Low Carbs/High Protein....

Deb2012
Deb2012 Posts: 124
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
Any one have any suggestions, thoughts, advice on the option of going low carb/high protein, and how it effects daily life, weight loss, energy etc?

Replies

  • Murphk323
    Murphk323 Posts: 184
    bump cause i'd like to know this too!
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    I wonder the same thing every damn day. Lol BUMP!!!!
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I've tried low carb and it doesn't work for my body. When I don't consume enough carbs, I am lethargic and all I want to do is sleep. I have NO energy at all. I've learned that my body NEEDS carbs (it LOVES carbs). I've learned that I can consume them and it doesn't affect my weight loss.

    Everyone is different.

    Some people are very carb sensitive and gain weight from looking at a piece of bread and other people (like me) aren't affected negatively by them - but are affected by NOT having them!
  • CavewomanCoby
    CavewomanCoby Posts: 253 Member
    Have you thought about it differently - not necessarily as "low carb" but cutting out all the bad carbs? I have a thread called "Paleo Tough Mudders" which is about Paleo/Primal eating which *may* suit you. It's a program that is working for me and whilst I do naturally eat lower carbs, its more about cutting out grains (wheat/gluten). So I can't do bread, pasta or rice but I CAN get my carbs from other sources like vegies/potatoes.

    I'm losing a bunch of weight and I feel better than ever :)
  • Bankman1989
    Bankman1989 Posts: 1,116 Member
    I do low carbs daily. If your body gets used to it eventually all is well. I never hit my daily carb intake. Most of my carbs from fruits and brown rie. Look up daniels diet.com for a more sensible low carb diet.
  • Deb2012
    Deb2012 Posts: 124
    Have you thought about it differently - not necessarily as "low carb" but cutting out all the bad carbs? I have a thread called "Paleo Tough Mudders" which is about Paleo/Primal eating which *may* suit you. It's a program that is working for me and whilst I do naturally eat lower carbs, its more about cutting out grains (wheat/gluten). So I can't do bread, pasta or rice but I CAN get my carbs from other sources like vegies/potatoes.

    I'm losing a bunch of weight and I feel better than ever :)

    Thanks everyone!

    I was thinking of cutting out grains... I know everyone is different but I know a girl who was very overweight, as soon as she cut out the grains she lost so much. Turns out her body didn't react well to them. Wouldn't hurt to try and see if I'm the same :smile:
  • portexploit
    portexploit Posts: 378 Member
    The question is “what is low carb?” I was doing it under 10grams of carbs, and I know some people that do under 100grams. Yes it’s true, there is a phase where your body does adjust, you will feel like total crap for me it lasted 1 day, for some people it last 3 weeks. Once you’re after that bump it’s smooth sailing. How it effects your daily life??? Most meals have carbs with them, I couldn’t go out with my friends to go eat, except on my free day which I did high carb. If you do low carb too long it will impare thyroid function aka slow down your metabolism. That’s why it’s important to have a free day. I would sometimes eat 400 grams of carbs on my free day.

    When you do extremely low carb, you’d go in to ketosis, this is state where your body uses fat to produce energy for your brain and other functions. Your brain usually runs on carbs but if carbs are low it starts to produce ketones. Protein uses more water to digest this means it can cause kidney issues if you’re not drinking enough water. 30% of calories from protein goes to digestion, I think it’s 20% for carbs and 10% for fat. This means if you eat 1000 calories from protein you will use 300 calories just in digestion and only absorb 600 calories. Protein also keeps you full for a long time. Protein also lowers insulin levels helping it easier to release fat from the body.

    Keep in mind, all low carb really is, is a way to accomplish a caloric deficit. You also have to eat a lot of fat on this diet which also helps keep you full by releasing CCK(Cholecystokinin), stay away from transfats and you’d be fine. If I was you I’d eat under 100grams of carbs a day maintaining same amount of calories and see how that goes, if you lose weight keep it at that number, if it doesn’t lower it by another 10, etc…
  • iwstamp
    iwstamp Posts: 3 Member
    I went low carb beginning in late May (under 20 grams typically) and I haven't looked back (down 50 lbs). For me, it was the only thing that worked. I am never hungry and take in about 1000 calories a day, at least until I reach my goal. I also intermittently fast a few times a month for 24 hours. The first few days of low carb were tough but after that, smooth sailing. Now, my wife and I never go out, buy grass fed beef, wild caught salmon, etc and have eliminated all grains, corn, dairy and seed and vegetable oils from our diet. Very extreme, I know. So I wouldn't recommend this approach for the faint of heart. I eat more green veggies then I ever did and feel 10 years younger! I personally feel based on my own experiences (and lots of reading I admit) that grains are unhealthy and there is no nutritional benefit to eating carbs.
  • Xexcusemaker
    Xexcusemaker Posts: 4
    As an FYI.......My daughter is doing this and has been losing...she was told by a fitness trainer. She eats very low carb on days she DOESN'T work out but on days she works out she has carbs. Prior to this she was running alot and NOT losing weight. She says you cannot train a lot and lose weight. She has found she has to concentrate on weight loss and not fitness at the same time. However she is on her last 15-20 lbs.
  • portexploit
    portexploit Posts: 378 Member
    I went low carb beginning in late May (under 20 grams typically) and I haven't looked back (down 50 lbs). For me, it was the only thing that worked. I am never hungry and take in about 1000 calories a day, at least until I reach my goal. I also intermittently fast a few times a month for 24 hours. The first few days of low carb were tough but after that, smooth sailing. Now, my wife and I never go out, buy grass fed beef, wild caught salmon, etc and have eliminated all grains, corn, dairy and seed and vegetable oils from our diet. Very extreme, I know. So I wouldn't recommend this approach for the faint of heart. I eat more green veggies then I ever did and feel 10 years younger! I personally feel based on my own experiences (and lots of reading I admit) that grains are unhealthy and there is no nutritional benefit to eating carbs.

