Hello!

For those of you counting carbs do you count total carbs or net carbs?

From what I understand to count net carbs you minus the fiber grams from the total carb grams.  But for me it isn't making sense....so what do you all do and what works for you?

Thanks for the help......I think lowering my carbs are one way I can get off a 25 pound gain now that I am 50 LOL..... I want to get back to my 90 pound loss and counting my calories (1100 a day) and working out 5 days a week isn't doing it. 

Thanks again,

Michele

 

It's generally a personal choice. Especially when it comes to those things like Dreamsfield pasta that has lotsa lotsa carbs, but they say all but so many are protected.

Some subtract fiber and sugar ALCOHOLS from the total carbs and count those as net carbs. Others track them all.

Thanks Janice, I guess I will just have to see what works for me........I like the idea of  net carbs so I might start with that and then if it doesn't work well then go to total carbs...... Thanks again!

Michele

 To figure out the net carbs, you simply take the total number of carbohydrates (5 grams) and subtract the total amount of dietary fiber (3 grams). So, one serving of these almonds has 2 net carbs. Had there been any sugar alcohol content, that figure would have also been subtracted from the total. For example, consider the nutrition facts for a CarbSelect Pria Power Bar:

• Calories: 170
• Fat: 8 grams
• Cholesterol: 5 milligrams
• Sodium: 160 milligrams
• Total Carbs: 21 grams (Dietary Fiber: 2 grams; Sugars: 1 gram; Sugar Alcohol: 17 grams)
• Protein: 10 grams

This pretty tasty snack also has 2 net carbs. If you take the total carb count (21 grams) and subtract the dietary fiber and sugar alcohol content (2 grams + 17 grams = 19 grams), you're left with a mere 2 net grams of carbs!

Awesome thanks for the input, I like the idea of net carbs.....I would like to keep it under 50 to start (so technicaly not low carb) but  it would allow me to have some fruit........I am going to count calories also........ need to get this gain off......

That bar sounds awesome........if it is gluten free I am on it LOL......

Once again thanks for the information!!!!

Michele

When you count carbs you usually count net carbs.  Total carbs less fiber less sugar alcohols.
If you are going to reduce carbs reduce white carbs,  sugar, flour, white potatoes, white rice.

Awesome Winnie great advice thanks!!!!! So that means all the good stuff LOL!

Michele

Subtract fiber from total carbs.

You don't process fiber, you don't derive energy from it (calories) and they largely never affect your blood sugar.  

Remember you need fiber for normal digestion, as well as for reduction of odds of getting colon cancer.

Great advice, thanks! Keep forgetting about colon cancer.....I am at that age now to be tested LOL........

Michele

 I do total, I have PCOS and my body processes good and bad carbs in just about the same way so I would be doing myself a disservice if I only counted net carbs. 

Courtney,

Thanks for your response, I was thinking on those same lines........I don't have PCOS but my metabolism is so slow that I was at first thinking total carbs......

I am curious now to see how my body will respond to both so I am going to try net carbs first (Plus I like I can have more carbs) of course I am only going to try it for a week.....can't waist time getting this gain off LOL!!!!

Thanks again!

Michele

The problem with subtracting off the fiber and sugar alcohols is that it's not clear that all fiber is completely not digested (there is some evidence that some forms of soluable fiber are at least somewhat digested) and sugar alcohols are definitely digested, just not as well as sugar.

There is at least one sugar alcohol, erythritol, that has so little calories it's pretty neglible (.2 calories per gram). But a lot have 1.2 to 3 calories per gram. IOW, the ones with 3 calories per gram have only 1 calorie per gram less than sugar!

So I just count all carbs and don't worry about playing "net carbs" games.

Oh and Dreamfield? Total scam. Notice on the packaging that it says it has 41 g of carbs, 5 from fiber, 7 g of protein and 1 g of fat. But it says it also has 190 calories. If only 5 g of the carbs are truly absorbed, then it should have 57 calories, not 190. This is a clue. LOL

The thing is, if you test your blood sugar before and after eating it, you can see that Dreamfield has a lower Glycemic Index than regular pasta but all those carbs are competely and fully absorbed.

The Dreamfield Pasta Fraud

This is also true of that Julian 1 carb bread, btw.

Wow, awesome insight.......makes sense and I am also sure that everyone doesn't respond the same either just like we all lose at different rates.
 
I had wanted to try staying under 50 grams per day of carbs (not exactly low carb but I think better than a drastic drop...I can always go lower) and was going to do net but....I counted all of today's food and will be at exactly 50 total carbs and I should be satisfied on that.

So I figure if I do 50 total then I am within my guidelines and even better if net carbs do count for me... that would just make me at less carbs....seems to be a good place to start!

I am glad I am gluten free so the Dreamfield pasta isn't even something I would consider.....I am not surprised it is a scam and I have always wondered about those low carb ice creams also...seem to good to be true.......don't get me wrong I have eaten way too many gluten free breads, pastas, muffins and desserts and over the years have developed a substitute for just about everything including pizza rolls and pigs in a blanket (both of which are my downfall) LOL...

So total it is for now........and hopefully I will try it and then once I am back at goal, I will try doing net carbs to see if I maintain.........Ok, so I have changed my mind at least twice today but after looking at the numbers I can do 50 total.....

Thank you once again for your input and support!

Michele

50 gram is totally low carb!

My program says to count total carbs and keep them 40 g or less but I think I got up to 45 g at some point and I did fine.

Oh, thanks.......I think I can do the 50 or less of total....I just couldn't do the phase 1 for Atkins under 25 grams....

Thanks again!

Michele