Is it possible that low calorie works better than low carb for some people?

[heythatsfun]

Sorry in advance.. this is kind of long.

I have been a long-time believer in low carb. I lost about 20 pounds on it a few years ago before I ever even THOUGHT of counting calories -- I just ate meats, butter, cheese, and salads, and that was it.

This time around, I've been having trouble. Even doing strict Induction for weeks had me GAINING weight... as in 5 pounds in 3 weeks, which is a lot when you are as short as me. I KNOW that it was because I was simply eating too many calories -- I was constantly craving non LC foods, and I satisfied my cravings with fat.............. which adds up to a lot of calories.

The last week or so I was so fed up that I just ate what I wanted -- not BAD carbs (and still probably no more than 60 grams per day), but things like oatmeal, more vegetables, etc. and I found that 1) I wasn't as hungry, so I ate way less, and 2) since I was eating the foods that I was craving, that satisfied me cravings, and I ate less from that too. I have no problem sticking to around 1200 to 1300 calories per day now, whereas while I was LCing, I was starving even at 2500+ calories per day. I just couldn't get enough food fast enough! Now, if I want a low carb protein bar, I eat it, and because I feel like I'm not depriving meself or limiting me foods, I usually feel satisfied even at 1 or 2 bites of sugarless treats... but before, I wanted to eat the whole bag!

During this last week, I've lost 3 pounds, and I can *see* a difference physically! Is it possible that low calorie works better for some people than low carb? Or maybe I just needed to switch it up and give me metabolism a little bit of a workout?

I'm so nervous because I know that low carb is so much healthier...
and I'm thinking that I should probably still go back to low carb eventually... But I can't keep gaining weight AND being hungry at the same time! I really think that I'm some kind of freak.

What is your opinion on this? If this were you, would you go back to low carb immediately or wait a little bit and just see how your body functions and if it continues to lose on about 50-60 carbs per day yet lower calories? I appreciate all of your time and any advice anyone has to offer.

[Meg056]

50 or 60 grams of carbs is not really that much. My doc told me that 20 grams carb per meal is a diabetic diet...so you're probably not eating enough carbs to get that I'm hungry response a lot of us get when we eat carbs. Umm and I think it is true that calories do count. You have to eat less than you burn to lose weight. When I tried Atkins.. I didn't lose weight but just got into eating more fatty things..then I had to break my attraction for those fatty things. I'm saying I just developed what were for me worse eating choices. Now I eat low carb so my cravings and appetite is toned down but also lower fat so my calories don't go too high. Each of us is different and this works for me.

[CrzyCatLady]

Technically at 50-60 grams of carbs you are still eating LC. Maybe your body just needed the extra carbs to realize that it wasn't going to starve? I think TaDa said she was still losing in OWL at 60-80 grams of carbs.

[Deb79fl]

I think everyone IS different and not one plan fits all! If low carb is not working for you, find something that will get you where you want to be.

I lost my weight thru lower carb eating. I did not stay on plan all the time. I took breaks often and then got back on track. I am now at the original goal at I set for myself last year. Very happy to have lost the weight, but, like you want to find something I can do forever. I eat grains, fruits, more veggies again and enjoy them a lot. I can not do what some other low carbers can, which is to give up my grains, potatoes, etc. forever. I don't eat them as often as I wish I could, but will have a meal each week that incorporates a potato or pasta or something else that was previously off limits for me. I like experimenting with my foods and trying new things.

That being said, I am looking at more modified plans like The Zone or BBF to try to get off about 8-10 more pounds. I might try it, see how I feel and then decide from there.

Good luck and remember that only you can decide what works best for you!

PS: Maybe with your work outs you function better on higher carb level?

[danielsgirl]

I don't know near as much as everyone else on here, but I can tell you that when I went to Curves a few years ago they gave me a "test". It was a multiple choice test with questions about things like "were you heavy as a child or thin" Do you feel sluggish after a large meal that contains breads, pastas, rice..ect" and things like that. About 20 questions I think. Anyway, at the end you added up your score and it told you if you body was Carb Responsive or Calorie Responsive. Then they told me that I would benefit by eating low carb.

