Results from cutting carbs?
AI1108
Posts: 488 Member
I recently read an article about how our bodies aren't designed to handle wheat and grains very well and that it causes tons of people to develop diabetes, as well as heart conditions. I wish I could find the article again but a cardiologist in the article explained that by getting his patients to cut carbs (besides fruits & veggies) from their diet, he found that patient after patient starting losing weight and getting leaner. I don't know how true it is or anything but it got me thinking.
How many people have cut a large majority of carbs from their diet besides fruits & veggies and seen a large difference in their weight loss and body composition?
How many people have cut a large majority of carbs from their diet besides fruits & veggies and seen a large difference in their weight loss and body composition?
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I've never been more energetic or lean than when I ate fewer carbs. I've known from previous lectures in biology and anthropology classes that humans are not designed to handle large quantities of wheat-and-grain products.
In fact, today I re-started my low-carb commitment. It's really tough, considering that my friends and family pretty much eat the equivalent of a loaf of bread every day. But there is no doubt that I was happiest with my body composition when I ate almost no grains or wheat (or refined sugar, but that goes without saying).0 -
I've heard a lot of really good things. My sister went gluten free and that alone made her lose a ton of weight. I doubt I will, though. My favorite foods are all carbs.
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I've found that I just can't lose weight consistently on a low calorie, high carb, low fat diet. I have had great success cutting out almost all carbs but vegetables and berries. As I am getting closer to my goal, I've been trying to keep my daily carb intake to around 80-90 grams net, while still watching calories. It's working for me.0
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I have cut down on my carbs. At the end of six weeks, I have lost 15 lbs. I prefer this to counting calories.0
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It's worth noting that we have been eating grains for centuries and widespread obesity is just recently a problem.0
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Centuries is not long enough for an organism to adapt to something like a new food source like grains. Especially not to have it as 55 to 60% of your source of energy.
The mostly likely cause for this obesity epidemic (according to most health "experts") is high carb/high sugar, high sodium diets and less activity.
I've been following a Primal Blueprint for 7 weeks now and I can't believe how much better I feel. I wouldn't consider this a diet either....it's more of a lifestyle change.
Forgot to mention.....I'm down 19.something lbs in 7 weeks and feel fantastic. Full or energy all the time, never hungry. I am stronger and thinner than I have in over 5 years.0 -
Centuries is not long enough for an organism to adapt to something like a new food source like grains. Especially not to have it as 55 to 60% of your source of energy.
The mostly likely cause for this obesity epidemic (according to most health "experts") is high carb/high sugar, high sodium diets and less activity.
I've been following a Primal Blueprint for 7 weeks now and I can't believe how much better I feel. I wouldn't consider this a diet either....it's more of a lifestyle change.
Forgot to mention.....I'm down 19.something lbs in 7 weeks and feel fantastic. Full or energy all the time, never hungry. I am stronger and thinner than I have in over 5 years.
I agree with this.
Cutting out the grains, legumes, most nuts and dairy leaves me with a great amount of energy, sleeping well, no long having any joint pain and inflammation (arthritis type symptoms), stable blood sugar readings and the extra benefit of losing weight.0 -
I still eat a decent amount of nuts for fat and protein sources.
I have almonds or pecans nearly every day0 -
This may be true, but I think the growing amount of people with a wheat intolerance is indicative that it's not a preferred food source for human consumption when refined into white flour. I'm hearing about more and more people who need to switch to a gluten free diet due to Celiac's disease or other issues. I read recently that the number of people with a gluten intolerance has increased four-fold since the 1950's and this was from testing frozen blood from Air Force recruits and is not due to a better system of detection. Four times as many people are intolerant of wheat than 50 or 60 years ago. That makes about 15% of the US population which has at least an intolerance of wheat or gluten, if not an allergy or worse. And many people don't even realize it because the symptoms aren't always obvious.It's worth noting that we have been eating grains for centuries and widespread obesity is just recently a problem.
Additionally, modern wheat is very different from the wheat our ancestors ate. It's been hybridized so that the proportion of gluten protein has been increased enormously. The grains we are eating today are not the grains our ancestors ate. Also, in the past, most grains were mixed together with beans and nuts. Pure wheat flour has only been milled into refined white flour since about 200 years ago.0 -
Centuries is not long enough for an organism to adapt to something like a new food source like grains. Especially not to have it as 55 to 60% of your source of energy.
The mostly likely cause for this obesity epidemic (according to most health "experts") is high carb/high sugar, high sodium diets and less activity.
I've been following a Primal Blueprint for 7 weeks now and I can't believe how much better I feel. I wouldn't consider this a diet either....it's more of a lifestyle change.
Forgot to mention.....I'm down 19.something lbs in 7 weeks and feel fantastic. Full or energy all the time, never hungry. I am stronger and thinner than I have in over 5 years.
But... I have had very similar results just by limiting calories and eliminating processed foods. Whole grains are a part of my diet.
