Carbs and Calories counting....

[Browser]

First week since starting Metformin. Using the book Carb and Calorie Counter, I've calculated carbs. and cals., for the past 3 days. I know there's a hell of a lot more to it than simply looking at carbs and cals., but my main first aim was to try to cut down on carbs. and lose a bit of weight.

Day 1. - 182 carbs. 1648 cals. This included some wholemeal bread and wholemeal
spaghetti keeping the carbs up.
Day 2. - 102 carbs. 1254 cals. Granola and mixed beans were highest carbs.
Day 3. - 55 carbs. 1555 cals. Highest carb. was a digestive biscuit and some Skyr Yoghurt
and a few strawberries.
Hungerwise, I've felt ok on these three days.Thing is, I'm not sure how low you should try to get carbs. in one day's diet. I've seen references to some good reading here already but haven't got round to it yet. At my meeting with the D nurse, she told me just to be sensible with food and gave me a basic pamphlet, which still included bread, pasta, rice, potatoes etc. which I thought should be avoided as much as possible. I've still to get my 1 day course on diet, managing diabetes etc. but meantime I'd appreciate any observations.

 

[Jeandp]

Hi Browser, I am pretty new to this too. It's not easy changing your diet is it? I have found the self testing strips invaluable to teach me what I can eat and what to avoid. We are all different and don't all react the same.
I am avoiding carbs where possible, but I do have some treats, last night I had 2 baby potatoes roasted in coconut oil with lentils and chicken drumstick, with a glass of red wine and had a perfectly fine reading after.
My new best friend is cauliflower rice, so versatile, and surprisingly filling.
Lots of good advice on this forum.
Good luck!

 

[Mark Parrott]

Our bodies don't really need carbs. It can run on other fuels (fat & protein). The thing is carbs are in virtually everything to a certain degree & how low you want to go is up to you. I believe that by going too low (known as ketogenic) means missing out on some nutritional foods. The so called 'Eat Well Plate' is not suitable for a lot of us diabetics as it contains way too many carbs. Testing is vital in knowing how many carbs your body can take without it affect blood sugars too much. We are all different & have different tolerances.

 

[Ginger]

First week since starting Metformin. Using the book Carb and Calorie Counter, I've calculated carbs. and cals., for the past 3 days. I know there's a hell of a lot more to it than simply looking at carbs and cals., but my main first aim was to try to cut down on carbs. and lose a bit of weight.

Day 1. - 182 carbs. 1648 cals. This included some wholemeal bread and wholemeal
spaghetti keeping the carbs up.
Day 2. - 102 carbs. 1254 cals. Granola and mixed beans were highest carbs.
Day 3. - 55 carbs. 1555 cals. Highest carb. was a digestive biscuit and some Skyr Yoghurt
and a few strawberries.
Hungerwise, I've felt ok on these three days.Thing is, I'm not sure how low you should try to get carbs. in one day's diet. I've seen references to some good reading here already but haven't got round to it yet. At my meeting with the D nurse, she told me just to be sensible with food and gave me a basic pamphlet, which still included bread, pasta, rice, potatoes etc. which I thought should be avoided as much as possible. I've still to get my 1 day course on diet, managing diabetes etc. but meantime I'd appreciate any observations.

Hi Browser. I'm no expert, but I would have said that your third day's carb count seems a good level - probably moderate low-carbing because it's well above the amount of carbs considered to be ketogenic (20g per day). I don't actually count up my carbs or calories each day, but I am very aware of how much many foods contain so I simply make my food choices based on that. I am probably getting somewhere between keto level and your 3rd day level but aiming for keto level if possible, and I am finding it perfectly ok, not difficult or detrimental. In fact I have noticed better energy on quite low carbs and very little hunger as I have upped healthy fats which fill me up much better. So you could possibly go even lower and be fine, but any reduction in carbs will surely help. (I'm not recommending any specific level to you, just saying that people do safely go lower than 55g a day).

Likewise with calories, many people do the Newcastle diet which goes as low as 800 cals per day, so there is some room to take your calories down some further if that was the way you wanted to go (again, am not advising you to, just making the observation that it is a possibility).

Personally, I dont agree with your nurse's advice to include those dense carbs in your diet, and from what I've read people have been doing really well by ignoring the dietary advice from the NHS. But that is something for each person to decide about for themselves, our bodies are all very different and what is right for one may not be right for everyone.

 

[Browser]

Hi Browser. I'm no expert, but I would have said that your third day's carb count seems a good level - probably moderate low-carbing because it's well above the amount of carbs considered to be ketogenic (20g per day). I don't actually count up my carbs or calories each day, but I am very aware of how much many foods contain so I simply make my food choices based on that. I am probably getting somewhere between keto level and your 3rd day level but aiming for keto level if possible, and I am finding it perfectly ok, not difficult or detrimental. In fact I have noticed better energy on quite low carbs and very little hunger as I have upped healthy fats which fill me up much better. So you could possibly go even lower and be fine, but any reduction in carbs will surely help. (I'm not recommending any specific level to you, just saying that people do safely go lower than 55g a day).

Likewise with calories, many people do the Newcastle diet which goes as low as 800 cals per day, so there is some room to take your calories down some further if that was the way you wanted to go (again, am not advising you to, just making the observation that it is a possibility).

Personally, I dont agree with your nurse's advice to include those dense carbs in your diet, and from what I've read people have been doing really well by ignoring the dietary advice from the NHS. But that is something for each person to decide about for themselves, our bodies are all very different and what is right for one may not be right for everyone.

Thanks for the helpful and full reply.

 

[Ginger]

You're welcome, Browser. Good luck! 🙂