Thread: Fats vs Carbs????

I AM NO EXPERT, there are many others in here that think they are just because they train, workout, watch what they eat or whatever.

Did you know that America's obesity problem is more contributed to the huge number of simple carbohydrates in most diets and NOT the fats in those same diets? There is a large number of reports published by varied and credible sources that are more concerned with carbs then fats. Of course you know that there are good (complex) carbs and bad (simple or processed) carbs, just as there are good (monounsaturated) fats and bad (saturated...usually come from another animal) fats.

Our bodies need carbs and fats along with many other nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc. to generate maximum benefit. We, society as a whole, just need to learn the differences and eat more of what's "good" for us and less of what's "bad" for us.

Hope this helps.

I know, that in my family, I have/had three "carb junkies" or "simple sugar junkies"...My ex-wife and both of my teenage children.

Ooops! Failed to explain about my ex and children....

All three of these individuals carry more weight around then they should and all three are "carb junkies". Even my daughter playing three sports, the current one is swimming, is not enough to counter-balance her love of carbs.

Something to consider perhaps.

Joined a gym (a 20th anniversay gift to myself), quit smoking and trying to lose weight in the last few months. I must be crazy!!! Soooooo.......low fat and low carbs are the way to go??? Is there food out there like that??? Just kidding!!

Me personally, I'd go low carbs before I'd go low fat.

Fats contain more calories and therefore you should feel more full faster than with carbs.

Carbs, simple or processed, are tricky little suckers in that they do the most harm when they break down into simple sugars....spike the blood levels, give you higher energy for a short time, then you crash and are hungry for them again.

It may help you to drink a glass of water before your meals and put your fork down between bites while chewing. Most of us eat much too fast for our brain to communicate with the rest of our body that we are satisfied.

Seeker is right, fat contains 9 calories per gram while table sugar (the most simple of carbs) only contains 4 calories per gram.

I have never had a weight problem, to the contrary, I sometimes would like to gain some weight. As a diabetic for 13 years, I have made a study of metabolism and nutrition. This was necessary to maintain good diabetic control.

If I was overweight and trying to lose weight, I would stop eating all simple carbohydrates and highly processed foods. I would maintain a balance of good fats and complex carbohydrates. There are several online calculators for determining the balance. Google "calorie calculator macronutrients" to find them.

I'm sure that a major component of a weight loss program is moderation and will power. I know what it is like to be denied the foods you crave. When I was young, I watched my siblings eat a second bowl of rice, cake, pies, candy and other forbidden treats. Forbidden for diabetics like me that is. I like to think that developed character and will power in me. To this day I "eat to live" rather than "live to eat", although, I do have some favorite foods.

read up on the glycemic index of foods. choose low glycemic foods, i.e. ones that one raise your blood sugar too much. most carbs do, which is why eating too much (in typical American fashion) contributes not only to obesity but also to diabetes AND high cholesterol (researchers are just figuring out the link between overconsumption of no-fat carbs and cholesterol).

Remember Snackwells, the fat-free cookies? They were loaded with sugar. Nobody lost weight eating those.