Calorie Deficit

[Elfina]

Do you still need to have a calorie deficit if you're low-carbing?

Elfina, this is just what I was about to ask! Anyone?

I usually eat pretty low carb anyway, and exercise x5 a week, but through stress and habitual grazing, I've been eating more and more carbs over the past few months so decided today to do super low carb for a little while to try and get things back on track before hopefully getting back to usual. However, I seem to have eaten more calories than usual (though less than 20g from carbs) meaning there is no deficit.

This surely can't be the way to lose fat (I don't weigh myself, so more that my clothes aren't fitting anymore!)? Does there need to be a distinct deficit with low carb? It would be really useful to know!

I think that when you are starting out or have a lot to lose you don't need a calorie deficit.

I know that when I tried tracking my calories on MFP I was eating around 1500-1700 cals per day but not losing weight. On BC I can eat over 2000 calories per day and lose weight, I have a lot to lose though.

A calorie isn't a calorie isn't a calorie!

If you eat fat, it has no impact on the insulin levels in your body, so no fat is laid down.

If you eat carbs, the body releases insulin which ends up laying down fat in the body.

So 'carb' calories are more 'dangerous' than 'fat' calories.

(That's hugely simplistic, but is broadly right )