Low Carb Diet

[joekelly]

Have not read this entire thread but can tell everyone that calories, from any source, in excess of needs will contribute to weight gain.  Whether beer, pizza, or snickers, or steak, coconuts, and cabbages, if you consume more daily calories than you burn, you will gain weight.  As we age we naturally 'burn' fewer calories just staying alive so it is reasonable to say that a diet that continually reduces the calorie intake over the years will promote a steady body weight. Hidden calories is a big problem for most of us. Drinks, like soda, alcohol, and fruit juices all are big contributors to daily calories. Green leaves have very few calories and one cabbage per day will go a long way towards weight loss but might bring much farting.

[iacas]

I haven't converted yet but I will say the data that supports her new lifestyle is amazing.

I think the data supporting any of these diets is amazing. You can probably find great data that tells you that you should be eating nothing but minerals from rocks or something.

[albatross]

It absolutely works if you stick to it for at least a few weeks.  The reason people say it doesn't work is because 95% of people come off of it and then totally binge on the carbs they've been missing, and gain all the weight back.  Anytime that I find myself picking up extra pounds (like in the winter), if I go on Atkins for 3 weeks, I'm guaranteed to lose 10-15 pounds, but it isn't easy.  It's tough to cut all that stuff out.

The hard part is what you do next.  I've gotten good at switching to a sensible diet and exercise after Atkins, and I don't need to go back to it anymore.  Definitely a great way to shed weight fast, but it's having a plan for after you stop it.

[saevel25]

It absolutely works if you stick to it for at least a few weeks.  The reason people say it doesn't work is because 95% of people come off of it and then totally binge on the carbs they've been missing, and gain all the weight back.  Anytime that I find myself picking up extra pounds (like in the winter), if I go on Atkins for 3 weeks, I'm guaranteed to lose 10-15 pounds, but it isn't easy.  It's tough to cut all that stuff out.

The hard part is what you do next.  I've gotten good at switching to a sensible diet and exercise after Atkins, and I don't need to go back to it anymore.  Definitely a great way to shed weight fast, but it's having a plan for after you stop it.

Pretty much. A lot of people don't think through their actions on diets. The body doesn't like drastic changes. If people want to cut carbs I recommend the following,

First Goal: Cut Sugary products

Second Goal: Cut Flour products

Third Goal: Cut other grain based products

Make each one a 1 to 2 month goal. This way the body can adapt. The first will be the hardest because sugar is addictive.

[dbrock504]

I am really dumbfounded at some of the things people think are right about dieting. Carbs are not good for you! haha, well, as a bodybuilder, I can tell you that is completely and totally UNTRUE. You NEED carbs.

However, there is a difference between good carbs and bad carbs. aka complex carbs (carbs that break down slowly and provide long term energy as well as fiber for your metabolism) and processed carbs (carbs that break down quickly and cause blood sugar levels to spike causing the body to store the excess as fat). Examples of Good Carbs are: brown rice, oatmeal, black beans, whole-grain pasta and bread, almost all fruits, almost all vegetables, sweet potatoes, etc. Examples of Bad Carbs are: white bread, flour, chips, processed sugars, potatoes, etc.

The best time to eat carbs are in the morning for "break-fast". You are sleeping for 6 hours with no food, so kick start that metabolism in the morning. 50% of your diet need to be good carbs. If you are on a 2000 calorie diet, eat 300 grams of carbs per day.

You guys really need to educate your selves on what you should eat vs what you shouldn't. If it tastes good (sweet), chances are there is refined, processed sugar involved. SPIT IT OUT!!!!! This includes juices and sodas. WATER WATER WATER. 100 oz a day (6 bottles of water a day minimum if you are inactive, adjust if you are sweating)

Here is a longer list for those who want to live healthier, properly. http://diet.lovetoknow.com/wiki/List_of_Good_Carbs_and_Bad_Carbs

[saevel25]

I am really dumbfounded at some of the things people think are right about dieting. Carbs are not good for you! haha, well, as a bodybuilder, I can tell you that is completely and totally UNTRUE. You NEED carbs.

