Question for those who've mantained for one year and up

canadiancow · 08-09-2007, 06:44 PM

I was just curious what level of net carbs you are eating at for maintanance generally. I am interested in doing a low carbohydrate diet for weight loss but was hoping to maintain on a more morderate carbohydrate diet. Right now I'm a pescatarian (eat fish, eggs, and dairy), but would like to eventually transition to full vegetarian once my weight is down. As I don't wish to consume huge amounts of soy or protein powders this would probably end up being 100-120 net carbs a day or about 400 calories of 1200-1400 in maintanance. I can't eat much more calories than that or I gain weight (even with 30-60 minutes of daily exercise). Naturally I don't plan on eating carbs in the form of flour or sugar but rather as lentils or other protein rich beans and legumes.

I realize I'm getting ahead of myself but I wanted to make sure that it wasn't a common experience that you would gain all the weight back by raising the carbs to that level, no matter how gradually it was done. This diet has so many negative reviews and positive reviews. I read the book and some of the forums but some of the amazon and epionion reviews have me second guessing it. Also, is it based on percent or grams? In other words, is someone who eats 100 net carbs on a 2000 calorie diet a lot better off than someone who eats the same on a 1200 calorie diet? Thanks to anyone who reads all this and answers!

2big4mysize · 08-09-2007, 10:01 PM

when I exercise at the gym 3 times a week lifting and cardio, and treadmill HIIT stlye 3 days a week i can do about 120 net carbs ( total carbs minus the fiber) when i don't hit the gym and just treadmill it drops to 45 net. But I do about 2500 cals too. I suppose I could add more casrbs if I dropped the cals some but it works well for me that way.

fawn · 08-12-2007, 09:30 AM

Out of curiosity, why do you want to transition to vegetarianism? And is it vegan you are interested in?

I am in maintenance and I eat lentils and legumes. However, I portion it to 1/2 cup per serving. Unless I'm eating just black beans and hot sauce for a meal then it's usually about a cup but I eat at least one portion of meat a day whether it be chicken, fish or beef. Don't go vegan unless you really reserarch how to get in your complete proteins. As well, mainstream soy is very un-healthy. You want to stick with fermented products such as tempeh.

pbptm · 08-12-2007, 10:51 AM

I'm 48 and hypothyroid and short 5' 2" and have 5 children. I maintain 112-117lbs on an average 60 carbs a day I guess I don't regularly check just keep half an eye on them. I eat lots of salad veggies and low glycemic veggies to get a broad range of nutrients and some fruit most of my carbs come from vegetables.
I have a healthy appetite and eat around 1800 cals average though sometimes less if I'm not hungry.
If you can find tofu in your health food shop that's fermented soy.Also over here we have something called Quorn which is form of fungus+eggwhite creation.It's factory produced and I've no idea how.But the vegetarian section in the supermarkets are full of it.It is a protein with some carb combination as are a lot of pulses and beans.
In my experience even though I'm a shorty it's not really calorie game to maintain it's more about having an active lifestyle.

canadiancow · 08-14-2007, 01:13 PM

Thanks for your answers! Fawn, the reason I wanted to switch to vegetarianism is mostly because I believe it's better for the environment. I may instead eat non-fishfarm chicken and free range organic chicken but this will be much more expensive so I'd still end up being a vegetarian on some days of the week. I drink soy milk which only contains 3 net carbs a cup so it's a much better option than milk. There's also nut milks which have similar carb counts. However I'd continue eating cheese, eggs and possibly some low carb yogurt and cottage cheese. The soy studies are still very controversial on both sides so I'm not yet willing to take a side on that one, but I will try to stick with tempeh as you said. I also love just plain soybeans which there is not much negative press about. I have researched a lot on veganism and vegetarianism already but of course I will continue. Lentils/beans and nuts/seeds are supposed to be a complete protein so I would probably do that as the net carbs in the mix would be lowish for a vegan dish.

Pbtm, thanks for your reply concerning your own maintance information. I don't really know if I have some medical issue regarding my metabolism or if I just permanently damaged it when I was in high school. I ate basically a starvation diet while exercising three hours a day and got down to a very low weight. I haven't gotten any tests done due to the expense as I'm currently a student with very little income. I will likely get tested sometime in the future and maybe they will put me on something which would allow me to eat a bit more. I am fairly active, as in addition to the 30-60 minutes daily exercise I also walk to and from school in September-April which is about 6 miles total. I also bike pretty much everywhere in the summer.

