High Fat/Low Carb dieting?

[StarryNightshade]

I'm trying to lose those final few stubborn pounds and my partner wants to drop around 70. In both of our cases, the biggest enemy is carbs. We really love our rice, pasta, and noodles.

We are planning on cutting down carbs to begin with, but I do know a few people who have gone the High Fat/Low Carb route. Basically reducing net carbs to 20-50 grams a day and greatly increasing dietary fat. Where the body will burn the fat you take in instead of the carbs.

Of course, I have heard some criticisms of this method, but it also seems to be gaining a lot of support. A big criticism is that this is just a re-branding of the Atkins diet and that eating nothing but red meat and cheese is bad in the long run. While that's not wrong, in more modern HF/LC diets, while red meat is an option, so are avocados, coconut oils, real butter, olive oil, nuts, etc. There are vegetarian versions of HF/LC.

Anyway, has anyone had any experience with this kind of diet? Any strong opinions one way or another?

 

[Rival]

I eat carbs all the time. They make over half my diet and I am healthy and skinny as. I am actually classed as underweight. Keep it carbed and just do exercise. Just eat nutritionally balanced and keep a healthy lifestyle. Cook your pasta with lots of veg and less meat.

 

[StarryNightshade]

I eat carbs all the time. They make over half my diet and I am healthy and skinny as. I am actually classed as underweight. Keep it carbed and just do exercise. Just eat nutritionally balanced and keep a healthy lifestyle.Cook your pasta with lots of veg and less meat.

Fair points. Still, in general, I do think it would be a good idea to reduce carbs as we diet (around 100 - 150 grams a day or so), while not using hydrogenated oils and transfats. If not exactly doing the high-fat method.

 

[sun rise]

Exercise is not the answer as various studies have shown. Right now it appears the evidence is that a low carb diet is more effective. But it can't be a diet that you go on and off because once you go off, the pounds come back. You have to find a pattern of eating you can stick with and that's healthy.

 

[Vee]

I'm trying to lose those final few stubborn pounds and my partner wants to drop around 70. In both of our cases, the biggest enemy is carbs. We really love our rice, pasta, and noodles.

We are planning on cutting down carbs to begin with, but I do know a few people who have gone the High Fat/Low Carb route. Basically reducing net carbs to 20-50 grams a day and greatly increasing dietary fat. Where the body will burn the fat you take in instead of the carbs.

Of course, I have heard some criticisms of this method, but it also seems to be gaining a lot of support. A big criticism is that this is just a re-branding of the Atkins diet and that eating nothing but red meat and cheese is bad in the long run. While that's not wrong, in more modern HF/LC diets, while red meat is an option, so are avocados, coconut oils, real butter, olive oil, nuts, etc. There are vegetarian versions of HF/LC.

Anyway, has anyone had any experience with this kind of diet? Any strong opinions one way or another?

It really depends a lot on your metabolism so you have to do a few experiences and find out what works for you. Personally I don't want to deprive myself from things I enjoy eating but I control the amounts and try to be balanced.
I do intermittent fasting every day and that was the best thing I've ever done to control my weight.
The only thing I don't eat is processed food. I eat a lot of vegetables and I cook my own food. I also exercise 3 or 4 times a week. It's all I need to be in good health and good shape.

 

[Rival]

Exercise is not the answer as various studies have shown. Right now it appears the evidence is that a low carb diet is more effective. But it can't be a diet that you go on and off because once you go off, the pounds come back. You have to find a pattern of eating you can stick with and that's healthy.

I'm pretty damn sure exercise helps...

 

[suncowiam]

That one thing that has helped me on my diet is calorie counting.

If I consistently write down all my calories and follow a daily calorie limit, I lose weight...

The carbs, fat and sugar will tend to have more calories. So if you want to be full, then you'll end up eating much more veggies and fruit... The more healthy stuff.

 

[sun rise]

I'm pretty damn sure exercise helps...

