Why do I lose when my carb count is higher than 20 g?

(HIDAYAH KENDALL) #1

This has happened three times now. I go along with a 5/20/75-ish macro count, and the scale doesn’t move. I up my carbs, with no change in activity level, and I lose a pound or two. How and why is this happening? Does this mean I would lose better/more with a higher carb count? Medical conditions: hypothyroid (medicated), chronic migraines (prophylactically medicated daily to prevent occurrence), pcos, narcoleptic. I do not gain the weight back later, and I am puzzled.

(Stickin' with mammoth) #2

I say enjoy the fuck out of it and don’t look back. Everybody’s got their special number. Apparently, mine is two broccoli florets and a latte. (sigh)

(Richard Morris) #3

Once thing I have learned about human metabolism is if a little of a thing is good, more is not always better. In this case carb restriction, not everyone needs to have less than 20g a day and some can apparently function well with considerably more.

We tell people 20g because for most people that will get them into ketosis and running their brain on mostly ketones. And that allows their liver to make the small amount of extra glucose that we all need to fuel the glucose dependent tissue.

But maybe you don’t make a lot of ketones and need a little more glucose, but have become quite insulin sensitive - you can probably eat a little more and not have the reactive hypoglycemia that causes carb cravings that derange the rest of us :slight_smile:

Given you have seen that you can lose weight when you increase carbs a little, I would try slowly increasing until you see the effect fall off and then back off a little and you will have found your sweet spot.

(HIDAYAH KENDALL) #4

You know, maybe I don’t make many ketones. My numbers when blood testing are usually around 0.3. Once, I got up to 0.7. After my trip to Orlando next week, I’m going to start charting this out. I’ve heard that people with wonky thyroids can have a harder time tweaking their carb counts, too, so my thyroid may be playing a part in this as well. Thank you for the feedback.