Carb Question
I am totally confused when it comes to carbs. I am 1 year and half out from RNY, I am currently 206 lbs. I am at a complete stand still with my weight loss. My nut keeps cancelling my appointments with her becuz she's ill or on vacation,( 3 times she's cancelled my appointment. UGH)
I keep seeing forum members say stay away from simple and complex carbs if you are not near your goal weight. I purchased the book weight loss for dummies and it was saying something differenet that you know eating fruit and other simple carbs were ok with certain limits, Could some of you guys share some light on your carb opinions as far as what has helped you reached your goal weight. My goal weight is 190 btw, I am close but I haven't lost weight in over 7 months, ughhhhh
Thanks
I keep seeing forum members say stay away from simple and complex carbs if you are not near your goal weight. I purchased the book weight loss for dummies and it was saying something differenet that you know eating fruit and other simple carbs were ok with certain limits, Could some of you guys share some light on your carb opinions as far as what has helped you reached your goal weight. My goal weight is 190 btw, I am close but I haven't lost weight in over 7 months, ughhhhh
Thanks
I'm no expert on carbs, but I try to avoid simple carbs, such as refined flour, white potatoes, pasta, rice, etc. I read somewhere to avoid any food that is white - white bread, white potatoes, white flour... And substitute complex carbs such as sweet potatoes, whole wheat products, etc.
This is an extreme over simplification and maybe we'll get som additional guidance from someone.
This is an extreme over simplification and maybe we'll get som additional guidance from someone.
KenHud
RNY 5/17/10 highest: 407 lb - maintaining a loss of 200+ pounds and enjoying life
RNY 5/17/10 highest: 407 lb - maintaining a loss of 200+ pounds and enjoying life
My thoughts...I'm no expert. As you get toward goal look to complex carbs for most of your carbs...They usually have a lot of fiber and take a while to digest. Simple carbs are what are called empty carbs. They spike your blood sugar level quickly and then it drops quickly. I may have told you to stay away from simple carbs...I was wrong (in a way). It is OK to eat some fruits...Enjoy life!! It's the sugar filled empty carbs...The other simple carbs are the danger zone. Candy, sugar, processed chips, cake, rice, all the white stuff that was mentioned before should be very limited in your diet. If you have a choice between a whole wheat cracker or some chips...Go with the whole wheat. If you have a choice between an apple or a candy bar, go with the apple...No brainer.
Concerning the weightloss, if you are still trying to lose those last few pounds...really cut out most or all simple carbs till your at goal. They will stop the weightloss in it's tracks. Stay with the complex carbs till you reach goal. Your liver will grab the carbs (converted to glycogen) and use that for your energy. But if there is no glycogen there...Example no carbs which were converted to sugar...It will pull from the fat cells to make the glycogen. I think I'm right on this...Yeah, I know it's simplistic and there are other processes, but in laymans terms I think this is what goes on.
Concerning the weightloss, if you are still trying to lose those last few pounds...really cut out most or all simple carbs till your at goal. They will stop the weightloss in it's tracks. Stay with the complex carbs till you reach goal. Your liver will grab the carbs (converted to glycogen) and use that for your energy. But if there is no glycogen there...Example no carbs which were converted to sugar...It will pull from the fat cells to make the glycogen. I think I'm right on this...Yeah, I know it's simplistic and there are other processes, but in laymans terms I think this is what goes on.
The bottom line is that carbs trigger insulin release in our body.
Insulin does three things well (several other things minor)
1) lower the blood sugar by moving sugars from the blood stream to the cell.
2) prevents the break down of fat as an energy source.
3) promotes extra calories being transferred into fatty tissues (adipose)
Obviously these last two are at odds with weight loss
as a review:
There are two basic kinds of carbs - simple and complex
Simple carbs are also called sugars and include table sugar, and the sugars found in fruits and to a lessor degree vegetables. Sugars stimulate insulin hard and any excess calorie goes right to the body fat.
Bio-chemically , there isn't a great deal of difference between table sugars and the sugars from fruit. Nutritionally we benefit from the fiber and micro nutrients from fruit. and they taste good too.
But they both stimulate insulin fast
Complex carbs are also called starches and include bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. These are made up of thousands of sugar molecules that have to be broken down one bond at a time. They stimulate insulin, but slower and over a longer period of time. The same principle holds though that excess calories are shunted to fat tissue.
we have to have some carbs, they are the only energy source that the nervous system recognizes. That's why very low carb diets make one grumpy , esp. at first.
many nutritionists are brainwashed by the FDA and still buy that all people need to have all the "food groups" in their day. I know, my pre-med degree was a dual major in biology and nutrition.
The problem was that I minored in beer, pizza, and wings.
(ended up with a doctorate in that , hence, my membership at Obesity Help)
Whoops!
Insulin does three things well (several other things minor)
1) lower the blood sugar by moving sugars from the blood stream to the cell.
2) prevents the break down of fat as an energy source.
3) promotes extra calories being transferred into fatty tissues (adipose)
Obviously these last two are at odds with weight loss
as a review:
There are two basic kinds of carbs - simple and complex
Simple carbs are also called sugars and include table sugar, and the sugars found in fruits and to a lessor degree vegetables. Sugars stimulate insulin hard and any excess calorie goes right to the body fat.
