You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Is low-carb needed for cutting?
- Thread starter Gags1892
- Start date
Carbs=energy source, if you are working out to lose weight you need energy. So why cut it? Just balance everything out properly, there are plenty of stickies about this kind of stuff.
I typically get 65-75% of my daily calories from carbs and I am losing 3-6 lbs per week.
75% carbs is quite high, If we consume more carbs then are immediately needed by the body, or if their is already a sufficient storage of glycogen. then the liver will convert the excess glucose into Fatty acids and then triglycerides that will be stored as body fat. This process is called "Lipogenesis".
Also another process, in which the ratio of carbs to protein is rather high, it has been found to be "problematic", and to have destabilizing effects on blood sugar and raise some fat levels (including Triglycerides)
in truth you generally do not want to loose more then 2pounds a week. other wise you risk some health problems, as well as the hated "stretchy/flabby skin".
High protein, moderate carbs and low fats is generally considered a very good plan for weight loss.
Eat more complex and low glycemic index carbs and more unsaturated fats "Monounsaturated,Short Chain Fatty acids are what you want to shoot far."
Last edited:
No, if you are trying to lose weight you shouldn't be low on fats, in fact a good amount of your diet should come from fats - good fats, polys and monos, and some (but less) saturates as well.
You don't need to cut out carbs completely either, but it is important to take out the wrong type of carbs - those that have a higher GI rating such as breads, pastas, starchy foods, etc.
Changing small things is a good way to start, low carb tortillas instead of breads. Whole Wheat pasta instead of regular pasta (if you must have pasta). No sugary drinks obviously, unless it's postworkout. Brown rice instead of white rice. Sweet Potatoes rather white potatoes.
A ton of veggies as well. A lot of people don't realize that veggies are fibrous carbs - an essential part of anyones diet. Search around for "cutting."
You don't need to cut out carbs completely either, but it is important to take out the wrong type of carbs - those that have a higher GI rating such as breads, pastas, starchy foods, etc.
Changing small things is a good way to start, low carb tortillas instead of breads. Whole Wheat pasta instead of regular pasta (if you must have pasta). No sugary drinks obviously, unless it's postworkout. Brown rice instead of white rice. Sweet Potatoes rather white potatoes.
A ton of veggies as well. A lot of people don't realize that veggies are fibrous carbs - an essential part of anyones diet. Search around for "cutting."
(Silent) - Thanks for the good info. 75% is usually a rare occasion when my food supply is low and I dont have enough time to go get any until the next day. Usually when the cafeteria closes early and I dont have any food in my room or money to get food so what little food I did get that day ended up being mostly carbs. I just looked, generally over these past couple weeks I have been getting 65% carbs, 25% protiens, and 10% fats.
Still working on the weight loss, the first week was really high (as it always is) and I have been having trouble balancing my diet right. Eating healthy with next to no income and a meal plan at colllege can be difficult especially when just about the only meat source is a burger or some greasy pizza or something like that. I checked a calculator online, it says that I should be getting around 2800 calories so for my 2 lb loss at my current activity level (not much until my knee heals up) I should be getting 1800. Well, I generally get 1500-2000 depending on the day and its been falling off faster than 2 lbs per week. Also, I have recently found that our yogurt at has not very many calories but a good amount of protien so I have been getting atleast a small bowl of that per day.
I was just trying to get my point across that weight loss can happen without cutting carbs. Plus if you are going to be active, I cant imagine why you would want to cut a bunch of carbs. In my experience, not having a good balance of carbs before a run makes it harder to do and you have less energy.
Also, I have heard over and over and over again losing more than 2lbs/week will risk health problems but never once have I heard any named nor have I ever heard of any one having problems from losing more the 2lbs/week. Can someone enlighten me?
Still working on the weight loss, the first week was really high (as it always is) and I have been having trouble balancing my diet right. Eating healthy with next to no income and a meal plan at colllege can be difficult especially when just about the only meat source is a burger or some greasy pizza or something like that. I checked a calculator online, it says that I should be getting around 2800 calories so for my 2 lb loss at my current activity level (not much until my knee heals up) I should be getting 1800. Well, I generally get 1500-2000 depending on the day and its been falling off faster than 2 lbs per week. Also, I have recently found that our yogurt at has not very many calories but a good amount of protien so I have been getting atleast a small bowl of that per day.
I was just trying to get my point across that weight loss can happen without cutting carbs. Plus if you are going to be active, I cant imagine why you would want to cut a bunch of carbs. In my experience, not having a good balance of carbs before a run makes it harder to do and you have less energy.
Also, I have heard over and over and over again losing more than 2lbs/week will risk health problems but never once have I heard any named nor have I ever heard of any one having problems from losing more the 2lbs/week. Can someone enlighten me?
So AJP, you're saying I should eliminate whole wheat bread from daily consumption?
I usually have half a WW english muffin with 8 egg whites and 1 slice of fat-free cheese (2g carb) for breakfast, and 1 slice of WW bread with chicken breast and 1 c. pineapple for my PreWO meal.