To each his own, I guess.0 -
I do not think grains are so bad. I think the overly processed carbs are. Twinkies and cakes are the problem, not whole grain bread or steel cut oatmeal.0
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But... I have had very similar results just by limiting calories and eliminating processed foods. Whole grains are a part of my diet.
To each his own, I guess.
It's not for everyone. I told my buddy I would give it a go for 8 weeks and see what I think. I'm hooked.
And while I do plan to continue this lifestyle for the foreseeable future, I will relax a little on how strict I am once I reach my fitness and weight-loss goals. I'll live an 80/20 lifestyle.0 -
I've been on a very low carb, low cal, high protein diet for the past 2 weeks and have lost over 9 pounds. The downside is, I am verrrrry tired. My doctor says that is because my body is not yet used to running on so few carbs, so I'm hanging in there.0
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This is how I lost all my weight and I have a ton of energy, sleep better, and never feel bloated. But you have to remember it is a lifestyle not something to do short term because as soon as you start eating those items again your body needs extra water to digest them so yes it is weight gain. I have done it been their and now know where and what my body likes.0
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I've been on a very low carb, low cal, high protein diet for the past 2 weeks and have lost over 9 pounds. The downside is, I am verrrrry tired. My doctor says that is because my body is not yet used to running on so few carbs, so I'm hanging in there.
Give it a week or two for your body to adjust to running on fats (ketones) and then you'll be all good
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Centuries is not long enough for an organism to adapt to something like a new food source like grains. Especially not to have it as 55 to 60% of your source of energy.
The mostly likely cause for this obesity epidemic (according to most health "experts") is high carb/high sugar, high sodium diets and less activity.
I've been following a Primal Blueprint for 7 weeks now and I can't believe how much better I feel. I wouldn't consider this a diet either....it's more of a lifestyle change.
Forgot to mention.....I'm down 19.something lbs in 7 weeks and feel fantastic. Full or energy all the time, never hungry. I am stronger and thinner than I have in over 5 years.
http://thespartandiet.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-official-grains-were-part-of.html
I don't like linking blogs, but I'm at work right now and I don't have the links to the pubmed sites on which this information is based on.
Any diet that cuts out processed sugar and replaces them with grass fed beef is A-OK in my book. But let's not pretend like the reason is because we are eating in a similar fashion as ancient humans were....
Let's stop blaming the carbs for our obesity and start blaming the volume of food we consume. There are plenty of carb-consuming nations in the world that aren't nearly as fat as we are here in the States.0 -
2 years ago I lost the majority of my weight on the South Beach Diet (it's not known as a "low carb" diet, it's supposed to be "good carb") I became pretty anti-carb after that, thinking they were the reason they made me fat. Which is partly true, but once I started eating carbs again, I gained a third of the weight back.
I've been counting calories for over 3 months now, and I exceed my carb limit everyday, but because 90% of them are "good carbs" (fruit, wholegrains etc) I have gotten down to my maintenance weight easily while still enjoying carbs.
I think it's about what works best for you. I would be miserable without carbs. It's definitely an easy way to lose weight, but is it good in the long-term? Personally, no. But if you aren't a big carb eater, and could easily live your life without them, then go for it. I'm just glad I found a way to lose/maintain weight and still eat plenty of carbs!0 -
I lost the weight I wanted to last year by changing to eating wholegrains and moderate levels of carbs, I had been maintaining for over a year like that yet but wanted to get just a bit leaner. For the last 6 weeks or so I have cut carbs down to between 50-100 grams per day, I'm eating hardly any grains, and I am noticing such a difference, my body fat is reducing and I feel great. I really wish I tried this last year when I wanted to lose weight but I'm not sure I was in the right frame of mind to give up carbs as I was a big fan of rice and pasta. I have to say though it is very liberating to get free from eating them as I just don't have those cravings any more, but I if I really fancy some pasta or bread once in while then I will because committing 100% to something primal blueprint is not for me at this moment in time. Cutting carbs needn't leave you with boring foods either, I'm really enjoying some of the higher fat alternatives you can get away with. Tonight I cooked a lovely cottage pie but used mashed cauliflower with butter and cheese for the topping instead of potato, it tasted superb :-)
Low carb might not be for everyone, but I don't think you have anything to lose by trying it, I wish I had done years ago :happy:0 -
I've been on a very low carb, low cal, high protein diet for the past 2 weeks and have lost over 9 pounds. The downside is, I am verrrrry tired. My doctor says that is because my body is not yet used to running on so few carbs, so I'm hanging in there.
Give it a week or two for your body to adjust to running on fats (ketones) and then you'll be all good
Thanks! I've been checking periodically for ketosis and after 2 weeks, I'm not there yet. Actually, I haven't checked in the last few days. Maybe I am there and just don't know it. The sluggishness is getting somewhat better.0 -
If you're using Ketostix they won't really be all that effective after your body begins using the ketones for energy rather than spilling them out into your urine.
