Cut carbs ? How ?
Replies
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brendacs21 wrote: »I reduced the intake of certain carbs because I was going overboard. I would eat a whole pizza in one sitting .
I never get why pizza is called "a carb," though. Pizza is high fat and high carb, and often also has protein. I do cut carbs, I find it an easy way to cut calories (and my preferences are more easily met with more fat and protein, fewer carbs), but it still drives me crazy that so many foods that are high cal as much or more because of the fat (cookies, donuts, cake, pie, potato chips, fries, any pasta with lots of oil or butter or cheese or a cream sauce, so on) get called "carbs."2 -
highwood125 wrote: »Any suggestions for a filling low carb breakfast?
I eat a vegetable omelet most mornings, usually some feta cheese too, often with some bacon or smoked salmon, or else I might have cottage cheese on the side.2 -
Carbs are mainly plants. The ones with the most carbs, or largest impact on your blood glucose, are usually high in sugar or starch (sugar chains) and low in fibre. This is generally refined grains (flour -breads, muffins, noodles) and sugars (table sugar, syrup, honey).
If you want to cut carbs, the fastest way is to avoid refined grains and sugars - avoid baked goods and things with sugar added. These are usually the highly prcessed foods that are quite fair from a natural state.
The next foods to cut would be whole grains like rice, corn, or oats, starchy root vegetables (potatoes, yams, carrots, onions) and sugary fruit (dried like raisins or tropical fruts).
How much you cut depends on how high you wnt your carbs. You can safely cut carbs to almost zero as long as you are eating quality animal products.
Try the Low Carber Daily MFP group for more info. Most low carbers chat in there to avoid the frequent questions of "why?" that often pop up on the main forums. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-lcd-group3 -
I have to chuckle at the hidden carbs comment. Have none of you spent time on these boards and understand the food knowledge level of the populace? While they may not be hidden to some people who are wary about ingredient lists and such, there are a lot of foods with added sugars that most people wouldn't even think about (hello huge movement towards "natural" peanut butter that needs stirred) Also, when you do look at lists there is something like 5-6 things, if not more that are basically nothing but a different way to say sugar.
I think this is in reference to foods that do not have labels fresh produce for example or that people realize have sugar but don't realize how much exactly for example watermelon...
I know I was shocked by how much sugar is in vinegar when I looked it up online... Same with watermelon...0 -
How much you cut depends on how high you wnt 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).4 -
Why has no one given you the right answer yet?
Get loaf of bread, get bread knife, cut a slice of bread - voila, carbs cut!
Another vote for looking at your food diary - if you want to eat less carbs, work out where most of your intake comes from and make changes. If you eat a lot of grains, perhaps eat half the amount, but bulk the meal out with salad or vegies. Look for added sugar foods - sweet flavoured yoghurt for example. Swap it for plain or lower sugar.7 -
I have cut out a lot of the "typical" carbs because I have to eat 1200 cals to lose 1 lb a week and I find bread, rice and pasta high in calories but not as filling. For breakfast I usually have a high fibre granola bar, yogurt with fruit or granola or a banana with peanut butter rolled in a wrap. Still carbs but not full on toast or cereal. For lunch I've been putting tuna on salad greens rather than bread, having a cold plate with sandwich meats, cheese, fruit and veggies while skipping the bread. I use spaghetti squash in place of pasta. It is a great substitute and you can eat a ton of it. I also opt for tons of stir fried veggies with a protein (chicken or pork) and simply forgo the rice.0
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Didn't read any above posts but I've experienced low carbs and even ketosis multiple times and it works. Not healthy by any means but if you need a quick superficial transformation then do it if you want. It's really easy after a while. First off, you eat more fat to fill the caloric deficit. With that being said, cut out bread, rice, and obvious carb rich foods. Omelettes are perfect in the morning, use cheese and chicken/turkey sausage or whatever healthy protein source; steal cut oats and light fruit is always good. Drink protein shakes and snack on things with peanut butter. Homemade or certain store bought protein bars with dark chocolate, pb, and low carb nuts like almonds, cashews and Spanish peanuts work. Salads work obviously but later in the day after activity/workout, consume most of your carbs and depending on how many you decide to intake, you can move some carbs to breakfast. Lettuce wraps, stuffed peppers, soups/chowders...cauliflower, eggplant, and quinoa substituted dishes work as well. It's best to just get creative, you'll get used to it after a while just make sure you're not eating too much fat or unhealthy fats but still hit your calorie goals. Good luck0
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It's not easy to do without logging every single thing to see where your favorite foods have carbs. But, it can be done. I recommend looking at some keto / paleo websites for recipe ideas. Also - weigh your food and log even when you know you are over...
