holahanson
02-15-2007, 05:47 PM
Hi everyone!
I've been on a low carb diet since August, and I've lost about 55 pounds (with exercise), which I am very happy about! I'm trying to get back to normal now, still watching what I eat of course, but I want to slowly raise the number of carbs I'm eating per day so instead of losing more I just stay the same (know what I mean?)
So the first question I have is, what is a healthy number of carbs a person should eat per day? Right now I am up to about 75-90 carbs a day and I've maybe lost a pound a week still. I'm kind of staying the same; is 75 good enough or should I raise it a little higher?
Also, I was wondering if there are carbs in alcohol and if so how much? Are there any alcoholic drinks that don't have any carbs?
thanks :)
I've been on a low carb diet since August, and I've lost about 55 pounds (with exercise), which I am very happy about! I'm trying to get back to normal now, still watching what I eat of course, but I want to slowly raise the number of carbs I'm eating per day so instead of losing more I just stay the same (know what I mean?)
So the first question I have is, what is a healthy number of carbs a person should eat per day? Right now I am up to about 75-90 carbs a day and I've maybe lost a pound a week still. I'm kind of staying the same; is 75 good enough or should I raise it a little higher?
Also, I was wondering if there are carbs in alcohol and if so how much? Are there any alcoholic drinks that don't have any carbs?
thanks :)
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lady66
02-15-2007, 10:50 PM
you should raise your carbs to 5 carbs every two weeks and if you start gaining, then cut back and you will find out how many carbs you can have. Actually the carbs you are at and the weight you are still losing; it sounds like you found your carb number to stay at.
Yes there are drinks that dont have any carbs.
Bourbon-80 Proof (JIM BEAM)
Bourbon and Soda
Daiquiri, canned
Brandy-86 Proof
Gin & Tonic (tonic water, gin & lime juice)
Martini (gin & vermouth)---.2
Rum-80 Proof
Tequila-80 Proof
Tom Collins (club soda, gin, lemon juice, & sugar)
Vodka-80 Proof
Whiskey-80 Proof
Whiskey-86 Proof
but dont forget that they still have calories. Just do a search on low carb drinks and you will find more I'm sure.
Congrats on the weight lose!
Yes there are drinks that dont have any carbs.
Bourbon-80 Proof (JIM BEAM)
Bourbon and Soda
Daiquiri, canned
Brandy-86 Proof
Gin & Tonic (tonic water, gin & lime juice)
Martini (gin & vermouth)---.2
Rum-80 Proof
Tequila-80 Proof
Tom Collins (club soda, gin, lemon juice, & sugar)
Vodka-80 Proof
Whiskey-80 Proof
Whiskey-86 Proof
but dont forget that they still have calories. Just do a search on low carb drinks and you will find more I'm sure.
Congrats on the weight lose!
Islandgirl1970
02-16-2007, 05:33 PM
Any hard liquor (Vodka, Rye, Rum, Tequila, etc) with diet pop is 0, but not any sweet liquors!! Wine is very low...[removed] Red wine is very low like 2 carbs a glass, that's what I have when on Atkins.
samizzle79
02-18-2007, 01:49 AM
holahanson - when you were on your diet, about how many carbs did you eat a day? i eat a lot of carbs and would like to cut down but don't know how to start.
blinggirl
02-19-2007, 07:41 PM
That's awesome! I need to lose 40 lbs and I"m going to cut carbs esp after reading your post. 55 lbs since August,,NICE...Let me ask you , how di dyou feel on that diet, tired? Did you follow any special low-carb diet or did you just do it on your own. Congrats
holahanson
02-20-2007, 02:43 AM
hey thanks everyone!
I just did it on my own.. I'd say maybe 30-40 carbs a day? Truthfully I wasn't really counting, but that's probably how much I was having a day. If I did eat bread it was always whole grain or wheat, something healthy. I just cut out most carbs ha, like potatos and pasta and all that and just ate vegetables and meats. Just lately I've become obsessed with counting every carb that I eat (that's probably not good haha but oh well). Good luck on your diets!