    When I was doing low carb my inches where going down about 2inches per month, but my weight not much, you said you lost 50lbs in about 3 months. I didn't believe it but you said you where consuming 1000 calories a day, now it makes sense. I was eating about 2,500 calories a day.
  • iwstamp
    iwstamp Posts: 3 Member
    If that's a picture of you - we are on different planets :-)... I actually started at 322, so admitedly much easier to "calve" off those pounds. More then the weight loss though is that I feel energized... and willing and able to work out more then ever. I went from a 50 inch waist to a 42 inch waist in those same 3 months. My goal is a 34 inch waist and about 185 lbs... haven't been there since the 8th grade!
  • Shelle68
    Shelle68 Posts: 421 Member
    The question is “what is low carb?” I was doing it under 10grams of carbs, and I know some people that do under 100grams. Yes it’s true, there is a phase where your body does adjust, you will feel like total crap for me it lasted 1 day, for some people it last 3 weeks. Once you’re after that bump it’s smooth sailing. How it effects your daily life??? Most meals have carbs with them, I couldn’t go out with my friends to go eat, except on my free day which I did high carb. If you do low carb too long it will impare thyroid function aka slow down your metabolism. That’s why it’s important to have a free day. I would sometimes eat 400 grams of carbs on my free day.

    When you do extremely low carb, you’d go in to ketosis, this is state where your body uses fat to produce energy for your brain and other functions. Your brain usually runs on carbs but if carbs are low it starts to produce ketones. Protein uses more water to digest this means it can cause kidney issues if you’re not drinking enough water. 30% of calories from protein goes to digestion, I think it’s 20% for carbs and 10% for fat. This means if you eat 1000 calories from protein you will use 300 calories just in digestion and only absorb 600 calories. Protein also keeps you full for a long time. Protein also lowers insulin levels helping it easier to release fat from the body.

    Keep in mind, all low carb really is, is a way to accomplish a caloric deficit. You also have to eat a lot of fat on this diet which also helps keep you full by releasing CCK(Cholecystokinin), stay away from transfats and you’d be fine. If I was you I’d eat under 100grams of carbs a day maintaining same amount of calories and see how that goes, if you lose weight keep it at that number, if it doesn’t lower it by another 10, etc…

    I think this was an excellent response based on my knowledge of low-carb!
  • autumnridge
    autumnridge Posts: 97 Member
    Your boday needs at least 150 grams of good carbs per day to do all the minute things required for maintenance of those complicated organs! Too much protein is harder on the kidneys. It all comes down to balance. Good carbs, fruit, dark green and yellow veggies, whole grain breads, and lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey, and fish are all essential to your daily diet. The veggies & fruit should be nearly 1/2 your plate, the starchy things such as bread & potatoes, less than 1/4, and lean meats less than 1/4. Fats such as low fat salad dressings, etc. can make up the miniscule remainder. :wink: :happy:
  • berchen82
    berchen82 Posts: 59
    bump
  • portexploit
    portexploit Posts: 378 Member
    Your boday needs at least 150 grams of good carbs per day to do all the minute things required for maintenance of those complicated organs! Too much protein is harder on the kidneys. It all comes down to balance. Good carbs, fruit, dark green and yellow veggies, whole grain breads, and lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey, and fish are all essential to your daily diet. The veggies & fruit should be nearly 1/2 your plate, the starchy things such as bread & potatoes, less than 1/4, and lean meats less than 1/4. Fats such as low fat salad dressings, etc. can make up the miniscule remainder. :wink: :happy:

    your body actually doesn't "NEED" any carbs.
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    Without planning too, I have ended up going somewhat low carb just because bread, pasta, crackers, etc. have so many calories and don't fill me up. I find myself eating meat, fruit and vegetables, but no room for other carbs. Of course, I am also eating less fat - using less cooking oil, not eating cheese.
  • rachpiper720
    rachpiper720 Posts: 204
    Any one have any suggestions, thoughts, advice on the option of going low carb/high protein, and how it effects daily life, weight loss, energy etc?

