Fear of carbs!
Replies
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Squidgeypaws007 wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »define a ton of protein? (because I take in 130g a day and don't sacrifice carbs
cheese isn't going to help you on carbs - that is fat and protein
if you want straight carbs - then something like fruit or potato are pretty much all carbs and you can easily adjust the amount you eat (dried apricots are my go-to)
If you are adding calories for maintenance - keep your same protein/fat amounts and then just add carbs
@deannalfisher I know the cheese is protein, that was my point. Not sure you understood my last post and what I was trying to say. I eat 180-200g of protein daily
you shouldn't need to increase your protein though...I honestly don't understand your post (kind of like I had issues understanding your one from a couple weeks ago on a very similar topic - carb cycling and maintenance)
She's saying that she's having issues SEEING the number of carbs she's eating on her diary. There's no issue with actually eating them.
Sorry OP, I don't have any advice other than it'll be weird until you get used to seeing those numbers popping up in your diary - but if you do it and don't gain weight eventually your brain will catch up with the plan
Good luck!
@Squidgeypaws007 thank you! I think you're right, I think it's going to take some time and patience on my part. It's just tough in the meantime1 -
deannalfisher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »define a ton of protein? (because I take in 130g a day and don't sacrifice carbs
cheese isn't going to help you on carbs - that is fat and protein
if you want straight carbs - then something like fruit or potato are pretty much all carbs and you can easily adjust the amount you eat (dried apricots are my go-to)
If you are adding calories for maintenance - keep your same protein/fat amounts and then just add carbs
@deannalfisher I know the cheese is protein, that was my point. Not sure you understood my last post and what I was trying to say. I eat 180-200g of protein daily
you shouldn't need to increase your protein though...I honestly don't understand your post (kind of like I had issues understanding your one from a couple weeks ago on a very similar topic - carb cycling and maintenance)
@deannalfisher So what I was trying to get at was this...you'd suggested upping my carbs by 10g or 20g to start with. The issue with that is that that would not be enough to account for the 300 calorie a day increase i need for maintenance. So to make up that difference, i could theoretically add more of the foods I'm already eating (i.e-the string cheese, which is high in protein), but I agree with my RD that it would make more sense to up the carbs more. It's just hard to see that number so "high". It's all mental
I too am having a hard time understanding the real problem, but then again, I went into weight loss with the attitude of not cutting anything out (other than calories) and so didn't eat in a way while losing weight that would be any different than how I would eat during maintenance. Also, adding in 300 cals/day really isn't that much. That's a serving of ice cream, or a bagel with breakfast, a baked potato with dinner, or a couple handfuls of nuts. Cooking with full fat ingredients. Larger portions of something that you really enjoy but were limiting while cutting.0 -
@cwolfman13 I know it's not rational, Im pretty sure I even said that a number of times. I'm not sure if you think you're being helpful but you're not at all. You actually didn't even address the issue i put forth. Construction would be more helpful, or silence0
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@cwolfman13 I know it's not rational, Im pretty sure I even said that a number of times. I'm not sure if you think you're being helpful but you're not at all. You actually didn't even address the issue i put forth. Construction would be more helpful, or silence
Well, I warned you that you might jump a few pounds...I'd think that's helpful. I informed you that some of the healthiest populations in the world eat a diet rich in carbohydrates...when I found that out, I personally found it helpful when I had my own irrational fear of carbs....
Have a nice day.1 -
WinoGelato wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »define a ton of protein? (because I take in 130g a day and don't sacrifice carbs
cheese isn't going to help you on carbs - that is fat and protein
if you want straight carbs - then something like fruit or potato are pretty much all carbs and you can easily adjust the amount you eat (dried apricots are my go-to)
If you are adding calories for maintenance - keep your same protein/fat amounts and then just add carbs
@deannalfisher I know the cheese is protein, that was my point. Not sure you understood my last post and what I was trying to say. I eat 180-200g of protein daily
you shouldn't need to increase your protein though...I honestly don't understand your post (kind of like I had issues understanding your one from a couple weeks ago on a very similar topic - carb cycling and maintenance)
@deannalfisher So what I was trying to get at was this...you'd suggested upping my carbs by 10g or 20g to start with. The issue with that is that that would not be enough to account for the 300 calorie a day increase i need for maintenance. So to make up that difference, i could theoretically add more of the foods I'm already eating (i.e-the string cheese, which is high in protein), but I agree with my RD that it would make more sense to up the carbs more. It's just hard to see that number so "high". It's all mental
I too am having a hard time understanding the real problem, but then again, I went into weight loss with the attitude of not cutting anything out (other than calories) and so didn't eat in a way while losing weight that would be any different than how I would eat during maintenance. Also, adding in 300 cals/day really isn't that much. That's a serving of ice cream, or a bagel with breakfast, a baked potato with dinner, or a couple handfuls of nuts. Cooking with full fat ingredients. Larger portions of something that you really enjoy but were limiting while cutting.
