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Thread: question about carbs

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    Default question about carbs

    whoa! i just went to go make some breakfast, was going to have some eggs. i just looked at bacon to see how many grams of carbs it had....and what do you know.....0!!!!
    so heres the question...if i eat stuff with zero or less than one gram of carbs in it ALL day....will i lose wieght?
    regardless of how much fat or calories it has in it?
    i wiegh approx 140....i want to be down to 120 or even lower. is counting carbs the best way to do it?

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    also.....im sure you can eat SOME carbs and still be doing well.....so how many grams is appropriate?

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    Default Re: question about carbs


    Well, theoretically yes. That's what the Atkinsons diet is all about. If you eat a reasonable amount of food but very little carbs, you will lose weight. But, your brain needs carbs to make seretonin, so you will also be depressed.

    Lena



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    Default Re: question about carbs

    what about say.....25 grams of cabs daily...? you think that will keep everything happy? lol

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    whoa, 25 grams pretty low--- a bagel has 38.


    Limiting carbs is good but you do need some carbs for basic function.


    LIVE LONG & PROSPER!
    Leigh Landon

    Never explain yourself to anyone, because the person who likes you doesn't need it and the person that dislikes you won't believe it.

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    I have to agree with Leigh. Having too little carbs can be very unhealthy. Also, if you're thinking of trying something like the Atkins diet, they go by the net carb count which (I believe) is total carbs minus those coming from fiber. Even by their standards, 25 g total carbs is pretty low - one of those Atkins Advantage meal bars alone contains about 20g total carbs.

    You have to remember that all carbs are not equal in the same way that not all fats are equal. You might find this page from the Atkins website interesting.

    **Also, I read that the Atkins diet recommends that you limit your net carbs to 20g a day to jump-start your weight loss. Then it says to slowly increase them as you go. Here's a little table from the same site which gives the amount that net carbs should be limited to depending upon your "phase." Hope this helps some.
    *I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false and to incur my own abhorrence.* -Frederick Douglass-

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    You will lose weight, BUT you will be losing lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass is important because the more muscle mass you have, the quicker your metabolism is. I personally would suggest a more well rounded approach of 40 -30-30. 40% of your diet is protein, 30% carbs, 30% fat. I use www.fitday.com to keep a food journal - its free to use and it helps me out a lot. The key too for carbs is to get them from vegetables, fruit, complex carbs. Good luck!

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    Um, I dunno, but I'm pretty sure you need more than twenty five. Probably closer to two hundred. I've always tried to eat half and half - half protein, half carbs, just cutting the carbs out towards the end of the day.

    Look at the food pyramid - it's mostly carbs.

    Lena



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    Default Re: question about carbs

    Lena, bacon has fat, not carbohydrates, which is over twice as high in calories. Eat ham instead.
    You need to consume 8-10 grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of your weight to remain healthy. You weigh 140 lb.s so that is 63.6 kg. Let's give you moderate 9 grams per kg. so that means you should consume about 573 grams of carbohydrate per day.
    The body stores carbohydrate in the muscles in the form of glycogen. You need the energy to build your muscles. The problem is if you consume more carbohydrates than you burn, the body turns it to fat. If you burn more calories than the carbs or fat provide , it digests the proteins.
    Watch your carbohydrate and fat intake. It takes approximately 4700 calories burned for every pound of weight loss. Try to stay with an exercise program that will drop 1-2 lb.s per week. Good luck.

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    thanks ladies....as you can OBVIOUSLY see i dont know much about this whole carb thing.....but your suggestions have helped me understand a lot more. lol. thanks. i have started doing pilaties...and am just trying to figure out the whole less carb more protien thing. i usually only eat about twice a day. i eat breakfast.....and sometimes dinner...with a small snack in between or two. i was just throwing the whole 25 grams out there because one piece of toast would be about 13 grams...and ive been watching my carbs for mostly everything else and have been able to keep it under one gram....or around 5 grams or so for the rest.

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    don't cut out carbs...the body needs them. go to the library and try to find a book about Glycemic Index. learn what carbs to eat and when and you'll burn fat better than every before. you'll thank me later!!

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    definitely do NOT cut out all carbs. sure you will lose weight in the beginning but you will eventually binge and gain all the weight back, if not more. just keep your meals small. you said you weigh 140, so try and keep the carbs at 160 grams. 200 grams should be the maximum. most of all, from my experience, SUGAR is the main thing you should definitely avoid!! simple sugar is the enemy; oreo's, cookies, cake, all the good shit is exactly the shit that makes you pack on the pounds fast. anyway, counting carbs and calories is a pain in the ass. if you can make 5 or 6 small meals a day, low in carb and high in protein, and stick to this eating routine, you should be fine. good luck!!

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    i want to add that you can probably go higher in carbs, @ 300 or 400 grams as you are losing weight. if you work out alot and do cardio, this makes a big difference too. the more you work out, the more carbs you can get away with eating.

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    Do not cut out the carbs. I started on the Atkins because I was trying to lose 25 lbs and I figured I could jump start it by cutting the carbs. Big mistake. After a week and I began to not feel well at all, I went to the doc. Blood sugar levels were all messed up . My med history signals that I am a strong candidate for type II diabetes (insulin dependant) in my later years. The doc said that I was not to go on the Atkins because it messes with your blood sugar to much. He instead recommended the Sugar Busters diet. Carmen is right on, keep proportions small, eat more often and keep everything well balanced.