Sure. I agree. But diet is key. Why exercise isn't the key to weight loss — and what you should do instead and many other sites.

 

[Mindmaster]

I'm trying to lose those final few stubborn pounds and my partner wants to drop around 70. In both of our cases, the biggest enemy is carbs. We really love our rice, pasta, and noodles.

We are planning on cutting down carbs to begin with, but I do know a few people who have gone the High Fat/Low Carb route. Basically reducing net carbs to 20-50 grams a day and greatly increasing dietary fat. Where the body will burn the fat you take in instead of the carbs.

Of course, I have heard some criticisms of this method, but it also seems to be gaining a lot of support. A big criticism is that this is just a re-branding of the Atkins diet and that eating nothing but red meat and cheese is bad in the long run. While that's not wrong, in more modern HF/LC diets, while red meat is an option, so are avocados, coconut oils, real butter, olive oil, nuts, etc. There are vegetarian versions of HF/LC.

Anyway, has anyone had any experience with this kind of diet? Any strong opinions one way or another?

I eat this way by default due to dealing with diabetes, but I don't focus on it. Throw out all the white products, the only one you can have is cauliflower. Sugar, white flour, white rice... No go... I don't even miss any of it now. Whole grain products come with a good dose of dietary fiber that slows the spike rate of your blood glucose... This spike is what makes you fat - your body converts these sugars into fat faster than it converts fat into fat. If you're dying for a white food item (for me, it's potatoes) it's OK to have less of them but increase the meat (think double meat, 1/2 of what you'd eat of the white item... as a rule). It's important to never eat these types of things without a high protein/fiber/fat item on the plate. Also, when you eat them make sure you are eating bites of the protein/fat item between bites of the other. (Yes, it does matter!) This means whole grain pasta, bread, buns, and anything else. It matters far less that you remove the carbs from your diet than it does to eat the right types. I'm not completely on-board with the LC/HF program for that reason - it's simply not valid science. I had it out with people who religious on this stuff (a lot of diabetics are trying to do this), but I used to test my blood to figure out how the food works internally on my body after every meal and I assure you that this spiking is the problem, but you also can deal with it more than one way. I don't focus on consuming fat at all because if you are eating lots of meat, fish, chicken, etc, you are getting it anyway.

Since I assumed this diet I lost 80 pounds, put on a fair amount of muscle, and probably haven't looked as good in 20 years. I still eat crap like McD's or whatever it's just I have changed how I eat it - I will buy "double patty" burgers, or whatever the biggest one is... no fries, w/diet coke... etc.... You can even have white flour if you are eating enough meat with it. I can't recommend this sort of diet for vegan/veg it's just too damn prohibitive and annoying. It's annoying even without that, but I have learned how to eat around my problems.

The exercise advise around here is just plain deadly... You are fat because you are getting resistant to your own insulin which is making you more fat because the fat itself causes more insulin resistance. You need to be doing cardio to the point of raising your heart bpm to at least 140 in addition to a diet plan. The goal here is to assist your body with flushing out your system, raise the metabolism, and decrease the fat percentages. More muscle mass = more idle calorie burning. You need to find something physical you enjoy doing, and get out and do it regularly - for me it's cycling, but what it isn't so important as that you like doing it. Walking _is not_ enough, it's not even a start - unless your heart rate reaches 130+ you aren't doing enough to improve your health. I don't know anyone who breaks a hard sweat from a simple walk unless they are so grotesquely out of shape that such exertion is ill-advised in the first place. ( I was there, couldn't do workouts when I started this program... when your diabetes blows up your blood cells do not carry oxygen right... Anyway, it's been a long way to here... lol) My diabetes is undetectable at this point... anyone can do it, they just have to set their mind to it...

 

[Jainarayan]

Exercise is not the answer as various studies have shown.

They say abs are made in the kitchen.

I'm always in the kitchen and I have yet to see abs.

 

[HonestJoe]

Anyway, has anyone had any experience with this kind of diet? Any strong opinions one way or another?

