Carbs & Net Carbs Question

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Can someone please explain how these are measured (grams, etc.) in reference to low/no carb-conscious people?

For example, if a serving has 37g of carbohydrates according to the label how does this translate into Atkins-speak? How does the overall Atkins carb allowances correspond to the Recommended Daily Allowances?

Are carbs, net carbs & total carbs the same thing?

I have a co-worker who just like many people has been abusing the Atkins diet for quite some time (over 8-9 mos.) and she's consuming far less than I think you're supposed to be after the initial phase which I thought was ZERO carbs.

She's trying to get down to a size 0 . . . she looks like walking shit but she's cool as long as her numbers (weight & sizes) keep going down. She looks very tired and I've walked past her desk and caught her asleep. Not that I care or am gonna tell anyone but I'm just thinking her mental state is deteriorating as well.

[ice-c]

i look forward to this answer...

but i do know that the atkins initial phase ....should not be continued more than the recommended....TWO WEEKS...(it may have changed).....

you are killing yourself with NO CARBS.

[Brightness]

And that's precisely what ends up being the most abused aspect of the diet in my opinion.

I've known people who've done it for say 6-8 wks vs. the 2 wks. but never have I seen a person stick so close to no carbs for damned near a year.

This girl has totally eliminated some, if not most fruits and vegetables from her diet so I'm thinking that along with carbs, she's eliminating alot of beneficial "natural" nutrients & vitamins as well.

For example, what vitamins is it that keeps your hair, skin, nails and tooth enamel shiny? I know calcium builds but that does that attribute to the sheen or healthy appearance, too?

If these vitamins are most prevalent in carb-containing foods, then folks may not be getting adequate amounts.

Somebody told me that this particular person's teeth are looking dull/dingy. . .now that could be for any number of reasons and you know I am not going out of my way to verify that yes her teeth aren't looking healthy. . .her hanging skin, dull eyes, lack of energy and lethargy are enough to let me know shit ain't right with her and that it may be a result of her diet.

But get this. . .she still is obsessed with working out. It probably takes what little energy she has and she doesn't replenish what she's losing via sweating.

Oh another thing. . .does this diet affect a woman's menstrual cycle adversely?

[Joi :)]

it was my understanding that net carbs is regular carbs minus sugar alcohol and fiber which apparently dont affect blood sugar. Now how to calculate this...i have no clue.

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Carb Counts: Carbohydrate is measured "by difference" which means it is the amount leftover after everything else has been measured. There are 3 types of carbs: sugar, starch (listed as "other" on nutrition labels; anything misc goes in here too), and fiber. "Total carbs" on a label means the addition of all 3 (note: sometimes labels lie and only count sugar and starch in the total and some countries outside the US count fiber separately). When I list "carbs" in this chart, I mean the total of sugar, starch, and fiber.


Usable Carbs: This means the (total) carb count minus the fiber count. Most lowcarb diets have you "subtract fiber." This means that you do not count the fiber you eat towards your total allowed carbs. It does not mean that eating more fiber allows you to get away with eating more sugar and starch! If you are a lowcarber who does not subtract fiber, use the "carbs" column to figure your allowances.

What Are Net Carbs ?

Effective Carbohydrate Count (GROSS CARBS)

Start with: Total Carbohydrates
Subtract: Dietary Fiber
Subtract: Sugar Alcohols
Subtract: Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Subtract: Glycerine

The balance equals: Effective Carb Count (NET CARBS)

The “Net Carbs” are the only carbs you need to count when doing Atkins.

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Controlling Carbs With Atkins Means:

Finding your individual tolerance for carbs, both to lose weight and then to maintain your goal weight for life.

Cutting out processed foods full of sugar and white flour, as well as restricting other high carb foods.

Retaining “good” carbs full of nutrients, found in foods like green leafy vegetables (and many berries and fruits in later phases).

Eating a wide variety of whole natural foods, including protein, healthy fats and “good” carbs.

Eating the healthy low-carb way for life

Controlling Carbs With Atkins DOES NOT Mean:

Eating “zero carbs”

Eating only steak, bacon and eggs

Eliminating vegetables

Eliminating fruit (fruit is added to your diet during Ongoing Weight Loss, or OWL)

Eating processed foods frequently, such as bars and shakes

Eating low-carb to lose weight quickly, then going back to eating carbs.

