Has anyone cut back to near zero carbs? What was your experience like?
Not recommended. It’s a diet fad that isn’t healthy.
Plenty of fire around this and that macro balance.
It’s mostly people advocating for what ever they’re doing as if were fact based.
Eat all the Food Groups. Pay attention to total calories.
My pee was really acidic and my kidneys hurt. Didnt see any improvements in my lifts and was more sore for longer. I was gaining weight with it (on purpose) but I do think it’s good for weight loss. Didnt really crave carbs until I got depressed. First time I ate carbs I stayed up for like 24+ hours lol.
Ketosis.
I read an article in a sports medicine journal a long time ago and tried a diet with 5 days, no carbs and two days eating normally. The idea was that carbs and sugar raise your insulin. This drops your testosterone and growth hormone. If you were taking steroids, you would want high Test, Growth and insulin. For the two days when you eat normally, your basically naturally on steroids.
So for Monday to Friday, I was eating eggs and cheese for breakfast, meat and cheese for lunch and dinner with protein snacks between meals. I kept the whole thing around 1500 calories daily.
By Friday I was incoherent rage. I was low energy and mad at the world.
Saturday and Sunday I was feeling great.
Overall, I lost 50 pounds in 3-4 months and gained muscle. I was an asshole at work and feeling like crap most of the time.
Just start eating healthier fresh foods with no preservatives. I’m down 30 pounds from a few simple changes- egg whites and banana or kiwi for breakfast and seafood salad for lunch (salmon/cod/tilapia/flounder). Pretty much eat whatever I want for dinner and still end the day with a net gain.
I don’t think nearing 0 carbs would be possible unless you only ate meat and a few veggies, and that certainly wouldn’t be healthy. Low carb is awesome and very healthy if you do it right, meaning meats, veggies, some dairy if you choose, some fruits, nuts, and eggs. Also drink lots of water and you’ll be all set.