Last Updated on May 21, 2023 by Michael Brockbank
It seems you can’t look anywhere on the Internet without coming across a low-carb diet of some kind. And although things like Keto are quite popular, technically any diet that focuses on decreasing carb intake will work exceptionally well. That is as long as you’re doing more than changing eating habits.
Although it’s possible to lose weight by keeping your carb intake low, the speed at which you lose that weight could be much faster if you’re active.
How Many Grams of Carbs is a Low-Carb Diet?
Unfortunately, a lot of “experts” have varying opinions as to what constitutes a “low-carb” diet. Some will say that keeping under 100 grams per day is low-carb, while others tout that a range from 100 to 150 is the ideal marker.
In fact, some keto diets will focus on 20 to 50 grams of carbs per day.
Then you have some outlets that throw in a bit of advanced math they want you to do to calculate how many carbs you can eat today. For the simple man, this is a bit north of absurd.
You shouldn’t have to use a TI-Nspire CS II graphing calculator just to know if you can have that peanut butter cup or not.
So, I suppose anything from 20 to 150 grams is considered low-carb, depending on where you get your information. That’s quite a window, and it really depends on how much you’re actually eating on that particular day.
Not to mention how active you are to burn those carbs.
Speaking from personal experience, while keeping track of everything in my spreadsheet, I know I’ll lose quite a bit of weight the next day if I keep the carbs below 175. A big part of that, though, is keeping myself active in addition to eating better.
How a Low-Carb Diet Works for Weight Loss
One of the driving factors behind a low-carb diet is how the body uses fat stores. Carbohydrates are used by the human body to provide everything from energy for muscles to ensure proper brain function.
So, no matter how you slice it, we still need some kind of carbs in order to survive.
With a low-carb diet, you’re essentially forcing your body to utilize fat to convert to glucose to provide that energy and other necessary elements in the body. This means you’ll burn fat quicker, especially if you’re active.
Physical Activity
Perhaps the biggest reason why the Keto diet is so popular is that it will help you burn fat wicked fast. Since you’re not consuming very many carbs throughout the day, the body will burn up the fat stores through physical activity.
The problem is getting used to the conversion.
A lot of people who try the Keto diet while also committing to a regular workout routine find themselves getting more lethargic throughout the day. In many cases, this is merely temporary as you’re adjusting to utilizing fat instead of consumed carbs.
This is part of what’s known as “keto flu.”
In my case, it took about four or five days before I wasn’t feeling sluggish at the gym when trying the keto diet.
If you’re planning on being active while on a low-carb diet, make sure you’re getting enough electrolytes. It’s quite easy to deplete yourself of various minerals when cutting certain things from your diet.
Blood Sugar Levels
One of the more important things to keep in mind is your blood sugar levels while on a low-carb diet. Having too low of a blood sugar level can result in hypoglycemia.
This can cause everything from sweats and chills to all-out seizures.
The dangers of hypoglycemia are precisely why a lot of people on the Keto diet will use testing kits often. Then, they can adjust their diets accordingly depending on the results.
The bottom line is that, contrary to the belief of some, humans need certain types of sugars to survive. And dropping your intake will drop your levels. If they go too far, you’re putting yourself at some great risks.
Which is the Best Low-Carb Diet for Weight Loss?
As I’ve said many times before, the best diet is the one that works for you. This includes anything that is considered low-carb. If you find Keto works exceptionally well, then that is the one you should use.
When it comes to health and fitness, Sam and I take very different stances. Sam is all about the Keto lifestyle, and she’ll lose weight rapidly as long as she sticks to her meals properly.
For me, I gravitate toward my Net 600 calorie diet, which puts more emphasis on physical activity. Though, I do find that if I keep with a low-carb day, my diet helps me lose anywhere from 0.5 to 1.0 pounds overnight.
Quite literally.
I like my sweet snacks, which are a big no-no on Keto. Instead, I focus on moderation and proper portion sizes. This is why I can still eat virtually anything I want and still lose weight.
I’m active enough to burn the carbs and calories I consume.
Now, I’m sure I’ll have to adjust my diet as I get closer to my goal weight. There are a few physical traits that I want to work on once I’m below 210 pounds. But in the meantime, I can maintain myself with my Net 600 calorie diet.
Does this mean it’s the best in the world for losing weight? Not necessarily. Remember, it’s still up to the individual to find a diet they like and can see themselves doing 10 years from now.
I suggest trying a few low-carb methods to diet for about a month each. Do your best to follow each one for 30 days and see which one you like the most. It’s the one that gives you the best results that you enjoy that will be the best for you.
How Many Carbs Do You Eat in a Day?
There’s no doubt that I have my bad days. But if I can keep the carb intake low, I usually lose quite a bit of weight rather quickly. It all centers around the quality of food I decide to eat on any given day.
Well, that and making sure I get up off my butt and move.
What kind of diet plan do you stick to?
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