Do you count net carbs or a carb is a carb?

 I count all carbs too and just minimize the useless carbs (flour, sugar, pasta) when in losing mode.  Well I actually always minimize those, and really just try for healthy carbs.

I guess i am in the minority but i count net carbs. and my surgeon disagrees with this and says count all. but the truth is i don't eat any bread, potatoes, rice or pasta or any of that stuff. so my only carbs come from fruit, veggies or dairy and the like. and i do have the occasional atkins bar but not often. so in maintenance it works out for me. and again, i have maybe one or two atkins bars a month and rarely eat stuff with those sugar alcohols so guess it evens out.

i think the real thing is to keep the protein up and then by default you have less room for carbs anyway. thats what i found during weight loss phase and its still true during maintenance.  diane

I am almost in maintenance (several more pounds to go) and the only carb, other than vegies and dairy, I have been allowing myself, and infrequently at that, is a small corn tortilla and 1-2 squares of Endangered Species chocolate per month. I agree, if you eat alot of protein and then vegies, there is really only room for carbs when you are in head-hunger mode.

A carb is a carb.

I say switch your focus a tiny bit from going wrong somewhere with a particular macro to going wrong somewhere with overall calories (if you are going wrong, that is). :)

If I do Atkins and my maintenace is, say 1800 calories, but I eat 3,000 calories in meat, then I'm going to gain weight. Similarly, if I eat only 1000 in fat or carbs, I will lose weight.

Calories trump all.

Looks like everyone else counts total carbs....maybe I should too.....