2big4mysize · 08-14-2007, 06:15 PM

IF YOU EVEN THINK YOU ARE HYPOTHYROID YOU NEED TO STOP CONSUMING ANY SOY PRODUCT AS SOY PROTEINS INTERFER WITH THYROID HEALTH oops darn cap key not yeling at you.

pbptm · 08-15-2007, 04:48 AM

I totally agree with 2big for my size I am very wary of soy with it's phyto-oestrogenic action.
I'm no longer a vegetarian I was for 30 years but a few years ago I started to add in meat. I just felt for me it might be healthier. I used to eat too many pasta rice and bean meals usually low fat and it led to bloating and weight gain.Discovering Dr Atkins and eating low carb was the best thing I've ever done for myself.I eat quorn sometimes because my dh and eldest dd don't eat chicken or beef so sometimes I make curry with quorn because it's a high quality protein that is not made of soy.
My food includes lots of veggiesand salad + beef ,chicken, lamb,cod,mackerel,tuna,coconut oil,olive oil,cream,cheddar, brie,mozzarella,parmesan,butter Fage greek yogurt.The only sweeteners I use are SR syrups.
The only veggies I don't eat are really high carb ones.I eat a lot of broccoli,brussel sprouts, cauliflower,eggplant,zucchini,mushrooms,tomatoes,c ucumber,carrots etc.
I eat when hungry and stop when I've had enough.Fresh foods are definately the best for me. I never buy low fat dairy .

fawn · 08-15-2007, 10:10 AM

When I say mainstream soy, I mean the garbage that is receiving subsidies from the government. This would be the genetically modified heavily sprayed massively produced soy. There is no contorversy about the amount of pesticides used and the dangers. As far as the phytoestrogen controversy? This is documented evidence.

I too eat only organic/free range for a variety of reasons.

08-09-2007, 06:44 PM	#1
canadiancow Junior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 2 Gallery: canadiancow Stats: 145/145/100-110 WOE: low carb-moderate carb Start Date: August 2007	Question for those who've mantained for one year and up I was just curious what level of net carbs you are eating at for maintanance generally. I am interested in doing a low carbohydrate diet for weight loss but was hoping to maintain on a more morderate carbohydrate diet. Right now I'm a pescatarian (eat fish, eggs, and dairy), but would like to eventually transition to full vegetarian once my weight is down. As I don't wish to consume huge amounts of soy or protein powders this would probably end up being 100-120 net carbs a day or about 400 calories of 1200-1400 in maintanance. I can't eat much more calories than that or I gain weight (even with 30-60 minutes of daily exercise). Naturally I don't plan on eating carbs in the form of flour or sugar but rather as lentils or other protein rich beans and legumes. I realize I'm getting ahead of myself but I wanted to make sure that it wasn't a common experience that you would gain all the weight back by raising the carbs to that level, no matter how gradually it was done. This diet has so many negative reviews and positive reviews. I read the book and some of the forums but some of the amazon and epionion reviews have me second guessing it. Also, is it based on percent or grams? In other words, is someone who eats 100 net carbs on a 2000 calorie diet a lot better off than someone who eats the same on a 1200 calorie diet? Thanks to anyone who reads all this and answers!

08-12-2007, 09:30 AM	#3
fawn Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 8,815 Gallery: fawn Stats: 210/120 WOE: Eating For Health Start Date: 2/2000	Out of curiosity, why do you want to transition to vegetarianism? And is it vegan you are interested in? I am in maintenance and I eat lentils and legumes. However, I portion it to 1/2 cup per serving. Unless I'm eating just black beans and hot sauce for a meal then it's usually about a cup but I eat at least one portion of meat a day whether it be chicken, fish or beef. Don't go vegan unless you really reserarch how to get in your complete proteins. As well, mainstream soy is very un-healthy. You want to stick with fermented products such as tempeh. __________________ 210/120 Maintenance It's as simple as removing the refined foods from your life permanently. With that, discover what nature's bounty has to offer organically, seasonally and locally. "The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in the diet and in the cause and prevention of disease" Thomas Edison

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-09-2007, 10:01 PM	#2
2big4mysize Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,959 Gallery: 2big4mysize Stats: 313 to current goalie 169-173 WOE: Atkins 2002 Start Date: june 1 2002	when I exercise at the gym 3 times a week lifting and cardio, and treadmill HIIT stlye 3 days a week i can do about 120 net carbs ( total carbs minus the fiber) when i don't hit the gym and just treadmill it drops to 45 net. But I do about 2500 cals too. I suppose I could add more casrbs if I dropped the cals some but it works well for me that way.

