To be confused about carb heavy diet?

[GreenestValley]

Just reading a thread on here about weight loss and diet. Many posters commenting that the Op in that thread has a very carb heavy diet.

I feel quite confused about it as I always thought carbs were an important part of a balanced diet and a source of energy. Obviously not too much white bread, white pasta etc, but from a personal perspective I have to have a fairly carb based diet or else I get hungry and end up snacking. And I’ve always had a normal weight.
I was also under the impression that the “low carb” diets of the early 2000s eg Atkins etc that were very popular, were kind of debunked now.
Am I missing something? Do carbs affect some people differently to others? Would welcome a bit of de mystifying here if anyone has expertise just for my own understanding!

It took me a long time to love running, and I didn't believe I ever would! Loathed it at school. I started because I was desperate to find a cheap and convenient way to sort out my post-natal anxiety, weight gain and worryingly high blood pressure. It felt a bit 'kill or cure' to start with. 5 mins had me scarlet, coughing and panting. Nobody was more surprised than me when I eventually made it to half marathon distance and actually loved it.

It did help me lose weight, combined with eating less unhealthily, definitely helped a lot with the anxiety and the bp too. Part of me does wonder whether, if I managed to lose quite a lot more weight (I'm 5'6" and a size 14 atm and edge in and out of the top of the healthy range and bottom of the overweight range) and got down to a size 10, I'd be able to run without injuries. Less weight on the joints has got to help. But I suspect my knees still wouldn't like it. And I'm 48 and haven't ever been a size 10.

Do you think runners love running, @BIWI? I'm really curious about this, as a runner. Mostly I have to force myself to go, and curse regularly (often rhythmically!) en route. A runners high is rare, although I'm always glad I went.

There seems to be a misapprehension that runners are enjoying every step, farting glitter and whistling, when in reality, there'd be no point in doing it if it didn't take a lot of effort.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think everybody should run. I'm just curious about how non-runners think about runners.

Oh yes, I still had to force myself out of the door quite often, but I definitely enjoyed quite a bit of the actual running and always the feeling afterwards!

I hate running - whilst I am doing it.
I look hot and sound like a steam train. no high whilst I'm out running.

however I feel great after.

I'm just glad when I've finished!

Twice now I've completed the C25K (the second time in lockdown). So I know I can run for 30 minutes without stopping. But it never gets any more enjoyable. The most enjoyable thing about it is listening to various podcasts as I'm running!

DH, on the other hand, runs 6 days out of 7 and one of those runs is usually a half marathon. He must get some kind of pleasure from it? I know, however, that it's very good for his mental health. He suffers much less from depression when he's able to run. One of his greatest fears is that we might end up self-isolating and therefore he wouldn't be able to go out for a run.

@BIWI I wish I loved running. I've tried, but I just don't like it. I never get the so-called 'runner's high'.

So find the thing you do enjoy. I find running boring and tough on the knees. I get that some people genuinely enjoy it but I think that maybe because I don't have runners physique, it's not something I'll ever really enjoy. Now that I'm fit I quite enjoy a quick sprint for a bus or like that I can run down my silly dog if he escapes the garden and tries to run off and bark at his neighbouring enemy dog. But I'd never choose to run a 10km, my knees wouldn't thank me for it.

But last year I found skating. Took my DS to the roller-rink a few times and once he learned to skate by himself I discovered how much I enjoy it and it's become a complete addiction. Rollerskating, park skating on ramps, inline skating outside, ice-skating at Christmas. I can dance on skates, figure skate at just above a beginner level, manage a few jumps, skate 50km+ outside and enjoy every bloody minute of if. I got extremely fit from skating alone, but as I get more ambitious in what I want to achieve on skates, I've added gymnastics, strength and flexibility. Because I want to be able incorporate cartwheels, handstands and splits into my skating.

I never, ever, ever force myself to skate. I itch to do it. Every morning when I wake up one of the first things I think about is skating. Will I be doing it that day, if so how many hours of non-skating do I have to get through until I have wheels on my feet. If I'm not skating that day I genuinely feel so disappointed. I love what skating has done to my body and the way I view myself. But to be totally honest, even if it was really, really bad for me I'd still do it. In fact, when I was sick for months this year, I suspect that skating a couple of times before I was ready to set me back. And I had to be really, really strict with myself a few times to not skate even when I felt up to it so I could recover fully.

So I'd encourage everyone to try and figure out what their 'thing' is. Something in the back of your mind that you always wanted to do. A fantasy about a sport you never really had a chance to try as a kid. Figure out what it is and go for it. It might not be too late to get pretty good at something you might get to love for the next 20-40-50 years.

