap to this day, don't have to look back to the 90s for that.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    Whatever works for you. But always remember - fat in itself, has NOTHING to do with making you fat. We've been brainwashed for thirty years by the USDA. They finally admitted they were wrong.

    Repeat - fat does not make you fat.

    To be fair to the USDA did they ever officially claim that fat makes you fat or was it more that fat has the most calories per gram (which is true) and people just ran with that.

    Unfortunately, maybe 1% understood calories per gram. People just thought fat makes you fat. And the new nutrition labels will no longer have the percentage from fat line.

    Ignorance isn't an excuse and certainly not a reason to blame some outside organization. People need to think before they "think".
  • delboy604
    delboy604 Posts: 116 Member
    Thank you all tips. I've never been slim and some ways I don't want to be. I just want be happy with my frame. Now I'm not and basically I think it is because I eat over my calories. I've never had a sweet tooth. However take away food is my downfall unfortunately.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,171 Member
    I would really recommend just putting your stats into mfp and following the calorie goal it gives you. You don't have to completely give up take-out. You just have to fit it in to your goal. And get a food scale to weigh as much as possible so you know how much you are actually eating. It really does help.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    NYT had an article yesterday about how sugar industry executives paid 3 Harvard professors to publish a study demonizing fat and exonerating sugar wrt heart disease 50 years ago. Much commentary about how conflict of interest disclosures evolved thereafter, obviously, with good reason. The lead researcher went on to take a position with the USDA where he promoted policy based on his research. That's about heart disease, not weight gain, but it does show how nutrition policy of yesteryear was based on flawed (and sometimes corrupted) science.

    OP, do a little research on MFP to determine the right deficit/calorie goal for you. That will be most important for how you feel and sustainability of the changes you are making. Try low fat and see how you feel. Then try eating high fat and see how that feels. Be aware of the protein and fat minimums you need daily for hormone synthesis and muscle sparing fat loss. Those are minimums. While is no minimum for carbohydrates, 25g fiber is recommended as a minimum. It's not one-size-fits-all. Find the minimums that make you feel best. Personally, I feel best with a minimum of 25g fiber, 50g fat & 100g protein. If I get all those, I can go pretty low calorie and still feel good. Or have room for delicious treats. Be patient with yourself and give the experiments time to yield reliable results. Good luck!
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    You stated you hope you are on the right path? Find the right path and you will be on it. Possibly walk down the path a bit to see if you can see where it takes you.. Personally not a fan of any diets. Educate yourself about what to do when the diet is over. Curious if you will be weighing and logging your food intake here on MFP while on this diet?
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    Before you start your plan, ask yourself this - can you do what you are about to do forever?
    If no - It may be worth looking in to something that you are likely to stick to for life. Something realistic. Something sustainable. A lot of us here have struggled in the past with regaining weight after 'strict diet plans'. This whole process needs to be about re-educating your mind and naturally making choices which work well for your body and mind.
  • Galileo83
    Galileo83 Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks for all the responses. I've heard the "fat doesn't make you fat" thing before, and tried a low-fat diet and was always hungry. That's just me though. Anyways, the diet is called "The Oat and Chili Diet". Free on amazon right now for the e-book so if any of you want to read it and let me know how bad or good of a diet it is that would be great. If not that's okay too. Thanks again everybody!!
  • daniip_la
    daniip_la Posts: 678 Member
    Galileo83 wrote: »
    Thanks for all the responses. I've heard the "fat doesn't make you fat" thing before, and tried a low-fat diet and was always hungry. That's just me though. Anyways, the diet is called "The Oat and Chili Diet". Free on amazon right now for the e-book so if any of you want to read it and let me know how bad or good of a diet it is that would be great. If not that's okay too. Thanks again everybody!!

    I read the blurb on their website. They specifically mention no counting calories, and that you're allowed "cheat meals & cheat days".

    Instead of following a ridiculous pre-planned diet, that no one wants to do for the rest of their life, why don't you just count calories using this tool you've already signed up for (MyFitnessPal)? You'll have a calorie goal tailored to your height/weight/activity level, and you can eat absolutely anything you want within that calorie goal.
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
    ahoy_m8 wrote: »
    NYT had an article yesterday about how sugar industry executives paid 3 Harvard professors to publish a study demonizing fat and exonerating sugar wrt heart disease 50 years ago. Much commentary about how conflict of interest disclosures evolved thereafter, obviously, with good reason. The lead researcher went on to take a position with the USDA where he promoted policy based on his research. That's about heart disease, not weight gain, but it does show how nutrition policy of yesteryear was based on flawed (and sometimes corrupted) science.

