Low carb question

laughinpink · 09-17-2008, 01:39 AM

I did a low carb diet a couple of years ago (Atkins) and lost quite a bit of weight. I have been trying to eat clean lately, mostly fruits, veggies lean meats, cottage cheese, lofat milk, cheerios, oatmeal with a little sweet n low or protein drink in the morning (slim fast drink). I realized that this is pretty close to what i ate then, minus the fruits and the more carbs of course. When I did low carb to get into ketosis I had to eat 40 or less carbs a day.

My questions are...is there any reason to eat low carb if you are eating over the amount to put your body into ketosis (like for me the 40 grams)? What's the real difference in my diet now vs. doing a low carb diet? Would I get better results low-carb? Is it true that you gain weight back quickly when you do low carb or is it mostly just water weight. I was told that if you eat low carb and start eating "normally" again (adding carbs) you will gain weight back and quickly. Is this true? I thought a pound was 3500 calories no matter what?

BarbaraKlima · 09-17-2008, 06:07 AM

Actually, a pound of fat is 3500 cals and a pound of muscle is 2500. If you are not intaking any carbs your muscles have little fuel to go off of. I recommend carb cycling. Plus, you want to have a balanced lifestyle so that you can eat ALL healthy foods. Do you really want to stay away from carbs for the rest of your life? Dieting should be a lifestyle change filled with balance. Oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and brown rice are some of my favs. What has worked really well for me is doing the no carb after 5. I ingest most of my carbs after my workout and in the morning for breakfast. Everyone's body is so different it's like you have to play with your food intake to get the exact results you want.

What are you doing for your workout? Before your workout get a slow digesting carb. The GI index will give you a good idea of what you can choose. Anything low on the GI scale is good. After a workout you want simple sugar and something high on the GI scale. If you were to ingest complex carbs during the day (not after a workout) then you won't spike your insulin levels causing weight gain. Still count though, but your number should be much higher than 40g a day.

Hope that helps!!!

laughinpink · 09-17-2008, 01:29 PM

Yes, I do not want to live a low carb lifestyle. I think it's nearly impossible to do so and have any sort of social life, first of all. Plus, anything that restricts fruits is not ok with me.
I am trying to change my overall lifetyle, but just had the question about the low carb after having a conversation with a fried who thinks low carb is the only way to go in losing weight. I remember being on low carb in the past and feeling as if I had failed if my body wasn't in ketosis everyday and feeling tired and almost sick all the time. I'm just wondering why if you gain the weight back quickly too, do people decide to do lowcarb (ie, Atkins, etc) if you can lose weight and maintain it for longer with just taking in good carbs plus all other healthy foods? And is it even true that you gain the weight back quicker doing only low carb and then adding carbs afterwards? I remember thinking so when I did it, but I need some other input. I'm trying to get my friend just to eat cleaner, healthier without thinking Atkins is the only way to go.

BarbaraKlima · 09-18-2008, 08:06 AM

It really depends what kind of carbs you are eating weather or not you will gain weight right back. If you do low carb and then you eat carbs your body is going to fill out. You deplete your glycogen storages when you eat low carb and then you fill them back up rapidly. I am not sure if you have ever heard of the ISSA zig zag approach, but that's a great way to approach nutrition. You should never have to cut out an entire group of food. If the problem is really with your friend and you can't seem to change her mind about anything then I would suggest she try the South Beach diet. It restricts carbs for the first two weeks and you lose weight like Atkins, but then it teaches you how to eat good carbs. Like I said, low GI carbs won't cause weight gain like simple carbs. Insulin spiking is no good. Just make sure you are using the carbs you are taking in!!!

lulusmom · 09-20-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarbaraKlima

It really depends what kind of carbs you are eating weather or not you will gain weight right back. If you do low carb and then you eat carbs your body is going to fill out. You deplete your glycogen storages when you eat low carb and then you fill them back up rapidly. I am not sure if you have ever heard of the ISSA zig zag approach, but that's a great way to approach nutrition. You should never have to cut out an entire group of food. If the problem is really with your friend and you can't seem to change her mind about anything then I would suggest she try the South Beach diet. It restricts carbs for the first two weeks and you lose weight like Atkins, but then it teaches you how to eat good carbs. Like I said, low GI carbs won't cause weight gain like simple carbs. Insulin spiking is no good. Just make sure you are using the carbs you are taking in!!!

