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Low-carb diet = eating more?

A

ab.er.rant

Active Member
Messages
26
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Does a low-carb diet imply the need to eat more food? We've reduced carbs, so we need to increase fats. But there's only so much sources of non-animal fat I can think of... yogurt, nuts, olive oil... there's only so much bacon one should consume in a day. Is anyone else finding themselves eating more often and in more amounts than when they were taking in mainly carbs?
 
I actually eat less but I have been very low carb for years. I still remember though eating carbs kept me in a ravenous state of hunger. I feel much better low carb.
My typical meals are
BF half an avocado with celery.
L 10 G protein with mayo on a lettuce wrap, celery radish and 1/4 avocado
Dinner 15 G protein on a lettuce wrap so salad with either mayo or Evoo, the last 1/4 avocado and some a small serving of random veggies if I don't have a salad.
Snacks. A few. Nuts or olives.

I keep saturated fat, carbs and protein low. Works for me but YMMV.
The type of calories is more important than the number of calories IMO
 
No. In general I eat less as eating enough fats keep me feeling full longer. Usually the only times I feel the need to eat more are when I've eaten a few too many carbs, and perhaps not enough fattier food. And then I think it's incorrectly wired brain message thing rather than an undernourished tum.

Robbity
 
I agree with needing some fat. If I don't eat enough even the protein can make me hungry as I know I gluconeogenisis fast. I need the fat fat to keep things slow and low. Not too slow or low though haha. Delicate balance but I am type 1 so tricky to get I insulin and food to work together
 
Hmmm... I'm just finding it difficult to reach the same levels of calories as before, without the rice and bread. The portion is fine, but it's the quality of calories as you said Kristin. I'm 6 feet and weigh about 78kg, so I figure I need around 2000 calories or so on light exercise?

For example, at breakfast, I'd eat about 200ml of yogurt plus some seeds/nuts/dark chocolate. Sometimes grain bread with cheese/peanut butter/butter, and sometimes a bit of oats. And that tides me to till lunch. Yea, I seem able to take some grains in the morning without spiking over.

Lunch and dinner are usually similar, a plate with several kinds of vegetables, raw/boiled/stir-fried, plus a quarter plate of meat and/or eggs. Although sometimes, I take one of them meat-heavy, where the portions get reversed.

While I usually don't feel hungry at all, I find that if I don't eat in between meals, snacking on nuts, vege nibbles, cheese, milk, even a bit of fruit/crackers, then I find my mood levels would go down. It seems like I just feel better if I stuff myself a bit. Psychological? Or just thyroid action? Or am I really just not eating enough fats to compensate for the carbs?
 
I have been following my doctors instructions an I follow a portion intake meaning I'm allowed 7portions of carbs in a day, each portion is 80g, also have certain portions for other food groups! I dnt always have the 7 portions in a day but by sticking to this I have lost 8pounds in weight since starting a week ago and my sl have gone from its highest 15 to there lowest 4.8! I'm never hungry and I dnt snack between meals unless I fancy a piece of fruit! It's completely changed my life style and a much better healthy eating range as well!


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Well done keep it up
 

I need something small every two hours or so but just a few nuts do me. I have never been able to just eat 3 meals a day and the bigger the meal the hungrier I get. So I now eat three small meals and a few very small snacks. Even 2 olives is enough. I don't count calories but I eat high quality foods. No food seems to stay with me long. I always need to munch. I am 5'8 and 125 pounds. (56 kg)
Sometimes I wonder if the snacking is an acid/alkaline thing. My stomach likes to be chewing. Seltzer water helps sometimes. If you are the weight you like then I wouldn't worry about it. Just eat wholesome fresh quality foods
 
Personally I have found that I eat much less now than I ever have. So much so that I can now comfortably fast for a few days without being really hungry. I used to be quite a binger so I have found the changes brought about in my eating by LCHF have been remarkable. I guess the motivation was provided by my diagnosis and the desire to prove that bloody nurse wrong (I guess I should really thank her for her "your diabetes will get worse and you will end up on insulin" speech).
 
@ab.er.rant: Try this low carb nutritional calculator as a guide to see if you are actually getting enough fat.

Maybe cut out or down on your more carby snacks - veggies, milk, fruit & crackers... Or at least have butter, cheese, peanut or other nut butter, or maybe some paté on the crackers? Replace veggies with one of @Kristin251's avocados mashed with sour cream . And a cup of coffee with full cream should help you feel full, or if you can stick it, add a teaspoon of coconut oil to it as well. If you bake, look at our low carb recipes thread for various muffins using almond, sesame, coconut, flour with added flaxseed or chia; you can add grated cheese and chopped nuts for a bit more fat & protein. (Because they look more like carby food they can be good for comfort eating...)

Robbity

PS Typing all this is making me hungry too now !!
 

7 x 80g = 560g carbs a day?!!! That seems way too high to me, or am I missing something?

X


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Debmcgee said:
7 x 80g = 560g carbs a day?!!! That seems way too high to me, or am I missing something?

X


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Click to expand...
Regardless of diabetes I don't think I could even eat that much food. What does that even look like on a Plate? I'm 20 or less so I really have no idea
 
Me neither. I've been around 20-30g a day for ages and I'd struggle to up it to more than 50g (unless I went on a binge)


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Debmcgee said:
7 x 80g = 560g carbs a day?!!! That seems way too high to me, or am I missing something?
Click to expand...

Maybe 80g weight of carby food per meal rather that 80g worth of actual carbs??? But whichever way it's a heck of a lot...

560g actual carbs is going on for around a fortnight's worth for me.

Robbity
 
Robbity said:
Maybe 80g weight of carby food per meal rather that 80g worth of actual carbs??? But whichever way it's a heck of a lot...

560g actual carbs is going on for around a fortnight's worth for me.

Robbity
Click to expand...
There is a thing here in the US for diabetics and they consider 1 portion of carbs at about 15 carbs and then tell you to eat a certain number of portions per meal. I suppose it's some type of simplifying carb counting for people as they list how much potato, rice, breads, cereals, donuts etc in 1 portion. They generally recommend 2-3 portions per meal. So about 90-130 carbs a day. That's what I eat in a week if I don't count wine. This formula is for all diabetics, not just insulin users.
 
That's why it's an epidemic!! X


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Thanks! Though I'm in the UK and we're on a UK based forum....

That makes a lot more sense, but more importantly, how come 80g carbs a meal then??

Robbity
 
I have no idea. Maybe they are using the same type system. Just guessing. Seems extremely carb rich to me. Maybe she made a mistake when typing?
 
Keeps carbs to under 25g daily and eat high saturated fat. I am off medication for type 2 now after 3 months on the LCHF diet. There is no link between saturated fats and heart disease. Visit WWW.dietdoctor.com for advice and guidance and as recommended by my GP.
 
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