Cut carbs ? How ?
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lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I just answer with how I see the healthiest ways to reduce carbs - with highly processed and refined foods first.
I may also be over sensitive from years of reading responses that feel like "why would you ever want to do that" to "nope - I ate cake for lunch" to "there is absolutely no reason to give up much needed carbs" sort of thing.
In my experience reading and responding to posts here: some people do have good reasons for cutting carbohydrates. Other people are operating from an assumption that *everyone* must cut them to lose weight or that there is something inherently wrong with carbohydrates. Given how unfairly they are stigmatized in the media, I think it's sometimes worth asking why someone wants to cut them, if just to make sure they aren't operating under the assumption that weight loss is impossible if someone continues to eat carbs.4 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!3 -
Im not being snarky at all in saying that while I love carbs and eat them daily....I'm REALLY glad I hate bread, pancakes, French toast, bagels...etc in reading here. My mom is a bread person and it seems like it's a real issue for people to limit it if they love it. I guess it's similar to my deep love for salty and sour stuff.0
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lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!
I agree that how deeply the OP wants to cut carbs is relevant. I addressed that too with start cutting at the least healthy (highly processed and refined) carbs. I just did not address the why.
Unless by "how much she wants to cut carbs" you mean does she desire to cut carbs? Not the amount of carbs?
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janejellyroll wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I just answer with how I see the healthiest ways to reduce carbs - with highly processed and refined foods first.
I may also be over sensitive from years of reading responses that feel like "why would you ever want to do that" to "nope - I ate cake for lunch" to "there is absolutely no reason to give up much needed carbs" sort of thing.
In my experience reading and responding to posts here: some people do have good reasons for cutting carbohydrates. Other people are operating from an assumption that *everyone* must cut them to lose weight or that there is something inherently wrong with carbohydrates. Given how unfairly they are stigmatized in the media, I think it's sometimes worth asking why someone wants to cut them, if just to make sure they aren't operating under the assumption that weight loss is impossible if someone continues to eat carbs.
There are definitely some who are following it on a short term, gimicky basis. I think it is best to start as you mean to go on. It seems to bring more success.1 -
I'm on a low carb diet not really for weight loss but like everyone I think I could lose a few pounds but my dr called and said I was pre diabetic my A1C was 5.8 I know that's borderline but he recommended my best avenue to combat being a diabetic was to follow a low carb diet he didn't really say how many carbs but I've been ultra strict less than 25 per day for a week because I have an all in personalty I don't do well half in i can't cheat or its over0
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Cut carbs? Unless you are eating an exceeding amount you might not need to. I eating plenty of carbs and lose. In fact when I went to a nutritionist she made me up them and she was right! Not to mention my mood is a little less crazy.0
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lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!
I agree that how deeply the OP wants to cut carbs is relevant. I addressed that too with start cutting at the least healthy (highly processed and refined) carbs. I just did not address the why.
Unless by "how much she wants to cut carbs" you mean does she desire to cut carbs? Not the amount of carbs?
I'm not criticizing your advice, I thought it was reasonable. (And obviously I mean amount of carbs, again my post makes that clear.)
I'm objecting to the idea that asking her questions about what she is trying to accomplish (a slight cut from high carbs to cut calories? ketosis? something in-between) is somehow rude and objectionable.1 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!
I agree that how deeply the OP wants to cut carbs is relevant. I addressed that too with start cutting at the least healthy (highly processed and refined) carbs. I just did not address the why.
Unless by "how much she wants to cut carbs" you mean does she desire to cut carbs? Not the amount of carbs?
I'm not criticizing your advice, I thought it was reasonable. (And obviously I mean amount of carbs, again my post makes that clear.)
I'm objecting to the idea that asking her questions about what she is trying to accomplish (a slight cut from high carbs to cut calories? ketosis? something in-between) is somehow rude and objectionable.
I did not mean to imply that. I would say asking why is not rude, it is just not needed.
Sort of like asking why someone thinks they need to eat salad when they are asking for easy salad recipes, or asking why someone would want to eat more meat when they have asked how to incorporate more meat and protein into their diet. We don't see that often.
Most low carb threads do have a few "why would you do that's" in it. I usually ignore it but every once in a while it bothers me that people feel the need to question why someone would reduce carbs. If it was a less healthy diet (going to require supplementation) I would understand it but LCHF diets are generally healthy. Perhaps if someone chooses to live on bacon and butter alone, then no, but that is far from typical.
