Importance of low carbs for weight loss?

eviltimeban

Obviously eating low fat foods and keeping an eye on the numbers is important for weight loss, but how important is keeping the carbs down too? I don't eat white bread / rice / pasta / noodles and would eat potatoes rarely. I generally watch the fat content of what I eat. So is carb watching AS important, especially when coupled with a work out regime of weight lifting?

El_Dangeroso

Whatever you do don't low-fat and low carb at the same time! That forces you to use protein for energy which has all sorts of nasty byproducts like ammonia.

I reckon pick a plan you think you can follow based on the recipes and stick to all the rules, if you mix together several diets like low carb, low fat and low gi you'll just end up miserable and confused.

There's a wide range of diets out there and they all work, just find one that suits you and your body.

corkcomp

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

Whatever you do don't low-fat and low carb at the same time! That forces you to use protein for energy which has all sorts of nasty byproducts like ammonia.

I reckon pick a plan you think you can follow based on the recipes and stick to all the rules, if you mix together several diets like low carb, low fat and low gi you'll just end up miserable and confused.

There's a wide range of diets out there and they all work, just find one that suits you and your body.

agreed.

and in reality it is not necessary to cut out either fats or carbs. There is no need to follow any set diet (but if you do, then do it properly as metioned above) just cut out processed food and watch portions sizes

Transform

eviltimeban wrote: »

Obviously eating low fat foods and keeping an eye on the numbers is important for weight loss, but how important is keeping the carbs down too? I don't eat white bread / rice / pasta / noodles and would eat potatoes rarely. I generally watch the fat content of what I eat. So is carb watching AS important, especially when coupled with a work out regime of weight lifting?

post up a typical days diet please in detail

eviltimeban

OK, I start the day with a bowl of muesli, either country store or Alpen low sugar, I know they aren't the best but they keep me going. Low fat milk. Black coffee (decaf).

Mid morning I'll have a low fat latte.

Lunch, if I'm home I have wholegrain ryvita with extra light Philadelphia (which is 4.6g of fat over 100g). If I'm out, I generally try for a wrap with no sauces or creamy dressings or mayo. Never bread or rolls. Followed by a Rachel's or Glenisk low fat yoghurt. Banana. Sometimes, rarely, I'll get a rye bread sandwich from Munchies with brie, cucumber, mixed salad, and salami, although I've given these up as I don't like salami anymore.

Snack would be a handful of nuts or berries.

I have a variety of things for dinner. Some examples:

- Stir fry, with brown rice noodles and a blue dragon sauce (full of crap I'm sure but low enough in fat), with mixed veg, and very little oil. I mix a little chicken with Quorn pieces
- Spag Bol - Dolmio light sauce, Quorn mince, very small portion of wholewheat spaghetti
- Salad - with lettuce, peppers, two slices of haloumi cheese, chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, Cardini's low fat Caesar dressing
- Very rarely fillet steak, rocket, roast potatoes (with no salt, a little oil)
- Chilli (Uncle Ben's sauce) with quorn mince, very little rice
- Very rarely homemade spinach and ricotta lasagne, with wholewheat pasta sheets and Dolmio light sauce, mushrooms, ricotta cheese and mozarella cheese (sinful I know!)
- And as a treat, pizza!

No fizzy drinks, sweets, crisps, cake, peanuts etc. OK, on Friday I'll have a few squares of Green and Blacks chocolate with a beer. Light to moderate drinker, mostly red wine at home, occasional bottled beer. Only at the weekends.

I don't eat at night but if I'm peckish I'll pour a bowl of Special K.

I know there are some things there that are wrong (the blue dragon sauces for example) but that diet seems to work for me. A few years ago when I cut out bread and fatty things I dropped 2 stone. I've fallen off the wagon a few times (although not reverting to eating bread) but have stayed fairly OK over the years.

I'm 34, 6'5", currently weighing in at 15 stone 1. Fairly muscular, I work out with free weights at home.

And that's me! :-)

Sapsorrow

eviltimeban wrote: »

OK, I start the day with a bowl of muesli, either country store or Alpen low sugar, I know they aren't the best but they keep me going. Low fat milk. Black coffee (decaf).

Mid morning I'll have a low fat latte.

Lunch, if I'm home I have wholegrain ryvita with extra light Philadelphia (which is 4.6g of fat over 100g). If I'm out, I generally try for a wrap with no sauces or creamy dressings or mayo. Never bread or rolls. Followed by a Rachel's or Glenisk low fat yoghurt. Banana. Sometimes, rarely, I'll get a rye bread sandwich from Munchies with brie, cucumber, mixed salad, and salami, although I've given these up as I don't like salami anymore.

Snack would be a handful of nuts or berries.

