Carbs?

clafairy1984
clafairy1984 Posts: 253 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Do you restrict when you eat carbs?

I've read a lot about mainly eating protein with veggies and only eating rice, pasta etc after work outs. Does this work and it's it healthy?

Replies

  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    Nutrient timing makes a very, very small difference for exercise performance and zero difference for fat loss.

    Assuming that you're here to lose weight in a healthy manner then you priorities should be (in order):
    1. Regularly creating a moderate calorific deficit
    2. Regularly ensuring that you're getting a good balance of P/C/F, vits and minerals
    3. Other stuff such as meal timing and and nutrient timings
  • nosebag1212
    nosebag1212 Posts: 621 Member
    edited June 2017
    No, why would I? A calorie deficit is all that's required for weight loss and carbs are delicious, low carb diets make me feel like trash. Meal timing also has negligible to zero impact on fat loss.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Most of those things are for athletes looking for a little extra edge at competition time. Not really a big factor. Yes the body utilizes carbohydrates and protein better within 30 minutes of a workout but for the average person this is not really a factor.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    edited June 2017
    I'm a vegetarian. Most of my protein sources have carbs worked in. And fruits and vegetables all contain some carbs, some more than others. I find that I don't eat as many starchy carbs as I used to, just because I'm trying to hit my protein and iron targets first and let the other macros and micros fall where they may. But that's mostly health and slightly satiety (and satiety varies from person to person). For weight-loss, a deficit is all that's important.
  • KevHex
    KevHex Posts: 256 Member
    Carbs (sugars) are the main building block in energy production. You want to keep your body as efficient as possible at energy production so don't buy in to carbs being the enemy. The processes going on inside us all are complex and the energy creation process, creating ATP, carbon dioxide, water, heat, is all critical in proper cell functioning, helps to balance electrolytes, it is anti-inflammatory, supports the immune system and inhibits stress, supports liver function and most importantly helps your cells take up and use oxygen.

    Get a good balance of fats, protein and carbs :-)
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    the poptart I had this morning was awesome :) so nope - but I take in carbs in the 300+ g a day, so I aim for an even distribution during the day to make sure that I'm not eating some insane amount right before bed
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Sure, it can be healthy, but so can eating carbs with meals and not restricting them (except to make sure you get adequate protein and fat and not too many calories).

    Does it work? Any way of creating a calorie deficit works.

    I prefer eating lower carb, but don't worry about nutrient timing (I usually workout not long before a regular meal and eat that). My lower carb ways are a personal preference, not something necessary -- I lost most of my weight eating 40-30-30, but many people have done so eating anywhere from 5% to 80% carbs.

    Now, I do think that building meals around protein and vegetables is a good and easy way to make sure you get in enough of both and have filling meals, but I find there's room for other things in the meal, so the question is what else will make you feel happy and satisfied. If it's some pasta or rice or potatoes or bread, no reason not to have it.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    StealthHealth wrote: »
    Nutrient timing makes a very, very small difference for exercise performance and zero difference for fat loss.

    Assuming that you're here to lose weight in a healthy manner then you priorities should be (in order):
    1. Regularly creating a moderate calorific deficit
    2. Regularly ensuring that you're getting a good balance of P/C/F, vits and minerals
    3. Other stuff such as meal timing and and nutrient timings

    this ..

    timing of carbs matters for nothing...
  • CasperNaegle
    CasperNaegle Posts: 936 Member
    The only thing I like to do is eat some carbs before workout for an energy boost, but from a diet or fat loss it makes no difference when you eat.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    clafairy1984 wrote: »
    Do you restrict when you eat carbs?

    I've read a lot about mainly eating protein with veggies and only eating rice, pasta etc after work outs. Does this work and it's it healthy?

    It really doesn't matter.

    I do restrict carbs in the evening when I'm cutting weight, but that's only because I don't log and just cutting those carbs and leaving everything else the same helps put me in a deficit...there's not magic to it though, just a way to get me into a deficit.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    clafairy1984 wrote: »
    Do you restrict when you eat carbs?

    I've read a lot about mainly eating protein with veggies and only eating rice, pasta etc after work outs. Does this work and it's it healthy?

    So the thought about timing nutrients (especially carbs + protein) post workout is because carbs are anticabolic, which prevents protein breakdown. And eating protein helps repair the muscle. The only time I time nutrients is before if I am feeling hungry because I eat lunch at 1100 and workout at 1600. And post workout, I just have dinner.


    In the grand scheme, timing is not as important as other things.

    The-Pyramid-Of-Nutritional-importance.png
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