Bio-chemically , there isn't a great deal of difference between table sugars and the sugars from fruit. Nutritionally we benefit from the fiber and micro nutrients from fruit. and they taste good too.
But they both stimulate insulin fast
Complex carbs are also called starches and include bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. These are made up of thousands of sugar molecules that have to be broken down one bond at a time. They stimulate insulin, but slower and over a longer period of time. The same principle holds though that excess calories are shunted to fat tissue.
we have to have some carbs, they are the only energy source that the nervous system recognizes. That's why very low carb diets make one grumpy , esp. at first.
many nutritionists are brainwashed by the FDA and still buy that all people need to have all the "food groups" in their day. I know, my pre-med degree was a dual major in biology and nutrition.
The problem was that I minored in beer, pizza, and wings.
(ended up with a doctorate in that , hence, my membership at Obesity Help)
Whoops!
"Future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!"
highest weight : 428 Banded 11/3/2011 surgery weight : 386
highest weight : 428 Banded 11/3/2011 surgery weight : 386
For me all Veggies are fair game and I eat fruits berries are my main fruit and use Bananas to fuel my workouts and races. I avoid to the best of my ability the breads and pastas but when I have a vigorous workout or race I give myself the freedom.
Ok you brought up a stall and goal weight. What is your goal weight and how did you choose it? Don't go by BMI for a weight go by Body Fat % as it will more accurately reflect your body composition. BMI is based only on Height and weight so you can be totally fit and be over weight or be fat and have a normal BMI.
Before you settle on a number you may want to think about a body composition test where you can find out you muscle mass and other factors. If you want to be 180 and you are packing 170lbs of muscle around well odds are you going to have to work hard to get there as that is almost an athletic build.
Many men won't get to where they want because of body composition.
Ok you brought up a stall and goal weight. What is your goal weight and how did you choose it? Don't go by BMI for a weight go by Body Fat % as it will more accurately reflect your body composition. BMI is based only on Height and weight so you can be totally fit and be over weight or be fat and have a normal BMI.
Before you settle on a number you may want to think about a body composition test where you can find out you muscle mass and other factors. If you want to be 180 and you are packing 170lbs of muscle around well odds are you going to have to work hard to get there as that is almost an athletic build.
Many men won't get to where they want because of body composition.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Hi,
I wish I had an answer about the carbs, but don't really know. Still, I have the general sense from the posts and my own experience about carbs. We need some amount of carbs for our body. I think in general terms you want to intake simple carbs and stay away from complex carbs as the simple carbs are considered by many as "good" carbs.
In terms of your stall, I can relate. I dropped 150 lbs in about 15 months. Over the last few months have not lost or gained a significant amount. I have come to grips that I am now at what I believe is my maintenance weight. If that is the case, I am pretty pleased to have gone from 346 to 195-200, and more importantly feeling as healthy as I ever have in my adult life.
Best of Luck,
Bill
I wish I had an answer about the carbs, but don't really know. Still, I have the general sense from the posts and my own experience about carbs. We need some amount of carbs for our body. I think in general terms you want to intake simple carbs and stay away from complex carbs as the simple carbs are considered by many as "good" carbs.
In terms of your stall, I can relate. I dropped 150 lbs in about 15 months. Over the last few months have not lost or gained a significant amount. I have come to grips that I am now at what I believe is my maintenance weight. If that is the case, I am pretty pleased to have gone from 346 to 195-200, and more importantly feeling as healthy as I ever have in my adult life.
Best of Luck,
Bill
Completely backwards Bill.
Simple carbs are more easily digested and can cause spikes in glucose levels. Simple carbs include processed grains, white flours, potatos Sugar, Honey and things like that. Complex carbs are less easily digested and therefore don't have the same impact on blood sugar levels. Complex carbs are you WHole Grains, Veggies and some fruits other fruits fall into the simple carbs, lentils and legumes (beans) also fall into the complex carbs.
Simple carbs are more easily digested and can cause spikes in glucose levels. Simple carbs include processed grains, white flours, potatos Sugar, Honey and things like that. Complex carbs are less easily digested and therefore don't have the same impact on blood sugar levels. Complex carbs are you WHole Grains, Veggies and some fruits other fruits fall into the simple carbs, lentils and legumes (beans) also fall into the complex carbs.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Simple carbs include processed grains, white flours, potatos
Paul, I always look forward to your posts and actually look at your triumphs as a goal for my future weight loss (have a 5 K in mind before the year is out!)
Nevertheless potatos, processed wheat and flour ar still complex carbs, they are starches and act the same as whole wheat products with regard to insulin production. They are better for our health due to the other nutritional aspects like vitamins/minerals and fiber.
FWIW
Doc
Paul, I always look forward to your posts and actually look at your triumphs as a goal for my future weight loss (have a 5 K in mind before the year is out!)
Nevertheless potatos, processed wheat and flour ar still complex carbs, they are starches and act the same as whole wheat products with regard to insulin production. They are better for our health due to the other nutritional aspects like vitamins/minerals and fiber.
FWIW
Doc
"Future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!"
highest weight : 428 Banded 11/3/2011 surgery weight : 386
highest weight : 428 Banded 11/3/2011 surgery weight : 386
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