Has anyone lost a significant amount NOT counting carbs?
By significant, I mean 50+ pounds. I've been reading a ton of mini goal and goal posts and it seems a lot of you have lost weight by either low-carb methods or by limiting carbs ( either by only consuming whole grains/ brown carbs/ little refined carbs or by keeping your carbs minimal or 120 or less)
I'm asking because I switched from Atkins to calorie counting and even though I do lose on CL plans, I find them hard to stick to and I'm in this for the loooooong haul. Thanks for any replies!
I lost the first part of my weight (first 40 pounds or so) not limiting anything but calories. Now I'm very careful about processed carbs such as bread, sugary things, etc and try to eat mostly whole foods. But the thing I've always focused on is calories.
I have. 129, and it's all downhill from here (in the best possible way!). I don't restrict carbs at all, save for the extent necessary to keep to my target of 1200 calories. I have found that I tend to eat fewer carbs. . .but I'm also eating less protein, and less fat, and less of everything. I've found that I gravitate towards some high protein things (like Greek yogurt), but my dinner for the past few months has been a mini-sandwich on a fresh-baked (well, take-n-bake) ciabatta dinner roll, and a side of white cheddar puffs. Definitely carbalicious, and would be totally off-plan if I were doing any version of low carb.
Basically, my patterns of satiety have dictated a change in how I approach carbs, but it's not a rule. I've just found that certain things aren't (usually) worth the calories. But if I decide one day I want to have them anyway, I still can--and I have, given that I've had an on-plan dinner consisting entirely of tortilla chips. I mean, okay, I was hungry after two hours, and for the rest of the night, but it was worth it!
I just don't worry about it, basically. I get what fills me up, whether that's carb-y or not-carb-y. Or whether that filling is emotional or physical, for that matter (I'm always more sated if I like what I'm eating).
During my first go around with Weight Watchers, I lost 63 pounds. I didn't count carbs, didn't limit them, just stayed within my alotted daily points. I didn't maintain it, but it wasn't the plan's fault, it was my own problems with emotional issues and food that was the culprit.
Gabe! My weight is about your start weight, I am at 1800 calories a day ( not really being carb aware, except not eating white bread, rice or pasta) and I am losing nothing. We're you always at 1200 or did you go down in calories as you lost?
Sort of? I don't count anything. However, I cut out all sugar/artificial sweeteners at the beginning for 6 months because I was very much addicted to sweets (now I do eat them about 1x/week but when I cook for myself it's only with natural sweeteners or the occasional brown sugar). I did switch almost entirely to whole wheat flour but when we get pizza we order out, which is always white flour (i used to make my own but we figured out that it was cheaper and easier to order out).
FWIW, when I first cut out sugar/artificial sweeteners I placed absolutely no restrictions on what I was eating and actually probably increases my carbs temporarily (before I got over the worst of the sweets cravings). After that I got sick of them and I've discovered sugar was really more of my issue in regards to overeating/hunger than carbs ever were.
In general, though, I eat a whole foods diet and try to avoid processed foods as much as possible. We still eat out but I try to order relatively healthy and not go crazy.
I've lost all sixty-six without counting carbs at all. I just count calories and watch my sodium intake because I'm sensitive to water gain. Oh, and for the most part I no longer eat white bread or pasta.
I lost 50 pounds last year on a high-carb diet. I would say that carbs constituted 55 to 60% of my macronutrients (and still do). I simply ate 1,500 calories per day and lost an average of 5 pounds per month, without any exercise except for walking. (I joined a gym AFTER losing the weight.) I'm a firm believer in calories-in/calories-out and don't think the nutrient composition makes much difference in terms of weight loss. I know many disagree.
Freelance
Last edited by freelancemomma; 02-28-2012 at 01:29 PM.
Calorie counter here, from the get-go. I like to say that I'm italian, so I can't NOT have pasta. And I eat it, once or twice a week. Carbs dont hinder me for as long as sodium does, so I pay attention to that, but not super-duper closely.
I'm at 84+ lost, as I wouldnt look at the scale past 279, LOL.
I started at 2000, went to 1800 after about 40lbs, because I didn't want to exersize, lol.. I'm at 1500-1600 now, and I work out 6 days a week by choice. Weekends are known to be 2000+, lol.
The answer to this is 'it depends on the person'. Some people aren't carb-sensitive and can lose fine without counting carbs. Others, myself included, can stick to 1200 calories a day, but if there are grains in there, I'm starving all the time and can't lose any weight.
Low carb/paleo works best for me. So really it's all about what works for you in the long run. Though limiting carbs certainly makes it easier to keep calories down, since carbs tend to be calorie-dense. I eat tons of vegetables and also some fruit, though, so I get carbs, just not from grains.
Has anyone lost a significant amount NOT counting carbs?
I've been reading a ton of mini goal and goal posts and it seems a lot of you have lost weight by either low-carb methods or by limiting carbs ( either by only consuming whole grains/ brown carbs/ little refined carbs or by keeping your carbs minimal or 120 or less) 
BUT I DON'T DO DRUGS, CAN'T I HAVE THE DC?! 
