Question:
DO YOU COUNT NET OR TOTAL CARBS

I'M SO CONFUSED I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD BE COUNTING NET OR TOTAL CARBS. WHEN FIGURING OUT MY CARB COUNT FOR THE DAY. HELP    — tracy W. (posted on November 20, 2003)

November 20, 2003
Since I follow the Atkins program, I count net carbs. In general you calculate this by taking the total carbs and subtracting out the fiber and sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohols aren't always labelled as a separate item under carbs so this is sometimes hard to figure out.
   — Yolanda J.

November 20, 2003
Yolanda is soo right - about the sugar alcohols. One really needs to learn read labels. Sugar alcohols are often listed under sugars and then you have to read the label to see if there is any actual real sugar in it or if it's all sugar alcohols. A real pain sometimes lol.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 21, 2003
Depends on whether you care how many calories you are eating or not. All carbs count for calories. As far as ones that will likely not add to your body, fiber can be subtracted from the total. Sugar alcohol relates to diabetics and how it works in their bodies. As far as I know it still counts in a non-diabetics body. Me personally I factor them all in, including fiber. I do not count them religiously but have a reasonable idea what I am doing. In general I just make sure there is more protein on my plate than carbs and that works for me. Just whatever you do, don't use the Net Carbs listed on the front of protein bars as that Net Carbs is based on how it works in a diabetics body. Way more than fiber and sugar alcohol is not counted. All I know is the way I've gone about it has helped me lose 197 lbs in 9-1/2 months, but I am still very protein focused and intend to stay that way as it works well for my body. I eat carbs of any kind, just in reasonable proportion.
   — zoedogcbr