I just did it on my own.. I'd say maybe 30-40 carbs a day? Truthfully I wasn't really counting, but that's probably how much I was having a day. If I did eat bread it was always whole grain or wheat, something healthy. I just cut out most carbs ha, like potatos and pasta and all that and just ate vegetables and meats. Just lately I've become obsessed with counting every carb that I eat (that's probably not good haha but oh well). Good luck on your diets!
rita
02-20-2007, 02:54 AM
The problem with all diets which eliminate whole groups of food is that they are not sustainable long term. Humans need carbohydrates! In fact, carbs should make up large portion of daily calories and denying your body this major fuel source and macronutrient is not very healthy. Sooner or later, doesn't matter how many pounds you lose, your body will rebel against the unnatural restriction and you will start eating carbs again. And all the weight that came off, somtimes even more, will come right back. I have seen it happen countless times.
The only sustainable way to eat, whether to lose weight or to maintain it, is to eat a variety of foods, denying yourself nothing (denial doesn't work for most humans for too long)) and simply controlling portion size and calories. All the other "diets" should be tossed.
The only sustainable way to eat, whether to lose weight or to maintain it, is to eat a variety of foods, denying yourself nothing (denial doesn't work for most humans for too long)) and simply controlling portion size and calories. All the other "diets" should be tossed.
Islandgirl1970
02-24-2007, 07:14 AM
Carbs are only "necessary" if you have no body fat! The fact is that we as humans evolved until the last 9,000 years only having seasonal carbs in the form of fruits and vegetables. We didn't have sugar, bread or pasta in our diets then and now it is causing obesity, cancer, hypoglycemia, etc in sedentary people. Only bodybuilders "need" carbs cuz it's instant fuel and the body will digest muscle for energy (if it has no fat) which bodybuilders DO NOT want.
The Canadian food guide is currently being revised because they erronously recommended, for the last 50 years, that we should eat 300g of carbohydrates a day!! That will make even an active person fat, now they are changing it to 100 maximum/day! It sucks cuz it's so hard to keep it under that when we are raised with potatoes (20-30 carbs each), rice (80 carbs a cup) and pancakes with syrup (90 carbs) and even bananas (30 carbs). I try to keep it under 90 when not actively dieting but I crave more, I'm a carb addict!
When on a low carb diet my food cravings are greatly diminished or eliminated, I have no bloating, gas or acid reflux and I'm never hungry (meat takes 8 hours to digest and gives energy the whole time) which makes it easier to schedule meals. I should be on it in perpetuity and just add in carbs in the form of whole grain bread, fruit and vegies when I reach my goal weight. I just have to say goodbye forever to potatoes rice white breads pasta deserts candy sweet liquor and a few other things.
The Canadian food guide is currently being revised because they erronously recommended, for the last 50 years, that we should eat 300g of carbohydrates a day!! That will make even an active person fat, now they are changing it to 100 maximum/day! It sucks cuz it's so hard to keep it under that when we are raised with potatoes (20-30 carbs each), rice (80 carbs a cup) and pancakes with syrup (90 carbs) and even bananas (30 carbs). I try to keep it under 90 when not actively dieting but I crave more, I'm a carb addict!
When on a low carb diet my food cravings are greatly diminished or eliminated, I have no bloating, gas or acid reflux and I'm never hungry (meat takes 8 hours to digest and gives energy the whole time) which makes it easier to schedule meals. I should be on it in perpetuity and just add in carbs in the form of whole grain bread, fruit and vegies when I reach my goal weight. I just have to say goodbye forever to potatoes rice white breads pasta deserts candy sweet liquor and a few other things.
samizzle79
02-24-2007, 10:17 AM
100 grams of carbs a day...sounds good! The problem is:I eat carbs almost every meal of the day. I always have either cereal or a granola bar for breakfast, a granola bar for a snack during the day, a sandwich for lunch, and my dinners vary. What other meals can i have that are low in carbs, especially for lunches and dinners?? (I am a college student so it is hard for me to plan my meals) Thanks SO MUCH in advance :)
rita
02-24-2007, 10:43 AM
Carbs are only "necessary" if you have no body fat! The fact is that we as humans evolved until the last 9,000 years only having seasonal carbs in the form of fruits and vegetables. We didn't have sugar, bread or pasta in our diets then and now it is causing obesity, cancer, hypoglycemia, etc in sedentary people. Only bodybuilders "need" carbs cuz it's instant fuel and the body will digest muscle for energy (if it has no fat) which bodybuilders DO NOT want.
