A reversal on carbs

[Azure]

Most people can count calories. Many have a clue about where fat lurks in their diets. However, fewer give carbohydrates much thought, or know why they should.

But a growing number of top nutritional scientists blame excessive carbohydrates — not fat — for America's ills. They say cutting carbohydrates is the key to reversing obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

.....

Americans, on average, eat 250 to 300 grams of carbs a day, accounting for about 55% of their caloric intake. The most conservative recommendations say they should eat half that amount. Consumption of carbohydrates has increased over the years with the help of a 30-year-old, government-mandated message to cut fat.

And the nation's levels of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease have risen. "The country's big low-fat message backfired," says Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. "The overemphasis on reducing fat caused the consumption of carbohydrates and sugar in our diets to soar. That shift may be linked to the biggest health problems in America today."

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-...431,full.story

Been saying it for how long?

Now, I'm not anti-carb. In fact, I'm all about eating according to your lifestyle. But there is no question in my mind that a government backed 'diet', nevermind certain policies like the subsidization of corn which gave us HFCS in literally everything, not to mention how many transfats we ate until it became apparent that they weren't healthy either.....is one of the biggest reasons our obesity levels are sitting at 50% plus.

This is exactly why it annoys me when people go on a 'diet' where they eat pizza for 3 months and lose weight, and then try to tell the whole world that there is nothing wrong with eating carb heavy foods. Simply put, you can't sustain a diet like that. Any normal person with a normal lifestyle, normal 9-5 job cannot live like that for 65+ years, considering that is our average age. Of course, there is nothing wrong with pizza, provided you eat it in moderation.

Like I said before, that is why you have to eat according to your lifestyle. And there are too many people who have desk jobs and never exercise that eat WAY too much, which includes too many carbs. If you're not extremely active, there is no way in hell you should be eating 300g of carbs per day.

But try preaching moderation and responsible choices to a generation of people who live in the here and now and they'll kick you out of the room.

[scotty2hotty]

It seems that this type of thinking may be hitting the tipping point in the mainstream consciousness.

I've been a big advocate of the the paleo/primal/less processed carbs type of eating for a few years now. Personally allowed for a huge shift in body composition and an overall feeling of well being.

<cue the onslaught of "break out the tinfoil hats, conspiracy theory, where is the peer review, my textbook says this is wrong, I'm a doctor and this is crap" posts from people who are too lazy and probably chubby to try it for 30 days and make their own decisions>

[onetwo_threefour]

I lost about 70 lbs. this year. Two things, way more exercise, way less simple carbs. I cut out most of the bread and all of the rice and potatoes that I used to overindulge in and it made a huge difference. I jumped off the wagon for the holidays and gained about 7, but my New Year's Resolution is P90X so I should be in good shape. (Groan)

[VANFLAMESFAN]

nm...sorry.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by Azure

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-...431,full.story

Been saying it for how long?

Now, I'm not anti-carb. In fact, I'm all about eating according to your lifestyle. But there is no question in my mind that a government backed 'diet', nevermind certain policies like the subsidization of corn which gave us HFCS in literally everything, not to mention how many transfats we ate until it became apparent that they weren't healthy either.....is one of the biggest reasons our obesity levels are sitting at 50% plus.

This is exactly why it annoys me when people go on a 'diet' where they eat pizza for 3 months and lose weight, and then try to tell the whole world that there is nothing wrong with eating carb heavy foods. Simply put, you can't sustain a diet like that. Any normal person with a normal lifestyle, normal 9-5 job cannot live like that for 65+ years, considering that is our average age. Of course, there is nothing wrong with pizza, provided you eat it in moderation.

Like I said before, that is why you have to eat according to your lifestyle. And there are too many people who have desk jobs and never exercise that eat WAY too much, which includes too many carbs. If you're not extremely active, there is no way in hell you should be eating 300g of carbs per day.

But try preaching moderation and responsible choices to a generation of people who live in the here and now and they'll kick you out of the room.

It should be clarified that the article is talking about the decrease in fat as a % of total calories being successful, but since society is eating so much more of everything else (ie carbs in the forms of refined sugar, white flour, etc) obesity is rising (because total caloric intake is rising).

