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Must lower carb diets be calorie counted too?

sunspots

sunspots

Well-Known Member
Messages
302
Location
Porthleven, Cornwall
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Hi all. I've tried returning to a ketotic diet after a break but the 'flu was crippling this time. If I opt for a low carb, not ketotic, diet of about 50g per day will I also need to watch my calorie intake?

Thanks for any ideas!
 
It depends:
In theory if you eat more fat and protein in place of carbs then you should naturally feel fuller and therefore eat less. You may also feel more energised once adapted so do try and hang in for a couple of weeks. Eat whole foods rather than junk low carb processed stuff which may perpetuate a sweet tooth.
Its very easy to over eat starchy foods particularly if you are doing so for emotional reasons eg. boredom, depression, to please others. It is possible to do t his with certain moreish low carb foods too so watch out if you find yourself nibbling peanuts or cheese.
Perhaps you could change up 1 thing at a time starting with your biggest downfall?
e.g. if you snack a lot in the evening try stopping eating after a certain time.
If you have lots of carbs at breakfast try skipping it or taking the time to make eggs and bacon/salmon instead.
This time you will want to make this approach last. A good expression for making sure it isn't too hard or extreme is to check if your knuckles are white (trying too hard) in which case that's a red flag and you should set an easier target to consistently achieve (see above).
 
sunspots said:
Hi all. I've tried returning to a ketotic diet after a break but the 'flu was crippling this time. If I opt for a low carb, not ketotic, diet of about 50g per day will I also need to watch my calorie intake?

Thanks for any ideas!
Click to expand...

You only have to watch your calories, if you want to.
You also don't need to be in ketosis, as long as it doesn't impact your blood levels. If you continue not to have spikes above normal levels, you will find calories don't come into it. Only the carbs.
If you find the best dietary balance for you and are finding that you have succeeded in control. And wether you are stabilising or losing weight if you need to. Control is the most important for your health and if you have the right balance, calorie count is so low, it's negligible.

Stay safe.
 
Most people eating Low Carb don't have to count calories, however that isn't a free pass to eat as much as you can.

I found that I lost weight on Low Carb even when eating a little eating more calories than before, but if I eat a lot more calories than before (overeating a lot with nuts and cheese say), then I gain weight.
 
Thanks everybody. Some helpful and hopeful advice I shall put into action. As it happens I started Trulicity and feel so sick that food is not something I fancy atm!

Thanks again!
 
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