The Canadian food guide is currently being revised because they erronously recommended, for the last 50 years, that we should eat 300g of carbohydrates a day!! That will make even an active person fat, now they are changing it to 100 maximum/day! It sucks cuz it's so hard to keep it under that when we are raised with potatoes (20-30 carbs each), rice (80 carbs a cup) and pancakes with syrup (90 carbs) and even bananas (30 carbs). I try to keep it under 90 when not actively dieting but I crave more, I'm a carb addict!
When on a low carb diet my food cravings are greatly diminished or eliminated, I have no bloating, gas or acid reflux and I'm never hungry (meat takes 8 hours to digest and gives energy the whole time) which makes it easier to schedule meals. I should be on it in perpetuity and just add in carbs in the form of whole grain bread, fruit and vegies when I reach my goal weight. I just have to say goodbye forever to potatoes rice white breads pasta deserts candy sweet liquor and a few other things.
Not true. We have evolved to need and use carbs. The carbs we used were not processed but they were still carbs. Fruits (sugars), roots and leaves (of edible plants), nuts, seeds, etc gave us the needed carbs.
We definitely do need carbs for proper nutrition. They are metabolized and used differently by our bodies than fats or proteins.
The question about carbs is not if we need them but how much and what kind. We definitely do go overboard on processed carbs (especially in this country) and that is not healthy. Too much of anything is not healthy. There are health consequences to eating too much protein as well.
So, the best advice is to enjoy all food groups in moderation. You can't go wrong with that.
The Canadian food guide is currently being revised because they erronously recommended, for the last 50 years, that we should eat 300g of carbohydrates a day!! That will make even an active person fat, now they are changing it to 100 maximum/day! It sucks cuz it's so hard to keep it under that when we are raised with potatoes (20-30 carbs each), rice (80 carbs a cup) and pancakes with syrup (90 carbs) and even bananas (30 carbs). I try to keep it under 90 when not actively dieting but I crave more, I'm a carb addict!
When on a low carb diet my food cravings are greatly diminished or eliminated, I have no bloating, gas or acid reflux and I'm never hungry (meat takes 8 hours to digest and gives energy the whole time) which makes it easier to schedule meals. I should be on it in perpetuity and just add in carbs in the form of whole grain bread, fruit and vegies when I reach my goal weight. I just have to say goodbye forever to potatoes rice white breads pasta deserts candy sweet liquor and a few other things.
Not true. We have evolved to need and use carbs. The carbs we used were not processed but they were still carbs. Fruits (sugars), roots and leaves (of edible plants), nuts, seeds, etc gave us the needed carbs.
We definitely do need carbs for proper nutrition. They are metabolized and used differently by our bodies than fats or proteins.
The question about carbs is not if we need them but how much and what kind. We definitely do go overboard on processed carbs (especially in this country) and that is not healthy. Too much of anything is not healthy. There are health consequences to eating too much protein as well.
So, the best advice is to enjoy all food groups in moderation. You can't go wrong with that.
Islandgirl1970
02-24-2007, 09:48 PM
That's true, I forgot we do need a minimum of 20 a day, it's so small it seems like nothing. I first tried Atkins without the 20 not knowing, and my skin, hair and mouth felt so greasy after 2 days that I stopped it immediately until I could read the book.
Nuts, leaves, fruits and roots are indeed the best carbs to have but I wish most of the others weren't so darn tasty and addictive!
Nuts, leaves, fruits and roots are indeed the best carbs to have but I wish most of the others weren't so darn tasty and addictive!