How low is low??

[T82]

I'm wondering how low of a low carb diet I should be following if I'm looking to lower bf%. I'm 5'5 and weigh 125. Someone recently told me I should have only 20 carbs a day but that just seems insane!!!

Any ideas? I'm currently consuming 1200-1500 calories, about 120g of protein, 25g carbs, and 50g of fat in a day. How should I tweak this ratio?

 

[goldenear]

Well you're almost there, LOL. 25g/day is pretty low; I think I eat probably 20x that amount. It all depends on what you're trying to do and how radical you want to get. Carbs are protein sparing, but you're taking in so few, that I'd be afraid of muscle loss. If you're in a calorie restricted stage, I think you should drop the fat (since it has 9 cals/gm) and add in some complex, low GI carbs like long-grain brown rice. BTW, that profile adds up to ~1030 cals, not 1200-1500.

 

[LA]

T82,

I've been reading a few of your posts today and I'm still unclear of one thing. What type of body are you looking to develop?

5'5" and 125lbs ain't fat.

So I feel I must ask this question before I can comment on your post- LA

 

[T82]

Ok LA, here's my deal: I'm not so much trying to lose any weight. Instead, my goal is to really lower my body fat percentage which last time I checked was at about 23%. I'd like to lower it to 15-20%.

So I suppose the reason I'm looking to eat low carb is because I've heard that helps to retain lean muscle while shedding body fat.

 

[LA]

It can also make you feel like crap on a sunny day.

Low carb is one approach. The reason low carb retains muscle is because it shutdowns your natural levels of T3.

If you can handle the low carb all fine and well. It's easy enough to follow, eat low carbs for a set number of days and then have a carb-up period.

Without seeing a picture of you and having read that you've got the workout end taken care of, I would like to suggest something alone the lines of a diet where you eat 2x your body weight in protein. Cycle carbs before and after your lifting. If you don't lift on a day cut back on carbs. Cut off carbs at night. Do your cardio in the AM on an empty stomach. And finally get a modest portion of fat from good healthy fats.

I'm going to bump a post that Harvey made only about a week ago. Read it and tell me what you think. This is the type of diet I follow year round now. I eat less if I'm cutting, more if I'm bulking but the principals are the same.

Unless you are terribly sensitive to slin, I don't recomend low carbs (keto) diets to anyone anymore. Moderate carbs surrounding your worksout do wonders for retaining muscle. The rest of the day is spent with insulin levels low. In other words- fat burning mode.

 

[LA]

Damit Harvey, you make too many posts!

Animalbolics

 

[Saks]

I don't know anything about low carbs, but damn I like your avatar!

 

[mailboxkillR]

5'5" 125lbs and 20+%bf seems kinda hard to beleive. If you just started working out a good clean diet mild excersize and cardio would be a better aproach IMO.

 

[midwtchamp]

it is a she...I dont think she wants to hit winny....but that is just my 2 cent

 

[T82]

I'm a chick, not a guy! LOL

 

[T82]

Oh! And that bf% guess was.......well, just a guess. I could be way off I dont know. I'm going to get it measured soon and then post it.

Sorry for the confusion guys! lol

 

[Skip]

I have some good advice for you being that I compete between 2-3% bodyfat and stay around 4-5% off season.

I find your statements above to be adsurd. If you force me to believe one of the two, I will pick the second one (only because it is the less absurd of the two). You MIGHT get a caliper READING of 2 or 3% but you are NOT 2 or 3% bodyfat at that point.

Skip

 

[Skip]

I'm a chick, not a guy! LOL

I was going to post the same thing as it seemed that no one was considering that this could be a female. Props to mdwtchamp for paying attention.

Skip

 

[T82]

Yah, mdw is on it!

It's all good, it made me laugh!

I guess you guys dont have too many girls on this site and my username isnt *kisses* or something chicky like that! LOL

 

[T82]

Oh shit!! There IS someone here who goes by the name "Kiss"

*ROFL* Now I'm going to get my ass kicked!!:dizzy:

 

[Skip]

At the risk of sounding like a pig, if that is your ass in that avatar, let me be the first in line.

Skip

 

[midwtchamp]

lol Mid is always on top of his stuff.....but I dont prefer being on top...oops wrong forum lol!

 

[T82]

Ahhh, you like to sit back and not do any work! LAZY!

 

[mailboxkillR]

BAAAAHAAAWAAA you peeps kill me. can't help ya with chicks bf% cause it's just freaky I've seen girls that look tight and are like 19% shit I wish i was a cut as they are at 19%.

 

[midwtchamp]

Lets put it this way my sis is a fitness competitor and she is below 10% and that is damn lean for a woman.....and no I am not lazy remember point one (low carbs) lol T82 put up some pics and we can give you a ruff estimate on b/f!