Call me convinced: I'm going low carb

rachypompa · June 2012

Will read when I have more time

LaJaunaF · June 2012

I want to go low carb too but I don't know how to start. Which diet are you going to do?

Don't look for a diet...look for a way of eating that you can sustain for the rest of your life. Low carb is simply eating mostly animals and their by-products (saturated fats are good!), and lower carb fruits and vegetables. Drink water, tea or coffee and skip the sodas. My ratios which I set as a custom setting are 70% healthy fats, 25% protein and 5% carbohydrates.

LaJaunaF · June 2012

Ive been thinking about lowering my carbs aswell due to finding out that its one of the causes of feeling tired alot of the time, didnt know eating alot fruit was considered bad though lol

When you are first breaking carb addiction, fruits should be eliminated mainly because they have a very high sugar content. If you are strving for 20-25 carb gms per day, you won't be able to eat fruit and maintain that level. Leafy veggies, loads of salads, cauliflower, some broccoli, and other high quality whole fresh veggies should make up most of your carbs. Watch out for hidden carbs especially in processed foods. Manufacturers like to add sugars in a variety of forms (high fructose corn syrup for instance) in order to make better flavor after they've stripped out all the good stuff from over processing.

I've low carbed for years. It's not a diet, but a lifestyle for me. Yes I occassionally eat more carbs, like ice cream and a slice of pie or french fries, but I don't crave them, like I used to! And just for the record, I eat butter, mayonaisse, bacon, cheese, sausage, and all other meats and fish, all my cholesterol levels are way within healthy ranges but especially my LDL levels are outstanding. I'm 60, I take no meds, my blood pressure borders on low, and although I am a bit overweight, I'm as healthy as can be. I don't follow any specific diet, but my macros are 45 protein, 25 carbs and 30 fats. I only recently changed them around a bit because I'm lifting weights (New Rules of Lifting for Women and Stronglifts 5x5)

Talk about hidden carbs, has everyone seen the new IHOP commercial bragging that they add a "splash" of pancake batter to their omelettes???? WTHeck??????

LaJaunaF · June 2012

I have been on the ideal protein diet for 2 months and was suffering! Mostly because the protien stuff caused constipation. But I feel now, that it was also too low in calories(I heard 800/day), my daughter has me on the diet here, and I am happy and have lost 4lbs in 8 days! So I am continueing my no sugar/fruit/flour/rice low carb diet cause I feel great. I know that it is hyper vigilant to try and get sugar aout of my diet(even soya sauce has sugar!)<who knew!lol! I am so new and learning all this and find I am spending hrs just trying to find info on what food has in it!!! But if anyone wants to look at my food menu to gleam idas, go right ahead. It has been amazing how many different opinions there is about diets....opinions are like belly buttons...everybody's got one! ;-) oh did I mention that hemp seeds are my new best friend!!!lol! I also noticed how when you look up food on the data base, there are huge differences on what food has:carbs/fiber/sugar/calories...anybody else notice this? I am starting to research better to get as truthful/accurate as I can be for my recording my food.

If you do high protein without also eating healthy fats (animal sources not plant sources) you can get bad constipation. If you eat plenty of fats you body will thank you!

LaJaunaF · June 2012

I exercise a lot. I need my carbs.

No, you need calorie dense foods, like protein and animal fats! Protein drinks laces with a healthy dollop of EV coconut oil will do the trick!

magerum · June 2012

I eat between 300 & 400 g of carbs a day. Hasn't hampered my weight loss or maintenance. Random piece of info.

soulynyc · June 2012

over the last couple of months i've been slowly lowering my carb intake. Only God knows how much carbs i ws taking in before i realized i should look at my carbs. so i set it at 200. then 100, then 75 then 50 .. then a few days ago i set it at 20grams a day. but i was still having cookies and breads rice, fruits candy.and nuts. so today i actually started the atkins induction plan with no fruits, no nuts. i am planning to do this for a while. induction is only 2 weeks. then i plan to raise my carb intake a bit. myhope is to lose some inches and fat because my feet hurt so much i just don't see any other way of doingit without exercise andi just can't. anywho.. i don't plan it to be a 20 gram a day or 40 gram a day for ever. my intent is to eventually eat about 40 grams per meal. upto about 125-150 grams a day. hopefully. we'll see how it works. I definitely need the support and friendships from people who are doing the same..

so please FRIEND ME!