Maybe you could find a test online?

Just my 2 cents worth!

[heythatsfun]

Thank you so much for all of the opinions and suggestions! I think I am going to do at least 1 more week of 50-60 carbs per day. In a thread that MountainGirl created, I read something about a dietician saying to do lots of carbs (like 100) for a while. I mean, I know that 50 isn't a lot, but for someone who has been doing less than 20 for MONTHS now, that is quite a system shock I would think!

After that, I'll try going back to lower carbs. However, if it continues to work very well, I may wait until I lose most of the weight and then go on low carb to maintain.

Does that sound like a reasonable thing to do? I just don't want to be stupid and do this like huge carb-binge, but I think as long as I stick to healthy and natural carbs, it certainly can't do much harm to give the body a break.

[fawn]

Everyone is in fact different. That's what we call biochemical individuality. However, every human frame breaks down on refined foods so don't let your lower calorie diet turn into a processed food diet.

You'll have to experiment to get the correct ratios for you.

by the way, you don't have a lot to lose so transitioning into pre-maintenance and figuring out what is going to work for you in the long term is probably a good plan.

[JONAH'S GRANNY]

I will say this much; I can lose as fast doing low calorie with higher carbs as I can when I'm just doing straight low carb. I've proved that to myself more than once. I just feel like the health benefits are better when staying away from such things as those little 100 calories packs of junk and enjoying a few nuts instead.

[sassy40]

i have wondered the same things you are saying i am going thru the same things i have been debating switching to low cal but i love the way i feal eating this way. no heartburn no chest pain ect ect so i thing upping the carbs for now is the way to go good luck!

[daisyHair]

I always have to watch my calories too, once I get a good amt. of weight off..

This time around I am eating 2000 calories a day and still losing! but I reached goal twice before (I know why did I let myself gain it back-that's another story) and I had to count calories for my last 30 pounds.. and do LC.

Many people don't count.. but they naturally eat lower calories anyway.

[afuentes]

I say experiment. Maybe you did need more carbs in your diet. That is fine and adds more variety. But I agree w/Fawn - processed foods aren't good for anybody.

[Diana]

Everyone is different! Glad you found something that is working for you!

[Leo41]

As Fawn points out, everyone is different. For me, I don't see the difference between low calorie and low carb. I began eating low carb because it was the ONLY way to control my enormous appetite. Then I learned how dreadful sugar and starches are, so staying away from them is not a problem for me. However, I also have to eat low calorie in order to lose weight.

Too many people on this board associate low calorie with either Kimmer OR Weight Watchers, and what I dislike about the latter is their politically correct obsession with fat that results in pushing low fat "junk" food.

I believe that any WOE should be primarily healthy, and low carb works best for me, and when I limit my calories, I can lose. Even fruit, which I love, is not a sacrifice for me because I have to watch my blood glurcose level, so I basically eat as though I'm diabetic to avoid becoming diabetic.

[daisyHair]

Originally Posted by Leo41

Too many people on this board associate low calorie with either Kimmer OR Weight Watchers, and what I dislike about the latter is their politically correct obsession with fat that results in pushing low fat "junk" food.

I believe that any WOE should be primarily healthy, and low carb works best for me, and when I limit my calories, I can lose.

Exactly..
If I am not careful I can eat 2500 calories on my program.. I LOVE cheese and nuts.. I just have to keep track..

[KevetS]

In my opinion, consuming fewer calories than you expend is the only way to lose weight. Low carb helps me because it evens out my blood sugar and I don't get hungry or have an afternoon crash or have excessive cravings. But if I eat 3000 calories, low carb or not, I'm going to gain weight.

[Dharma]

I really believed a low carb higher fat diet was better so I stuck with it for 6 months and lost ONE pound. It just didn't work. I had to up my protein and lower fat to lose weight. I'm doing a kind of carb cycling plan right now, and I lost 9 lbs in 5 weeks - way better than I was doing before!!