@WinoGelato I didn't take anything out when losing weight either. And that's the plan, I'm adding fruit to my diet. Read some of the other commenters, they understood where I was coming from and probably explained it better than I did0 -
WinoGelato wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »define a ton of protein? (because I take in 130g a day and don't sacrifice carbs
cheese isn't going to help you on carbs - that is fat and protein
if you want straight carbs - then something like fruit or potato are pretty much all carbs and you can easily adjust the amount you eat (dried apricots are my go-to)
If you are adding calories for maintenance - keep your same protein/fat amounts and then just add carbs
@deannalfisher I know the cheese is protein, that was my point. Not sure you understood my last post and what I was trying to say. I eat 180-200g of protein daily
you shouldn't need to increase your protein though...I honestly don't understand your post (kind of like I had issues understanding your one from a couple weeks ago on a very similar topic - carb cycling and maintenance)
@deannalfisher So what I was trying to get at was this...you'd suggested upping my carbs by 10g or 20g to start with. The issue with that is that that would not be enough to account for the 300 calorie a day increase i need for maintenance. So to make up that difference, i could theoretically add more of the foods I'm already eating (i.e-the string cheese, which is high in protein), but I agree with my RD that it would make more sense to up the carbs more. It's just hard to see that number so "high". It's all mental
I too am having a hard time understanding the real problem, but then again, I went into weight loss with the attitude of not cutting anything out (other than calories) and so didn't eat in a way while losing weight that would be any different than how I would eat during maintenance. Also, adding in 300 cals/day really isn't that much. That's a serving of ice cream, or a bagel with breakfast, a baked potato with dinner, or a couple handfuls of nuts. Cooking with full fat ingredients. Larger portions of something that you really enjoy but were limiting while cutting.
@WinoGelato I didn't take anything out when losing weight either. And that's the plan, I'm adding fruit to my diet. Read some of the other commenters, they understood where I was coming from and probably explained it better than I did
You obviously restricted carbohydrates in a way that the idea of adding more of them into your diet transitioning to maintenance is causing you anxiety...3 -
I would not worry about it too much. I would say as long as you stay under 150g of carbs you should be good. I try and stay under 100g but some days do not get to do that. I have start on my 180 day challenge. I am on day 6 and I have lost 13 lbs. I think you got this!!!!!1
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I would not worry about it too much. I would say as long as you stay under 150g of carbs you should be good. I try and stay under 100g but some days do not get to do that. I have start on my 180 day challenge. I am on day 6 and I have lost 13 lbs. I think you got this!!!!!
I do not want to worry about it, i can't help it. Like I said, i know logically that I am not eating too many carbs, so I'm not worried that I am, it just freaks me out to see the number so high after being low carb for months.1 -
You could change your diary settings so that you don't see the number of carbs if that's causing you anxiety.
(Switched off all macros in this example....)
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that makes more sense - but not obvious at least to me in reading...slowly raise your calories for maintaince (so you can actually determine your maintenance) would be your best bet - start small - 20g carbs is 80cal, do that for a week, then add another 20g until you get to the 300 that you need to get to (or until you determine maintance)0
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So I just transitioned into maintenance today (yay!) and I've planned my week out fully in my diary. I met with an RD in preparation to transition, and we both agreed that adding a few more carb rich items to my daily menu wouldn't hurt. I'd been sticking to low carb (under 100g a day) during weight loss and didn't feel super deprived except that I did miss eating fruit more freely. So today, along with my usual foods, I added some grapes with breakfast and smartfood with lunch. However, I will say that every time I look at my nutrients I cringe; my stomach drops a bit. The number looks so high! I'm trying to be logical about it, but it honestly gives me anxiety to see my carbs in the 130s and 140s. Has anyone else experienced this? What helped you? I know these numbers are normal in my head, but I can't shake this fearful feeling
@nichell88 I think what you are experiencing is very normal. We get so into counting in the beginning (a good thing) that we can forget we are here to become more healthy not to learn how to count.