You do not need carbs!!! All you are stating is typical miss information.

First,  humans were living for thousands of years with out grains. If complex carbs are needed how did they survive. They ate plant life and animal protein. They didn't need 50% carbs, or whole grain pastas. They needed what earth gave them. It's pretty simple.

Here is a website on the number of carbs,

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nutrition/how-many-carbohydrates-do-you-need.html

Are Carbohydrates Essential?

Despite oft-heard claims to the contrary, there is no actual physiological requirement for dietary carbohydrate. Even the RDA handbook acknowledges this, right before recommending that a prudent diet should contain a lot of carbohydrates.

To understand why carbs aren’t essential, I need to discuss the concept of an essential nutrient briefly. And, in brief, an essential nutrient is defined as:

Any nutrient that is required for survival.

Can’t be made by the body.

Basically with sufficient amount of protein the body can stave off any effects of starvation, and produce its own source of glucose through a process done in the liver. So the body does NOT need to consume carbs.

[dbrock504]

You do not need carbs!!! All you are stating is typical miss information.

First,  humans were living for thousands of years with out grains. If complex carbs are needed how did they survive. They ate plant life and animal protein. They didn't need 50% carbs, or whole grain pastas. They needed what earth gave them. It's pretty simple.

hahahahaha. that's awesome! You're going to compare 2014 to year 350? I'm going to continue doing what I am doing. I am 178 lbs 13% body fat with a 31" waist, 41" chest, 15" arms (just measured last night). bench 250, squat 350, dead lift 350, leg press 900. Who are you going to believe, that skinny person telling you carbs aren't essential, or a guy who has gained over 50 lbs of muscle only while adding 3% body fat in the last 3 years? Again, it's sad to see so many people be so mislead. Maybe that's why America leads the world in adult and child obesity!!! Lack of nutritional knowledge.

Your comments really just discredited you. Do you know what Oryza is? it's rice and the earliest evidence goes back 13,500 years ago. People have been eating the leading carbohydrate since the beginning of man. So don't try and feed me some caveman BS. Do you really think people lived in caves in the middle of nowhere? Some did, but not NEARLY as many as you think. And they ate berries like no bodies business. Berries are tons of antioxidants and carbs.

I challenge you. Don't consume one carb for 1 month (30 days). Exercise and do whatever you feel necessary. I will do as I have been and I bet my strength and muscle development will be leaps and bounds above yours. Quit believing the crap you hear and read on the internet by some goof who doesn't know what they're talking about or someone trying to sell a diet and make money off your ignorance and start trying stuff for your self.

I'm really not going to argue with you. It's apparent you truly have no idea what you are talking about from a nutritional point of view. By the way, my mom is a Registered Dietician and Nutrition Specialist.

[Gunther]

I think the data supporting any of these diets is amazing. You can probably find great data that tells you that you should be eating nothing but minerals from rocks or something.

There it is. No diet works for everyone. The science around this is ever-evolving and will continue to do so. Experiment and find what works for u, paleo, atkins, intermediate fasting, heavy lifting no cardio, all cardio, limited strength, light weights lots of reps, steady-state running, intervals. There is no ONE right answer. But I guess on a message board, it's kinda fun arguing what's worked for you.

[saevel25]

Your comments really just discredited you. Do you know what Oryza is? it's rice and the earliest evidence goes back 13,500 years ago. People have been eating the leading carbohydrate since the beginning of man. So don't try and feed me some caveman BS. Do you really think people lived in caves in the middle of nowhere? Some did, but not NEARLY as many as you think. And they ate berries like no bodies business. Berries are tons of antioxidants and carbs.

I challenge you. Don't consume one carb for 1 month (30 days). Exercise and do whatever you feel necessary. I will do as I have been and I bet my strength and muscle development will be leaps and bounds above yours. Quit believing the crap you hear and read on the internet by some goof who doesn't know what they're talking about or someone trying to sell a diet and make money off your ignorance and start trying stuff for your self.

I'm really not going to argue with you. It's apparent you truly have no idea what you are talking about from a nutritional point of view. By the way, my mom is a Registered Dietician and Nutrition Specialist.

