So according to DCUM, I shouldn't cut carbs, and I shouldn't cut fat, but I also shouldn't be fat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I definitely need to lose weight, and both my teenagers have been gaining a little too fast and need to slow down. All of us exercise regularly, so the obvious next step is to cut calories. But looking at recent posts, it seems as though people think it's a terrible thing to cut either carbs or fat. Other than cutting protein, I don't see another way to reduce the calories in my diet. After all, calories only come from those 3 places.

Some people say don't cut carbs Others say don't cut fat! So you need to decide which to listen to.

Or, cut out less healthy fats and most grains.

Also, you could just reduce calories across the board, with smaller portion sizes.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is different. It sounds like what you are doing is working for you. Keep it up! For me, simple "clean" eating and hitting the gym 3-5 times a week keeps me in shape. For someone else, it will be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a research scientist in biology.

1. Portion control will help you lose weight.
Eat less. Particularly in the evening, when you can't burn it off. Going to bed earlier helps with late night cravings.

2. Sharply decreasing fat intake will make your body more defined as you lose fat surrounding your muscles. Apply this rule to animal fats, not nut or fish oils, which protect your heart and brain.

3. Proteins are to build muscle mass.
Find healthy sources of protein, since cutting animal fat means eating less red meat. Lean white meats without skin, more beans, tofu (not unfermented soy products), some fish (not the mercury-laden ones).

4. Added or refined sugar (ie, simple carbs) is the enemy. Your body doesn't need it at all, it gets all it needs already from fruits and vegetables (and the processed crap we all eat from time to time).

5. Complex carbohydrates should be whole grain, to add more fiber and increase satiety. Reduce a little bit, in the spirit of portion control. Carbs are mostly dangerous because of what we put on them (butter on bread, fatty/sugary/salty sauces on pasta, etc). So hold the sauce!

Slimming and toning your body is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. Pay attention to what you eat.

It's so odd, "research scientist," but your post reads word for word like every current article about diet that can be purchased at the Whole foods checkout line. Or a million blog posts.

[Anonymous]

I think folks often talk about 'cutting' the type of food that is their personal weakness. So in general you cut calories across the board, with special attention to cutting out the foods that are your personal weakness.

So for example I can personally eat bread until stuffed, but will only eat sushi when actively hungry. So if I need to lose weight I would 'cut' the foods that make it harder for me to eat according to hunger, and personally those are generally carbs.

[Anonymous]

Dried fruit makes me pack on the pounds. Just make your diet 80 percent veggies (you currently have none), and you will he good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a research scientist in biology.

1. Portion control will help you lose weight.
Eat less. Particularly in the evening, when you can't burn it off. Going to bed earlier helps with late night cravings.

2. Sharply decreasing fat intake will make your body more defined as you lose fat surrounding your muscles. Apply this rule to animal fats, not nut or fish oils, which protect your heart and brain.

3. Proteins are to build muscle mass.
Find healthy sources of protein, since cutting animal fat means eating less red meat. Lean white meats without skin, more beans, tofu (not unfermented soy products), some fish (not the mercury-laden ones).

4. Added or refined sugar (ie, simple carbs) is the enemy. Your body doesn't need it at all, it gets all it needs already from fruits and vegetables (and the processed crap we all eat from time to time).

5. Complex carbohydrates should be whole grain, to add more fiber and increase satiety. Reduce a little bit, in the spirit of portion control. Carbs are mostly dangerous because of what we put on them (butter on bread, fatty/sugary/salty sauces on pasta, etc). So hold the sauce!

Slimming and toning your body is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. Pay attention to what you eat.

Thanks for this. (NP) can you suggest a weekly serving amount for meat? I'm trying to see if we eat too much.

[Anonymous]

80% vegetables seems a bit much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a research scientist in biology.

1. Portion control will help you lose weight.
Eat less. Particularly in the evening, when you can't burn it off. Going to bed earlier helps with late night cravings.

2. Sharply decreasing fat intake will make your body more defined as you lose fat surrounding your muscles. Apply this rule to animal fats, not nut or fish oils, which protect your heart and brain.

3. Proteins are to build muscle mass.
Find healthy sources of protein, since cutting animal fat means eating less red meat. Lean white meats without skin, more beans, tofu (not unfermented soy products), some fish (not the mercury-laden ones).

4. Added or refined sugar (ie, simple carbs) is the enemy. Your body doesn't need it at all, it gets all it needs already from fruits and vegetables (and the processed crap we all eat from time to time).

5. Complex carbohydrates should be whole grain, to add more fiber and increase satiety. Reduce a little bit, in the spirit of portion control. Carbs are mostly dangerous because of what we put on them (butter on bread, fatty/sugary/salty sauces on pasta, etc). So hold the sauce!

Slimming and toning your body is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. Pay attention to what you eat.

Thanks for posting, sick of the full fat cholesterol heart diseased freaks.

So the person who posted this just wants to hear from people who already agree so that names can be called for those who do not agree. Which makes any real discussion absolutely pointless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a research scientist in biology.

1. Portion control will help you lose weight.
Eat less. Particularly in the evening, when you can't burn it off. Going to bed earlier helps with late night cravings.

