Earlier quoted context omitted.
My mother simply does not understand what a "carbohydrate" is, let alone the relationship between starch and sugar, or why things like mashed potatoes are not low-carb. ("But I didn't use any butter in them, so they're low-carb!") When left to her own devices, she will consistently confuse and/or conflate carbs and fats. I think this is because she's from a generation that totally bought into the war on fat, and rais…
Well, fat certainly is worse than carbs, as far as weight loss is concerned. Fat contains twice the calories per gram compared to carbohydrates or protein, that's why things like cheese and oil are a big no-no if you're trying to lose weight. Butter is alright as long as you don't take a big ol' chomp out of a stick.
Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
111–120 of 275 posts
Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#112Earlier quoted context omitted.
I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic and went on keto with almost no carbs for 5 months and am now borderline not diabetic / pre diabetic.
"Almost" no carbs is very different than OP's triple assertion of "you're mistaken", "not required" and "zero".
On a keto diet, one can attain < 20g carbs per day with some struggle but to cut it out entirely is really hard without missing some other essential nutrients - because at least some carbs tag along with other things.
Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#113Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#114In the end, it's still calories. I get it, these people have books and speaking engagements to sell, but please. If they'd just say 'not eating carbs makes it easier to stick to a low calorie diet', it'd be fine. It's the deliberate obtuseness that's so annoying.
I mean, if it's not about calories, please:
- show me someone who can eat 1000 Cals a day and not loose weight. - show me someone who can eat 5000 Cals of bacon a day and not gain weight.
Until then - meh.
Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#115Preface: Over the past 12+ years I have spent a fair amount of time learning about foods/diets, at first to try to get rid of my acne (which I was successful at), but then later to stay lean and stop any diet-related dips in my mood (which I was also successful at). What I want to say: Cutting carbs is difficult for most people because of two things: 1) withdrawal from the sugar-high that you get from eating high-gly…
Cutting carbs is difficult for most people because of two things: 1) withdrawal from the sugar-high that you get from eating high-glycemic-load food (like bagels / pasta), and 2) your body needs a fair amount of carbs every day Research the ketogenic diet which is Starting with a low carb diet and transitioning to keto can be done without a lot of pain and I've eaten less than ~30 carbs a day for 6 months with no los…
It would be more accurate to say it wasn't hard for you.
Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#116Is it proved that Carbs are harmful? Don't want to cut down on them only so that a study 10 years down the line lists out Carb-diet benefits just like Fat ones these days.
It's not carbs per se, whats proven is this: Insulin spikes in your body drive fat storage. "Foods with lots of carbs" are a very good approximation of the nature of foods that tend to do that. (More accurately, foods with a high glycemic load/glycemic index) So offhand we can say foods that contain a lot of carbs tend to have a high gylcemic index, some more than others. Eating raw sugar is different than slowly eat…
Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#117Earlier quoted context omitted.
> your body needs a fair amount of carbs every day This is factually wrong. The human body ~100 grams of protein, ~10 grams of fat, and zero carbs to stay healthy. The minimal amount of glucose required for brain function can be synthesized from protein intake. And carb deficiency is not associated with any impairment or disease.
> The human body ~100 grams of protein, ~10 grams of fat, and zero carbs to stay healthy Could you provide source (studies not blogposts or youtube videos) on this matter? Also what is your opinion on 80/10/10 or Okinawa diet? Okinavians used to get most of their calories from carbs and they had one of the longest lifespans in the world. All things considered I am not against the keto diet but the food that people on…
I will say that there's interesting research surfacing that is implicating insulin as the big nasty, not specifically carbs. Which would mean to me that if you consume foods that have a more moderate insulin response coupled with regular physical activity and other hormone balancing behaviors that kind of lifestyle would be okay.
Our addiction to convenience as mediated by oil and refined carbohydrates doesn't ground people in their bodies, causing the acceleration towards extremes (obesity or ascetic diets like keto--which I personally follow).
Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#118Full disclaimer: I'm part French. But that's a traditional notion in French culture (and many others): food intake is not just some mechanical action we do before getting on with better things in life; it's an art to itself.
When viewed as an art, moderation is actually a form of balance. We balance quantity with richness and intensity of flavor. I am always amazed at seeing someone who can devour a giant bowl of noodles probably totalling about 1,500 KCal and yet devoid of taste. Mediocre wheat flour topped with sauces made with various commoditized (and bland) ingredients, spiked with sweeteners resulting in an overall bland dish.
Contrast with some real Italian pasta in a small proportion, made with good ingredients and assembled in a way to maximize the taste, as if to assemble a work of art. The nutritional analysis per 100g may be worse than the previous bowl of noodles, but two things stand out: (1) the portion is way smaller and (2) the taste leaves you satisfied. You also consummed that dish slowly, paying attention to the taste and eating it slower than that large bowl.
Now of course everyday life is not made of high-end culinary adventures—most of use can't afford that. But even at a modest scale, one can pay attention to the quality of a simple tomato, a simple loaf of bread, butter from cows grazing fields... eating items slowly so as to appreciate their taste.
Then it's no longer about numbers or labels, it's about taste. Eat your hamburger, but make it with good ingredients and savor it. Eat your fries but slowly and look for the taste of the potato itself. Can't find it? Use better potatoes.
As for soda? Sure, enjoy it but sip a reasonable glass of it like wine, over the course of a meal instead of gulping a large amount with a straw. Of course once you get in the habit of sipping it, you might move on to other beverages that taste better when sipped... :)
Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#119Preface: Over the past 12+ years I have spent a fair amount of time learning about foods/diets, at first to try to get rid of my acne (which I was successful at), but then later to stay lean and stop any diet-related dips in my mood (which I was also successful at). What I want to say: Cutting carbs is difficult for most people because of two things: 1) withdrawal from the sugar-high that you get from eating high-gly…
Cutting carbs is difficult for most people because of two things: 1) withdrawal from the sugar-high that you get from eating high-glycemic-load food (like bagels / pasta), and 2) your body needs a fair amount of carbs every day Research the ketogenic diet which is Starting with a low carb diet and transitioning to keto can be done without a lot of pain and I've eaten less than ~30 carbs a day for 6 months with no los…
Ultimatley, what kept me on track was the improvements I was seeing in the gym. I did, however, always acknowledge that was fighting the temptation to cheat quite often.
Re: Why Cutting Carbs Is So Tough
#120I cut carbs and have not looked back. I have even developed a dislike of them. Our stomachs adjust to what we eat and after a while, eating two slices of pizza just doesn't sit well. I found always going for the lesser of two evils was a big help. Sweet potato over regular potatoes. Vanilla Haagen-Daz over Ben and Jerry's (has lower sugar and more fat). whole wheat wrap with some sort of high fat salad (e.g. chicken…
This works the other way around as well. After a few weeks of not eating vegetables, eating a few cups of broccoli doesn't sit well either.