Thread: It's the carbs!

Just one word of advice for those of you looking at these different eating patterns with the desire to lose weight...the ONLY thing that matters is energy balance, it does not matter which source the calories come from. If you want to lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories then you are burning (which you can acheive by eating fewer calories, burning more calories from exercise, or the best option would be to do a combination of both). Dietitians have been saying this for years even though the message has been presented in many differnt ways some admittedly more confusing then others.

Originally Posted by Jenan

Just one word of advice for those of you looking at these different eating patterns with the desire to lose weight...the ONLY thing that matters is energy balance, it does not matter which source the calories come from. If you want to lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories then you are burning (which you can acheive by eating fewer calories, burning more calories from exercise, or the best option would be to do a combination of both). Dietitians have been saying this for years even though the message has been presented in many differnt ways some admittedly more confusing then others.

It is true that the bottom line is calories, but what you are eating can have a profound effect on one's appetite, and thus the energy budget.

Carbs rev up my appetite. It is much more difficult for me to succeed in creating a calorie deficit if I'm eating high GI carbs. I think this happens to alot of people. The assumption behind lower carb diets (like the south beach, where certain foods are restricted but not portion sizes of allowed food) is not that calories don't matter, but that the dietary change will, in a short period of time, down-regulate the appetite, leading to a lowered caloric intake.

agree with the above.

yes, it's true losing weight is simply a calorie deficit, but the quality of food (for same calories) will make a big difference in your overall health and mental / emotional health.

300 calories: i may eat nonfat ice cream that has this calories, or some non-fat Greek yogurt. Same calories, even same fat content. Isn't my attitude going to be better about myself, which will make it easier to eat healthy, maybe even a motivation to go for a run or walk, or hit the gym.
After a bowl of ice cream, yes, I might think it's ok, I deserved it, but I don't think I will be especially motivated or positive about my weight loss progress.

Let's mix it up: I can eat a very nice bowl of oatmeal with some fruit for 280 calories. I can also at a candybar, like snicker, for the same calorie amount. Don 't tell me the effect are the same. From the oatmeal I will have energy and probably full for quite a while, from the candybar I will sugar crash in about an hour, and hungry again way before that. I might even reach for another one, or later on during the day make another bad choice.

I just came home for work, kinda hungry and tired. I heated up a bowl of brown rice with lentils, cut up a small cucumber, added some olives and fat free italian dressing (I know, I'm weird, I like sour things, haha.) I feel energized, and full. I know in an hour and a half I can go and run a mile and will have the energy. (and I have the motivation). If I would have eaten a cheeseburger (which I would NEVER), I doubt I would feel the same way, and I really don't think I would be motivated to go for a run.

so no, it's technically just a number's game, but not quite :)

those nasty little carbs. i wish i didn't love them so much ..cr.: