To ask about carbs

[Sleepysquirrelin]

Carbs get a rough deal these days and it seems everyone is trying to cut them out. Why are carbs so bad for us?
Is it just from a weight loss perspective? Are 'wholewheat carbs' significantly better?

I lost a few pounds by doing the fast 800 over a week but stupidly bought a tiger loaf and bang - diet in ruins. I get up and want cereal and toast. Eggs just don't cut it. I could eat crisps, pizza, bread, pasta and rice all day long. Since I broke my diet I've been stuffing carbs in my mouth like there is no tomorrow. I could live without chocolate, dessert, cakes and biscuits but not bread!

How on earth do people manage to give up carbs. Is it just my personal vice and some people aren't that bothered? I'm not really overweight but clothes are getting a bit tight and I don't like my body shape much. Am I destined to fail due to my carb addiction or is it not that important if I make other changes?

Because they may your sugar levels spike and create cravings.

Carbs are my downfall too. I’m doing weight watchers at the moment which seems to be keeping me sensible.

There are good carbs and bad carbs.
Lots of things have carbs in that you wouldn't even realise. Eg. 1 grape is approx 1 carb!
You just need to wean yourself off the stodgy white bread, cakes, biscuits and it will get easier and you will feel less bloated. Drink water and increase your veg in take and move a bit more. Plus, try not to stress. You will feel wonderful after a week.

Cutting out carbs is definitely the winner for me when it comes to losing weight. I do still have some carbs in moderation - brown rice for example. It’s just the refined ones that seem to make the difference to weight.

Yeah ditch refined carbs is the key.

I eat keto, very low carb. Never felt better.

It's the only way I can lose weight. If I just look at a pizza, I'll be wearing it on my thighs within minutes.

but I love carbs

From my perspective, carbs are seriously bad. I have gone low carb, v low sugar and can't believe how easily I have lost weight. 2 stone in a few months and still a very slow steady loss (am in healthy BMI but still losing). I sleep better, I feel better, I wish I had done it years ago. I can't recommend it enough. I use quite a few alternatives (home baked almond flour bread, Keto desserts,) but I honestly think it is the holy grail of weight loss. Low fat/low calorie is rubbish and not sustainable.

I have been the same weight for 40 years and never dieted (now aged 60). I eat a fairly healthy diet imo which includes lots of carbs. Not much of a sweet tooth, never eat pudding or anything sweet really but love my bread, pasta and potatoes.
Recently I've had a serious illness and for various reasons have changed my eating habits. I've put 3kilos on in the last two months. This is quite unheard of for me. Clothes don't fit. I'm still eating the carbs but the thing that's different is that I'm eating cake, ice cream, biscuits. In other words sugar.
I'm not worried as I know the weight will drop off once I return to health but it's been an interesting lesson.

You can eat anything. Just track your calories. If you're not losing weight after consistently eating at a calorie deficit, get some blood tests.

There is so much conflicting information out there. There are credible people who will swear calories in/calories out is all that matters, then someone equally credible who will tell you it's impossible to lose weight while eating carbs, then there's veganism, high carb low fat, high fat low carb, the list goes on..

Calories in/calories out seems to work for the overwhelming majority of people though.

Thing is is not just calories in/out.
It does matter what they are.
Try sticking to low GL carb sources.
Avoid refined carbs completely. That means sticking with wholegrains like brown rice, quinoa, oats etc and no cake/biscuits/sweets.
Best fruits for snacking on are apples/pears/plums/berries. Have a handful of nuts/seeds too. And try to have protein with your carbs. Eg, fish with rice, chicken and sweet potato.