Thoughts on Carb counting v/s calorie counting? ?
susan12c2001
Posts: 20 Member
I have sugar issues and carbs do turn into sugar, my daughter has lost (at a health rate) 50 pounds just on lowering carbs like breads and desserts. How does everyone feel about this. BTW, I am newly coming back to My Fitness pal, I will make it work this time.
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I keep my carbs down purely because I've gotten so used to absorbing them into fat and not used for muscles. However when I start powerlifting I'll increase it! Your calories will stay low with low carbs generally too1
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Just to be clear, she didn't lose weight from changing her macros. She lost weight because she ate fewer calories whether she realized it or not.
Losing weight is all about energy balance. If you eat fewer calories than you burn, your body will use it's stored fat to make up the difference. It really is that simple.16 -
If lower carbs helps keep you in your calorie limit go for it but its not a magical wand that lets you lose weight eating everythng but carbs. I LOVE carbs. Iv lst 80 pounds eating a high carb diet in the past 9 months. Carbs are my fuel. Their not the devil XD They make me happy. Every body is different. You do you.
Don't complicate *kitten*. Just eat lower calories and youll lose weight no matter what your eating. Simple
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Thank you JaydedMiss! That makes a lot of sense! Congratulations on the weight loss, that is real good!0
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Chadxx, you are correct. I have thought the same thing but if it works then good for her. She is 29 yrs old, thyroid issues and need to lose the weight for sure.1
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Should I count anything in particular?0
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Lowering carbs is one of many ways to potentially put yourself into an energy deficiency...it really has nothing to do with the carbs in and of themselves. Contrary to popular belief, carbs aren't just nutritionally void junk foods...there are many very nutritious sources of carbohydrates. Most people eating the SAD could stand to moderate their carbs and to make better choices overall as to the carbs they're taking in...but pop culture right now would have you think all carbs are "bad"...and they're not in the least.6
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I lost weight on low carb BUT because it's not the way I like to eat it wasn't sustainable for me and I gained it all back
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Counting calories allows me to eat the foods I like and I'm down 40lbs so far.
Pretty much everyone agrees that you need to eat the same way you ate when losing in order to maintain your weight loss.
Best!!7 -
Just to be clear, she didn't lose weight from changing her macros. She lost weight because she ate fewer calories whether she realized it or not.
Losing weight is all about energy balance. If you eat fewer calories than you burn, your body will use it's stored fat to make up the difference. It really is that simple.
This. Some find that following a lower carb method works better for them for satiety and calorie adherence. But losing weight sill comes down to CICO.
If low carb is something that appeals to you then sure, give it a try
But, to lose weight you must be at the correct calorie deficit for your weight goals. 1 -
cwolfman13, exactly carbs are in fruit and fruit is my "go to" instead of desserts.2
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You said you have sugar issues, are you diabetic?
If there is a medical reason to eat lower or moderate carb you should check out some reputable sites, such as the American Diabetes Association. You can get excellent advice and recipes there.2 -
If you're going to count stuff, I'd count calories before I would count carbs. If you're looking for a way to reduce weight without counting stuff then reducing carbs can work because carbs are less filling than other stuff and people tend to keep eating them to excess. If you are interested in athletic performance then it can make sense to add counting carbs to counting calories.1
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It really depends on how you like to eat. I have lost weight on very low carb (Atkins) and here on MFP counting calories. I have a harder time doing low carb over the long term because I got very very tired of eating so many eggs and so much meat. I really missed fruit and bread. OTOH, if you have sugar issues or if eating carbs makes you binge, then you might do well on a low carb diet. Reducing carbs usually causes you to eat fewer calories because you are no longer eating much processed food or sweet drinks which tend to be high in calories. The question is how long can you sustain that way of eating?
The only thing that really matters is that you are eating fewer calories than you are burning through exercise. MFP focuses on calories and it does work. You can eat anything you want as long as it fits within your calorie budget. It is good at teaching you how to eat over the long term, so you don't yoyo with your weight.3 -
TimothyFish wrote: »If you're going to count stuff, I'd count calories before I would count carbs. If you're looking for a way to reduce weight without counting stuff then reducing carbs can work because carbs are less filling than other stuff and people tend to keep eating them to excess. If you are interested in athletic performance then it can make sense to add counting carbs to counting calories.
Go try to eat your calories in potatoes/sweet potatoes and come back and tell me carbs arent filling5 -
i am a meat eater myself and i find that lower carb works better for me. of course some cheat days are ok every once in a while because we are all human. but getting rid of carbs tends to get rid of processed foods. protein and fats as opposed to carbs helps you feel full longer since it takes more for your body to break down and digest those compared to carbs. at the end of the day, do what works for you.1
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I don't have any dietary restrictions and I eat all kinds of carbs. When I first started counting my calories, I kept most of my heavier carbs (breads, rice, potatoes) in my last meal because they tend to make me feel sleep and I kind of feared I would binge or overeat if I ate them midday.
As I've gotten a better grasp on my eating, I do have some carb-ier foods earlier in the day. I still tend to have them later in the day, but that just works for me and makes me feel "safe" in my diet.3 -
leanjogreen18 wrote: »I lost weight on low carb BUT because it's not the way I like to eat it wasn't sustainable for me and I gained it all back.
This is what happens to most people when they rely on a "magic bullet" to fix their weight issues. Once they quit following the regimen, the weight comes back. A balanced diet is the healthiest and most sustainable program to follow.leanjogreen18 wrote: »Counting calories allows me to eat the foods I like and I'm down 40lbs so far.
Pretty much everyone agrees that you need to eat the same way you ate when losing in order to maintain your weight loss.