I have a variety of things for dinner. Some examples:

- Stir fry, with brown rice noodles and a blue dragon sauce (full of crap I'm sure but low enough in fat), with mixed veg, and very little oil. I mix a little chicken with Quorn pieces
- Spag Bol - Dolmio light sauce, Quorn mince, very small portion of wholewheat spaghetti
- Salad - with lettuce, peppers, two slices of haloumi cheese, chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, Cardini's low fat Caesar dressing
- Very rarely fillet steak, rocket, roast potatoes (with no salt, a little oil)
- Chilli (Uncle Ben's sauce) with quorn mince, very little rice
- Very rarely homemade spinach and ricotta lasagne, with wholewheat pasta sheets and Dolmio light sauce, mushrooms, ricotta cheese and mozarella cheese (sinful I know!)
- And as a treat, pizza!

No fizzy drinks, sweets, crisps, cake, peanuts etc. OK, on Friday I'll have a few squares of Green and Blacks chocolate with a beer. Light to moderate drinker, mostly red wine at home, occasional bottled beer. Only at the weekends.

I don't eat at night but if I'm peckish I'll pour a bowl of Special K.

I know there are some things there that are wrong (the blue dragon sauces for example) but that diet seems to work for me. A few years ago when I cut out bread and fatty things I dropped 2 stone. I've fallen off the wagon a few times (although not reverting to eating bread) but have stayed fairly OK over the years.

I'm 34, 6'5", currently weighing in at 15 stone 1. Fairly muscular, I work out with free weights at home.

And that's me! :-)

Way way too much convenience and processed foods there! Not nearly enough veggies either. I'd say you eat a lot of hidedn sugars too.
IMO for weight loss definately give up the carbs, at least with loe carb you can eat nice food in good quantities without portion control or calorie counting. Low fats a lot of b*llox (excuse my french ) as far as weight loss goes and not really good for you imo.

EDIT: meant to say cut down the carbs not give up

Messi 10

I know nothing about any of this but I read this forum occasianly for tips on how to improve my diet and general well being.

But if your 6'5" and only 15 stone 1 I can't imagine your carrying too much excess weight? Expecially if you are of a muscular build as you say. I'm over an inch shorter than you and I'm 4 lbs heavier and I wouldn't consider myself to be overweight at all.

Transform

khrystyna100 wrote: »

Way way too much convenience and processed foods there! Not nearly enough veggies either. I'd say you eat a lot of hidedn sugars too.
IMO for weight loss definately give up the carbs, at least with loe carb you can eat nice food in good quantities without portion control or calorie counting. Low fats a lot of b*llox (excuse my french ) as far as weight loss goes and not really good for you imo.

EDIT: meant to say cut down the carbs not give up

what she said

eviltimeban

khrystyna100 wrote: »

Way way too much convenience and processed foods there! Not nearly enough veggies either. I'd say you eat a lot of hidedn sugars too.
IMO for weight loss definately give up the carbs, at least with loe carb you can eat nice food in good quantities without portion control or calorie counting. Low fats a lot of b*llox (excuse my french ) as far as weight loss goes and not really good for you imo.

EDIT: meant to say cut down the carbs not give up

By convenience / processed foods I'm guessing you're referring to the sauces? Yeah I guess you're right. I don't have them that often but with two kids under the age of 3 its sometimes the way it goes. I eat Quorn as I don't want to eat meat that often. What else is processed? The cream cheese. Sure. But I'm not one of the "sandwich ingredients in lettuce leaves" type people! :-)

As for veg, I do eat a bit, in fact only tonight I had parsnip, carrot, and butternut squash. I could do with eating more though.

In relation to Messi 10's point, no I don't want to lose a ton of weight, I just want to maintain my weight as well as losing just a little bit more, being around 14 and a half would be good.

So the conclusion is: cut down, but not out, carbs, if I want to be on a "low fat" kick (which does seem to work for me)?

Transform

eviltimeban wrote: »

By convenience / processed foods I'm guessing you're referring to the sauces? Yeah I guess you're right. I don't have them that often but with two kids under the age of 3 its sometimes the way it goes. I eat Quorn as I don't want to eat meat that often. What else is processed? The cream cheese. Sure. But I'm not one of the "sandwich ingredients in lettuce leaves" type people! :-)

As for veg, I do eat a bit, in fact only tonight I had parsnip, carrot, and butternut squash. I could do with eating more though.

In relation to Messi 10's point, no I don't want to lose a ton of weight, I just want to maintain my weight as well as losing just a little bit more, being around 14 and a half would be good.

So the conclusion is: cut down, but not out, carbs, if I want to be on a "low fat" kick (which does seem to work for me)?

yes and keep the carbs low GI and watch portions

corkcomp

cut out special K at night, have an apple and cottage cheese if you feel you need to eat after dinner. alpen is like sawdust with dried fruit IMO - porridge would be a lot better and fruit like apples and berries

Transform

corkcomp wrote: »

cut out special K at night, have an apple and cottage cheese if you feel you need to eat after dinner. alpen is like sawdust with dried fruit IMO - porridge would be a lot better and fruit like apples and berries

exactly