Some people may take longer than others to adapt, but if you feel your energy coming up and your hunger subsiding, those are much better signs. Listen to your body.
You may want to search "paleo ketostix" there are a few good reads on Marks Daily Apple as well as PaleoHacks0 -
I am a low-carber. I never knew how bad I felt until I went low carb...and now I have so much more energy, sleep better, look better, and have lost about 40 pounds. Every once in a while, I will "cheat"...and I always feel completely bloated and tired and physically sick the next day.0
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Ooooh!! If your interested in more information on this subject - watch the documentary "Fat Head" - AMAZING information in there! It's available on Netflix - or I'm sure you could rent it somewhere!! I've watched it a few times since I first discovered it, and I love it!! I'm not totally ready to go low carb yet, but I do agree with a lot of what was said in "Fat Head"!!! Good luck on your journey!!0
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If you're using Ketostix they won't really be all that effective after your body begins using the ketones for energy rather than spilling them out into your urine.
Some people may take longer than others to adapt, but if you feel your energy coming up and your hunger subsiding, those are much better signs. Listen to your body.
You may want to search "paleo ketostix" there are a few good reads on Marks Daily Apple as well as PaleoHacks
Thanks! Good to know.0 -
I am a low-carber. I never knew how bad I felt until I went low carb...and now I have so much more energy, sleep better, look better, and have lost about 40 pounds. Every once in a while, I will "cheat"...and I always feel completely bloated and tired and physically sick the next day.
I agree! We changed our diet because my husband was recently diagnosed with diabetes...our meals are 30 carb each and we have (3) 15 carb snacks a day...in 8 weeks I am down almost 18 pounds and he is down 20. It was so hard at first, but now, because we feel 100 times better, it is easy to not want to cheat because of the negative effects of cheating. I mostly noticed first, big time, that I don't have stomach issues like I did before the change. I totally miss pasta the most...its so hard for an italian to not eat pasta...LOL0 -
I recently read an article about how our bodies aren't designed to handle wheat and grains very well and that it causes tons of people to develop diabetes, as well as heart conditions. I wish I could find the article again but a cardiologist in the article explained that by getting his patients to cut carbs (besides fruits & veggies) from their diet, he found that patient after patient starting losing weight and getting leaner. I don't know how true it is or anything but it got me thinking.
I'm going to take a guess that the cardiologist is Dr. William Davis who authored the recently released 'Wheat Belly' in which he argues that the pervasiveness of wheat in the NA diet (particularly the varieties hybridized in the pas 50 years) have contributed to the increase in obesity, diabetes, and other conditions.How many people have cut a large majority of carbs from their diet besides fruits & veggies and seen a large difference in their weight loss and body composition?
I have eliminated carbs like grains, legumes, soy, sugar and dairy from my diet--carbs now come from vegetables and fruit. Okay, and the occasional glass of wine and sugar in my coffee
Made a big difference: lost weight, lost the muffin top, thighs are a size I never dreamed possible, dropped four dress sizes (OMG I love my body now), my skin is smooth & clear, and the impact on my health was an unexpected bonus. Feel fantastic. (Disclaimer: individual results may vary) My diary is open if you want to see what I do eat. 0 -
I suggest googling "wheat belly" for some reading regarding wheat and how what we call "wheat" nowadays is almost unrelated to what it was even 50 years ago. We have been hearing about the evils of genetically engineered organisms for years now, but what an eye-opener as to what are considering "conventional" methods of creating new strains of wheat--irradiation? Exposure to toxic chemicals?
Anyway, do some reading if you have time.0 -
Cut back carbs drastically & pretty much all processed sugars. Lost 25 lbs in 8 weeks.0
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I thought you can have dairy with low carb? I am really trying to stick with it but am having trouble knowing what to eat an what to skip, other then the obviouse, bread, rice, pasta...0
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I do not think grains are so bad. I think the overly processed carbs are. Twinkies and cakes are the problem, not whole grain bread or steel cut oatmeal.
^^^^this^^^^
I am consuming a diet of approximately 80% carbs. Just like the others claim (inversely), I have more energy, feel better, sleep well, feel full and satisfied and consider this a permanent lifestyle change. I have lost 47 pounds so far, 6 just this past week when I ramped up my efforts and started following the McDougall Maximum Weight Loss Program.0 -
I've been on a very low carb, low cal, high protein diet for the past 2 weeks and have lost over 9 pounds. The downside is, I am verrrrry tired. My doctor says that is because my body is not yet used to running on so few carbs, so I'm hanging in there.
Give it a week or two for your body to adjust to running on fats (ketones) and then you'll be all good
Increase some of your fat intake and take vitamin b supplements.That will help with your energy. The first 2 weeks are the toughest...make sure you drink at least 10 cups a water or more....helps keep your kidneys good. You will also need the carb cravings disappear.0
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