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Carbs!!
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camie_13
Posts: 2 Member
Opinions? Is it necessary to cut carbs to loose weight?!
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Replies
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Absolutely not.
Calorie deficit is all you need.
How you spend your calories is a personal choice.1 -
Probably. If you cut calories, you're probably going to reduce your carb intake a bit. Most people's "dieting" caloric intake does not include the same number of grams of carbohydrates that their "maintaining" calorie intake contains. Do you have to "go low carb"? Likely not.4
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No. Not an "opinion". It is a fact. Many people here have lost significant weight (myself included), without reducing the percentage of carbohydrates they intake as part of their overall calorie intake.3
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It is not "necessary" but it may be "advisable".
For weight loss, a carb calorie counts the same as a protein or fat calorie. Makes no difference at all.
That said, a lot of people find protein, or protein and fat, more "filling" than carbs and therefore easier to remain satisfied while eating a restricted calorie diet.
Also, there are high fiber carbs like broccoli, and empty calorie carbs like white bread. Refined carbs provide little fill and just lead to craving for more carbs -- when's the last time you ate 5 Doritos and stopped? Replacing those empty calories with fiber, protein, or fat can do wonders for a diet.
Personally, I much prefer higher protein/fat meals to carby meals; I find it easier to stay full and satisfied, and of course, a chicken breast with a side of broccoli is way healthier than a bowl of refined white pasta.
All that said, no, it is not necessary to cut carbs. The only thing you must cut is calories to lose weight. If you love carbs, have at it ... up to your calorie limit for the day and no further.1 -
Nope! I am doing high carb low fat. Still losing weight!1
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carbs are yummy1
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plus, 1 g of carb = 4 calories, 1 g of fat = 9 calories. I know what I'd rather be eating!4
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
This is what I was thinking too.
Do you have to in order to lose? No. But will most people (just as they will also reduce fat)? Yes.
Personally, I kept my protein about steady and cut back on fat and carbs just because the foods that I found easiest to cut were higher fat and carb (and I cut portion sizes of starchy sides and added fat).
But absolutely you don't need to go low carb or worry about carb percentage in order to lose.2 -
I eat porridge and fruit every day and am in a steady weight decline. As long as you stay within your deficit you can eat what you like0
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I lost 40 pounds eating whatever I wanted as long as I stayed within my calorie limit.0
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
Yes but that is kind of splitting hairs over semantics in my opinion. You need to reduce your overall calorie intake to lose weight. Likely you will reduce the physical number of carbs as part of this (although you theoretically don't have to, you could keep the same and reduce other macros, but again, that's semantics). But when people talk about "cutting carbs", that is not what they are talking about. They mean removing "carb" foods from their diets or going low carb. And that people do not need to do.
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
Yes but that is kind of splitting hairs over semantics in my opinion. You need to reduce your overall calorie intake to lose weight. Likely you will reduce the physical number of carbs as part of this (although you theoretically don't have to, you could keep the same and reduce other macros, but again, that's semantics). But when people talk about "cutting carbs", that is not what they are talking about. They mean removing "carb" foods from their diets or going low carb. And that people do not need to do.
This. It's very clear what OP is asking, I can't imagine what's to be gained by confusing the issue
OP, there are people here who have lost weight eating high carb, moderate, and low carb. What's important is sticking to your calorie goal, and for some people figuring out which macros are filling for you personally and which tend to be a waste of calories. Some people find carbs in general or specific carbs in particular leave them hungry or spike cravings, while others of us do better with plenty of carbs of all kinds.
So focus on calories and eat in a way that makes it easiest to hit your calorie goal. :drinker:6
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