    Hey! I'm doing a less than 100g/day carb, and I try and get ~150g/day protein. That's about 1 g protein per lb of lean body mass. I have found that I have to constantly tweak my carbs/protein/fat based on how much I workout. I do body weight training 2-3x a week, one-30 minute sprinting session a week, and about 5-6 hours low-level activity. On days I workout hard, sometimes I eaten a few more higher-fat things 4-6 hours before I work out to keep energy up. I find that I have to listen to my body constantly. For me, if I go too high of protein, and not enough fat, I get sluggish and my digestion goes to crap. I've found I run way better on fat than on carbs. I think this is where a lot of people fail on a paleo/primal/low-carb/atkins, they have to learn and constantly tweak to make it work for them. If you are feeling sluggish, amp up the carbs or fat and see what it does. Also, play around with your supplementation like fish oil, vit D, vit. B12, magnesium, calcium, etc. I've found this also makes a huge difference.

    As far as weight loss, I haven't lost much weight, but I've dropped 10% body fat since march (when I started), but I'm an easy muscle gainer. It can be tough sometimes to keep up the lifestyle because you are constantly cooking food, but I feel so much better when I've made a good meal vs. going out to Mickie D's to grab a burger. Quality of food makes a 110% difference in how I run. My fibromyalgia symptoms have decreased, my energy is much better, I'm sleeping way better, my inflammation has decreased significantly, my blood pressure has gone down, and no more hypoglycemia. My life is done a total 180.

    My biggest suggestion is to do the research on your diet, and I mean deep research. It helps to make your lifestyle decision easier when you know what you are doing is good for you....good luck!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I never purposely ate low carb, but after joining this site I realized I was usually eating < 100 g a day, which a lot of people on here say is low carb. I eat grains, but not much bread. Mostly brown/wild rice. I have been making more of an effort to eat what is recommended and have been doing better, mostly by substituting more vegetable protein for meats since veg protein has more carbs.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Your boday needs at least 150 grams of good carbs per day to do all the minute things required for maintenance of those complicated organs! Too much protein is harder on the kidneys. It all comes down to balance. Good carbs, fruit, dark green and yellow veggies, whole grain breads, and lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey, and fish are all essential to your daily diet. The veggies & fruit should be nearly 1/2 your plate, the starchy things such as bread & potatoes, less than 1/4, and lean meats less than 1/4. Fats such as low fat salad dressings, etc. can make up the miniscule remainder. :wink: :happy:

    your body actually doesn't "NEED" any carbs.

    your body doesn't actually "NEED" protein either. The human body can actually function on very little if it has to. But that doesn't mean it's a good idea to deprive of it either carbs or protein.
  • portexploit
    portexploit Posts: 378 Member
    Your boday needs at least 150 grams of good carbs per day to do all the minute things required for maintenance of those complicated organs! Too much protein is harder on the kidneys. It all comes down to balance. Good carbs, fruit, dark green and yellow veggies, whole grain breads, and lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey, and fish are all essential to your daily diet. The veggies & fruit should be nearly 1/2 your plate, the starchy things such as bread & potatoes, less than 1/4, and lean meats less than 1/4. Fats such as low fat salad dressings, etc. can make up the miniscule remainder. :wink: :happy:

    your body actually doesn't "NEED" any carbs.

    your body doesn't actually "NEED" protein either. The human body can actually function on very little if it has to. But that doesn't mean it's a good idea to deprive of it either carbs or protein.

    Amino acids are used by the immune system. Well I guess it would just get it from muscle protein..
  • Russellb97
    Russellb97 Posts: 1,057 Member
    You first few days going low carb are more difficult because you quickly deplete glycogen and your blood sugar will drop.
    As long as you spike, or re-feed periodically you will keep your glycogen in a good state and your body will get used to it.

    I workout all the time now with little or no carbs pre-workout and it's great. First few were not.

    OP, Low-Carb and high protein is the best way if you can do it. If you can't don't worry, it's not the only way.
  • taralynn06
    taralynn06 Posts: 13
    I started low carb/high protein on 8/23 and as of today I'm down 8lbs so I'm impressed so far... i heard eating under 65 carbs a day will guarantee weight loss... and to subtract fiber and sugar alcohols to get actual carbs or net carbs... good luck
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    I'm eating less carbs and more protein (I don't know if I'm necessarily "low carb" - but the ratios have definitely changed) and it's been working for me!! I get less crazy craving, I'm less bloated, and the weight loss has been easier. And even after a huge dinner, I don't feel like I have a huge boulder in me. Basically I've cut out the processed white carbs and a lot of sugary stuff.. so no pasta, no white bread (only multigrain), no potatoes, no soda, no fruit juice, etc. It's been working great for me :) Instead of having pasta on the side of a meat dish, I'll make it a large salad of romaine, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Yum!!
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