    This is 100% why I call bull when people constantly say, "show me the scientific study." After a lot of reading and digging one discovers that a huge amount of "studies" that are done today (or even years ago) have people involved that are such a conflict of interest that how could anyone take that "study" seriously? When people call stuff "woo" b/c it doesn't fit their "science or research" I immediately shut them off. My experience in life has been to do one's research long, deep, and on your own. Don't blindly trust something because it was a "study" conclusion. And my #1 never trust - ANY government agency. FDA, CDC, EPA, etc. You name the government agency and I don't trust it as far as I could throw it. There's so much conflict of interest in the FDA and CDC especially that I don't know how anyone could believe a single thing coming out of them.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited September 2016
    ahoy_m8 wrote: »
    NYT had an article yesterday about how sugar industry executives paid 3 Harvard professors to publish a study demonizing fat and exonerating sugar wrt heart disease 50 years ago. Much commentary about how conflict of interest disclosures evolved thereafter, obviously, with good reason. The lead researcher went on to take a position with the USDA where he promoted policy based on his research. That's about heart disease, not weight gain, but it does show how nutrition policy of yesteryear was based on flawed (and sometimes corrupted) science.

    This is 100% why I call bull when people constantly say, "show me the scientific study." After a lot of reading and digging one discovers that a huge amount of "studies" that are done today (or even years ago) have people involved that are such a conflict of interest that how could anyone take that "study" seriously? When people call stuff "woo" b/c it doesn't fit their "science or research" I immediately shut them off. My experience in life has been to do one's research long, deep, and on your own. Don't blindly trust something because it was a "study" conclusion. And my #1 never trust - ANY government agency. FDA, CDC, EPA, etc. You name the government agency and I don't trust it as far as I could throw it. There's so much conflict of interest in the FDA and CDC especially that I don't know how anyone could believe a single thing coming out of them.

    So because one study was flawed you dismiss the notion that we should study things before we believe them to be true?

    Out of curiosity if you dismiss studies as possibly being biased or flawed, where do you get your information from which to make informed decisions?

    I'm sorry but it is perfectly reasonable to expect someone making a claim to be able to cite legitimate sources for that claim.

    Skepticism is good sure, but outright ignoring studies just because they aren't saying what you want them to say and using this "it might be flawed or biased" reasoning is in and of itself biased. Its a means of ignoring whatever you don't already think is correct and a means of reinforcing your own biases.
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
    edited September 2016
    [So because one study was flawed you dismiss the notion that we should study things before we believe them to be true?

    Out of curiosity if you dismiss studies as possibly being biased or flawed, where do you get your information from which to make informed decisions?

    I'm sorry but it is perfectly reasonable to expect someone making a claim to be able to cite legitimate sources for that claim.

    Skepticism is good sure, but outright ignoring studies just because they aren't saying what you want them to say and using this "it might be flawed or biased" reasoning is in and of itself biased. Its a means of ignoring whatever you don't already think is correct and a means of reinforcing your own biases.]


    Nope. Not just a flawed study. I'm looking at the conflict of interests with those doing the studies. If there is no conflict of interest that I can find, then a study is given much more weight in my mind. But the kinds of stuff you guys argue about here, there are so many conflicts of interest that I dismiss most of it (artificial sweeteners, vaccines, etc).

    When I'm looking up a specific subject, supplement, dietary need, deficiency, disease treatment, etc. I look at everything I can find. Studies and those that dispute the studies. I look at the source of the information, if I can find any conflicts of interest with the researchers involved, etc. Then I take all of that information and start sorting through it and looking for and comparing it to people's personal experiences. When all is said I done, I decide if I'm going to try or not try something based on the totality of what I read and find. In other words, I experiment. My willingness to experiment is directly proportional to potential risks vs. benefits. If something works for me or my family, great. If it doesn't, it goes in my "remember this" file. If it's inconclusive I decide if it is worth more of my reading/time or if I should set it aside for the time being. The bottom line is, I have found people's personal experiences with supplements, diets, even products they use (reviews) far more valuable then the bulk of scientific "studies." I still read them because not *every* study is bunk. But I do not buy into someone claiming "science." So many times doctors/agencies will proclaim something b/c of "studies" only to recant it years later. More often then not, the people that were naysayers years before "science" decides a new study changes the old rules, were castigated for calling the studies junk were said to be peddling "woo" or any other number of names you want to call it. So in the end, it is me that ultimately decides what is worth my time and energy. And those decisions are only made after a tremendous amount of reading and studying. Thus far, this has served me well in raising my family and taking care of us healthcare wise. I expect it will continue to....