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Originally Posted by walken1
I don't like going out to eat at restaraunts with my wife and having them all look at me like I'm some kind of nut because the salad is the only half-way healthy thing on the menu. On a low carb diet, there's lots of things you can have. On my regular diet (not low-carb) my meals are very filling, but Spartan and boring indeed! It's a very effective diet.
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I'd love to know which restraunts you're going to. LC Friendly restraunts are few and far between. The only LC foods are usually the Salad and Entree. The choices for sides are usually Hi-Carb, Hi-Glycemic, Starchy Foods. Though, I have found a few who will substitute something LC for the High-Carb Starches. Hopefully, more restraunts will catch on and start offering more LC Choices. But, looking at how you ate (Low-Glycemic)...I can understand the trouble finding acceptable foods at restraunts.
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One misconception is that low fat equals low protein....wrong! I eat very little meat but I use alot of protein powders (made with whey, egg, and milk proteins...all are virtually fat free, carb free) to supplement my meals.
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It does if you follow the USDA Guidelines, which call for 30% Fat/60% Carbs/10% Protein...which you obviously aren't doing.
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My carbs consist of only the low-glycemic variety....chickpeas, beans of all sorts, boiled barley, boiled whole rye, oatmeal, boiled whole oats, and green vegetables of all kinds. NO refined carbs whatsoever.
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That is a step in the right direction. Studies have shown that eating only Low GI Foods is an effective diet...But, as you said earlier, it is hard to find restraunts serving Low-GI foods.
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Many of you who said you failed on low-fat diets thought you were eating good carbs and you were not....bread, rice, potatoes, all have high glycemic ratings, most more than sugar. The ones that don't have a high glycemic LOAD, which is just as important.
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The problem here is that the AHA, USDA, and most Dieticians/Nutritionists don't preach Low-GI. They preach LF/HC with lots of Grain, Fruits, and Starchy Vegetables. Those following their suggestions will be eating lots of Hi-Glycemic Carbs.
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Also, here's the news....25% of calories from fat is not low fat! When carbs are present, you're body will not burn this fat, it will become fat on your body! 10-15% is low fat....just enough to allow you the essentials you need to function.
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30% is the level set by the AHA/USDA/et al. It is the level we've all been told to eat below for optimum health. As I stated, my intake was 5-25%. It could be anywhere in that range. Some days, I would eat 5% Fat, other days I'd eat 25%.
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Another problem I have with the low-carb/high fat approach is the satiety factor. The logic says that the high fat food will make you full so you eat less. I have not found this to be true. If I'm famished after walking six miles with an 80 lb. backpack I have a huge appetite. After eating my meat veggies and cheese, I'll have some nuts 'cause I'm still hungry....more than likely, the whole can! On my regular diet that allows for high fiber starchy carbohydrates, I can eat till I feel like I'm going to explode even though I have consumed half the calories of the high fat diet.
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When I exercise heavily, I find that I'm famished. That is a side-effect of exercise. You need some carbs after a heavy workout, but not too many. I prefer to eat these (LC Beans and LC Fruits) first, then eat meat and vegetables.
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I can't close without references one comment that was made to my original post....3% bodyfat is unhealthy and you have an eating disorder. In competetive bodybuilding, 3-5% is necessary to place, to even belong on the same stage! Ideally, you stay under 7% year round. I have gone whole summers at about 5% with no effort...I just overdid it when I decided to count calories based on someones recommendation.
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3% is the essential body fat for a man. The essential body fat is that around the organs, that protects them. If you go below 3%, you will lose some of the protective fat around your organs.
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People who say that low body fat is unhealthy say so because they look like crap and they want to feel better about themselves!
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Even when I was rail thin, I was above 3% Body Fat. I felt fine about my body fat until I went past 16%.
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Also, I know what I gained on the Low-Carb diet was fat 'cause I can see it....when your bodyfat is below 5%, you can not only see your six-pack but your whole abdomen looks like a road map of veins and striated muscle....I still have a six pack but it looks puffier and the legs look fatter and less defined.
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That there is the reason I never wanted to have a BF% that low. A 2 inch waist, veins bursting out of the arms, and muscles the size of a small car may look good to some people. But, to me it just doesn't look right. A 32-36" waist, ABs that show, and visible muscles is all I want.