Carb Counting and Foods that are Worth It

I would like to get a consensus as to how you are all counting carbs? I know you are supposed to subtract the dietary fiber to get the net carbs. After you do that, what is the threshold for what is too many carbs? I try to stay less than 6, what does everyone else shoot for?

Also how do you determine what foods are worthwhile? I am looking at the Met-RX Protein Plus RTD 51. It has 51 grams of protein. It is 240 calories thought with a net carbs of 4. It is sugar and aspertame free. Looks pretty good on paper to me but what I struggle with is that is more than 1/3 of my budget of calories. That means if I have one of these for breakfast there is not room for snacks during the day. It is also 15oz drink with seems like a lot to drink on a small stomach. How do you determine if a food is worthwhiie? I am on the fence on the Met-RX but it gets me more than half way to my protein target.

I treat all carbs the same and try to stay under 25. I wouldn't worry too much about your protein drinks and carbs, just go for something low in carbs and that gives you a good calorie/carb/protein bang for your buck - and that looks reasonably - and you should be okay.

Just MY opinion, follow your doctor's plan :)

As per my doctor's program, I count all carbs and looked for foods that would provide at least 80% of their calories from protein unless they were veggies.  Veggies would work as long as thy were low carb.  To determine how many calories come from what, just remember that protein and carbs have 4 calories per gram and fat has 9 calories from gram.  From there, it is a simple math problem.

Any food that falls outside of these parameters was used as a condiment by me.  I stuck to this until goal, I am more flexible now.   By the way, you will find that only lean meat and veggies really fall into this program.  I am sure that was by design.  :) 

Thanks. All I eat is lean meat and veggies. I am looking for a new RTD protein shake and that is what prompted the question. I found one with 7 grams if carbs and 3 are fiber so a net of 4 BUT 240 calories which I felt was a lot but 51 grams of protein so may be worth it.

my understanding on counting carbs is this      ( Book ) The belly fat cure  by Jorge Cruise

any thing under 10gm = 0 carbs 

20gm = 1 carbs

21 - 40gm = 2 carbs

41 - 60gm = 3 carbs

61 - 80gm = 4 carbs

81 - 100gm = 5 carbs

101 - 120gm = 6 carb

 

Base on s/c value

S= sugar  no more than 15gm daily

C= carbs no more than 6 carb  daily = 120  low carb

This is some info i found  hope you can use this

jen

I'm not counting carbs.  I avoid the obvious starches - bread, rice, pasta and potatoes.  My carbs come from dairy (milk, Greek yogurt, and cheese) and veggies, with the sometimes fruit.  I eat my protein first and the carbs fall into line.

The RTD looks fine.  Since it's a little high in calories and volume (15 oz), why don't you just drink half at a time?  I can't imagine it would spoil in the fridge overnight!

My nutritionist said that a protein shake should have the following requirements

1) 5 g or less fat

2) 5 g or less carbs

3) 24 g Whey Protein (give or take a couple)

 

Based on that you should only be drinking 1/2 of that which would obviously cut the carbs in 1/2 as well as the calories.  I am betting that 120 calories and a net of 2 carbs per day sounds a lot better.

I count total carbs. I don't subtract fiber. I don't count net carbs.

I noticed in one of your responses that you found a RTD protein drink with 51 grams of protein. Per my NUT, anything over 25-30 grams of protein in one serving is suspect. The reason is because our bodies can only fully process a certain amount of food at each meal. Anything it can't process, it throws away, or turns into fat. So, it may feel like you are doing yourself a huge favor by getting in 51 grams of protein in one shake, but your body most likely won't be able to process more than 1/2 of that total.

It might be better to break up the shake into two meals/snacks.

I count all carbs - fiber or not. My total carbs for weight loss phase was 40 or fewer grams of carbs per day.

Here's how I look at the net carb thing: It doesn't work entirely because the calories still get absorbed. So I figure if the calories have to be counted, I might as well count the carbs that make up the calories. Just how I look at it. Even in maintenance I keep track of my carb intake.

Not sure if you have to have a RTD protein drink. I love the powder I use. It's GNC Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 (chocolate flavor). It's 92 calories per scoop with 20 grams protein and 3.4 carbs. I have one scoop in my decaf coffee (16 0z) in the morning and then another scoop in almond milk (8 oz) in the afternoon after my workout. Total for the two shakes is 230 calories. Very similar to your drink (albeit less protein), but I can use it for 2 "meals" and it counts as three of my non caffeinated liquids. It worked for me during WL. Just a thought. It might help breaking your RTD shake into two meals.

That's a good strategy. Lately I have not been enjoying the powers. I find the RTDs a lot easier to tolerate. Hopefully that will change because I have a LOT of Powder.