• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Cutting the carbs - how much weight loss is normal?

J

JIS

Active Member
Messages
29
Since T2 diagnosis just over 3 months ago, I have reduced my carbs dramatically and my HbA1c is 5.7. My blood pressure is within normal range and I have lost 12 kg in weight… but I am still losing weight. My arms are thinner and I have had to have my watch strap shortened. Whilst it is great to be visibly slimmer I am concerned as to when this weight loss will stop.
I am taking no meds for my T2 so all is being done on diet and exercise. My BG level is extremely sensitive to potatoes, pasta, bread and rice so my daily carb intake is minimal; I am not eating fat because I need to control cholesterol (especially as I have stopped the statins as advised in this forum), but will this cause me to “waste away” ?!
Your thoughts are really welcome, thanks
John
 
you will need to keep an eye on the calories you are eating,
once people cut out carbs, they dont replace them with anything!
up the fat slightly, (everything in moderation and unsuprisingly a little is good for you ) and make sure you are eating enough
 
That is a wee bit of a concern to me. I have now lost 21 pounds and have normalised my blood sugars. I still have about 9 pounds left to lose but the only way that I can see to stabilise my weight is to increase my carb intake but then as we all know, it may raise my blood sugars.

I have lost too much weight too quickly and in retrospect it was the wrong way to go after my diagnosis. However, what is done is done but any advise on stabilising my weight whilst keeping my BG levels normal would be greatly appreciated.

As for my statins, I am still diligently taking them. Cholesterol was 7.0 and LDL 4.6 so thought it wise to take the Docs advice. I have had no issues with them at all.

M...
 
Hi, I've experienced significant weight loss (just over 2 stone, now weigh 10st 4). I decided to increase my carb intake last month as I felt I was wasting away and eating a few more carbs hasn't significantly affected my blood sugars and has stalled my weight loss. My last HBAC test in early April wa 6.3 from 12.0 last September. I didnt find that eating more fat worked for me. Although I wasnt overweight at diagnosis, the weight I've lost since then has helped me control my blood sugar levels. My doctor was very positive about my weight loss at my last review. I'm also taking 2 x metformin a day.

Keep testing and find what works for you.

Nik
 
In my experience it is not necessary to increase the fat in your diet at all, let me explain why. If you are trying to lose weight your body will need 'x' number of calories to fuel its daily activity, 'x' being dependant on ones sex, age and levels of exercise/activity and weight amongst other things and as you reduce your weight you will naturally require fewer calories to fuel your lifestyle as your weight decreases.

Most of those here who increase the fat they eat seem to post after 6 to 12 months that their weight loss has stalled, I didnt increase the fat in my diet at all, in fact I probably reduced it as I naturally reduced the portions of everything I was eating so smaller portions would probably mean less fat, and 4 years later I am still loosing weight albeit more slowly now than within the first year. I am not starving myself and never have.

If your not overweight and dont want to loose weight and you cut the carbs you are eating you may need to increase your fat intake but only marginally as fat has twice the calories as carbs do.

What happens when you reach your target weight, will in theory you should just stop loosing weight, you should only be eating enough to fuel your daily activities not any extra. Its when you eat extra food that it can be laid down as fat especially in times of famine ie dieting.

Also to answer another question raised I found that as I lost weight I was able to eat more carbs before they raised my bg levels and this also seems common in those who loose a lot of weight. I imagine that less weight = less insulin resistance = ability to consume more carbs while still within your limits. Carbs definitely had a much worse effect on me 4 years ago than they do now, although I still have to be cautious of course.
 
Sid Bonkers said:
In my experience it is not necessary to increase the fat in your diet at all, let me explain why. If you are trying to lose weight your body will need 'x' number of calories to fuel its daily activity, 'x' being dependant on ones sex, age and levels of exercise/activity and weight amongst other things and as you reduce your weight you will naturally require fewer calories to fuel your lifestyle as your weight decreases.

Most of those here who increase the fat they eat seem to post after 6 to 12 months that their weight loss has stalled, I didnt increase the fat in my diet at all, in fact I probably reduced it as I naturally reduced the portions of everything I was eating so smaller portions would probably mean less fat, and 4 years later I am still loosing weight albeit more slowly now than within the first year. I am not starving myself and never have.

If your not overweight and dont want to loose weight and you cut the carbs you are eating you may need to increase your fat intake but only marginally as fat has twice the calories as carbs do.

What happens when you reach your target weight, will in theory you should just stop loosing weight, you should only be eating enough to fuel your daily activities not any extra. Its when you eat extra food that it can be laid down as fat especially in times of famine ie dieting.

Also to answer another question raised I found that as I lost weight I was able to eat more carbs before they raised my bg levels and this also seems common in those who loose a lot of weight. I imagine that less weight = less insulin resistance = ability to consume more carbs while still within your limits. Carbs definitely had a much worse effect on me 4 years ago than they do now, although I still have to be cautious of course.
Click to expand...

Sid Bonkers, a very helpful post for which I thank you.

M...
 
JIS said:
Since T2 diagnosis just over 3 months ago, I have reduced my carbs dramatically and my HbA1c is 5.7. My blood pressure is within normal range and I have lost 12 kg in weight… but I am still losing weight. My arms are thinner and I have had to have my watch strap shortened. Whilst it is great to be visibly slimmer I am concerned as to when this weight loss will stop.
I am taking no meds for my T2 so all is being done on diet and exercise. My BG level is extremely sensitive to potatoes, pasta, bread and rice so my daily carb intake is minimal; I am not eating fat because I need to control cholesterol (especially as I have stopped the statins as advised in this forum), but will this cause me to “waste away” ?!
Your thoughts are really welcome, thanks
John
Click to expand...

You haven't said whether you wish to stop losing more weight ... it will continue to drop until your 'income' matches your 'outgoings', so to speak. Once you are 'happy' about your weight, shape, size etc., that would be time to relax a bit with the eating. I have 'suffered' the body changes which go along with weight loss. I can feel changes even when the scales don't indicate. I don't even play Bingo, so what use are the wings!!! Comments have ranged from "you look so healthy" to "are you ill!". My face, especially, seems to cave in. My son (Fitness Trainer) can help me with the saggy bits (except for facial exercises!). I'm 62, my weight levelled out at about 13.5 stones (from 18.5) ... got the notches in my belt to prove it. My GP was very pleased but tempered that with "you could do with losing another 1/2 stone" not specifically aimed at my diabetes. I thought "****** that", I'm happy where I am.

However, when I hit my comfortable weight (last time round), I retained it for about 2 years. Then I got a bit too confident (back on the alcohol and residential Open University schools etc.) and it started to slowly creep up again, which I ignored for too long. It would only have taken a small tweak here and there to get back to where I was, but I did nothing. So here we go again.

Although I don't take such things too seriously, I have been playing with MyFitnessPal out of interest. My current daily carb intake is very roughly 250g (probably more) and I am losing 1/2 to 1lb per week. My exercise is walking the dog 4 times a day totalling about 3 miles, and, even with that carb level I still frequently hypo by the time I'm on the 4th walk. I may have said this before, but I found that starting with my current diet then making enough adjustments to kick off a weight reduction is far easier for me than to make a sudden, drastic change to my carb intake (I think I used the phrase 'topdown approach'). Again, I am probably repeating myself, but my fasting average is currently 5.1 and post evening meal 6.1, overall average 5.7 (was 8.0 last night, but I know why and don't concern myself with the odd overindulence).... just a minor glitch on the averages. :D
 
Back
Top