If you're once again preaching a low carb diet to lose weight then good luck keeping those glycogen stores up and sustaining any significant long term training!

[mykalberta]

If someone can lose weight on just a Twinkie diet and reduce his cholesterol at the same time than weight loss has everything to do with simple math not simple carbs.

Less food, more exercise = weight loss.

[Sample00]

^^^ right up to the point where you hit a plateau level. grrrrrrrr...

[blankall]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If someone can lose weight on just a Twinkie diet and reduce his cholesterol at the same time than weight loss has everything to do with simple math not simple carbs.

Less food, more exercise = weight loss.

It would be a lot easier to consume less "food" if high fructose corn syrup wasn't hidden in everything.

I honestly think we could do away with much of the obesity epidemic by simply banning high fructose corn syrup.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If someone can lose weight on just a Twinkie diet and reduce his cholesterol at the same time than weight loss has everything to do with simple math not simple carbs.

Less food, more exercise = weight loss.

You can't sustain a Twinkie diet, nor is it healthy in any way.

Less food more often than not means less simple carbs. I think they both go hand in hand.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

It should be clarified that the article is talking about the decrease in fat as a % of total calories being successful, but since society is eating so much more of everything else (ie carbs in the forms of refined sugar, white flour, etc) obesity is rising (because total caloric intake is rising).

If you're once again preaching a low carb diet to lose weight then good luck keeping those glycogen stores up and sustaining any significant long term training!

I'm actually not preaching low carb diet. I'm preaching moderation according to your lifestyle.

Long term training, or training of any kind requires high amounts of carbs. But, how many people actually train or exercise in such a way? Not many. Therefore the majority of the population doesn't need 300g of carbs per day.

[You Need a Thneed]

I thought this was so widely known, that I thought a "reversal on carve" was to go back towards having more again.

[llama64]

For the average lazy ass (like me) - eating a lot of carbs is incredibly stupid. So is eating a lot of fat.

What really matters is keeping your caloric intake low (what you need, no more) while maintaining proper nutrition.

For people interested in building muscle, you need a different approach - and those crazy people who do 20km runs every day need a vastly different diet with a ton of carbs in it.

A diet should be tailored to the person and their activities - there is no correct diet.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Azure

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-...431,full.story

Been saying it for how long?

Now, I'm not anti-carb. In fact, I'm all about eating according to your lifestyle. But there is no question in my mind that a government backed 'diet', nevermind certain policies like the subsidization of corn which gave us HFCS in literally everything, not to mention how many transfats we ate until it became apparent that they weren't healthy either.....is one of the biggest reasons our obesity levels are sitting at 50% plus.

This is exactly why it annoys me when people go on a 'diet' where they eat pizza for 3 months and lose weight, and then try to tell the whole world that there is nothing wrong with eating carb heavy foods. Simply put, you can't sustain a diet like that. Any normal person with a normal lifestyle, normal 9-5 job cannot live like that for 65+ years, considering that is our average age. Of course, there is nothing wrong with pizza, provided you eat it in moderation.

Like I said before, that is why you have to eat according to your lifestyle. And there are too many people who have desk jobs and never exercise that eat WAY too much, which includes too many carbs. If you're not extremely active, there is no way in hell you should be eating 300g of carbs per day.

But try preaching moderation and responsible choices to a generation of people who live in the here and now and they'll kick you out of the room.

We tried Subway Jared's diet for about a week and frankly, I simply could not eat that much food!!!

I'm sure it works for a huge, fat guy like Jared was but I was gaining weight!!

Everyone is different. Intake is different. Physical activity is different.

Frankly, what has generally worked for me throughout my life is lots of running, biking, hiking, x-country skiing - getting out lots - and eating whatever I feel like eating, including chocolate and chips.

Later in life, I've been more into vegetables, fruits, fish, some chicken, not a lot of beef - and chocolate and chips.

As you get older, you simply can't shove the same kind of food through you as you did when you were younger. Moderation becomes more important.

And I had a nice hour and a half run on some lonely country roads yesterday morning.

I just don't think diets work without the exercise component. Personal opinion.

Cowperson

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

We tried Subway Jared's diet for about a week and frankly, I simply could not eat that much food!!!

I'm sure it works for a huge, fat guy like Jared was but I was gaining weight!!