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The Atkins Nutritional Approach (ANA) is an easy-to-follow four-phase program. Initially, you cut back significantly on carb intake to lose weight, then you gradually add back a variety of “good” carbs as you get closer to your goal weight. Once you reach your goal weight, you will find your individual ACE (Atkins Carbohydrate Equilibrium), meaning the approximate number of Net Carbs you can continue to eat without gaining or losing weight. Changes in your activity level, hormonal status or other factors may raise or lower your ACE. Here’s how to do Atkins properly:


PHASE I – INDUCTION (We strongly suggest reading chapters 1-11 of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, revised edition.)

We recommend you do the first phase of Atkins for at least two weeks. Some people who have a lot of weight to lose may stay in Induction until they are 10-15 lbs. from their target weight. This is a personal decision that should be made by each individual. You will be staying at or below 20 grams of Net Carbs per day and should be strictly eating foods that are listed on the Acceptable Foods List. Eat three meals a day or four or five smaller ones, if preferred. Don’t skip meals. Eat until you’re satisfied but not stuffed.

·A sample menu for breakfast might consist of avocado-tomato omelet and decaf coffee with cream. For lunch you could have a salad with grilled chicken breast. Dinner might include broiled salmon and spinach sautéed with garlic.

·Foods that combine protein and fat, such as poultry, fish, red meat and eggs, will be the foundation of your meals.

·Most of your carbs will come from nutrient-dense foods such as leafy green vegetables dressed in olive oil.

·Take a good multi-vitamin (without iron) every day. Other supplements you may want to research for your personal use are: Chromium, Essential oils, L-carnitine and CoQ. Dr. Atkins discusses these in length in his book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution.

·Drink a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day to hydrate your body and flush out any impurities. We recommend that you add an additional 8 oz. for every 25 lbs. you need to lose.

·Exercise regularly, preferably combining an aerobic activity such as walking or running with an anaerobic activity such as weight training. Always check with your physician before starting any exercise program.


PHASE 2 – ONGOING WEIGHT LOSS (OWL)

Slow your weight loss by gradually increasing your carb intake in increments of 5 grams Net Carbs. Follow the outlined Carb Ladder (Chapter 14 of the DANDR) when adding in new foods. The first week, move up to 25 grams of Net Carbs per day. If you continue to lose weight, move to a daily intake of 30 grams of Net Carbs the next week, and so forth until weight loss stops for a few days in a row. Drop back 5 grams and you should continue losing weight slowly. Stay at this level of Net Carbs until you come within 5-10 pounds of your target weight.


PHASE 3 – PRE-MAINTENANCE

When you get within 5 to 10 pounds of your goal weight, move to Pre-Maintenance. By losing those last few pounds very slowly, you’ll ease yourself into a permanently changed way of eating. Each week, add more grams (as much as 10) of carbs to your daily allotment, going, for example from 50 grams of Net Carbs a day to 60 the next week. As long as you continue to lose at an almost imperceptible rate, gradually introduce other fruits, such as grapefruit, kiwi or melon, whole grains and yams and starchy vegetables. When you achieve and maintain your goal weight for at least a month, you have found the Net Carb level called your ACE and have effectively moved to the final phase of Atkins.


PHASE 4 – LIFETIME MAINTENANCE

To maintain your goal weight, stay at your newly found ACE. Your ACE may range from as low as 40 to 120 or more grams of Net Carbs daily, depending on your metabolism, age, gender, activity level or other factors. Continue to follow this healthful and satisfying way of eating and engage in regular exercise for effective weight control. Changes in your activity level, hormonal status or other factors may raise or lower your ACE.

In short, Atkins begins as an easy-to-follow diet, then becomes a healthy way of eating for life. It is one of the most satisfying weight-loss diets out there as you do not go hungry and can eat a wide variety of tasty foods. We hope you will enjoy Atkins as much as we do!

[Brightness]

I posted all that to show just how bad this particular person is abusing the diet.

After 8-9 mos. this person is trying to have no more than 5 carbs per day. . .when you should be in the range of 40-120 carbs. . .and some days she may not even have the whole 5 carbs.

And that 5 carbs is usually in the form of some of that chocolate candy. I think she was saying that a couple/few of those amounted to 3 carbs. . .that's over half her daily allottment.

She's gonna fall the hell out one of these days and I'm not going to be the least bit surprised!