very low carb? what is it?

[krey]

I keep seeing people mention they do very low carb...1hat exactly does this mean? How many carbs is very low carb? How does it differ from atkins? And what, if any, benefits does it provide?

[goose1]

I think very low carb would be under 15g of carbs. Atkins 72 starts you out on 10g of carbs per day.

[kristina]

I basically am doing very low carb.

I had fish for breakfast (yeah, I know...ick)

shrimp and drawn butter for lunch (smack lips)

I'll have steak or chicken for dinner.

No carbs.

Atkins 72 is basically no carbs on induction. Salad and eggs add a negligible amount that he states is biologically zero......so, yeah, I guess that could add up to 10 grams. He doesn't specifically say 10 though.......

[Dovelette]

I have my own definitions of carbs -

Zero carb - 0 to 5
Very Low Carb - 5 to 20
Low carb - 20 to 50
Moderate carb - 50 to 90
Controlled carb - 90 to 120
"Lower" carb - 120 to 160ish

If you look at SAD, aprox. 50 to 60% of our calories are supposed to come from carbs. So if you are "supposed" to eat 2000 calories a day, 1000 of those should be from carbs (at the low end)...which is 250g of carbs a day. So really, on a 2000 calorie a day diet, anything under 200 carbs is really restricting your carb intake...

Wow, talk about digressing...

[lita's way]

kristina
what do you mean fish ick,
Its so yummy fried in butter,topped of w/a fried egg.
sorry i just had to put my two cents worth in

[flatferenghi]

and staying there after the required 2 weeks. i will, of course advance to owl, when certain improvements fall into place. other people will have other quantitative values for what constitutes vlc, but these are mine. Love & Profits: FLATFERENGHI

[kristina]

Originally Posted by at it again

kristina
what do you mean fish ick,
Its so yummy fried in butter,topped of w/a fried egg.
sorry i just had to put my two cents worth in

I thought maybe for breakfast it might make some people go
I eat ANYTHING ANY time of the day

[lita's way]

me too

[MsWoods]

To me, VLC is 1-5g total.

When I do vlc I eat mostly meat and eggs and a teeny bit of cheese from time to time.

I use it to get rid of cravings mostly, especially if carb creep happens.

[ravenrose]

realistically, VLC is probably long term eating under 20 grams of carbs. either sticking with the induction foods, or adding variety without more carbs. in other words, OWL, but keeping carbs under 20.

around here, people are more extreme, often for good reason, and you will see lower definitions.

the problem is, many people don't count carbs very well. unless you weigh everything, have a good eye for phony carb counts on labels and in calorie counting programs, and have the ability to figure out hidden carbs on nutrition labels, you are probably eating more carbs than you think you are. that makes comparisons harder. What one person calls 15 grams may be the same thing another person counts as 40, because they are being a lot more accurate and stricter.

I think the first step is always to tighten up your weighing and looking up of all foods rather than lowering the carb level at which you are eating.

[jezzie]

When I started low carb in the mid nineties anything up to sixty true carbs a day
was low carb.
Under twenty a day was very low carb. The definitions change. How? Don't know.
Don't even know who defined them to start with.

[fabulous]

I heard once from a dietitian that you should have at least a little bitty bit of carbs at ea. meal. Something about if you don't, it taxes your......

alright... I forget what organ

??

And she was pro-low-carb. (She got me on the insulin resistance diet)

Though if it's working for you then I say good!

[miss sparky]

Originally Posted by fabulous

I heard once from a dietitian that you should have at least a little bitty bit of carbs at ea. meal. Something about if you don't, it taxes your......

alright... I forget what organ

??

And she was pro-low-carb. (She got me on the insulin resistance diet)

Though if it's working for you then I say good!

brain? kidneys....yeah we know....Brain shuts down and kidneys asplode.....I'm still waiting.....


yes I do very low carb , I suppose. Atkins '72. but with the slight tweak of more cream, as I'm a tea and coffee addict!
meat , fish, eggs, butter, a bit of cheese ( cheddar or brie) and veggies when I fancy them, and that'l be a cup of green salad, or a cup of steamed broccolli, or some spinach in an omelette. I have fish for breakfast too....scrambled egg with smoked salmon and LASHINGS of butter.

I suppose I eat round 5-10carbs a day. Quite often less.

[Melrose]

Originally Posted by kristina

I basically am doing very low carb.

I had fish for breakfast (yeah, I know...ick)

shrimp and drawn butter for lunch (smack lips)

I'll have steak or chicken for dinner.

No carbs.



Atkins 72 is basically no carbs on induction. Salad and eggs add a negligible amount that he states is biologically zero......so, yeah, I guess that could add up to 10 grams. He doesn't specifically say 10 though.......

Kristina, I didn't read ahead so if you have already answered, sorry. So, you are basically eating protein and fat only. Is induction length (2 weeks) the same for Atkins 72?

Thanks in advance.

[miss sparky]

It's like sticking on induction levels of carbs really. Some people do well on less carbs, some like more....it's a YMMV thing .

[cathy77533]

Originally Posted by kristina

I thought maybe for breakfast it might make some people go
I eat ANYTHING ANY time of the day

Kristina, I had a piece of swordfish for breakfast!! Like you, I eat any time of the day!!

[fawn]

brain? kidneys....yeah we know....Brain shuts down and kidneys asplode.....I'm still waiting

For many, it's the thyroid.

[lisabinil]

Originally Posted by fawn

For many, it's the thyroid.