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    Don't cut your carbs. Stick to between 100-250 grams of carbs a day from fibrous sources like brocolli, cauliflower, dark green vegetables, oat bran, oatmeal, whole wheat bread. Stay away from starchy carbs or "white" carbs like white rice, white bread, pasta. Also junk foods. These type of fast acting carbs create a high insulin response. Insulin signals the body to store excess sugar as fats. Also it is important to never combine carbs and fats in the same meal. This is the worst thing to do. Either eat a proein/carb meal or a protein/fat meal

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    Years ago, before I started working out, I needed to lose weight fast for a bikini pageant. I ate meat and cheese only. I lost weight fast. I also had no energy and was grumpy all of the time. As soon as I went off the diet I gained all the weight back and then some.
    Now I eat right and workout regularly, with a healthy balance between protein, carbs, and fat.

    Carbohydrates are what give us energy. We definitely need energy to dance and manage our lives! If you want to lose weight I suggest you eat 6 small healthy meals a day, making sure you get enough calories, and lift weights and do cardio regularly.

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    This is a great string! Thanks for posting all of this info here. I am new to this site - so Hello.

    I recently lost 90 lbs and am stripping. I have tried all of the diets out there and the one that made the most impact was risctricting my calories (eating protein, carbs and fat - but as little sugar as possible) to a different amount every day. I would eat 400 cals day one, 600 day two, 800 day three, and 1000 day four. Then, start with 400 again. I exercised 3 times per week. I did this for two months and lost 45 lbs!

    Good luck to all of you!

    Marissa

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    awesome marissa. the way you lost your weight is the best way to go. everyone is always searching for the fastest, easiest way to lose weight-- but the truth is that there is no fast, easy way- you have to be willing to change your lifestyle. the only real way to go is to reduce caloric intake, eat the right foods, and work out HARD. anyway. good job marissa, it feels so damn good when you lose the weight doesnt it?

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    Thanks Carmen! Yeah, it feels great. Took me a year total to loose the weight, but I am keeping it off and feeling good. My lifestyle is completely different. Someone on here made a good point "Nothing worth having comes easy". That is so true. We would take our bodies for granted if they were easy to maintain - and damit, we wouldn't make any money!! Everyone would look good. :-)

    Thanks for the support and kudos to all of you hotties out there.

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    Default Re: question about carbs

    Here are some thoughts I posted elsewhere. BTW, I am practicing OBGYN with an interest in weight loss.
    First off, a zero carb diet is not only nearly impossible, but also unhealthy. Obviously if you consume 5000 calories per day of pure fat, you will gain weight. Atkins does not recommend this. I like much of the Atkins diet but feel that too much saturated fat has serious long term dangers and a diet with few carbs is not only boring but difficult to maintain long term, and long term weight loss is the name of the game.

    For anyone wanting to lose weight and keep it off, I recommend the following:
    1. Never skip breakfast. The body senses a lack of incoming calories and lowers the metabolism (how many calories per hour it burns)
    2. Eat a diet relatively low in carbohydrates, which I call Pseudo-Atkins or Atkins Lite. This means cutting down on all of the "white stuff" such as rice, potatoes, bread made from non-whole wheat flour, sugars, cereals (bran is OK), etc.
    3. Eat more protein with each meal, combined with a little fat (preferably good fat such as olive oil, or fish oil). These burn slowly and keep the blood sugar from going too high or too low.
    4. Try to put something nutritious in your mouth at least 3-5 times per day, or about every 3 hours, BEFORE you get hungry. By the time you feel hungry, the body has already lowered its metabolism.
    5. Your mother told you not to eat before dinner because it will "ruin your appetite". Do the opposite. Eat a little something about 30 minutes before a meal to curb your appetite and reduce your desire to pig out. It takes about 30 min from the time you eat something until you begin to feel satisfied,which is why we often overeat when we eat too fast and then feel stuffed.
    6. Never eat in front of the TV! A recent study by the National Institutes of Health showed that people who regularly eat while watching television consume between 100-300 calories per day more than those who don't. Put in perspective that equals as much as 1/2 pound fat/weight gain per week, or 26 pounds per year. Scary.
    7. Load up on fruits and vegetables. The more the better. preferably fresh.
    8. Don't drink your calories. A 12 oz cola, sweet tea or fruit juice has about 150 calories. I'd rather eat a piece of pie at 300-500 calories and give up a few sodas!
    9. Drink lots of water. A gallon a day. The body needs it to burn fat, it hydrates your skin making it look more youthful, takes away the bags under your eyes, reduces back pain, reduces hangovers (mostly due to dehydration), etc, etc. This also means avoiding caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and sodas, which actually cause us to lose extra water due to their diuretic effect (makes you pee).

    Is that enough? All of the above are based on major research, and are not just my good ideas.

    As a goal I recommend no more than 1 pound weight loss per weight, which can be accomplished by a 500 calorie per day deficit. If for example you need to eat 2300 calories per day to maintain your weight (which might be a 130 pound female who does regular moderate excercise, such as a dancer?), then she would need to eat 1700 calories per day to lose the pound per week. This is NOT a starvation diet!

    Good luck and feel free to ask me questions.
    And thanks for letting me peer into your lives - it helps me with my patient care.

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