I guess I don't think how deeply someone is going to cut carbs will determine how to most healthfully cut carbs. Why someone wants to cut carbs also does not affect how to most healthfully cut carbs either. But this is just my opinion.
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highwood125 wrote: »I would do it by say if you have two pieces of toast in the morning for example, have one and replace the other one with something low carb. Personally I am trying to just eat less bread because bread can be my weakness. I could eat half a loaf of bread a day if given the chance.
Bread is my weakness too. I've been having crackers and other things instead so I don't feel deprived. But big white hamburger buns are my prob. LOL1 -
highwood125 wrote: »I would do it by say if you have two pieces of toast in the morning for example, have one and replace the other one with something low carb. Personally I am trying to just eat less bread because bread can be my weakness. I could eat half a loaf of bread a day if given the chance.
Bread is my weakness too. I've been having crackers and other things instead so I don't feel deprived. But big white hamburger buns are my prob. LOL
I hear you, I have bought hamburger buns for supper and have eaten two of them with nothing on them before we have even started cooking the burgers! Certain breads especially fluffy white buns/French bread, etc are my weakness.
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lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!
I agree that how deeply the OP wants to cut carbs is relevant. I addressed that too with start cutting at the least healthy (highly processed and refined) carbs. I just did not address the why.
Unless by "how much she wants to cut carbs" you mean does she desire to cut carbs? Not the amount of carbs?
I'm not criticizing your advice, I thought it was reasonable. (And obviously I mean amount of carbs, again my post makes that clear.)
I'm objecting to the idea that asking her questions about what she is trying to accomplish (a slight cut from high carbs to cut calories? ketosis? something in-between) is somehow rude and objectionable.
I did not mean to imply that. I would say asking why is not rude, it is just not needed.
Sort of like asking why someone thinks they need to eat salad when they are asking for easy salad recipes, or asking why someone would want to eat more meat when they have asked how to incorporate more meat and protein into their diet. We don't see that often.
If it affects the advice you would. Is the person wanting salads to eat more veg, because they are cold, because she's a veg, it might be relevant. If someone asks how to add more protein, I usually do ask if he or she is a vegetarian, since it affects the advice.I guess I don't think how deeply someone is going to cut carbs will determine how to most healthfully cut carbs.
If someone says "HOW do I cut carbs," think it matters what they mean by cutting carbs. Do they mean going LCHF? I'd give a different answer than "reducing my currently high carb percentage a bit" or "well, really I mean increasing protein."
Also, if someone does not eat a lot of snacky stuff I wouldn't start by telling them to cut that. I'd normally assume someone meant at meals and already knew to cut snacky stuff. But I could quite easily be wrong, which is why asking is not inherently rude or improper or (IMO) unnecessary -- it's helpful to get to better advice.
Although true in all of those cases I'd start with the answer I gave here, that you should review your diary.0 -
I have a carb chart it wont let me post pix on here i guess. But just google low carb food charts and base meals ajd grocery lists off of that. Theres almost nothing you can have without carbs. So it takes give n take. Most hard cheese has 0 carbs as well as unprossessed meats. BUT the trick about that is you also dont want too too much protein because that can put a road block in the way. Fornthe most part now that i started logging youll see almost everyday is the same things.
Eggs sausage cheese meat and broccolli. Green veggies are pretty low in carbs. Avoid most fruits aside from rasberries are low in carbs. Colorful veggies are higher in carbs. Just research and edit things out and in along the way.
To get to where your carb diets actually working the first week youll want around or less than like 25 carbs a day. Once u get into ketosis u can go up to 45 or less a day and still be in optimal ketosis.0 -
hannahdispatch911 wrote: »To get to where your carb diets actually working the first week youll want around or less than like 25 carbs a day. Once u get into ketosis u can go up to 45 or less a day and still be in optimal ketosis.
OP did not say she wants to be in ketosis. She might, but she said nothing about it.
I think low carb (including keto) can be a perfectly good strategy, but you absolutely do not need to go below 25 g of carbs (or any other limit) to lose. If someone wants to or has reasons to? Great, I think that's totally reasonable. but you seem to be suggesting that there's some need to go below 25 g and then not more than 45 g, and that's just not so.1 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!
