Weight-Loss Carbs--the Low down

Weight-Loss
C

Curvie Girlie

New member
Hi everyone!

I originally posted this in "Cheat Days" thread--but I thought to myself, "Hey, I hope I'm right :eek: I mean, in general and for the most part. Corndoggy has a point with the carb-scare here. I was wondering if you could take a second to read this, and if I am in error, or you have something to add, please do so. Experts welcome! Any nutritionists in the house? I do read but I wonder about wording things right, or just if we could make people aware. OK, thanks! :)

corndogggy said:
We eat it often too. I don't see what the big deal is. I just stay away from the normal pasta, the white stuff, whatever you call it. I eat potatoes all the time too....So based on these experiences, I just can't agree with alot of the carbophobic ideas floating around.

It just seems as if the heaviest and most unsuccessful people are obsessed with steering clear of carbs, while the more fit and successful people eat them all the time. Why is that? Some may say that it's genetics and that they can get away with that naturally, but I think that this is the exception and not the rule.
Click to expand...

Good point!
I have something to say about this: there is a WORLD of difference between simple carbs and complex carbs. Simple carbohydrates are often high in calories, low in nutrients (usually, ok!), and low in fiber. This equals the high risk of over-eating them. You just don't feel full! Also, carbohydrate comsumption spawns seretonin release--that happy-go-lucky, feel-good neurotransmitter. Why? Perhaps because:

THE HUMAN BRAIN ONLY USES CARBOHYDRATES AS FUEL

Therefore, it's only natural for our bodies to crave it, right? Otherwise our brain couldn't function properly. It's safe to say a low-carbohydrate diet will make you stupid :p For some people, especially depressed people with chemical imbalances (and depressed people OFTEN tend to get overweight, not all but many), this euphoric feeling is addicting. And simple-carb food tastes very good usually--a lot of it is loaded with sugar and salt, or has a great texture (think Franchese Bread, mmmh!). SO for some people, simple carbs are dangerous waters.

These people need to realize that they will be FINE and lose weight if they just traded in the simple for the complex. No one ever got fat off of vegetables, fruit, and whole grains (well, I doubt it! If so they're probably not being honest with themselves). Complex carbs are VERY filling. Add some protein in there (legumes, meat, fish) and you will feel satiated--and great! Most likely, your brain chemistry may start to become normal again. Because simple carbs also create a high and crash of neurotransmitters. Put in too much sugar and the whole insulin-working-overtime and you're in a bad place.

OK, I said my piece--eat those carbs! Just make sure they're complex, and keep the simple to a minimum, and at last have them with protein or something. :D
 
Last edited:
I'm a good girl now, but trust me, I have before and I could now, if I let myself, eat 3/4 of an entire huge loaf of Franchese or Ciabatta bread to my dome in an hour, and love every minute of it.
 
You may enjoy reading "Body by God" if this subject interests you, there are some good explanations there. Basically your body was made to fuel off of carbs, so it's not wise to stop eating them.

But yeah, I've seen people worry about whether they should eat an apple, yet they drink four Cokes per day. Kinda stupid. Beyond stupid if you ask me.

One thing to mention about carbs though, is that you should only eat them if you're going to use them. Therefore, it's better to eat carbs early in the day then taper off in the evening so you can fuel off of them during the day. At night is not the time to load up on carbs, especially simple ones or ones that have a high glycemic index. If you do that, then you can cause an insulin flood to cover the sugar, which also blocks off access from your fat stores until your carb stores are used. When you simply go to sleep instead of burning this off... obviously that might be a problem.
 
My take on carbs. I love em. :)

But, there is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate. There are essential proteins and fats, but no essential carbs. ;)

Exercises like weight training entail the use of an energy known as glycogen. This is simply the stored form of glucose, which is the sum of the breakdown from ingested carbohydrates.

Resistance training in and of itself is not terribly glycogen depleting. However, I feel that I run optimally while ingesting a good amount of carbs.

