Calories matter more then carb intake while dieting?

[jackedrabbit]

Just a quick glance into this thread but I think the OP is basically asking if say, 3K cals of all protein and fats and minimal carbs would still make you lose weight EVEN IF your maintainence is say, 2.5K cals.

Drastic example, but that's how I perceived the question.

Like many have said, overall calories is what matters. Whether you count calories, or count macros and multiply by calories per gram (pro = 4, carb = 4, fat = 9) to get to the cals doesn't really matter.

Bottom line is calories in vs. calories out. You need to eat more than maintenence levels to gain, and less to lose WEIGHT. Now, what that weight is composed of is largely determined by macro ratios and meal timing, etc.

[co1e_train]

You are kind of splitting hairs, but yes......IMOP (which is an educated guess), I would say it would be more optimal to take that 15g as carbs rather than protein.

When I take 15g of Protein out of the 260g you get 245g. When I had that to 15g of carbs to my 150g of carb as discussed earlier, I get 165 g of carb. I upped my fats as per suggestion by you guys to 60. This totals to calories as being 2180. My current body weight is right around 192 (I dont get to weigh myself till I get to the gym which by then I have normally eaten twice and have had a good amount of water) so for the sake of argument we will say 192 is my bw. When multiplied by 15 (isnt that the general number to multiply bw by? I know many other factors effect but that is from bodyrecomposition.com) it says my maintenance is 2880 so my current "low day" caloric in take would be 700 below. Does that sound good? Something to run with for a while? And then when going on a refeed day I would up cals by 500 (as I have heard some of you suggest via carbs).

Thanks everyone for sharing info and helping a brother out.

[Invictus3]

Hey guys, great thread and input.

I would like to jump on this convo, albeit late in the game, to ask a few of my own questions.

First, what do you mean when you say "refeed" days? Whats this process?

Second, can you help me with this comment placed higher in this thread:

"Specific macro ratios help skew that weight loss to FAT loss rather than muscle loss."

What specifically in managing your macro rations leads to FAT loss rather than MUSCLE loss?
I am new to bodybuilding but am muscular. I am in my 3rd phase of P90X and want to use what I've built and take it to the next level.

I want to bulk as much as I can and cut for the lean look this summer and any tips would be helpful, thanks guys.

[co1e_train]

Hey guys, great thread and input.

I would like to jump on this convo, albeit late in the game, to ask a few of my own questions.

First, what do you mean when you say "refeed" days? Whats this process?

Second, can you help me with this comment placed higher in this thread:

"Specific macro ratios help skew that weight loss to FAT loss rather than muscle loss."

What specifically in managing your macro rations leads to FAT loss rather than MUSCLE loss?
I am new to bodybuilding but am muscular. I am in my 3rd phase of P90X and want to use what I've built and take it to the next level.

I want to bulk as much as I can and cut for the lean look this summer and any tips would be helpful, thanks guys.

To the best of my knowledge I will answer your questions.

"Refeed" is a term used to refer to when someone who is on a lower carbohydrate in take and is in a caloric deficit has a day where they up calories by 500 or so (general rule as I understand) via eating more carbs. This done to restore glycogen stores as well as to "shock" the body from diet by adding more calories and thus helping the body continue to burn calories and therefore lose weight. Refeeds are commonly used on rotations such as 3-4 low carb/low calorie days, followed by 1 refeed or high carb day.

Depending on what your macros are can determine the amount of what kind of weight one loses in a caloric deficit. High protein (1.25g per lb of bodyweight) is needed while cutting to help retain muscle. People go on low carb diets because since carbs is probably the bodys major source of full and when one limits their carb intake, the body will revert to burning fat stores and muscle tissue for energy. If you keep protein intake high and carb intake lower you are in a since coaxing your body to go to fat stores for energy rather then burning muscle tissue.

Also, if you are trying to bulk up right now you need lift weight and limit P90x as it is highly cardiovascular and will do more for fat loss then over muscle gain and strength I believe.