I agree that how deeply the OP wants to cut carbs is relevant. I addressed that too with start cutting at the least healthy (highly processed and refined) carbs. I just did not address the why.
Unless by "how much she wants to cut carbs" you mean does she desire to cut carbs? Not the amount of carbs?
I'm not criticizing your advice, I thought it was reasonable. (And obviously I mean amount of carbs, again my post makes that clear.)
I'm objecting to the idea that asking her questions about what she is trying to accomplish (a slight cut from high carbs to cut calories? ketosis? something in-between) is somehow rude and objectionable.
I did not mean to imply that. I would say asking why is not rude, it is just not needed.
Sort of like asking why someone thinks they need to eat salad when they are asking for easy salad recipes, or asking why someone would want to eat more meat when they have asked how to incorporate more meat and protein into their diet. We don't see that often.
If it affects the advice you would. Is the person wanting salads to eat more veg, because they are cold, because she's a veg, it might be relevant. If someone asks how to add more protein, I usually do ask if he or she is a vegetarian, since it affects the advice.I guess I don't think how deeply someone is going to cut carbs will determine how to most healthfully cut carbs.
If someone says "HOW do I cut carbs," think it matters what they mean by cutting carbs. Do they mean going LCHF? I'd give a different answer than "reducing my currently high carb percentage a bit" or "well, really I mean increasing protein."
Also, if someone does not eat a lot of snacky stuff I wouldn't start by telling them to cut that. I'd normally assume someone meant at meals and already knew to cut snacky stuff. But I could quite easily be wrong, which is why asking is not inherently rude or improper or (IMO) unnecessary -- it's helpful to get to better advice.
Although true in all of those cases I'd start with the answer I gave here, that you should review your diary.
I think I'm more literal than you. When they ask how I just gave the how. I suppose your questions may have given you more insight into a better answer.
Conversely, you can probably see how it would get tiring to see questions along the lines of "Why would you want to eat that way?" along with posts of "Nope, Love me my carbs" in LCHF threads where people are just asking for advice on how to eat that way. I think it would be more appropriate in a "should I eat LCHF?" thread.
I tend to post mainly in threads relevant to a LCHF diet. The "why would you do that" question gets a bit old in thread after thread. Not all threads, but it is much more often than needed. JMO YMMV4 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!
I agree that how deeply the OP wants to cut carbs is relevant. I addressed that too with start cutting at the least healthy (highly processed and refined) carbs. I just did not address the why.
Unless by "how much she wants to cut carbs" you mean does she desire to cut carbs? Not the amount of carbs?
I'm not criticizing your advice, I thought it was reasonable. (And obviously I mean amount of carbs, again my post makes that clear.)
I'm objecting to the idea that asking her questions about what she is trying to accomplish (a slight cut from high carbs to cut calories? ketosis? something in-between) is somehow rude and objectionable.
I did not mean to imply that. I would say asking why is not rude, it is just not needed.
Sort of like asking why someone thinks they need to eat salad when they are asking for easy salad recipes, or asking why someone would want to eat more meat when they have asked how to incorporate more meat and protein into their diet. We don't see that often.
If it affects the advice you would. Is the person wanting salads to eat more veg, because they are cold, because she's a veg, it might be relevant. If someone asks how to add more protein, I usually do ask if he or she is a vegetarian, since it affects the advice.I guess I don't think how deeply someone is going to cut carbs will determine how to most healthfully cut carbs.
If someone says "HOW do I cut carbs," think it matters what they mean by cutting carbs. Do they mean going LCHF? I'd give a different answer than "reducing my currently high carb percentage a bit" or "well, really I mean increasing protein."
Also, if someone does not eat a lot of snacky stuff I wouldn't start by telling them to cut that. I'd normally assume someone meant at meals and already knew to cut snacky stuff. But I could quite easily be wrong, which is why asking is not inherently rude or improper or (IMO) unnecessary -- it's helpful to get to better advice.
Although true in all of those cases I'd start with the answer I gave here, that you should review your diary.
Two years ago on these boards it was: "You people are so mean, why don't you ask for clarification instead of just assuming you know what the op means." And now it's: "You people are so mean for asking for clarification instead of assuming you know what the op means." I'm sure it'll swing back the other way if we give it some time.