IMO, carbs don't make you fat, calories do. You can't build something out of nothing. However, I think the only time you really should take in carbs is post workout for its anti-catabolic effects after a session of intense resistance training.

Don't read me wrong though, again, I am a fan of carbs anytime. But the only time I feel they are necessary is in the above situation.

Your brain does not have to function on dietary carbs.
 
corndogggy said:
But yeah, I've seen people worry about whether they should eat an apple, yet they drink four Cokes per day. Kinda stupid. Beyond stupid if you ask me.

One thing to mention about carbs though, is that you should only eat them if you're going to use them. Therefore, it's better to eat carbs early in the day then taper off in the evening so you can fuel off of them during the day. At night is not the time to load up on carbs, especially simple ones or ones that have a high glycemic index. If you do that, then you can cause an insulin flood to cover the sugar, which also blocks off access from your fat stores until your carb stores are used. When you simply go to sleep instead of burning this off... obviously that might be a problem.
Click to expand...

YES! Very unwise--eat that apple, trash the Coke. Yes, I heard about how the body's ability to process carbs for energy tapers off as the day wears on. I like to eat fish, greens, and some yam at dinnertime. I'm not worried about the damn yam, though ;) I think a lot of people who snack at night tend to have snacks that are high in simple carbs.

Please, peeps--EAT THAT APPLE!!
 
Steve said:
My take on carbs. I love em. :)

But, there is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate. There are essential proteins and fats, but no essential carbs. ;)

IMO, carbs don't make you fat, calories do. You can't build something out of nothing. However, I think the only time you really should take in carbs is post workout for its anti-catabolic effects after a session of intense resistance training.

Don't read me wrong though, again, I am a fan of carbs anytime. But the only time I feel they are necessary is in the above situation.

Your brain does not have to function on dietary carbs.
Click to expand...


Ok, but Steve! PLEASE acknowledge that fruits and vegetables are high in nutrients that ARE essential, and antioxidants that we desparately need! They are so important--especially since exercising leaves us susceptible to free radial damage. Antioxidants help that. C'mon, why would it be reccommended to have 8 servings of fruits and veggies a day?
EAT THAT APPLE, DAMMIT! ;) :)
 
I am all for fruits and veggies.... and lots of them. Never said I wasn't. ;)
 
Steve said:
However, I think the only time you really should take in carbs is post workout for its anti-catabolic effects after a session of intense resistance training.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised to hear you say that because...

1. Maybe for shorter workouts like with weight training this may be somewhat true, but if you're doing longer workouts and events, you've got to carbo-load a certain way to maximize your carb stores, and also fuel up during the event. You can't be very effective in distance events by ignoring carbs and only eating them afterwards.

2. If you don't take in carbs, even if you're not an athlete, your body is going to try to fuel off of protein more... which is possible... but it has bad side effects, such as being hard on your kidneys. Those people on Atkins who do the pee test... they are absolutely killing their kidneys when that test turns up positive. This alone should be enough for somebody to want to skip the low-carb thing.
 
Last edited:
corndogggy said:
1. Maybe for shorter workouts like with weight training this may be somewhat true, but if you're doing longer workouts and events, you've got to carbo-load a certain way to maximize your carb stores, and also fuel up during the event. You can't be very effective in distance events by ignoring carbs and only eating them afterwards.

2. If you don't take in carbs, even if you're not an athlete, your body is going to try to fuel off of protein more... which is possible... but it has bad side effects, such as being hard on your kidneys. Those people on Atkins who do the pee test... they are absolutely killing their kidneys when that test turns up positive. This alone should be enough for somebody to want to skip the low-carb thing.
Click to expand...

I was talking for the average person.... not an endurance, glycogen demanding individual.

You can eat very low carbs in a healthy way, without muscle loss.
 
Also, please understand, I am not a fan of low carb diets at all! I don't promote them, nor do I use them.

I am merely talking logistics here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top