2. Sharply decreasing fat intake will make your body more defined as you lose fat surrounding your muscles. Apply this rule to animal fats, not nut or fish oils, which protect your heart and brain.

3. Proteins are to build muscle mass.
Find healthy sources of protein, since cutting animal fat means eating less red meat. Lean white meats without skin, more beans, tofu (not unfermented soy products), some fish (not the mercury-laden ones).

4. Added or refined sugar (ie, simple carbs) is the enemy. Your body doesn't need it at all, it gets all it needs already from fruits and vegetables (and the processed crap we all eat from time to time).

5. Complex carbohydrates should be whole grain, to add more fiber and increase satiety. Reduce a little bit, in the spirit of portion control. Carbs are mostly dangerous because of what we put on them (butter on bread, fatty/sugary/salty sauces on pasta, etc). So hold the sauce!

Slimming and toning your body is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. Pay attention to what you eat.

It's so odd, "research scientist," but your post reads word for word like every current article about diet that can be purchased at the Whole foods checkout line. Or a million blog posts.

And what do conclude from that?
That I'm not what I profess to be?
Nice job furthering the discussion.

[Anonymous]

American eat too many carbs, sugars, fats and calories.

[Anonymous]

A: elevated blood lipids are not predictive of first MI in the general population.

B: dietary cholesterol intake does not correlate to blood lipid levels.

C: Americans in General have gotten more obese since the guidelines were modified to promote low fat, high carb diets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dried fruit makes me pack on the pounds. Just make your diet 80 percent veggies (you currently have none), and you will he good.

OP here, just to be clear, I don't just eat what I listed in my PP. I only listed the carbs to show what carbs I do and don't eat, not intending to list my whole diet.

In addition to the fruit and trail mix and bread that I listed for yesterday, I also ate swiss chard, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, spaghetti squash, tomato sauce, onions, and a tapenade made of red peppers and artichokes, plus some nonfat yogurt, lowfat cheese, and some chicken. And a popsicle. One of those fruit ones that claims to be healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a research scientist in biology.

1. Portion control will help you lose weight.
Eat less. Particularly in the evening, when you can't burn it off. Going to bed earlier helps with late night cravings.

2. Sharply decreasing fat intake will make your body more defined as you lose fat surrounding your muscles. Apply this rule to animal fats, not nut or fish oils, which protect your heart and brain.

3. Proteins are to build muscle mass.
Find healthy sources of protein, since cutting animal fat means eating less red meat. Lean white meats without skin, more beans, tofu (not unfermented soy products), some fish (not the mercury-laden ones).

4. Added or refined sugar (ie, simple carbs) is the enemy. Your body doesn't need it at all, it gets all it needs already from fruits and vegetables (and the processed crap we all eat from time to time).

5. Complex carbohydrates should be whole grain, to add more fiber and increase satiety. Reduce a little bit, in the spirit of portion control. Carbs are mostly dangerous because of what we put on them (butter on bread, fatty/sugary/salty sauces on pasta, etc). So hold the sauce!

Slimming and toning your body is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. Pay attention to what you eat.

It's so odd, "research scientist," but your post reads word for word like every current article about diet that can be purchased at the Whole foods checkout line. Or a million blog posts.

And what do conclude from that?
That I'm not what I profess to be?
Nice job furthering the discussion.

I would conclude from that that the recommendations about diet you can pick up from the Whole Foods checkout line are in line with what is recommended by at least some research scientists. I'm not sure why that would be "odd" though, more like "nice to see some consensus". (this is OP, not the PP who made the "it's so odd" comment)

[Anonymous]

Op - do what works for you. Many of the folks on DCUM are in denial about how bodies (and metabolisms) change as you get older. You need to cut carbs because your body no longer processes carbs the way that it used to. Your metabolism has changed due in large part to your genetic makeup. It's not all in your head, it's biological. Why people don't get that is beyond me. Like I said - denial. If it's not true for them it can not be true for you. Because if it is true for you then that must mean that our bodies actually do change as we age.....which can't be true! I mean I still look 29 don't I?? Bleh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op - do what works for you. Many of the folks on DCUM are in denial about how bodies (and metabolisms) change as you get older. You need to cut carbs because your body no longer processes carbs the way that it used to. Your metabolism has changed due in large part to your genetic makeup. It's not all in your head, it's biological. Why people don't get that is beyond me. Like I said - denial. If it's not true for them it can not be true for you. Because if it is true for you then that must mean that our bodies actually do change as we age.....which can't be true! I mean I still look 29 don't I?? Bleh.

Um, is there any research to support that the issue is specific to carbs? Because my understanding is that as you age, your metabolism slows down. Simple as that. Part of it is losing muscle and bone density, and part of it is probably hormonal (why menopause hits some women particularly hard). I don't think it is carb-specific. I think that you either have to adjust what you eat or you have to increase certain kinds of activity.

But I do think there is a genetic component and a hormonal element, but I don't think it has to do with carbs.

I also think different things work for different people. The problem is that people come here asking for strangers on the internet to tell them what to eat or why they're not losing weight. So, yeah, they're going to get a bunch of people telling them what works for them. But then they get defensive and upset, but they are the ones who asked for the advice.