Is my body telling me I need more carbs?

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3/4/13 9:19 A

I love the feedback, thank you spark friends! I've already worked towards cutting my egg breakfast in half and adding half a cup of rolled oats to my breakfast. I'm also going to work towards so more veggies. Thanks for the advice!

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3/3/13 6:15 A

There is no difference between eating pasta and cake. It all comes from flour. I'd stay with veggies.

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3/2/13 12:21 P

I feel better without flour It took my body a little time to adjust; I'm grateful I stuck with it. I get 8 servings non-starchy veggies per day minimum for carbs.

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3/1/13 8:47 P

3-4 servings of veges is o.k. but not 'good'! If you increase them by 2-3 serves per day, your healthy carbs will automatically increase. Having even one slice of good quality whole-grain bread will also help increase the carbs, and help you to stay full for longer. Also, increasing milk (or alternatives) and/or yoghurt will increase your carbs without really compromising your protein.

A cold baked potato (try stuffing with some cottage cheese and finely chopped onion, capsicum, a little grated cheese, spring onions etc.) will also help. The cold baked potato has a lower GI than a hot one, so will help keep you fuller for longer, too!

Kris

Edited by: SLIMMERKIWI at: 3/1/2013 (20:49)

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3/1/13 8:28 P

You are probably craving the carbs because your body is used to getting them. It therefore produces the "correct" amount of insulin for the higher level of carbs you used to eat. The fact that you haven't been eating that many carbs lately means that your body is producing more insulin than you need -- and that over-production of insulin causes a carb craving.

It takes the body 1-2 weeks to adjust to a reduction in carbohydrate intake. When people go on a low-carb diet, they may experience intense cravings for a while as their body is still producing lots of insulin in the expectation of receiving lots of carbs to process. But after a week or two, those cravings subside as the body's production of insulin decreases as it is adapts to the fact that less insulin is needed.

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3/1/13 3:32 P

I do not intentionally cut carbs, it's just been a result of the high protein. But I am going to try and cut down the protein a little and add a carb of some sort to replace it. Hopefully this will help. Thanks spark friends!

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3/1/13 2:16 P

Carbohydrates are important for athletes... it's your body's preferred fuel!

Check out this great article for the truth about carbs:

www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_art
icles.asp?id=590

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3/1/13 2:12 P

I have been told to stick to a ratio of 40% carbs, 30% Protein and 30% Fat. I frequently go over on the fat and protein because so many of the carbs are high calorie I inadvertantly avoid them. I think our body needs the carbs and I feel my metabolisim works best with this ration. I am striving to taylor my meal planning to this ratio more and more, and I am finding myself with more energy and less of that shaky/hungry feeling I had been getting. I hit the nail on the head yesterday, but it is a constant struggle! No one knows your body as well as you~ Good Luck!

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3/1/13 1:01 P

I'd be willing to bet your only craving carbs so much now b/c of the simple fact that you are trying to restrict them. Its human nature to want what we can't have!

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3/1/13 10:28 A

So in the last few weeks or so I have decided to increase my protein as it helps me feel full longer and overall think it is better for me as an athlete. Consequently my carbs intake has unintentionally gone down. I've been barely making my carb ranges some days. On days when I do have bread or pasta, my mind goes crazy! We had some whole wheat pasta and I had to really stop myself from eating too much of it. I've never been a huge pasta fan and it has never been a trigger food for me. Is this my body telling me I need more carbs? I do eat 3-4 serving of vegetables a day, but maybe that's not substantial enough...