For me my thyroid definitely tanked eating vlc.

[dartstar1]

For me 8 carbs or less

[Looweewoo]

I call myself VLC, but I go mostly by percentages, less than 5% Carbs. The actual number would be different for someone eating 1500 calories than it is for me at 2500 calories.

I'm aiming at functionally Zero Carbs.

Basically the idea is to not eat a biologically noticeable amount of carbs. I mostly eat carbs as spices, with the exception of a salad covered with meat and fat almost every day.

[kristina]

Originally Posted by lisabinil

For me my thyroid definitely tanked eating vlc.

Wow. I wonder why

Originally Posted by cathy77533

Kristina, I had a piece of swordfish for breakfast!! Like you, I eat any time of the day!!

Originally Posted by Melrose

Kristina, I didn't read ahead so if you have already answered, sorry. So, you are basically eating protein and fat only. Is induction length (2 weeks) the same for Atkins 72?

Thanks in advance.

I think it's just the one week for induction in 72. I eat an occasional salad, but for the most part just eggs, seafood, meat and fat. Eggs has some carb in it I guess.....

[Dovelette]

Originally Posted by krey

And what, if any, benefits does it provide?

For some people, it can end a stall. For others who may have eaten a high carb meal, it can get you back into ketosis quick. For still others, they believe that it's the best way for them to lose and its how they feel the best.

I don't mean to be controversial either, but I do think for a large number of people, myself included at times, they don't leave the VLC arena (IMO and apparently others, eating Induction levels for extended periods) because we develop a fear of carbs that may or may not be irrational. We like the rate we lose on Induction, so we figure hey! Might as well stay here until I get closer to goal! Or we are so afraid if we add back in carbs that our loss will stop and we'll regain. And that's ok...but it's not necessarily true or the best way for everyone to lose weight. Some people find, after staying on extended Induction or VLC, that when they actually do start to eat MORE carbs, they lose and feel better. But we're afraid at times to try, and IMO this can set people up for long term failure - obviously again, not for everyone. But for *most* people, it's really hard to stay VLC for a long time, and it's really, really hard to stay that way for life - you just don't have the variety that you have at higher carb levels.

I'm sure others can give their reasons for eating VLC or staying on Induction as well, but I hope that answers the latter part of your question.

[clackley]

I stay at induction level carbs and the reason is that as I tried to add in carbs, I stopped losing weight (I made it to the 3rd rung). Even at induction levels, I was not losing until recently. I find my menu quite easy and like it a lot. There is no issue for me in regards to sustaining this woe long term because I love my meals and don't have any desire to 'waiver'. That is just me and I will not speak to anyone else's personal experience.
I will add that it seems some people are put off VLC in theory because of the belief that veggies and fruit are needed for good health. I think a cup of broccoli (or some other l/c veggie) every day or so is more than sufficient......

[krey]

Wow, I never knew there were so many different ways to do low carb. I think I might try and hunt down a copy of Atkins 72. I am not sure of the title of the book I read but it has a red and yellow cover. So for my induction (I am on day 12) I am eating under 20 carbs.

[lisabinil]

[QUOTE=kristina;13389388]Wow. I wonder why


Prolonged dieting of any type can tank the thyroid whether it is low calorie or vlc-your body is under stress during a time of dieting and this can slow the thyroid. There is a lot of research out there that people with thyroid issues do better with a higher carb level and I am one of those. On the other side of the coin 2bflawless eats vlc with thyroid and diabetes issues and does quite well-it is a matter of metabolic individuality.

[JK130]

What does "tank the thyroid" mean? What would a person notice if that was happening to them?

How would one know if VLC was interferring with weight loss?

[lisabinil]

Originally Posted by jkaay

What does "tank the thyroid" mean? What would a person notice if that was happening to them?

How would one know if VLC was interferring with weight loss?

Check out the Thyroid Forum here at LCF. Lots of good posts and people's discussion about their thyroid experiences.

[shawnshx]

Last time I followed this diet, I go days with less than 10 carbs . I can eat just eggs or steaks for days at a time. My main problem is, I eat no veggis at all. None, I never had to eat them growing up and now at 35 when i try to eat them, I gag and end up throwing up right there on the floor. I know it is in my head but it sucks when you can not even eat lettuce without puking. Only beans i eat are Navybeans but high carbs. I do wish i can find a green vegetable i can eat. Far as fish or other seafood, no way. I have not eaten it in 25 years and not about to start now. But any kind of meat from Beef, Deer, Pork, even alligator better watch out when i am around.

I even got gout one time since my body could not get rid of all the urtica acid from all the protein I eat so that cut my drinking beer out and went to rum in coke instead lol

Now I am starting up again and trying to do it right like last time but without the veggis. Last time I lost 42 lbs but gained back 50 thanks to bread, rice,and junk food.

It is hard being a cajun.

[cathy77533]

Originally Posted by kristina

Wow. I wonder why







I think it's just the one week for induction in 72. I eat an occasional salad, but for the most part just eggs, seafood, meat and fat. Eggs has some carb in it I guess.....

Atkins 72 is two weeks for induction, and it's no more than 20 carbs, and those carbs come from the couple cups of lettus.

[Kiley2801]

Originally Posted by cathy77533

Atkins 72 is two weeks for induction, and it's no more than 20 carbs, and those carbs come from the couple cups of lettus.

I think the Atkins 72 is one week of induction? Then you add in 5 grams/week.