140lbgoal · June 2012

I want this framed and in my kitchen!...LOL

LaJaunaF · June 2012

I eat between 300 & 400 g of carbs a day. Hasn't hampered my weight loss or maintenance. Random piece of info.

Everyone has to find what works for them. I personally have a "carb addiction". I can't eat just one of any of the high carb/sugary/starchy list of foods without grazing and finally binging. I have to completely abstain from a whole list of foods for now so that I can have some control over my appetites. Low carb eliminates those cravings that keep me in bondage to junk food. I am happy that you are able to eat that high a number of carbs, wish I could. I can't and lose weight.

Danielle817 · December 2012

bump

AlabasterVerve · December 2012

Hey! This is my thread. :bigsmile: It took about a month to adjust but 5 months later I'm still eating a low carb, high fat whole foods based diet and imagine I will be eating this way for the rest of my life.

I eat around 30g - 50g of total carbs a day but that's not set in stone (it's occasionally a lot higher when I indulge in fruit other than berries but still would be considered low by most standards I imagine), 80g- 100g of protein and probably 1,000 - 2,000 calories a day -- I eat when I'm hungry so if varies.

I'm not counting calories or carbs right now and I'm still maintaining my weight loss (65 lbs) with absolutely no effort on my part. I still have weight to lose though and I've completely slacked off on the exercise other than doing the odd push-up here or there so after the holidays I'll "get serious" again and start logging my calories and exercise. This is the diet I follow:

LCHF for Beginners
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

PaleoPath4Lyfe · December 2012

I have read all of the studies on the doctors who did low carb on their hypertensive and diabetic patients and how all of their numbers went down along with their weight!!

Yeah, one of the things in particular that convinced me after considering it a fad diet all of these years are the people using a low carb diet to not only treat but reverse their type II diabetes. If all of these diseases are linked together--which ALL doctors are telling us they are now--and a low carb diet can reverse one? That's awfully persuasive.

Even though I still have a lot of weight to lose, I have reversed T2 Diabetes with a controlled carb way of eating. My husband has went from 3 high blood pressure medications done to 1 and working on eliminating the last one.

My thyroid function has improved and I am lessening my dosage of medication there also. I don't have as many symptoms of PCOS either.

PaleoPath4Lyfe · December 2012

I've been on a faithful (I say faithful because i tried for two weeks prior to that and didn't do so well) keto diet for two weeks now. I've lost some weight (about 9 llbs) but I'm not sure how much of it is water weight.

It was tough at first but now I think (and hope) its more of a lifestyle. I've learned how to make a whole bunch of meals low carb. I learned how to deal with my cravings and how to satisfy them in a healthy way. During these last two weeks I was able to successfully go out to eat with friends and make smart choices. I feel great! I try to keep my macros at 10% carbs (Aiming to get no more than 20g of carbs) 60% fat and 30% protein. I also try to have abt 2 cups of veggies every meal (for fiber) but I don't count them in mfp. Still losing weight

Tomorrow is my carb day and I'm not counting the hours. I'm not all excited to get my oatmeal, sweet potato, etc tomorrow. Bacon sounds better haha!

The only thing I still haven't figured out is how to get my chocolate low carb... I love chocolate haha.

If you like dark chocolate then get at least 72% cacao, it is bitter but a square or 2 will be very low in sugar and very satisfying.

And there are antioxidants too.

PaleoPath4Lyfe · December 2012

I am on a keto diet, but i banished the ketostix because they ere driving me crazy. I eat no carbs/sugar or dairy and one piece of fruit a day and it has worked for me. I was addicted before, now i dont crave that stuff

I have tons of energy and i fan workout fine, i went on 22 mile bike ride over the weekend

I am almost done with this restrictive phase of my diet and i can start sloy reintroducing these foods on ocassion

Warning: no carb doesnt meat eat all the meat, bacon, sausages you want. This is how some people interpret Atkins. I eat high but good lean protein

Yes, that is a huge misconception. People would shut up if they would look at just the Phase 1 allowable vegetable list. Then you start reintroducing carbs slowly so you can see how your body reacts to each food you reintroduce.