Either way, the op has declined to pop back in and answer further questions, so I suspect your first answer will be the best we can give.2 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!
I agree that how deeply the OP wants to cut carbs is relevant. I addressed that too with start cutting at the least healthy (highly processed and refined) carbs. I just did not address the why.
Unless by "how much she wants to cut carbs" you mean does she desire to cut carbs? Not the amount of carbs?
I'm not criticizing your advice, I thought it was reasonable. (And obviously I mean amount of carbs, again my post makes that clear.)
I'm objecting to the idea that asking her questions about what she is trying to accomplish (a slight cut from high carbs to cut calories? ketosis? something in-between) is somehow rude and objectionable.
I did not mean to imply that. I would say asking why is not rude, it is just not needed.
Sort of like asking why someone thinks they need to eat salad when they are asking for easy salad recipes, or asking why someone would want to eat more meat when they have asked how to incorporate more meat and protein into their diet. We don't see that often.
If it affects the advice you would. Is the person wanting salads to eat more veg, because they are cold, because she's a veg, it might be relevant. If someone asks how to add more protein, I usually do ask if he or she is a vegetarian, since it affects the advice.I guess I don't think how deeply someone is going to cut carbs will determine how to most healthfully cut carbs.
If someone says "HOW do I cut carbs," think it matters what they mean by cutting carbs. Do they mean going LCHF? I'd give a different answer than "reducing my currently high carb percentage a bit" or "well, really I mean increasing protein."
Also, if someone does not eat a lot of snacky stuff I wouldn't start by telling them to cut that. I'd normally assume someone meant at meals and already knew to cut snacky stuff. But I could quite easily be wrong, which is why asking is not inherently rude or improper or (IMO) unnecessary -- it's helpful to get to better advice.
Although true in all of those cases I'd start with the answer I gave here, that you should review your diary.
I think I'm more literal than you. When they ask how I just gave the how. I suppose your questions may have given you more insight into a better answer.
Heh, I sometimes think I'm the most literal person ever, so that's good to know. My initial thought process is kind of like "HOW? Well, you see what has lots of carbs and eat less of that." But then I realize they are asking for strategies and assume they would already be cutting down on junk food so assume they are asking about meal structure and then I think "well, depends on how low they want it -- do they have to cut portions only or replace bread with a wrap? or do they maybe need to restructure the meal? is the issue that breakfast is a carb-fest with little protein?" and then I realize I need more information, darn it! ;-)Conversely, you can probably see how it would get tiring to see questions along the lines of "Why would you want to eat that way?" along with posts of "Nope, Love me my carbs" in LCHF threads where people are just asking for advice on how to eat that way. I think it would be more appropriate in a "should I eat LCHF?" thread.
Yeah, but here I just thought it was silly because OP didn't even say she wanted to eat low carb. (Maybe she does, and that's cool.) I DO think enough people assume you have to eat low carb to lose that it's worth explaining you don't, that low carb doesn't mean that calories are irrelevant, etc., but certainly I think there are lots of good reasons to low carb (and anyone no one needs a good reason), so I'd have no interest in debating that.
Maybe I have a different reaction just because I don't really care if someone (well, on MFP) asks me why I'm doing whatever, as I am usually happy to explain. I probably do upfront, LOL.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »How much you cut depends on how high you want your carbs.... Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums.
I think questions like "why" are really necessary to understand OP's aims and better give an OP advice, as it's not possible, for example, from the original post to tell whether OP wants to go low carb, if there are specific concerns (is it about health, weight loss, why does OP think carbs are hidden?).
I'd have different advice for someone asking "how do I go under 50 g of carbs" than for someone asking "how to eat under 150 g of carbs" than for someone saying "my doctor said cutting carbs and raising protein is often a good way to reduce calories" than for someone saying "I'm eating about 300 g of carbs, how do I cut them down"? I'd have different advice if OP were concerned about total carbs including fiber vs. net carbs (or carbs as defined in the UK). I'd find it helpful to know if OP is mostly trying to figure out how to cut calories or if the idea is to change carb percentage (one would involving adding in more fat and protein, one might not).
I usually assume that people have their reasons for cutting carbs. The "why" is not really my business unless they chose to share it. I figured that they just wanted to know how to cut carbs - assumed they meant what foods to cut. I may have been wrong.
