Inquiring Kathy wants to know? How do you count your carbs? Carbs vs Net Carbs

Imagine thinking you consumed 3 carbs and it was 25? I know me and I know I would not lose on net carbs but there are those that have

A lot of " others " also lost a lot on crazy diets that did not work for me . I'm a hard core excess food addict .

I asked my nut. at my 3 month appointment about this. She obviously said I shouldn't be counting anything, not even calories. I told her no way and I'm counting anyway, she said if I'm going to count anyway to count total carbs, not net-carbs.

Hi chula82

I can see where she didn't want you to get hung up on numbers but long term we all have to be aware of the numbers, portion size, protein always and carbs

I just eat food and put it in my fitbit and it tells me how many carbs I have at the end of the day. I might pick a lower carb food. But there's no huge calculation involved for me.

What ever works for you Rachel is the right thing

Although this isn't exactly responsive to the OP, I'll leave this here for the record.

I do count carbs (not net carbs) because I track (and measure) everything I eat and have since surgery (2 years, 8 months ago) using My Fitness Pal.

However, I have never limited my carbs, even during the 18 months I was losing weight, other than to emphasize complex, unprocessed and less processed carbs like colored veggies and fruits and whole grains.

In 2017 I have a daily goal of eating 7 colored veggies and fruits. In 2016 my V&F goal was 5/day.) I wind up eating a lot of raw and cooked veggies (carrots, tomatoes, squashes, broccoli, peppers, etc.) and berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.). I also get a lot of carbs from dairy products like skim milk and Greek yogurt. I seldom eat potatoes or white rice.

For the last 15 months I've been maintaining solidly at 135 pounds, plus or minus 2 pounds.

As always, others' mileage will vary.

....and you eat like I do. I'm in the losing phase so following a balanced macro plan and try and keep my carbs around 35%, fat around 25% and protein around 40%. I get my carbs for the most part from berries, apples, vegetables and a few tbs of steel cut oats. I was surprised after eating my overnight oats with apple that my blood sugar test was in the normal range for (fasting).

I avoid processed food in general, but do use premier protein which is of course processed...but love it in my oats.

Hi VSGAnn,

For me right after my surgery and several years later I didn't focus so much on carbs and did great. As I got older and further out and started back to old high carb (white) choices due to a loved one being sick I found my health started taking hits again. I can't tell you how many low blood sugar attacks I had.

For me, if I want to get back on track and lose I have to cut carbs drastically. As we all know everyone is different but it's nice to share what works for us and then everyone can take it or leave it. My getting back on track buddy from 2004 does net and I do regular and that was what prompted me to post about it.

Kathy, thanks -- didn't know you were posting from a "getting back on track" perspective.

I think the "best answer" to questions like "how many carbs work well for you?" depends completely on the situation each person finds themselves in. For example, are you losing weight? If so, at which food-phase? Are you maintaining and, if so, how's that going? Do certain foods trigger overeating for you -- if so, which ones, and how badly? Are you combatting regain and, if so, how much are you trying to lose, and how's that going so far?

It's a stretch, but these issues are almost analogous to treating someone who has cancer. There's a lot of diagnosis that needs to be done before proffering (or inferring) specific solutions.

Finally, I will admit that I am leery and weary of the "no or low carbs for the rest of your life" as an eating prescription for all WLS patients. First, all carbs are not even remotely alike. Second, not all bodies respond in the same ways to carbs. Third, it smacks of nutritional fundamentalism.

I did it. I said the F word. ;)