You are doing GREAT!! Keep up the good work!!

Cranktastic · December 2012

meh

ecw3780 · December 2012

I want to go low carb too but I don't know how to start. Which diet are you going to do?

I am not technically on a low carb diet, but when I shoot for 20 grams of low fat protein at each meal and stay within my calories goals, it drastically cuts the carbs. Try not to focus on lower carbs, but upping the protein.

PaleoPath4Lyfe · December 2012

I've been low carbing and I still have energy to workout twice a day. It's a process, this keto diet has helped me understand a lot about my body, my preferences and what kinds of food I eat/shouldn't eat. I don't think low carb is just low carb period, no more. It's a healthier lifestyle for me, and if I need to take it more carbs for whatever reason, I will. If I ever come across a problem, I will fix it. It's all a learning process.

I'm not really digging how folks say that everyone who goes on low carb and loses weight gains it back. Everyone is different, just cause it didn't work for you doesn't mean it wont work for someone else.

It's a process y'all.

People gain the weight back because they don't make it a lifestyle change.

vanguardfitness · December 2012

low carb is a great way to go and a lifestyle that I will probably never change from. I can honestly eat like this for the rest of my life. I always keep under 100g, but frequently hover around 50. I love my dark green salads and seafood!

Shadowknight137 · December 2012

Low carb can kinda tick me off sometimes.

Some low carbers - not all, mind - are so ridiculously zealous in their beliefs that carbs are the ONLY thing that makes them fat that they are nearly on-par with Vegans on my list of "Over the top dieters". Yes, I have a list.
I dunno. I just find it both sad, yet amusing, to hang out with an old friend and be scolded for eating a "sugar loaded" banana, whilst she munches on her Atkins Endulge Bar and drinks her coffee with cream. Ruins a good cup of coffee, adding stuff to it...

ruthiejewell · December 2012

The greatest thing for me about low carb is the end of cravings therefore the end of the awful battle with craved foods that often ended my success that I'd worked so hard for, succeeding 90% of the time then failing badly 10%. I lost over 70 pounds twice; once on low fat, once on low carb and lesser amounts on same or other plans so I know anything works but for me low carb is happier and safer from the cruel cravings and I'm happier without mostly white sugar and rubbish bread and pasta! The food industry has done a great job of convincing us some rubbish is edible and good!

Bakkasan · December 2012

Low carb can kinda tick me off sometimes.

Some low carbers - not all, mind - are so ridiculously zealous in their beliefs that carbs are the ONLY thing that makes them fat that they are nearly on-par with Vegans on my list of "Over the top dieters"

Totally, but just as many vehement anti-locarb monkeys on MFP to balance them out. But honestly, adding cream to coffee is ruining it? Pot calling the kettle black sir!

Shadowknight137 · December 2012

Totally, but just as many vehement anti-locarb monkeys on MFP to balance them out.

Wait, what's "anti-low carb"? Is this just people who, uh, eat carbs? Confused.

But honestly, adding cream to coffee is ruining it? Pot calling the kettle black sir!

Yeah. Coffee is beautiful when it's black, bitter and strong - not when it's tainted by thick cream or sugar. The only real acceptable thing (I find) to add to lack coffee is cocoa powder, or maybe some really dark chocolate.
But each to their own; not my decision how you take your coffee.

kms1320 · December 2012

I've had my carbs set at 20% (fats 30%, protein 50%) which nets around 100 carbs. After reading an in depth article about the magic 100 carb number on testosterone nation, I was also convinced that was the way to go. It works for most people wanting to build muscle, and for those wanting to lose weight.

You won't go keto, and you'll have enough glycogen for daily activity. Workouts will run your glycogen out, and you will move to your fat storage for energy. The extra protein helps you retain your muscle while working at a calorie defecit.