Sorry it's been asked a million times but...low fat or low carb?

MarthaMyDear

Hi guys,

I'm currently trying to loose weight as I'm two stone heavier than I used to be a couple of years ago. I'm a young college student, 5'7 and 12 stone. I'm currently using Daily Burn just as a food diary for myself as I find it easy to use and I'm on my laptop a lot so I don't forget to add my foods. It's working quite well! However, I'm avoiding starchy carbs but I always seem to reach the "daily goal" that Daily Burn gives me when I select the low carb option and I never ever seem to reach the protein goal. I don't seem to eat much fat so I'm wondering should I concentrate more on a low fat diet?

On the low fat option it recommends 176 to 265 g of carbs and 27 to 47 g of fat. I know these figures should be taken with a pinch of salt! I think the calories they recommend are very high so I try to keep a good bit under these. I walk a lot but apart from that don't do too much exercise but this is about to change as I'm in the process of getting a gym membership. So, should I concentrate on low carb or low fat? Or neither, just concentrate on eating healthy?

Also, could anyone recommend some high protein meal options? Sometimes when I'm in work and I have to run into the supermarket to grab something for lunch I can never think of anything high protein that I can eat on the spot and not have to prepare! Thanks guys, would be lost without these boards to get info from! I've learned so much from reading posts here so again, thank you all!

Hanley

A packet of pre cooked chicken and a handful of cashew nuts is probably the easiest high protein/low carb lunch you can pick up in the supermarket.

Chicken tikka/mexican chilli chicken/piri chicken + cashew nuts is my lunch of chocie most days - less than a fiver, 30-50g of protein and < 8g of carbs, and super handy.

Gummy Panda

Hanley wrote: »

A packet of pre cooked chicken and a handful of cashew nuts is probably the easiest high protein/low carb lunch you can pick up in the supermarket.

Chicken tikka/mexican chilli chicken/piri chicken + cashew nuts is my lunch of chocie most days - less than a fiver, 30-50g of protein and < 8g of carbs, and super handy.

Same. I grab the chicken breast slices in marks and Spencer's with some cashew nuts.

But not today, CARB UP DAY

Niall0

Hanley wrote: »

A packet of pre cooked chicken and a handful of cashew nuts is probably the easiest high protein/low carb lunch you can pick up in the supermarket.

Chicken tikka/mexican chilli chicken/piri chicken + cashew nuts is my lunch of chocie most days - less than a fiver, 30-50g of protein and < 8g of carbs, and super handy.

Sounds good, id probably go with almonds myself, you can get nandos piri piri almonds in Tesco, Nom nom nom.

EileenG

You don't have to do either. A perfectly feasible diet is 33% protein, 33% fat, 33% carbs (1% alcohal?). Just make sure you have the appropriate calorie totals, and try to base your meals on fresh whole foods.