I am not suggesting OP doesn't have her reasons, and I don't care what they are. What I am saying is important -- and I spelled this out quite specifically in my post, so am surprised you missed it -- is that HOW MUCH she wants to cut carbs is relevant. Several people assumed she wanted to low carb, and she didn't say that. Someone else assumed she wanted to eat some amount similar to that person, others made other assumptions. We also don't know what she's finding difficult (other than not knowing what foods they are in), what foods she is getting them primarily from, etc. These are all reasons that asking questions is appropriate, not an attack on her efforts (which I would not attack).
I've eaten around 150 g of carbs, and much lower. You do different things. One poster suggested she is concerned about carbs in watermelon and vinegar and vegetables, whereas another is recommending 46 g carb dinners and yet another steel cut oats and quinoa. Clearly, where she is starting and how much she wants to cut is relevant. If doing keto, she will have to worry about fruit and maybe even watch veg. If at 300 g and trying to cut down some because her doctor said it's a good way to cut calories and getting more protein is food, well, then, vegetables should probably be unlimited, fruit may not be an issue, and she could fit in some steel cut oats and quinoa if she wanted to, and just look at portion size and, absolutely, probably cut back on higher carb and fat lower nutrient foods (if she eats them). None of this is criticism, it's pointing out that you can't really answer "how do I cut carbs" beyond the basic "look at your diary and cut back on the foods with more carbs" without knowing things like goal, what she's trying to do -- the things you seem to say we should not ask!
I agree that how deeply the OP wants to cut carbs is relevant. I addressed that too with start cutting at the least healthy (highly processed and refined) carbs. I just did not address the why.
Unless by "how much she wants to cut carbs" you mean does she desire to cut carbs? Not the amount of carbs?
I'm not criticizing your advice, I thought it was reasonable. (And obviously I mean amount of carbs, again my post makes that clear.)
I'm objecting to the idea that asking her questions about what she is trying to accomplish (a slight cut from high carbs to cut calories? ketosis? something in-between) is somehow rude and objectionable.
I did not mean to imply that. I would say asking why is not rude, it is just not needed.
Sort of like asking why someone thinks they need to eat salad when they are asking for easy salad recipes, or asking why someone would want to eat more meat when they have asked how to incorporate more meat and protein into their diet. We don't see that often.
If it affects the advice you would. Is the person wanting salads to eat more veg, because they are cold, because she's a veg, it might be relevant. If someone asks how to add more protein, I usually do ask if he or she is a vegetarian, since it affects the advice.I guess I don't think how deeply someone is going to cut carbs will determine how to most healthfully cut carbs.
If someone says "HOW do I cut carbs," think it matters what they mean by cutting carbs. Do they mean going LCHF? I'd give a different answer than "reducing my currently high carb percentage a bit" or "well, really I mean increasing protein."
Also, if someone does not eat a lot of snacky stuff I wouldn't start by telling them to cut that. I'd normally assume someone meant at meals and already knew to cut snacky stuff. But I could quite easily be wrong, which is why asking is not inherently rude or improper or (IMO) unnecessary -- it's helpful to get to better advice.
Although true in all of those cases I'd start with the answer I gave here, that you should review your diary.
I think I'm more literal than you. When they ask how I just gave the how. I suppose your questions may have given you more insight into a better answer.
Conversely, you can probably see how it would get tiring to see questions along the lines of "Why would you want to eat that way?" along with posts of "Nope, Love me my carbs" in LCHF threads where people are just asking for advice on how to eat that way. I think it would be more appropriate in a "should I eat LCHF?" thread.
I tend to post mainly in threads relevant to a LCHF diet. The "why would you do that" question gets a bit old in thread after thread. Not all threads, but it is much more often than needed. JMO YMMV
Is this an LCHF thread though?0 -
Wow.
If you don't understand it enough to know HOW to do it, maybe you need to think about WHY you want to do it?1 -
I need help understanding how to "cut carbs "
Easier said than done - carbs are hidden everywhere
Which are the main carb culprits ?
What are some good replacements for it ?
I enjoy all kinds of cuisines so all responses will be appreciated
In general, have smaller portions of bread/bread items and starchy sides like potatoes, rice. Limit quantities of fruit. Increase portions of meat and green veggies. (Green veggies do have some carb content, but not as much as fruit, starchy veggies.)0
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