For breakfast I have a homemade protein shake.
I buy the plain protein -- 2 of 3 of the following egg white / hemp / grass fed whey (1/2 serving of the 2); I use plain, no sugar coconut milk 12 to16 oz; 1 teaspoon l-glutamine; 1 teaspoon Moriniga powder; 1 teasp bob's red mill psyllium powder; 1 TBSP rice bran powder; 1 TBSP either ground flax or chia. (To me it tastes like wheat-a-bix in milk).
32 oz coffee with 4 TBSP half and half
311 calories total / 24 carbs
Lunch is a variation of the following
8 oz Blended veggies (parsley, kimchi, miso, onions, carrots, etc.)
8 oz Lightly cooked mushrooms (on low heat they need no oil) and kale, collards, or chard)
Sometimes I add a high quality olive oil and raw apple cider vinegar to these to change up the taste.
160 grams full fat whole milk (I like Siggi's); 2 TBSP liquid acidopholis; 7 grams shredded unsweetened coconut
297 calories / 25 carbs
Dinner is usually a protein and a vegetable and maybe a low carb approved option - sometimes I slip beans into something.
Like tonight I made a variation of Moroccan-Style Lamb and Chickpeas (which had a lot of carbs due to the chick peas and sugar due to the raisins - because it just doesn't taste the same with out them.)
562 calories / 46 carbs
If I wanted to cut the carbs / sugar I would have left them out and maybe put 1/4 cup of raw rice in with it and that would have taken it down quite a bit.
Low carb / low sugar is hard. Especially in the beginning. Just go slowly one meal at a time, one day at a time. Find ways to cook the things you love and make them lower carb. For example, we love spaghetti at my house in the old days I would cook a pound of spaghetti and then pour the sauce over it in the bowl. There were be pasta left over, so naturally, I had it with garlic and melted butter. What I do now is make the sauce extra soupy by adding more tomatoes and chopped onions. I cook half the box of pasta. I add the cooked pasta to the sauce and let it sit for about 30 minutes. The pasta holds up in the sauce and absorbes the water from the pasta and voila - I have a whole lot of "low carbish" pasta. I can have a "full serving" and I am still within my calories / carb limit, if I plan my meals.
Low carb is not a forever thing as others have said. You need carbs to keep your thyroid working right. (About 100 grams of carbs a day is considered as low as you should go, long term.)
In November, when I started by making incremental changes (one meal at a time), my end goal was that I would hover around 1400 calories because as an older woman my skin doesn't bounce back as it did when I was younger. By losing the weight slowly, I have minimized the sagging skin.
It took several months of tweaking before I finally found my "sweet spot" in terms of balance between carbs and protein and (since November I have lost about 40 pounds / 4 inches). And... I am only complaint calorie wise about 75% - 80% of the time. I have some health issues and can't really exercise. Despite this and being tied to a desk all day, I have lost and continue to lose weight.
For me, eating low carb and low sugar all of the time some amazing things happened:- I don't crave sugar (I have an entire box of Charms Wild Berry Blow Pops in my file drawer that I haven't touched since November because I don't crave sugar; I once measured my stress level by how many of them I consumed in one day);
- My moods are more even and I don't have blood sugar spikes and crashes;
- By consuming more healthy fats my joints don't hurt as much and I am more or less satiated on 1400 calories.
I used Paleo Leap and Paleo Tribe for the recipe ideas (they have some great low calorie recipe options) but this isn't necessary. I do think preparing and eating food that I make as opposed to boxes or eating out has helped me a lot. Boxes say they are low carb (but they have lots of other additives in them to make them taste good.)
I also take 7-keto DHEA (fat burner), desiccated adrenal (80 mgs -- I started and maintain a very low dose) and desiccated adrenal cortex (250 mgs). I have more energy and they have helped my allergies and my hormones.
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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.
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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.
0 -
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
This discussion has been closed.
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