Carbs / Protein (CICO)

Does it matter the balance of both or is purely calories to count on CICO?

Answers

  • tomcustombuilder
    tomcustombuilder Posts: 2,221 Member
    It’s CICO however you still have to pay attention to macros, protein in particular
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,824 Member
    edited July 5
    Globally speaking: calories for weight management, macros for health and satiation.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,940 Member
    edited July 5
    Yep, what they ⬆️ said. You don't need to adhere to the standard macros or anything you read online. But you wrote about being pre-diabetic? So it might be a good idea to look into what you're eating. Not for weightloss, but for your health

    Edit: whoops! You're not the prediabetic person, right? The new standard avatars here confused me. Nothing to see here, please move on, all.
  • xrj22
    xrj22 Posts: 217 Member
    For weight loss, it is CICO, but for health, the kind of food you eat matters. If you dont eat adequate amounts of protein, you could loose muscle mass and not just fat, which could affect your energy. fitness, and make regain more likely in the future. Also, protein and fiber will make you feel full longer then sugar or carbs.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,198 Member
    xrj22 wrote: »
    For weight loss, it is CICO, but for health, the kind of food you eat matters. If you dont eat adequate amounts of protein, you could loose muscle mass and not just fat, which could affect your energy. fitness, and make regain more likely in the future. Also, protein and fiber will make you feel full longer then sugar or carbs.

    I kind of generally agree, but there's nuance in there. Yup, protein is important. Also, for me, and some other people, fruits and veggies are freakin' full of carbs, also full of fiber, and quite filling. (Noting, also, that fiber is technically a carb, counted as such on US food labels.)

    I'd also say - speaking from the perspective of a couple decades as a short-endurance cardiovascular sport recreational athlete - that carb intake can potentially affect energy level more than protein, in the short run. Protein is vitally important, though, for body composition: No question. And body composition matters for long-term thriving.

    But carbs (even sugar) aren't evil. Needs are situational.

    Calorie balance is the key thing for weight loss/gain. Macros are important for health, body composition, energy level, satiation, and that sort of thing.