Limiting Carbs

 I know I have posted a topic with the exact same subject name but I kinda need to talk about it some more. I feel like I'm eating too many carbs. But then I also don't feel like I am. I am getting in enough protein, my vitamins, have less than 1200 calories a day, and mostly i stay under about 100 carbs a day. But is that too much? If it is too m uch why is it too much? Why are carbs considered the devil? Is me consuming carbs hurting the chances of my success? Am I not making enough healthy decisions to have long term success? Some things I eat that I know a lot of people stay away from are some frozen dinners. I try to get the highest protein ones I can find. And I have some sweet treats every once in awhile but mostly my sweet treats are a skinny sugar free latte, or butter toffee almonds, or an Atkins protein bar. But those are all carbs. I eat hi lo cereal for breakfast which has 17 carbs, 6 grabs of fiber, 1 gram of sugar and 90 calories and 12 grams of protein. Again I think this is a healthy choice but am I just lying to myself and choosing too carby things? Where is the balance between letting yourself have carbs and moderation and too many?? What is too many?? I know a lot of people are going to say I should eat good carbs and most of the time I do but bad carbs do tend to be in there too sometimes, especially with smart ones, or flat out light italian wraps, or the atkins bar, or protein cereal bars, and corn.

I know, I am totally over thinking things as I tend to do but I would love to know what your guideline with carbs is and why. And if you think I'm screwing everything up. 

On a happier note, I quit the wretched job I was at and got a job I am very very excited about! And I am enjoying my size ten pants with my boots that my calves can fit into! AND I have the day off tomorrow! Yay. Going to the National Zoo with the hubby! Going to bring some nuts and beef jerky!

You've lost over 100 pounds since March. You're doing well. Don't stress about the carbs. Just make sure the carbs you choose are good carbs (whole grains) and that you aren't grazing on them or neglecting your protein for them.

I don't think there is one right answer to your questions.  I think the right answer for you might differ from the right answer for someone else.  I know, it's really important to you to figure out the right answer.  But I swear, it's not like the rest of us know the right answer and we're just not sharing it with you.  (I'm not the only one that feels that way, right?  Like everybody else in the world knows the answers and just won't tell me for some reason?)

You've lost over 100 pounds in less than seven months.  So what you're doing so far is working for you.  So far you've been very successful, so no, the carbs you eat aren't hurting your chance for success.  What about long term success?  Well, I'm sure whatever you do right now will have an effect on your long term success, but the real key to long term success, I think, is to keep doing what works.  Now, what works might change over time, so I don't mean to keep doing what you're doing right now forever.  I mean to do what works and do what works later, whether those are the same things or two different things.

 For me I try to limit my carbs to 30 gms a day (think atkins)  i think the food pyramid should be turned upside down. mostly meats then veggies and fruits and very little cereals and grains. back in the 70's hardly anyone was fat and if they were they either overate or they had a medical problem. since they changed the food pyramid to mostly grains cereals etc.. tons of people are fat.  I wont eat low fat stuff either.. when they take out the fat they add sugar!  not all fats are bad for you. corn oils and margarine and trans fats etc are all bad, but olive oils, avacados, black olives , butter, coconut oil are all good for you.   hope this helps..  just my opinion from all the stuff ive read over the years. 

 Yes you are over thinking this. Your body is doing what it is supposed to be doing and you are still losing weight.  If you notice a change in that them look at your total carbs and see if limiting them works better.  In the meantime, keep up the great work.

Congratulations on your new job  

All carbs are not created equal.  There is a difference between a whole grain such as oatmeal and a simple carb such as sugar.  Veggies, beans, legumes are carbs.  They are good.  Sugar, flour, pasta is processed,  they are not the best choice. 

Nik did a series on carbs a few weeks back on bariatricfoodie.com  It was very informative.  Take a look.

 I agree!

This is my opinion.  We are all different and carbs affect us differently.  If you are the type who can eat carbs and treats in moderation and not go overboard and can control their effects, then I would say what you are doing is perfectly fine, and it works for you.  If you are losing/maintaining weight loss and are at a good place, then what you are doing is working. 

Do what works for you.  I am very carb sensitive.  When I regularly add bread, pasta, potatoes and processed carbs it starts a snowball affect in me.  So for me personally, I have to stay as far away from them as possible.  If I indulge, then I have to consciously eliminate them going forward and only consider eating them on special occasion type events.

 Carbs are not the devil, they are an essential part of our nutrition.  Carbs help our brains as well.  Personally, in my opinion, your carb intake is fine.  Diet is about portion size and balance.  

I think maybe your stress about carbs is coming a bit from this site.  Some people choose to eat really low carb and they post how effective that is for them and it even makes me think, "am eating to may carbs?"  But then I remember that what I am doing is working for me, I am happy, and most of all I am losing.  Why fix what isn't broken? 

Kattie,

I love you dearly. Which is why I am going to say to you what I WISH someone had said to me at your stage.

You're going to miss it. "It" being the joy of your free-falling weight. You're going to wake up one day, as I did, and realize you've plateau'd and spent all your losing time worrying about whether you were going to eff this whole thing up.

For your sake, I hope in that moment you are where you want to be physically and mentally. If, like me, you still have a ways to go when you get to that poing, it's a tough pill to swallow.

You are eating a balanced diet. We can't help the fact that you don't believe that. That's something you have to work out for yourself. It sounds to me as if you're having open conversations with your food demons at this point, which is fine. That's what this forum is here for.

I'm more concerned about you cheating yourself OUT of the thrill of a lifetime - getting to see those pounds FINALLY come off that you wanted off for years and years.

Don't miss it. Embrace it and enjoy it. Be mindful of what you eat but don't spend this wonderful time in your life worrying. You'll regret doing so later, I promise you.