What do I do PWO shake/PPWO meal-wise for carbs? Shouldn't those carbs be normal?
Shake: 1 c. skim, 1 tbsp honey (from 2 when bulking), 1/2 banana (from 1 while bulking), 2 scoops whey, 2 rice cakes (from 4 bulking)
PPWO: 1 chicken breast, 2 slices ww bread, apple
I usually have half a WW english muffin with 8 egg whites and 1 slice of fat-free cheese (2g carb) for breakfast, and 1 slice of WW bread with chicken breast and 1 c. pineapple for my PreWO meal.
What do I do PWO shake/PPWO meal-wise for carbs? Shouldn't those carbs be normal?
Shake: 1 c. skim, 1 tbsp honey (from 2 when bulking), 1/2 banana (from 1 while bulking), 2 scoops whey, 2 rice cakes (from 4 bulking)
PPWO: 1 chicken breast, 2 slices ww bread, apple
So AJP, you're saying I should eliminate whole wheat bread from daily consumption?
I usually have half a WW english muffin with 8 egg whites and 1 slice of fat-free cheese (2g carb) for breakfast, and 1 slice of WW bread with chicken breast and 1 c. pineapple for my PreWO meal.
What do I do PWO shake/PPWO meal-wise for carbs? Shouldn't those carbs be normal?
Shake: 1 c. skim, 1 tbsp honey (from 2 when bulking), 1/2 banana (from 1 while bulking), 2 scoops whey, 2 rice cakes (from 4 bulking)
PPWO: 1 chicken breast, 2 slices ww bread, apple
Yes, I think you should take out the bread completely because there are much better sources of carbs. Your carbs should be complex and fibrous. Complex carbs = oatmeal, cream of wheat, sweet potatoes, brown rice, and so on. Substituting oatmeal for the english muffin and bread would be a god start.
PWO shake should be simple sugars (sugars, dextrose, maltodextrin, etc), and some form of fast acting protein. 2:1 ratio. For example 48 grams of dextrose and 24 grams of protein.
PPWO meal: the chicken is great, but put brown rice or some other complex carb with it instead of bread, and some fibrous carbs as well (veggies).
Almost all of your complex and simple carb intake should be around your workout time, and some with breakfast, ie the oatmeal.
So the rest of the time should be lean protein paired with good fats, and lean protein paired with fibrous carbs.
Do you need to drastically lower your carb. intake in order to see results while cutting?
I've already reduced by cutting my carbs in half, or taking half of each carb I eat at each meal.
do NOT reduce your complex carbs. just like others have said, you need energy to workout. working out = fat burn since carbs yield more energy than fat stores which is why heavy people can get tired even though they have lots of stored fat.
during things involving cardio, your body burns blood sugar and fat at the same time but uses more carbs since again, carbs yield more energy than fat.
this is why fat can be a pain to get rid of.
Do you need to drastically lower your carb. intake in order to see results while cutting?
I've already reduced by cutting my carbs in half, or taking half of each carb I eat at each meal.
Nope, but you do need to cut your calories a bit.
i see where you coming from regarding your carbs, i struggle to get out of the same minset. dont go low carb, instead control them. make sure you get your carbs in pre and post workout, and then you'll find there's not so many left to have throughout the day.
the best way to burn fat is to work it off rather than eat less. carbs help you get the energy to do so.
the best way to burn fat is to work it off rather than eat less. carbs help you get the energy to do so.
Right now, my carbs are more or less only PWO/PWO/PPWO, with the exception of some peanuts with my 2nd meal, and i'll stick in some pineapple.
Question: when people talk about carb reduction, do they mean cut fruit out also? Fruit's a fast-digesting carb, correct, due to it being mostly sugar? If so, do I continue with the recommended 5 servings per day?
Question: when people talk about carb reduction, do they mean cut fruit out also? Fruit's a fast-digesting carb, correct, due to it being mostly sugar? If so, do I continue with the recommended 5 servings per day?
when I went on my last cut, that was pretty successful in terms of rate of fat loss...I got a whopping 75g of carbs on weight training days, and just 55g on cardio or rest days.
and of course a decent chunk of the 75g of carbs came post workout as dextrose.
protein + fat all day long except pre and post workout meals (I lift in the evenings)
and of course a decent chunk of the 75g of carbs came post workout as dextrose.
protein + fat all day long except pre and post workout meals (I lift in the evenings)
wow malkore, gimme ur diet! haha...
my carbs are in these 3:
PreWO: Cutting bar, homemade---recipe on this forum, I believe 28g of carbs
PWO: 1 c. skim milk, 1/2 banana, 1 tbsp. honey, 2 scoops whey, 2 rice cakes
PPWO: 1 chicken breast on whole-wheat wrap w/ lettuce and onions, baked potato
my carbs are in these 3:
PreWO: Cutting bar, homemade---recipe on this forum, I believe 28g of carbs
PWO: 1 c. skim milk, 1/2 banana, 1 tbsp. honey, 2 scoops whey, 2 rice cakes
PPWO: 1 chicken breast on whole-wheat wrap w/ lettuce and onions, baked potato