This is it in a nutshell. If you eat the foods you like while moderating calories, you avoid the issues of cravings and feeling cheated. As others in this thread have pointed out, it always boils down to calories in vs calories out.
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susan12c2001 wrote: »Should I count anything in particular?
I think a good place to start is by counting calories and only focusing on that. Start making mental notes about what meals/snacks keep you full and satisfied, look at the macro ratios of those meals/snacks. Once you have done that, you can start adjusting your macros to trend more towards the ratios that keep you full and satisfied (while still working within your calorie goal).
Everyone is a little different. For some, they are most full/satisfied with higher carbs, others it is fats and some it is protein. I have found I am happiest with a 40% carbs, 30% fat and 30% protein. But, it took a while for me to figure that out and get all the previously learned "woo" out of my brain.
Do what works for you and brings you success.4 -
I love carbs, i just love carbs too much, so i watch my macros, 30% protein, 35% fat, and 35% carbs1
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I think any time your limiting food choices you are limiting calories indirectly .. for example I followed the.t factor diet years ago .. it limited and tracked fat intake .. for a man it was 60 grams of fat I think .. and by doing that I also limited my calories. Even tho I didn't know it at the time ..
If you have health reasons for the food you eat or its your way of eating by all means go for it ..
Good luck1 -
red99ryder wrote: »I think any time your limiting food choices you are limiting calories indirectly ..
Maybe. I have seen people cutting carbs absolutely go crazy with protein and fat intake. Results were frustrated people who lost no weight while craving the things they were cutting out of their diet.
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susan12c2001 wrote: »I have sugar issues and carbs do turn into sugar, my daughter has lost (at a health rate) 50 pounds just on lowering carbs like breads and desserts. How does everyone feel about this. BTW, I am newly coming back to My Fitness pal, I will make it work this time.
The bolded (above) is my problem with low carb diets. I've done low carb and lost weight, I've done meal replacements and lost weight, I've done a "sugar elimination" diet......yet here I am again. All of these methods work for weight loss....but they suck for maintenance (for ME).
Try to figure out what you can change for a lifetime, because losing weight is just the first step. Can you eat low(er) or moderate carbs forever? If the answer is yes, then low(er) or moderate carbs will work for you. This doesn't necessarily cut out counting calories. Some people can actually manage to gain weight while eating low carb.
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I think that being more aware of my carbs, not focusing on my carb intake it could help me. I have low blood sugar levels and eating sweets or breads always seem to set me off. By set me off I mean I literally want to pass out after eating them, zoned out and low energy.0
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susan12c2001 wrote: »I think that being more aware of my carbs, not focusing on my carb intake it could help me. I have low blood sugar levels and eating sweets or breads always seem to set me off. By set me off I mean I literally want to pass out after eating them, zoned out and low energy.
If this is the case why are you asking an internet forum and not just doing it? And leaving this nifty bit of advice out until after we'd all wasted time giving responses to a post that didn't contain the most important bit of info XD1 -
JaydedMiss wrote: »TimothyFish wrote: »If you're going to count stuff, I'd count calories before I would count carbs. If you're looking for a way to reduce weight without counting stuff then reducing carbs can work because carbs are less filling than other stuff and people tend to keep eating them to excess. If you are interested in athletic performance then it can make sense to add counting carbs to counting calories.
Go try to eat your calories in potatoes/sweet potatoes and come back and tell me carbs arent filling
Potatoes don't fill me up. At all. The only way I can eat potatoes, without over eating them, is a very small amount (maybe a half cup) with at least a tbsp of butter, a cup or two of green beans or broccoli (also with butter), and a 10 oz ribeye. Then I'm full and in no danger of over doing the potatoes.
But just potatoes? Gah. I could eat pounds of those *kitten*. And I used to do just that, and I used to be 50lbs heavier. Going low carb did help me, because I don't find sugar or starch particularly filling (if anything it awakens the hunger monster, big time!).
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tlflag1620 wrote: »JaydedMiss wrote: »TimothyFish wrote: »If you're going to count stuff, I'd count calories before I would count carbs. If you're looking for a way to reduce weight without counting stuff then reducing carbs can work because carbs are less filling than other stuff and people tend to keep eating them to excess. If you are interested in athletic performance then it can make sense to add counting carbs to counting calories.
Go try to eat your calories in potatoes/sweet potatoes and come back and tell me carbs arent filling
Potatoes don't fill me up. At all. The only way I can eat potatoes, without over eating them, is a very small amount (maybe a half cup) with at least a tbsp of butter, a cup or two of green beans or broccoli (also with butter), and a 10 oz ribeye. Then I'm full and in no danger of over doing the potatoes.
But just potatoes? Gah. I could eat pounds of those *kitten*. And I used to do just that, and I used to be 50lbs heavier. Going low carb did help me, because I don't find sugar or starch particularly filling (if anything it awakens the hunger monster, big time!).
Hah i go through a 10-20 pound bag of potatoes a week XD Yum. I could fit 4-5 pounds of potatoes into my daily calorie allowance if i wanted to (i dont) But i imagine id feel full was my point lol0 -
I wasn't trying to "waste" anyone's time.0
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susan12c2001 wrote: »I wasn't trying to "waste" anyone's time.
No your right i apologize for my wording, Simply meant thats pretty important info that would have drastically changed many of the answers you got.1 -
I did ketosis levels of low-carb and lost 61 lbs in about six months. I found that it was a natural appetite suppressant and due to the limits on what kind of foods I could eat, I naturally only ate about 1,200 calories / day anyway.
It was difficult at times. I missed fresh fruit and pizza the most.3 -
I aim for low carb (under 100g/day) just because it keeps me from getting hangry and cravey all the time2
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