I find pretty much all of the "high-X, low-Y" type diets are just hype (typically to sell books). The problem is that people tend to look for someone to provide them with a pre-packaged solution.

If your current diet is causing you to put on too much weight, you just need to eat a bit less and exercise a bit more. Make smaller portions, cut out the unhealthy snacks and walk more. It's common sense really.

 

[Bonsoir]

But what if I switch directly from my standard ration to the vegetable juice cleanse diet, it will be okay or I will suffer till the moment when my body will understand that there is no previous food anymore? I want to lose some weight and now started to do some YOGA and currently thinking about diets...

 

[metis]

I eat this way by default due to dealing with diabetes, but I don't focus on it. Throw out all the white products, the only one you can have is cauliflower. Sugar, white flour, white rice... No go... I don't even miss any of it now. Whole grain products come with a good dose of dietary fiber that slows the spike rate of your blood glucose... This spike is what makes you fat - your body converts these sugars into fat faster than it converts fat into fat. If you're dying for a white food item (for me, it's potatoes) it's OK to have less of them but increase the meat (think double meat, 1/2 of what you'd eat of the white item... as a rule). It's important to never eat these types of things without a high protein/fiber/fat item on the plate. Also, when you eat them make sure you are eating bites of the protein/fat item between bites of the other. (Yes, it does matter!) This means whole grain pasta, bread, buns, and anything else. It matters far less that you remove the carbs from your diet than it does to eat the right types. I'm not completely on-board with the LC/HF program for that reason - it's simply not valid science. I had it out with people who religious on this stuff (a lot of diabetics are trying to do this), but I used to test my blood to figure out how the food works internally on my body after every meal and I assure you that this spiking is the problem, but you also can deal with it more than one way. I don't focus on consuming fat at all because if you are eating lots of meat, fish, chicken, etc, you are getting it anyway.

Since I assumed this diet I lost 80 pounds, put on a fair amount of muscle, and probably haven't looked as good in 20 years. I still eat crap like McD's or whatever it's just I have changed how I eat it - I will buy "double patty" burgers, or whatever the biggest one is... no fries, w/diet coke... etc.... You can even have white flour if you are eating enough meat with it. I can't recommend this sort of diet for vegan/veg it's just too damn prohibitive and annoying. It's annoying even without that, but I have learned how to eat around my problems.

The exercise advise around here is just plain deadly... You are fat because you are getting resistant to your own insulin which is making you more fat because the fat itself causes more insulin resistance. You need to be doing cardio to the point of raising your heart bpm to at least 140 in addition to a diet plan. The goal here is to assist your body with flushing out your system, raise the metabolism, and decrease the fat percentages. More muscle mass = more idle calorie burning. You need to find something physical you enjoy doing, and get out and do it regularly - for me it's cycling, but what it isn't so important as that you like doing it. Walking _is not_ enough, it's not even a start - unless your heart rate reaches 130+ you aren't doing enough to improve your health. I don't know anyone who breaks a hard sweat from a simple walk unless they are so grotesquely out of shape that such exertion is ill-advised in the first place. ( I was there, couldn't do workouts when I started this program... when your diabetes blows up your blood cells do not carry oxygen right... Anyway, it's been a long way to here... lol) My diabetes is undetectable at this point... anyone can do it, they just have to set their mind to it...

I pretty much have done the same thing for largely the same reason and have had the same effects.

But the best routine for me is what is called "The China Diet", which is the result of an international study ("The China Study") on diet (since the 1980's). With it I lost over 30 pounds, my blood sugar dropped significantly after a month, but I can't stay 100% on it because of my wife. Still, I haven't gained the weight back at least, but I'm now on one Metformin.

Basically, it's no meat, very low fat, and whole grains and lots of vegetables and fruits. Sounds counter-intuitive, but it worked like a charm with me, but it takes about a month to get there. I've told the wife that I want to go back on it this summer.

See: The China Study - Wikipedia