Your RD's advice sounds good so keep weighing your body and the scales and your future lab works will show how the advice is working out for you personally. Since in the USA we can order our own blood test I use the below source but they are everywhere.
lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/blood-tests/blood-tests
Yesterday they emailed me the results of my Male Panel testing from last week and I ordered the below today to see if my higher than the standard Cholesterol levels are healthy or not in my case.
lifeextension.com/Vitamins-Supplements/itemLC123810/NMR-LipoProfile-Blood-Test
After 40 years of yo-yoing weight about killed me I finally just went with a Way Of Eating that I can enjoy and give me the best health until my death. Yes my WOE shifts from time to time which seems OK as long as I keep my total carbs <50 grams daily. My stated goal is to live to be 110 walking and talking the entire way. That has totally changed the way I eat, move and think. Where I die today or 50 years from now is not my main concern but continued health improvements along the way are my main WOE concerns. Getting past the high risk for heart disease was my first major goal I have confirmed by testing has been met. That does not mean I will not die of a stroke or heart attack but that my risks are currently lower than 74% of other 66 year old white males.0 -
You could always set your carb goal artificially high at the expense of another macro (say protein). With your protein set too low, it will quickly turn red, which may help to shift your focus off of the carbs. Just a suggestion, since you said you know your fear of carbs is irrational. Sometimes we just need to play mind games with ourselves.1
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I would not worry about it too much. I would say as long as you stay under 150g of carbs you should be good. I try and stay under 100g but some days do not get to do that. I have start on my 180 day challenge. I am on day 6 and I have lost 13 lbs. I think you got this!!!!!
I do not want to worry about it, i can't help it. Like I said, i know logically that I am not eating too many carbs, so I'm not worried that I am, it just freaks me out to see the number so high after being low carb for months.
Anxiety over the numbers and me driving my wife crazy with them is one of the reasons I stopped logging altogether when I went to maintenance and just focused on good nutrition and fitness...four years later, all is well. I think a lot of people get overly wrapped up in the numbers and ultimately this calorie/macro counting stuff can take it's toll on one's mental health....I'm over it personally. Things got a little ridiculous there for awhile for me.1 -
I would not worry about it too much. I would say as long as you stay under 150g of carbs you should be good. I try and stay under 100g but some days do not get to do that. I have start on my 180 day challenge. I am on day 6 and I have lost 13 lbs. I think you got this!!!!!
I do not want to worry about it, i can't help it. Like I said, i know logically that I am not eating too many carbs, so I'm not worried that I am, it just freaks me out to see the number so high after being low carb for months.
Can you figure out a few specific foods you can eat that will accomplish your goals (like fruit), then take the carb column off your diary tracking for a while, as was suggested? Maybe it would be a little less alarming if you're eating to your calories, but not having that carb number slap you in the face every time.1 -
I can definitely appreciate your anxiety! Knowing that you were successful with your plan of 100g carbs, and then seeing that number go up from adding in more carbs. I have been there. Aren't our brains fabulous?! haha. It's going to take time and re-programming. I liked the idea of adjusting your macros up to 130-140, and then dial it up or down as your maintenance weight shifts. I'm currently back on low carb, after having gone back to a higher carb diet (though not necessarily higher calorie), and my weight has crept back up. So I'm going back on the low carb/high fat wagon, because I know it works and for me is the easiest way to eat and not feel hungry.2
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Carbohydrates do not convert into fat. Unless you are sedentary, morbidly obese or overeat 1,000 calories over mainentance for roghyl three days straight. Thr initial gain you get from carbs is simply water weight as 1g of carbs binds to 2g of water.2
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macchiatto wrote: »I can understand that. Adjusting to maintenance can be a bit of a mental game.
I'm one of those people who experienced various benefits from eating low carb so I plan to keep it up long term. At maintenance I've been experimenting with different carb levels to see how they affect hunger, cravings, energy level, my cycles (since I have PCOS), workouts, etc. I think since I'm still logging everything and am intentional about it, it helps.
Most people will be fine increasing their carbs but if you find it has any effects you don't like (other than an expected couple of lbs of water weight coming back on), you could always tweak your macro ratios again.
I agree! If you add carbs and then find that you get hungrier than you used to be, start recording when you are surprised by hungry feelings. After doing that for a while, look back at your diary to see if there is a pattern of eating carbs and then experiencing "inappropriate" hunger.
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I primarily eat carbs...doesn't seem to make much difference, but I would stick with what you like, why force yourself to eat anything, I don't. :-)0
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P.s. I agree with what folks say about carbs and water retention. However, as a person that primarily eats carbs and takes creatine (which is also about water retention)... I first gained a few pounds, but then lost it all and another 10.... it's so ephemeral in my experience, whatever water retention there may be has long ago been overcome and therefore forgotten. I want that water weight. I do not call it bloat, I call it water my body needs. Last thing I want is a less efficiently performing organism simply to put a lower scale number out there. Anyway I am rambling...thanks for letting me talk diet, I dont get to do it very often anymore.0
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rdupuy1142 wrote: »I primarily eat carbs...doesn't seem to make much difference, but I would stick with what you like, why force yourself to eat anything, I don't. :-)
@rdupuy1142 Thank you, but I really feel like you're not capturing what I'm getting at here0
This discussion has been closed.
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