I never said I was for ZERO carbs. I just said that carbs are not required, which by definition is true based on how the human body produces and consumes energy. That is different than saying people should do it. You are taking clinical definition instead of action. Going zero carbs is an extreme eating lifestyle.

Well since the beginning of our species began about 0.5 million years ago, I think 13,500 years is a drop in the bucket.

Do Asians eat rice, yea they do. Alot of it. That is fine. I am not saying they shouldn't. There are tribes in Africa that eat primarily an all protein diet. Are they wrong?

If you want to discuss differences that is fine. Don't just sit there and claim everyone should eat 50% carbs.

I would gladly like to see you write up a good statement on why 50% carbs works. What is the bodily mechanism that makes it work? Is their a reason why you go with 50% calorie intake of carbs over maybe saying 1 gram of carbs per lb of body weight? I know the RDA and most body builders measure their protein intake by their body weight. A common one is 1.5 grams of protein per lb of lean body weight. Why do you use the 50% metric?

[dbrock504]

I never said I was for ZERO carbs. I just said that carbs are not required, which by definition is true based on how the human body produces and consumes energy. That is different than saying people should do it. You are taking clinical definition instead of action. Going zero carbs is an extreme eating lifestyle.

Well since the beginning of our species began about 0.5 million years ago, I think 13,500 years is a drop in the bucket.

Do Asians eat rice, yea they do. Alot of it. That is fine. I am not saying they shouldn't. There are tribes in Africa that eat primarily an all protein diet. Are they wrong?

If you want to discuss differences that is fine. Don't just sit there and claim everyone should eat 50% carbs.

I would gladly like to see you write up a good statement on why 50% carbs works. What is the bodily mechanism that makes it work? Is their a reason why you go with 50% calorie intake of carbs over maybe saying 1 gram of carbs per lb of body weight? I know the RDA and most body builders measure their protein intake by their body weight. A common one is 1.5 grams of protein per lb of lean body weight. Why do you use the 50% metric?

Just because people in Africa eat all protein because they don't have the resources we do doesn't mean it's what we should do. That is an awful example. They aren't wrong, but they are deprived of other nutrients and minerals that are found elsewhere.

Dude what are you talking about? Protein or carbs? I eat 1.5 times my body weight in protein just like you said. I tried 2 times, and it sent me to the bathroom too much although my protein is a high quality lactose free hydrolyzed isolated whey. When I am not bulking hard, or cutting hard, my typical nutritional plan is to eat 270 grams of protein (180 lbs x 1.5) and about 450 grams of carbs a day with a total calorie intake around 3200 a day. I was just advising the general public to use the 50% metric system because that is what is "recommended" by a general Nutritional Specialist. I had to find that works for me to contain my energy levels for the day. To give you an idea of my activity levels, I go to school every day until 11 am. Go to the gym for an hour and a half Monday-Friday, then do homework or study. Every Thursday I golf 18 holes. Friday, Saturday and Sunday I work as a ranch hand in Austin. So I never stop. I was eating less carbs, but crashing hard. By 5:00, I felt nauseas and light headed. I talked to my RDA (Mom) and she told me due to my high activity level, I need to increase my complex carbs. I did, and it worked beautifully.

[CarlSpackler]

I am pre-diabetic (insulin resistance) so I need to keep carbs to a minimum, especially refined sugars. If there is a day where I know I'm going to be more active such as walking 18 holes, I will increase my carb intake a little that morning. In general, I try to think of food as fuel. I will put in higher octane if I know I'm going to run the engine harder or longer. I've done 0 carb diets in the past and found that my brain had problems firing on all cylinders.

[dbrock504]

I am pre-diabetic (insulin resistance) so I need to keep carbs to a minimum, especially refined sugars. If there is a day where I know I'm going to be more active such as walking 18 holes, I will increase my carb intake a little that morning. In general, I try to think of food as fuel. I will put in higher octane if I know I'm going to run the engine harder or longer. I've done 0 carb diets in the past and found that my brain had problems firing on all cylinders.