[MsKimber]

I believe different things work for different people. For me I do best on low carb, for my sister she does best on WW and my mom swears by the cabbage soup diet.

[elyseelyse]

I am at the point right now where a calorie is a calorie. LC simply helps not bloat me so much, especially if said calories are too high at any one point in time for me (a 500 cal piece of pizza or two would bloat me more than a 500 calorie 1/2lb burger w/mayo). I seem to do much better with no more than 300 cals at one time 4-6 times a day, depending on my schedual. Although, that kinda does not work for who I "am" (sigh.....) cause I like two large meals (700 cals each) and then a small 100 cal snack once or twice a day. I just never feel mentally satisfied after small mini meals (like a why bother type attitude, ie that was a 'tease')......even though those meals do satisfy my hunger and keep me full til my next one.

[Jennyl]

Finding a diet that you can stick with for the long term and that you find satisfying is very important. If you are losing and you feel good, then I think it's fine.

[wifezilla]

I think everyone needs to read "Good Calories Bad Calories".

[Ilpirata]

I think I'm just repeating everyone else.
Everyone is different.
Sounds like strict less than twenty gram induction isn't for you.
Keep on the higher OWL rungs of 50 to 60 g carbs and I bet you'll do great!

[Rory8343]

Probably I think Atkins works best for those that have insulin 'issues'

I just do not want to eat low cal. I am always hungry and feel deprived.

[Zbunny]

Originally Posted by Deb79fl

I think everyone IS different and not one plan fits all! If low carb is not working for you, find something that will get you where you want to be.

I lost my weight thru lower carb eating. I did not stay on plan all the time. I took breaks often and then got back on track. I am now at the original goal at I set for myself last year. Very happy to have lost the weight, but, like you want to find something I can do forever. I eat grains, fruits, more veggies again and enjoy them a lot. I can not do what some other low carbers can, which is to give up my grains, potatoes, etc. forever. I don't eat them as often as I wish I could, but will have a meal each week that incorporates a potato or pasta or something else that was previously off limits for me. I like experimenting with my foods and trying new things.

That being said, I am looking at more modified plans like The Zone or BBF to try to get off about 8-10 more pounds. I might try it, see how I feel and then decide from there.

Good luck and remember that only you can decide what works best for you!

PS: Maybe with your work outs you function better on higher carb level?

It sounds to me like you're eating along the lines of Atkins Pre-Maintenance stage, where he says "slower is better" for the last few pounds, which is where you are. If I remember correctly, in that chapter he discusses people who are close to their goal, like you, who find they are able to eat whole grains or sweet potatoes, etc. 2-3 times per week; they do it slowly and carefully and watch for any new cravings or weight gain. So if you've been doing Atkins all this time, you may want to finish it off with pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance -- it doesn't sound like you even need to change plans. By the way, incredible job on the weight loss!

To the OP: It seems to me like you've found your CCLL -- and it's working! I think that we all have to drop our fat intake as we raise our carbohydrate intake, in order to keep everything "balanced" so your calories don't skyrocket. It sounds like you're doing great! KUTGW!

[MarblesLongGone]

I know that FOR ME, in playing with FitDay, I can lose or maintain on 3x as many calories as I gain on with a low fat diet, and I am NOT prone to Frankenfoods! If I put whole grains and/or potatoes back into my diet, I have to keep the calories REALLY low.

[Questions]

Originally Posted by wifezilla

I think everyone needs to read "Good Calories Bad Calories".

I agree 100%!

Weight loss seems random unless you really know the metabolic functions behind it. That's why everyone seems different, because everyone does it differently. But chemistry doesn't change due to opinions or desires.

Low cal and low carb can both work, but for slightly different reasons. I just find it easier to stick to a life plan that doesn't leave me hungry all the time.

[jskn]

I need to watch my calories even when eating low carb. i truly believe that if you create a calorie defecit you will lose, no matter what foods you choose to eat. I choose Low carb because I retain less water and looker "leaner", I'm also a sugar addict and must abstain

[wifezilla]

Weight loss seems random unless you really know the