Are carbs actually bad?

[peace-love-couture]

Well, let's see:

my friends are obsessed with watching their card intake as opposed to calorie intake, especially since one of them gains weight in the ass/hip area cause she's pear shaped

My mom told me I should lose weight for my prom dress -_- so I'm not 100% sure if carbs are totally bad or what. When I did HIIT I felt like I needed them, but since I don't workout anymore cause I hope to get flabby and burn off all of the muscle in my legs, I don't know what to think anymore.

I'm confused.

So I'm going to start working out and taking diet pills, but I'm unsure of the carb nonsense. Maybe I'll just keep my calorie intake around 1000-1200 calories

Do they actually cause weight gain? or not?

help?

[madmisskelly]

Carbs are not bad, in fact they are very very necessary! Carbohydrates, glucose (sugar) in particular is the most important. This is the main source of fuel that your brain uses. If you do not take in any carbs your body turns to its own fat reserves and eventually its own muscle reserves for energy. NOT good.

Where this myth tends to come from is how EVERYTHING has some carbs in it and it is easy to overeat on carbs if you are not careful. It makes sense to count your carbs, and actually, your calories for a while until you get a sense of what you should and shouldn't be eating. Veggies are just fine, but fruits you gotta watch out for. A few pieces a day is more than enough when combined with some whole grain bread and brown rice.

Think about it, you wouldn't sit down and eat a whole pound of bacon, eat a big plate of chicken fat or eat excessive amounts of meat in one sitting. That being said, we seem to be able to do this with fruit, bread, and other carb rich foods no problem.

Cut out added sugar and limit portion sizes.

[naturaldisaster]

Carbs gain weight, but most food we eat contain carbs even veggies have carbs (but its the smallest amount). Try eating less pasta, potatoes, burgers that contain fake ketchup, pickles, etc. And if you're trying to lose some weight eat around 800 calories per day maybe less. I'm trying to lose weight myself and I've been eating very healthy, I've cut out all chocolate, bread, less meat and I've been eating more vegetables and drinking lots of water or tea! Its helping me slowly. but good luck!

[Brontosaurus]

Carbs are part of any healthy diet.

Your calorie intake is the primary factor in the energy in - energy out = net weight gain/loss equation. Carbs, fat, and protein all have a calorie content that adds to the "energy in" part of the equation.

However, some carbs are easier for the body to break down into useable sugar than others. Carbs that are easy to break down come from things like pure grain sugar, candy, bread, normal pastsa, etc. and while they are a good source of energy, leave the body feeling less "full." That then prompts the body to want to eat MORE to sustain its energy levels, causing the "energy in" part of the equation to skyrocket. That's primarily why they are considered bad.

Foods with carbs that are harder for the body to break down into useable sugar see a more constant release of energy over time and leave the body feeling "fuller" for longer. They make it easier to maintain an even activity level throughout the day. Things like vegetables and high-fiber breads/oats contain those type of carbs.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

This guy is right essentially. Simple carbs not as filling as complex carbs per calorie, complex carbs not as filling as fats per calorie. fats not filling as protein per calorie.

That's why high fat, high protein diets are really common and have had quite the success (e.g. atkins diet).

But no, carbs are not bad. It's mostly just the calorie count that matters. I'd only suggest high-protein, high-fat foods for the sake of hunger satisfaction.

BA.

[aMuse]

Carbohydrates are ready to use instantly. Proteins and fats need to be converted. Calories are calories but if you eat more complex molecules it takes more time to use them. So if you take in pure sugar it hits your bloodstream and if not used it gets stored as fat. Fats and proteins take a longer to be usable so as you are active through the day they become available gradually and used gradually. It is less likely they will be stored as fat. When you cut carbohydrate intake very low then you enter ketosis and encourage your body to use stored fat. Please keep your calories to a minimum of 1200 per day.

[oOsweet~o~nessOo]

Carbs are the first line of energy burned off - so if your working out or your diet pills are eating up excess things like that - you should be fine in healthy moderation.

Like the occasional pasta or dinner roll isn't going to make you gain a thousand pounds.

Calories don't burn off as fast and usually can be referenced for fat storage. So yea, definitely limit those down. I think 1200 - 1400 calories a day is standard for a woman?

Not 100% sure - just don't cut down on calories so much that your blood sugar levels plummet - which cause a really nasty hunger which leads to binge eating and snacking more often.

Portion control is definitely what all matters so. Eat enough to get your essentials, but not over abundance.

[lucky24]

there are good carbs and bad carbs

depends on what you eat since carbs include fiber as well as sugar

if you are trying to lose weight you want to lower the amount of sugar you eat but lowering fiber means the time spent in the bathroom might be uncomfortable

to lose weight its better to decrease your calorie intake but since you are only eating 1000-1200 I would highly recommend against it!

in order to avoid hunger you can drink more water since its good for you and you won't notice whether you are hungry or not

[kheserthorpe]

Calories in vs. calories out for the most part.

Carbs offer calories without much else. They're not very filling. You need sugars for maximal strength activities and intense exercise, which come from carbs whether simple or complex.

Most real foods are not 'good' or 'bad' (some processed food is straight up _bad_) ... its your overall diet + activity level that is good or bad.

[DocClassic]

"Calories in vs. calories out for the most part." not for the most part, its the only part. if out>in over a period of time you will lose weight

[kheserthorpe]

True but macronutrient mix can affect muscle gain or loss and impact metabolism. Obviously it's still calories in vs calories out but calories in do have some impact on calories out.

[funkadelic5]

Carbs don't inherently cause weight gain in any possible way. Carbs, and any other macronutrient you ingest will cause weight gain if you aren't using those calories that you consume.

That just means, if you sit on the couch all day and eat like a fatty then you'll become a fatty.

In general thought, the best macronutrient to ingest when you are trying to lose weight or gain muscle is protein. So eat plenty of meat and fish. And skim milk.

[Anonymous]

Sugar, corn syrup, processed (white) flour = bad.

Vegetables, some rice, fruit, 100% whole wheat = good.

The reason excess carbs are bad, is they increase insulin, and insulin increase fat storage. So SOME carbs are bad. Don't get fanatic, just don't eat the first ones I mentioned.