JockoT's Journal, 26 Feb 16

Penlan - I'm very aware that low carbs does not mean low kcals - however low carb diets like paleo tend to push you towards foods that are lower in ckals (besides nuts and high fat foods of course). I'm simply saying that low carb means that you're not eating things like bread, cookies etc. And as you'll see in my comments I don't recommend low carbs at all - it's both frustrating and in many ways pointless and has very few if no health benefits  

and I am by no means criticising JockoT's choices, merely pointing out a few facts. Obviously if low carb works go for it.  

as long as you're not causing yourself harm and are happy and achieving your goals, that's the essential. I simply wanted to give an input and a source (mike matthews) that I thought would be helpful. Good luck JockoT  

Thanks Jake, but as I said, I used the calculator on Mike Matthew's site and it recommends I eat 40% carbs. I am giving it a try, reducing my carb intake from my usual 50% down to 40%. To me that does not constitute low carbs. Atkin's Diet is low carbs. 

Its not the amount of carbs, but the type of carbs which is important. Cutting carbs down can be bad for you. It all depends on types and amounts. Rule of thumb is 6 - 10 grams of carbs per Killo of body weight for an active person. There are 6 calories in each gram. For you that is between 560 and 980 grams per day 

Oh Sorry I misunderstood. 40% is perfectly good in my opinion - a good balance 

Carbs are not your enemy, just as low calorie intake is. A nutritionists point of view is that it is all about balance. Having a low carb intake is just as bad as having too low a calorie intake. You need to watch what you eat, rather than is it a carb don't have it. Your brain and muscles need carbs to function properly, which carbs you choose are of course what you need to watch. Carb calculations on what impacts you is the hardest part to work out, given we have carbs in the form of fiber and sugar alcohols (which are not completely absorbed)  

I am coming to the belief that the swing away from meat and fat, to carbs (particularly refined carbs), is the reason for my weight issues. As a result I am now trying to redress the balance somewhat by reducing my carb intake. I am not going Low Carb, just cutting back from around 50% to nearer 40%. But more importantly, I am trying to reduce my dependency on refined carbs, particularly sugar. 

Refined carbs pad, unrefined carbs good. A start towards a balanced approach. Exercise is beneficial as it burns off the carbs, not easy when +60 but simple resistance training is good. 

I resist any training. so I must be doing well!! 

If you are beginning to consider carbs as an unnatural recent (10,000 years) affliction that causes obesity, TII diabetes, elevated BP etc etc you must have arrived at the appropriate chapter in D Delusion. Candy xxx  

At Chapter 7, Fiber. (sic)