Greene/Orange/Louisa/Albemarle/Madison county Virg | John Burns - 7/24/2025 06:26
I have said for a long time that a metabolically healthy person, they could do very well on 100-150 grams of carbs a day.
For a long term diabetic like me or for someone who is insulin resistant, going lower can be helpful. To lose weight (burn body fat) a person HAS to get insulin low. What it takes to get insulin low will depend on a persons current metabolic health. Harder for people with high fasting insulin levels, easier for people without that problem. Insulin is the key to utilizing the stored up groceries on the body (body fat). Low insulin levels specifically. Body fat can not be utilized (burned for energy) when insulin levels in the bloodstream are high.
I personally never count calories. As long as I eat the right foods, my body seems to be able to let me know when I have eaten enough. Meat protein and animal fat has a very high satiety signal. Sugar and highly processed carbohydrates (that turn to sugar quickly when consumed) do not. Those are easily over eaten.
A baked potato with the skin on is definitely better than a Twinkie, no argument there. But for me it will cause weight gain and make me crave more carbohydrates and tend to over eat my needs. Especially at my age (71) and physical activity level (not as much as when I was 30), I don't want to regain the weight and that is all too easy.
You have found what has worked for you and that is great. It likely would also work for a lot of people. Some of us have to do a little more to get to where we want to be.
Mr Burns, you should try to count calories occasionally just to see where your at. Your 20 carbs per day may surprisingly be close to 10% or 15% of your calories from carbs.
For example, my son loves Texas roadhouse. We usually eat at the one in charlottesville va once per week.
I eat one meal per day and my usual there is the 16 0z sirloin medium cooked. 2 cups of their reds texas chili with onions, no cheese. I add a house salad but no dressing (I've never liked dressing)
The chili and sirloin are around 1000 calories without the cheese.
The salad is practically nothing, just a little boiled egg and a few croutons. At most 100 calories without dressing.
I usually eat a pack of there peanuts while my wife and son are putting away the rolls. He eats some of the peanuts also so probably another 200 calories as a pack is 340 total (they are in shell) and I drink a 24 oz draft michelob ultra. Water with meal.
Total calories are under 1500 calories
If you eat like that for the day, you could very well fall into the 10-20% of calories from carbs rule.
Only carbs in the meal I listed is from the beer and a few peanuts, and less than a 1/2 dozen croutons.
I imagine that is a 20 grams of carbs day there.
And I don't eat potatoes everyday either. Probably 1-2 times a week.
Just a little butter and salt and pepper. Never been a big cheese or sour cream fan |
To all the low carb proponents