Everyone is different. Intake is different. Physical activity is different.

Frankly, what has generally worked for me throughout my life is lots of running, biking, hiking, x-country skiing - getting out lots - and eating whatever I feel like eating, including chocolate and chips.

Later in life, I've been more into vegetables, fruits, fish, some chicken, not a lot of beef - and chocolate and chips.

As you get older, you simply can't shove the same kind of food through you as you did when you were younger. Moderation becomes more important.

And I had a nice hour and a half run on some lonely country roads yesterday morning.

I just don't think diets work without the exercise component. Personal opinion.

Cowperson

If you are consistently going on 1.5 long runs you probably aren't obese in the way that many people are. If you are 80lbs+ overweight, exercise is good, but a change in diet can make a massive difference. If your goal is to lose the last 10 lbs without losing muscle mass, then yes you will need to exercise a lot.

I think this really goes back to the point that different people have different dietary requirements. What usually works IMO, is common sense.

[Byrns]

Atkin's knew what he was talking about...

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm actually not preaching low carb diet. I'm preaching moderation according to your lifestyle.

Long term training, or training of any kind requires high amounts of carbs. But, how many people actually train or exercise in such a way? Not many. Therefore the majority of the population doesn't need 300g of carbs per day.

Weight loss: caloric expenditure > caloric intake

Health:

Eat less: trans fats, saturated fats, simple sugars, high GI foods

Eat more: fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates (whole wheat/grains), omega-3 fatty acids, lean meats

Pretty simple stuff!

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by onetwo_threefour

I lost about 70 lbs. this year. Two things, way more exercise, way less simple carbs. I cut out most of the bread and all of the rice and potatoes that I used to overindulge in and it made a huge difference. I jumped off the wagon for the holidays and gained about 7, but my New Year's Resolution is P90X so I should be in good shape. (Groan)

Congratulations! Hope you keep it off!

P90X is difficult because most of the time, people can't keep up with it and end up kicking themselves when they decide to stop for a day and then quit altogether. However- you seem like a good fit! If you have the stamina to lose that much weight over a year and keep with the diet and exercise, it may be the perfect discipline for you.

P90X will really cut down your carb intake and in the beginning you'll find that you will eat little to no carbs at all. However, in the long run carbs will be added back into your diet. This is a great way to lose weight while exercising.

Good luck and congrats again, good for you!

[pylon]

I have used a combination of spinning 15k, 3 x per week heavy/mass building lifting 4 x per week and just eating less to drop 23 in 2 months. Not even really looking at what I am eating, just capping it at 2500 calories a day maximum. The only things I cut, were soft drinks, sugar in coffee, and anything thats fried. Other than that, I haven't felt better in 10 years. Sundays, I eat whatever the hell I want though.

[Azure]

So, read an article today saying that diabetes will be a huge drain on the health care system in the future. Or an even bigger drain.

How much of that could be avoided if people were educated how to eat right? Just the other day I read an article from a certified nutritionist where she said a low-fat diet is the key to losing weight and staying healthy. In 2011, how insane is it that we're still reading crap like that? She never said a single word about carbs, high GI foods, processed carbs, insulin response, good carbs.....nothing. Nothing about whole grains, nothing about the differences in fat, and nothing about eating more protein.

Just low fat.

[BigBrodieFan]

Originally Posted by Azure

So, read an article today saying that diabetes will be a huge drain on the health care system in the future. Or an even bigger drain.

How much of that could be avoided if people were educated how to eat right? Just the other day I read an article from a certified nutritionist where she said a low-fat diet is the key to losing weight and staying healthy. In 2011, how insane is it that we're still reading crap like that? She never said a single word about carbs, high GI foods, processed carbs, insulin response, good carbs.....nothing. Nothing about whole grains, nothing about the differences in fat, and nothing about eating more protein.

Just low fat.

Just wondering- did the article list her credentials, what constitutes a 'certified nutritionist' I wonder. I mean, here in the States, a 'certified nutritionist' can be anyone who goes to a 7 day certification course- I assume in Canada it's entirely different. I would guess it would be much more difficult to get 'certification?'

I don't like that people who are looking for real help have to sort through so many 'opinions.' Sounds like you're more qualified to write the article