Are you counting carbs?

I wanted to get a consensus of the other men on the board about carbs.  I know a lot of people who post on the main board (mostly women i've noticed) say they are limiting their daily carbs as part of this weight loss process.

I've tried doing that, and it's not hard, but what I find is that when i'm limiting carbs (I try to stay around 35 or less, nothing drastic like less than 20), it in turns limits my calories.  I try very hard to get 1000 calories, but honestly, it can be hard.  Then sometimes I feel like my carbs are too high for the day, so I don't want to eat more, but I may only be at like 800 calories.  There are ways to do both, but that can be challenging at time unless I want to eat the same meals day in and day out. 

So i'm just wondering, do you guys count carbs, or are you mainly focused on a certain caloric # only?

I don't count them anymore (2 1/2 years out).  What I try to do is just limit them mostly in my head.  I figure a lot of fruit has carbs.  But if they are things like apples or blueberries or bananans it should be good for me (nutrition).  So what I really try and watch are 3 things.  Rice, corn, and white flour (which is in everything).  My biggest downfall is tortilla chips (the salt, the oil, the crunch).  The first 6 months I really watched the carbs closely...but when I reached goal...I stopped.  I wish I would have continuted to watch them more closely.  They can be your biggest downfall over the years.  The breads and birthday stuff are everywhere.  Add in the holidays and you really have to work your mind around not going after "free food".  Brian

Only in that I count on not including many of them in my meal plan. I concentrate on my protein intake and minimize my carb intake. The carbs I do eat are very complex carbs. Doing this I have done quite well with weight loss while maintaining perfect blood tests and other medical exams.

Did your Doctor tell you to count carbs?  I bet not.  Screw the chicks on the main board, the doc told you to count protien and water, do that until he tells you otherwise.  The chicks make losing weight way harder than it needs to be post WLS, it's just the way they are, don't fall into their trap, next you'll be asking us for a hug!

be asking us for a hug! NOW THATS FUNNY

I agree, count protein, clear fluids and if carbs are in your head, count complex carbs. You'll need to increase your calories soon.  Your doc will give you a new calorie count.  I bet it is 1500-1800 +/-
Good luck

I agree with "count them in your head".  I can eat just about anything I want with very little negative effects, so I had slipping into a pattern of "a bag of chips here, a little ice cream there, a peice or 5 of chocolate..." you see the routine.  I, as of about 10 days ago, decided to be more coonsious about food choices in general and most of the bad stuff IS full of EVIL carbs. 

I DROPPED 12 frickin' pounds like a load of bricks. 

Good luck

Jason

320-196

then-now

Thanks for all the opinions guys. 

Wanted to add to this topic.... the nutritionist told me I should be eating 80-100 grams of carbs a day.

My carbs are normally in the form of either veggies or fiberOne/Kashi products

I'm approaching the 6th month mark and the weight will NOT come off... scares the **** out of me