I love running, I started when I was 48 (I'm nearly 55 now), wanted to do a marathon before I turned 50 and did, I now do ultras, trail running is my favourite. I run with a club so that's more motivating and I also have a border collie who wants to go out rain or shine so another good motivator. I still get the runners high, I get the cycle and swimming high too (just love sport).
I'm not thin at all, slim but I put on weight easily even running over 100km a week. I like eating and drinking! I think when you do a lot of exercise your body adapts its metabolic to run more slowly, I have a very low heart rate so burn very few calories compared to someone heavier and less active than me. According to Garmin I burn around 600 calories for 10 miles which isn't a lot at all.
I'm listening to a really interesting audiobook called Exercised by Daniel Lieberman which deals with a lot of the myths surrounding exercise and how much we should do.

@alittleprivacy

Your happy-exercise story has brightened my morning!

There seems to be a misapprehension that runners are enjoying every step, farting glitter and whistling, when in reality, there'd be no point in doing it if it didn't take a lot of effort.

Me! I love running! I run about 10k everyday. I think that's part of the reason I love it because it feels weird not to do it now. However I run at a MAF level (maximum aerobic function) of intensity which I think might make a difference. I don't get particularly breathless and it doesn't feel hard. Running at a low level of intensity maximises and improves fat adaptation so you can utilise you fat stores really well. So fatigue is not such an issue because I have fat stores to utilise! I love the changes to my body too. My legs are more toned than they've ever been and my back hardly aches whereas a few years ago I suffered from bouts of sciatica. I've got a defined jawline and cheekbones again which is one of the things I hate losing when overweight.

One more thing, I have to force myself to eat pasta the day before a big race which is hard when you aren't used to eating many carbs!

My experience with carbs is that bread bloats me so I don't eat it daily, maybe a couple of times a week. Pasta and potatoes are fine for some reason. I have a low BMI. I think some people struggle with an overload of carbs maybe

@Jemenfouscompletement have you looked at some of the info about ultra runners running on a Keto diet? I found it interesting.

And MAF training which links in regarding fat adaptation.

@Jemenfouscompletement

Have a read of The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance

There shouldn't be any need for you to carb-up if you're fat-adapted and following a low carb diet.

Totally agree that reducing processed carbs (bread mostly for me, then pasta) has made it easier to do fasting as well, they work really well together.
Also I haven't found exercising/low carbing when fasting a problem either - I do cycling, rowing and open water swimming. I'm definitely not a runner...

I sort of applaud the theory, but as a vegetarian (for ethical reasons) and currently dairy-free (breastfeeding a baby who is) it would not leave me much to eat. I can still eat eggs, beans and lentils (not keen on tofu/quorn) but they don’t fill me up that much and do get awfully samey if just that plus veg. I assume all those who sing its praises are omnivores with lots of options, bit happy to be told if i’m wrong?

alittleprivacy - the way you describe skating makes it sound fantastic! It's one of those things that I rather envy and find simultaneously really impressive and fun-looking when I see other people doing it, but fear I'd a) look like an idiot and b) break bones if I tried!

@RubaiyatOfAnyone, yes I am an omnivore. As a vegetarian you could cut down on simple carbs. The more fibre a carbohydrate has in it the less effective carbohydrate that you can metabolise. Added to this you could make sure you get a healthy dose of fats with things like coconut milk/cream, coco nut oil, nuts and avocados. I still do eat things like pulses, beans and legumes but plenty of colourful veg too. I think it would be getting enough complete protein that I would find tricky. (Ethically, personally, I really love plants as well as animals and have read a lot of research that suggests they are sentient too so I would be left with nothing to eat if I didn't eat other lifeforms. I just support good respectful farming practices.)

I saw this article this morning and thought it might be useful for those on here who don’t want to be low carb, but would like to eat their veggies and starches in a less inflammatory way.

mol.im/a/8774411

@justanotherneighinparadise

The things she's holding in her basket in her picture will stimulate inflammation. Carbs stimulate inflammation.

I thought it might be interesting for those who don’t want to go down the low carb route.

@veryvery

I really love plants as well as animals and have read a lot of research that suggests they are sentient too so I would be left with nothing to eat if I didn't eat other lifeforms. I just support good respectful farming practices

I've struggled with this, and also the murderousness of growing vegetables. So many little caterpillars have to be killed for every lb of broccoli.

That is typical Daily mail!
Article of no actual substance
Person posed by photographer with random basket of fruit (none mentioned in article)
Person promoting book/product/business
No mention of carbs or fat either way
Rather uncontroversial advice to eat less processed food and more fresh veg.

Nothing to disagree with though

I like Jane Clarke. I have a couple of her books already. That’s probably why I liked the article.

I wish you'd highlighted that it was a Daily Heil link!!!