General Diet Plans and Questions General diet questions, support for various diet plans other than those listed below.

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Old 06-18-2010, 08:45 PM   #1  
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Default Need Advice going low carb to lower calories

Hi! I need some advice. I am wanting to switch from low carb to low calorie for about 2 weeks. I know some people might suggest I just stay low carb to stay in ketosis, but I just want advice on how to do this. I realize I will suffer physically when i add in carbs and when I go off them (obviously not completely) But if there is any advice on transitioning (i have about 2 weeks before the 2 weeks I want to switch) it would be amazingly helpful.

Links to articles are great too.

I currently eat about 1000-1200 calories, 100+ g of protein a day less than 95g of carbs (so really just a super light dietary ketosis such as that in medifast).

I currently weigh about 175. I know how to search my BMR though I am not sure if it is the same. I am okay with maintaining and not losing during this period- but I will be exercising a fair amount so I might end up losing unless my body is all sorts of confused or mad.


So.. Any advice?
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Old 06-18-2010, 10:53 PM   #2  
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I have experimented many times with going on and off low-carb. I'm not sure it's an entirely successful experiment, but here's what I've learned (for myself - it may not all be true for everyone).

1. I find that switching to low-calorie, always results in a sudden gain. This used to panic me, but when I understood it a little better, it's not as traumatic. Carb-digestion requires more water to process (someone here once explained the science very well, but I don't remember it well enough to explain it) than protein and fat digestion. As a result, when you switch to low-cal from low-carb, you're body will hold on to a little more water. This isn't fat, but it is a bit disconcerting to see on the scale. For health, I'm not sure if the little extra water is a big deal. I look at it sort of as my low-carb weight is a couple pounds lower than my high-carb weight (if that makes any sense).

2. To lose the same amount of weight, I have to eat far fewer calories on high-carb eating (and high carb eating makes me hungrier). That means that if I'm going to transition to a higher carb rate, I need to be prepared for more hunger, and I need to be prepared to cut my calories more drastically (for me the difference seems to be about 300 - 500 calories - so I usually lose about as much on 1200 to 1300 calories of high-carb as 1800 calories of low-carb.

This probably wouldn't work very well for you, as you're only eating 1000 calories now, so reducing them probably isn't feasible or ideal. However, since you're ok with losing less rapidly or even maintenance, I'd suggest trying to keep your calorie level about the same, and seeing how that works.

3. I find that I have to be much more dilligent about measuring (using a food scale) and food journaling. To a greater degree, I can let hunger guide my eating for low-carb (when I'm only getting carbs from low-sugar fruits and non-starchy veggies) than for unrestricted carb. On high-carb, I'm more prone to nibbling and guesstimating (just one more bite-itis).

If you're ok with maintaining - I wouldn't even worry about the transition pounds of water gain (as long as you're eating about the same calorie level or less than you are now, anything you've gained in the first two days is probably that water differential), because when you return to low-carb, those pounds are going to disappear.

For me, the biggest hurdle is the increased hunger. I find lots of high-volume (from fiber and water) low-cal vegetables helpful.

4. I find weighing daily most helpful, regardless of diet-type (but especially when switching to a new eating plan). I know a lot of people disagree), but I find that I have more control (regardless of carb-level) over my eating when I weigh daily and start off each day reminding myself of my goals. When I change my eating style, weighing more frequently seems to keep me on task better (this may be a personality quirk of mine, though so - for all of this advice, keep in mind what you feel works best for you).




Most of the time, I regret going off low-carb - but life sometimes intervenes and makes Plan A unworkable. Having a Plan B is better than having no plan at all.

Last edited by kaplods; 06-18-2010 at 10:58 PM.
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Old 06-18-2010, 10:59 PM   #3  
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Thank you for your advice. I appreciate your thought out and detailed advice!

After doing a bunch of research, I am going to be able to stay low carb! Thanks

Last edited by spaghetticat; 06-20-2010 at 12:57 AM.
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