I totally agree. The South Beach Diet helped my husband lose 50 pounds! It is restrictive in the first two weeks and then gradually adds good carbs back in, so it's not like Atkins where when you go off it you can eat Ho-Hos and Twinkies and there's no guideline to stop you. Also, the SB diet doesn't let you eat all the bad crap that Atkins does, like artery-clogging bacon and steaks with rings of fat on them. The protein sources are all lean meats.

xoloveinautumn · 09-26-2008, 10:05 AM

I did atkins a while back and lost about 30 lbs.. i did it about 2 years ago??
( just recentley i gained weight.. not because i added carbs back into my life because i got a back injury wasn't exercising and ate TOOOO much)

the induction to atkins is ONLY 2 weeks
and people who gain weight quickly are just eating too much and eating the wrongs foods
the atkins is like any other diet!
You do the induction for 2 weeks... or longer
and then you add fruits and whole grains..

brittafoster · 09-26-2008, 10:25 AM

Has anyone looked into some of the scivation diets, I need to do something drastic for a short time to shock my body. My body does not want to let go of any fat. Ihave been working out hard for 2 years, and I have really been watching what I eat. I have toned up slightly, but have only lost between 7-10 lbs, depending on the day. It just really sucks. I want to do like a 6 week program, bc 12 seems to long. If it works, I could do 6 more, but i like to break it up. I have been reading alot about team scivation, and I am temped to try one of their cut diets, but I would like to hear from someone who might have tried this approach.

JVo · 09-26-2008, 11:31 AM

I thought I'd throw this out there, even though I'm not sure whether it's true...

About a year ago, I read something that said that the only reason the Atkins diet works is because protein/fat fills you up more than carbs do, so anyone who's following it automatically ends up taking in fewer calories, causing weight loss.

That could be BS...I don't know. But using this logic, you could also see the benefits of eating a low-carb (non-ketosis) diet, especially if you're also choosing lean proteins...basically, this would amount to feeling fuller on fewer calories.

Also, there is the notion of some people being more "carb sensitive" than others....so for them, a low carb approach would be good even if they weren't entering ketosis.

zakkala · 09-26-2008, 12:28 PM

I'd heard that about Atkins working due to the lower caloric intake caused by protein / fat being more filling, too.

Personally, I don't think I could do any diet where my carbs have to be low enough to put me into Ketosis, but I am trying to keep my carbs down to 25% of my calorie intake (around 100 - 120g per day) and I do actually feel different / better for it.

It's the first week and I know I'll lose weight as it's coming off the back of a week on holiday where I really, really overdid the food and booze, but it'll be interesting to see how it goes over a 6 week or so trial period - I quite like it at the moment.

BarbaraKlima · 09-26-2008, 02:32 PM

I am actually trying Team Scivation right now. I want to get ready for a competition, so I will post a thread as soon as I get my plan from Derek. That way everyone can see my transformation. So, if you are hesitant to try it I will be the test dummy. Look out for my new thread!!!!

brittafoster · 10-24-2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarbaraKlima

I am actually trying Team Scivation right now. I want to get ready for a competition, so I will post a thread as soon as I get my plan from Derek. That way everyone can see my transformation. So, if you are hesitant to try it I will be the test dummy. Look out for my new thread!!!!

Thats great, I just emailed derek today, for a little extra help, I am down 4 lbs in 4 weeks, I was down 6 on week 3 but I went back up. I am still happy for the weight loss but i am hoping it will continue. Good luck, and im gonna try and check out your thread...

girl81 · 10-25-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarbaraKlima

Actually, a pound of fat is 3500 cals and a pound of muscle is 2500.

I though muscle burnt more calories than fat..???

EnigmaPower · 10-25-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JVo

protein/fat fills you up more than carbs do, so anyone who's following it automatically ends up taking in fewer calories, causing weight loss.

Fat is by far much more filling than carbs. Protein not so much. So essentially low carb is lower calorie than other nutritional plans. Carbs are protein sparing though and a state of ketosis is not doing any favors to your skeletal musculature.

EnigmaPower · 10-25-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girl81

I though muscle burnt more calories than fat..???

The numbers are wrong. Fat is approximately 3600 calories per pound and muscle is 600 calories per pound. The difference is one of energy density. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat.

freebirdmac · 10-25-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girl81

I though muscle burnt more calories than fat..???

It does. The 2500 was how many cals it takes to gain 1 pound of muscle while 3500 is how much it takes to gain/lose 1 pound of fat. Which is why there is a recommendation to eat 100-200 cals over maintenance when purely focusing on muscle gains.

freebirdmac · 10-25-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JVo

I thought I'd throw this out there, even though I'm not sure whether it's true...

About a year ago, I read something that said that the only reason the Atkins diet works is because protein/fat fills you up more than carbs do, so anyone who's following it automatically ends up taking in fewer calories, causing weight loss.

That could be BS...I don't know. But using this logic, you could also see the benefits of eating a low-carb (non-ketosis) diet, especially if you're also choosing lean proteins...basically, this would amount to feeling fuller on fewer calories.

Also, there is the notion of some people being more "carb sensitive" than others....so for them, a low carb approach would be good even if they weren't entering ketosis.

A lot of women here go low carb or use carb cycling while maintaining the same caloric intake. Some have found that at the same caloric level they lose body fat easier at 40/40/20 over 40/30/30. Others found the opposite.

So, why out in the wild, people on low carbs might lose weight because they are eating fewer calories, it's not a reason to dismiss the effects of a low carb (with refeeds) or carb cycling diet.