Lowering carbs - really tough. How do u do it?'

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Replies

  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I eat under 25g of carbs two days a week at the moment

    Do you mind if I ask why you are low-carbing for two days a week? What kind of results do you have from this?
  • Natty0506
    Natty0506 Posts: 103 Member
    I cut out all processed carbs, and I feel so much better. I still eat fruit and veggies, lots of eggs, pork, chicken, ground turkey. Very little bread/crackers/pretzels. Only when I'm super sick and it's the only thing I can handle. Sometimes I'll have oatmeal in the morning, but that's rare.
  • shar140
    shar140 Posts: 1,158 Member
    Cut out the grains and sugar, lots of veggies and yummy fats (saturated fats, omega-3's - not the omega-6-laden vegetable oils!) and protein. Eggs and bacon or sausage for breakfast usually, salad for lunch, meat & veggies for dinner (sometimes leftovers from dinner for lunch).

    I use coconut milk or coconut oil in my coffee. The coconut milk I have now (I switch up brands depending on what's on sale/what's available) has only 1 carb per 1 cup (unsweetened, not flavored, and I only use maybe a quarter cup).

    If you aren't eating rice, potatoes, pasta, or bread - how are you getting so many carbs?? 170 is a lot if you aren't consuming these foods, much less more than that. If you are eating a lot of sugar or fruit, cut that down. Same with sugary drinks (juices, sodas, etc). I still occasionally eat rice and sweet potatoes and bananas, and get in the 100-150 range (though I'm lowering that again now, as my activity level has decreased where I don't need that much).

    Also, be careful lowering your sodium. When you detox off the carbs, you'll lose water weight - but the water also takes electrolytes with it. http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/saturated-fat/tips-tricks-for-starting-or-restarting-low-carb-pt-ii/
    But at 170g of carbs, you might not have an issue with this - but if you cut them further, keep this in mind.
  • Captain_Tightpants
    Captain_Tightpants Posts: 2,215 Member
    MVFN - meat veg fish nuts
  • callmeBAM
    callmeBAM Posts: 445 Member
    You can't get under 170g ?!?!?!

    I am a dude and I don't even go over 100g, and I couldn't hit 170g if I tried!

    You are just eating the wrong foods. If you are eating the right stuff you shouldn't even need to track that.
    Meat, veggies, eggs, whole milk (the lower the fat, the more the carbs) and cream... the rest is fruit and nuts. Eat that and you won't have a problem at all. I promise you, you will get lean and tone. And your body will be happy because you will be getting GOOD fat that you have probably been depriving yourself of.
  • tyoung8
    tyoung8 Posts: 115 Member
    my favorite thing to eat is cheese eggs and bacon!!!!! yummy!!!!!
  • shar140
    shar140 Posts: 1,158 Member
    my favorite thing to eat is cheese eggs and bacon!!!!! yummy!!!!!

    :love:
  • only_5mom
    only_5mom Posts: 28
    Most low carb programs suggest you go nearly cold turkey on them at first, eating meats, eggs, cheese and green leafy veggies. This is gruesome, but it gets you past the cravings if you can take it for 3 or 4 days. Then add the good carbs (starting with nuts, other veggies and then berries) and slowly back in until you reach the amount that you can tolerate without gaining weight. Like others have said, kiss the bread, pasta and potatoes good bye! BTW- A good replacement for milk with low carbs is almond milk. I really like Blue Diamond Unsweetened Almond Coconut Milk, especially in a protein shake. It has only 1 gram of carb per cup. Make sure you drink a lot of water! For the frappes use the almond milk and a chocolate or vanilla protein powder added to coffee. Add ice and whirr it in your blender. I put heavy cream and/or almond milk and xylitol in a flavored coffee as a sub for a latte, pretty yummy!
  • ms_sparky
    ms_sparky Posts: 17 Member
    It's hard to know where your carbs are coming from because we can't see your food diary. The key for me was knowing where my carbs were hiding. Carrots for example are tricky...baby carrots are higher in sugar (carbs) than big carrots. Pretty much anything that glazes or becomes sweeter when you heat it is a clue that it's likely higher in sugar.

    I'm not sure why you would want to go "lower carb" only two days a week. You're sending mixed signals to your body. Being consistent with your food choices will help your body run more efficiently.

    Protein is important. It will help you to not be hungry.
  • skinnylove00
    skinnylove00 Posts: 662 Member
    interesting stuff here!! bumping for later!! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I am attempting the 'slow-carb' diet. I am supposed to eat beans/lentils with each meal. I have noticed that they have a lot of carbs in them so I guess I'm confused. Maybe that's the difference between 'low-carb' and 'slow-carb'?
    I'm pretty "slow carb". Beans do have a lot, but they are pretty slow.
    My favorite bean, however, is black soybeans. Awesome protein, and super low carbs (8 or 9).
  • rcm1973
    rcm1973 Posts: 40 Member
    Instead of not eating or lowering carbs, why not just cut out processed carbs?

    Edited to add: the whole grain stuff has less sugar and refined carbs, so you'll still lose weight.

    ^^^ This. It's all about the GLYCEMIC INDEX.
  • onikonor
    onikonor Posts: 473 Member
    Is your skinny latte one of those fat free but loaded w/ sugar options? I ask b/c I have a hard time believing that whole milk is the main culprit causing you to go over 170 grams of carbs per day.

    Focus on eating real food. No more overly processed carbs like chips, pretzels, etc. And you especially shouldn't be snacking on any sort of processed carb. Ditch any drinks with sugar. And don't replace them with diet soda. Drink water, tea, or coffee instead.

    Great advise.
    Eat a lot of protein to fill you up. Try Green yogurt with fruit for breakfast. Instead of starches with meal have lots of veggies. Limit toast to a couple of slices a day (rye or wholewheat).
  • onikonor
    onikonor Posts: 473 Member
    Most low carb programs suggest you go nearly cold turkey on them at first, eating meats, eggs, cheese and green leafy veggies. This is gruesome, but it gets you past the cravings if you can take it for 3 or 4 days. Then add the good carbs (starting with nuts, other veggies and then berries) and slowly back in until you reach the amount that you can tolerate without gaining weight. Like others have said, kiss the bread, pasta and potatoes good bye!

    Yes this worked for me. It's very hard for the first couple of weeks then after you get past the carb and sugar craving you are all set! That's when you re-introduce healthy foods back in reasonable portions.
  • sonjalucia
    sonjalucia Posts: 120 Member
    I've cut milk out of my diet, except for the days I visit my mom, and she makes me a skim milk cappuccino....


    Almond Milk, the unsweetened kind, has 40-45 cals per 1 cup. With coffee, I use 1/2 cup and then add some hot water (like a Americano Misto at Starbucks).

    Way less carbs and calories in Almond milk, and doesn't create the bloat that Milk does (for me at least)
  • LesterBlackstone
    LesterBlackstone Posts: 291 Member
    Are you maintaining a caloric deficit?

    Are you consuming at least 1g of protein for each gram of LBM?

    Are you consuming at least .4g of fat for each gram of LBM (including a good portion of omega-3)?


    If you answered "yes" to all of the above, then there's absolutely no need to worry about lowering your carbs.


    It's all about the GLYCEMIC INDEX.

    No it isn't.
  • Jill1249
    Jill1249 Posts: 11
    I love carbs, but my body hates them. Since I feel like I have to have bread, I have found a low carb (5g) tortilla. For lunch, I have been making nachos with fat free cheese on them. That's only 10 carbs for lunch. I am also eating Atkins bars (net 3 g) for my sweet tooth. Just saying, there ARE ways to cut carbs!!!!!!:wink::wink:

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