Question:
ARE ALL CARBS THE SAME?

I AM 3 MONTHS AND AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF I AM SUPPOSED TO BE COUNTING TOTAL CARBS OR NET CARBS.AND HOW MANY CARBS DO OR DID YOU GET IN AT THIS POINT IN YOUR JOURNEY    — tracy W. (posted on November 15, 2003)

November 15, 2003
Generally speaking, net carbs. Theoretically the difference in the total vs net carbs is stuff your body can't metabolize as a carbohydrate. Like fiber and sugar alcohols. That said, all carbohydrates are still not created equal. Lots of people are counting less and relying more on the Glycemic Index(GI). The GI is a measure of how quickly and easily your body can metabolize the carbohydrates in a particular food. Just for example, I have a choice between 2 slices of bread and each has 15 net grams of carbohydrates. One is regular white bread and the other is brown, 7 whole grain, and sprouted. Assuming I want to do the right thing, I should select the brown bread. It will take my body more time and work to metabolize the carbs in the whole grain product. The GI was developed from years of working with diabetic people and testing to determine the effects of foods on bloodsugar levels. When you have a choice, try to remember the least processed carbohydrate is the best pick. Following along that track; white sugar, white flour, and fruit juice are 3 of the worst carb choices. A much better option would be a piece of sugar cane, brown whole wheat flour, and a piece of fruit. Finally, those indigestible sugar alcohols. I know more than a few people who use them as laxatives. They taste great to almost everyone. I think they are wonderful, however I don't lose weight when I eat them. I also have a friend who has lost over 120lbs on Atkins. She claims sugar alcohols adversely affect her weight loss. Nothing is ever easy!!!!!!
   — PattyL

November 15, 2003
Hi Tracy- I am now 13 months post op and this is the thing that gave me the most difficulty to understand. At 3 months I tried to keep my net carb count at 30 or so. Now it's more like 50 per day. To get the net carb count, take the total carbs and subtract out the fiber count and sugar alcohol if listed separately. This is the general rule. You will find that spinach, brocolli have virtually no carbs when fiber is subtracted off. Atkins has a book of net carb counts that I have on my Christmas wish list.
   — Yolanda J.

November 16, 2003
As usual, off in my own planet here. I've never counted carbs, only sugars. Because of my RNY stomach configuration (not my distal), I malabsorb some complex carbs, along with fats & oils. I avoid SUGAR fanatically, but not healthy carbs. I keep a watchful eye toward white carbs, such as white bread, pasta, rice, but I don't avoid them. If they ever become a trigger food for me, they would be off my list. I much approach fruit with caution. It IS sugar and it also is a trigger for me. At one high stress point in my life, I was doing 6+ protein drinks a day (I usually do) and 4 protein bars a day, very little other food (mom was dying). The bars had glycerin, a fairly high carb count and were actually higher in calories than some other bars. I lost 2 # and held steady all during that horrible time. The object was that it kept me away from candy and/or grazing healthy foods and eating did not become my focus, which would be easy to do as a distraction rather than face what was in front of me. Just as I never got on the fat band wagon, I guess I will miss the carb band wagon. But my weight holds steady, regardless.
   — vitalady