Exactly. Know what you need. If you know you are going golfing the next day, have a pasta salad with whole-grain pasta, chicken, brocoli and asparagus. Great meal for long lasting energy that will not stick your gut because it will break down as a complex carb and clean protein in the chicken. I am glad to hear this from you, sir. I have a father-in-law (6'5 340) who is a Type 2 Diabetic who stops at Sonic every day for ice cream. I commend you.

[CarlSpackler]

Exactly. Know what you need. If you know you are going golfing the next day, have a pasta salad with whole-grain pasta, chicken, brocoli and asparagus. Great meal for long lasting energy that will not stick your gut because it will break down as a complex carb and clean protein in the chicken. I am glad to hear this from you, sir. I have a father-in-law (6'5 340) who is a Type 2 Diabetic who stops at Sonic every day for ice cream. I commend you.

Don't mention ice cream. That is my Achilles heal.

I also employ what I call the ELMO principle which is Eat Less More Often. This keeps my insulin levels more even throughout the day. I also try to eliminate all carbs after 4-5PM. I'm 5'-6" (if I stretch a bit) and about 205. I want to get back down to 160 where I was 2 years ago. I do have cheat days/meals to help fill the craving mentally, but I also try to throw in an occasional 0 carb day.

[dbrock504]

Don't mention ice cream. That is my Achilles heal.

I also employ what I call the ELMO principle which is Eat Less More Often. This keeps my insulin levels more even throughout the day. I also try to eliminate all carbs after 4-5PM. I'm 5'-6" (if I stretch a bit) and about 205. I want to get back down to 160 where I was 2 years ago. I do have cheat days/meals to help fill the craving mentally, but I also try to throw in an occasional 0 carb day.

This man knows what he's talking about. I eat 6 times a day. Try to bring that down to 1 cheat day per week then eventually go to 1 meal per week. You will notice those cravings disappear. I haven't had a soda in months. Limit the refined sugars, but enjoy 1 soda or small chocolate chewy bar or something of that nature. Try not to do a 0 carb day, because then you will need to spend a day replenishing those carbs. You will be back to the 160's soon with the strict diet and good activity/exercise. Keep it up!

[CarlSpackler]

This man knows what he's talking about. I eat 6 times a day. Try to bring that down to 1 cheat day per week then eventually go to 1 meal per week. You will notice those cravings disappear. I haven't had a soda in months. Limit the refined sugars, but enjoy 1 soda or small chocolate chewy bar or something of that nature. Try not to do a 0 carb day, because then you will need to spend a day replenishing those carbs. You will be back to the 160's soon with the strict diet and good activity/exercise. Keep it up!

The 0 (very small actually) carb days are good as a shocker as long as I increase protein intake. I have plenty of fat to burn, so I don't have to worry about replenishing. I will try to do a longer but lower intensity cardio session that day and be ready to counter a possible low sugar episode, but that is usually not a problem as long as I don't overdo it. Being married with a family and having events to go to makes it somewhat difficult to be extremely strict. I went to the volunteer night for The Memorial Tournament, and the eating options were not that great (pizza, pasta, BBQ, pancakes, and cookies). I just tried my best to behave. As far as soda (pop), I've given that up some time ago.

[CarlSpackler]

With all that being said, I have a friend who went to a medically monitored weight loss program. They had him on 0 carb with on protein shakes for 6 weeks and then started incorporating smoothies for the next 4 weeks. He lost a ton of weight in a short period of time.

[Golfpondnet]

With all that being said, I have a friend who went to a medically monitored weight loss program. They had him on 0 carb with on protein shakes for 6 weeks and then started incorporating smoothies for the next 4 weeks. He lost a ton of weight in a short period of time.

[dbrock504]

With all that being said, I have a friend who went to a medically monitored weight loss program. They had him on 0 carb with on protein shakes for 6 weeks and then started incorporating smoothies for the next 4 weeks. He lost a ton of weight in a short period of time.

Probably a lot of muscle weight too. I don't want to be some scrawny, unhealthy looking person.