08-12-2007, 10:51 AM	#4
pbptm MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: U.K Posts: 1,331 Gallery: pbptm Stats: maintaining WOE: high fat Start Date: 2003	I'm 48 and hypothyroid and short 5' 2" and have 5 children. I maintain 112-117lbs on an average 60 carbs a day I guess I don't regularly check just keep half an eye on them. I eat lots of salad veggies and low glycemic veggies to get a broad range of nutrients and some fruit most of my carbs come from vegetables. I have a healthy appetite and eat around 1800 cals average though sometimes less if I'm not hungry. If you can find tofu in your health food shop that's fermented soy.Also over here we have something called Quorn which is form of fungus+eggwhite creation.It's factory produced and I've no idea how.But the vegetarian section in the supermarkets are full of it.It is a protein with some carb combination as are a lot of pulses and beans. In my experience even though I'm a shorty it's not really calorie game to maintain it's more about having an active lifestyle.

08-14-2007, 01:13 PM	#5
canadiancow Junior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 2 Gallery: canadiancow Stats: 145/145/100-110 WOE: low carb-moderate carb Start Date: August 2007	Thanks for your answers! Fawn, the reason I wanted to switch to vegetarianism is mostly because I believe it's better for the environment. I may instead eat non-fishfarm chicken and free range organic chicken but this will be much more expensive so I'd still end up being a vegetarian on some days of the week. I drink soy milk which only contains 3 net carbs a cup so it's a much better option than milk. There's also nut milks which have similar carb counts. However I'd continue eating cheese, eggs and possibly some low carb yogurt and cottage cheese. The soy studies are still very controversial on both sides so I'm not yet willing to take a side on that one, but I will try to stick with tempeh as you said. I also love just plain soybeans which there is not much negative press about. I have researched a lot on veganism and vegetarianism already but of course I will continue. Lentils/beans and nuts/seeds are supposed to be a complete protein so I would probably do that as the net carbs in the mix would be lowish for a vegan dish. Pbtm, thanks for your reply concerning your own maintance information. I don't really know if I have some medical issue regarding my metabolism or if I just permanently damaged it when I was in high school. I ate basically a starvation diet while exercising three hours a day and got down to a very low weight. I haven't gotten any tests done due to the expense as I'm currently a student with very little income. I will likely get tested sometime in the future and maybe they will put me on something which would allow me to eat a bit more. I am fairly active, as in addition to the 30-60 minutes daily exercise I also walk to and from school in September-April which is about 6 miles total. I also bike pretty much everywhere in the summer.

08-14-2007, 06:15 PM	#6
2big4mysize Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,959 Gallery: 2big4mysize Stats: 313 to current goalie 169-173 WOE: Atkins 2002 Start Date: june 1 2002	IF YOU EVEN THINK YOU ARE HYPOTHYROID YOU NEED TO STOP CONSUMING ANY SOY PRODUCT AS SOY PROTEINS INTERFER WITH THYROID HEALTH oops darn cap key not yeling at you.

08-15-2007, 04:48 AM	#7
pbptm MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: U.K Posts: 1,331 Gallery: pbptm Stats: maintaining WOE: high fat Start Date: 2003	I totally agree with 2big for my size I am very wary of soy with it's phyto-oestrogenic action. I'm no longer a vegetarian I was for 30 years but a few years ago I started to add in meat. I just felt for me it might be healthier. I used to eat too many pasta rice and bean meals usually low fat and it led to bloating and weight gain.Discovering Dr Atkins and eating low carb was the best thing I've ever done for myself.I eat quorn sometimes because my dh and eldest dd don't eat chicken or beef so sometimes I make curry with quorn because it's a high quality protein that is not made of soy. My food includes lots of veggiesand salad + beef ,chicken, lamb,cod,mackerel,tuna,coconut oil,olive oil,cream,cheddar, brie,mozzarella,parmesan,butter Fage greek yogurt.The only sweeteners I use are SR syrups. The only veggies I don't eat are really high carb ones.I eat a lot of broccoli,brussel sprouts, cauliflower,eggplant,zucchini,mushrooms,tomatoes,c ucumber,carrots etc. I eat when hungry and stop when I've had enough.Fresh foods are definately the best for me. I never buy low fat dairy .

08-15-2007, 10:10 AM	#8
fawn Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 8,815 Gallery: fawn Stats: 210/120 WOE: Eating For Health Start Date: 2/2000	When I say mainstream soy, I mean the garbage that is receiving subsidies from the government. This would be the genetically modified heavily sprayed massively produced soy. There is no contorversy about the amount of pesticides used and the dangers. As far as the phytoestrogen controversy? This is documented evidence. I too eat only organic/free range for a variety of reasons.