Are You a Carb Counter?

Are You a Carb Counter? (Full Version)

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[Poll]

Yes, I avoid carbs at all costs to lose weight.

44% (4)

Sometimes, but I’m not sure what’s a good or bad carb.

11% (1)

Not really; I don't care about carb counting.

44% (4)

Total Votes : 9

(last vote on : 7/7/2008 9:59:38 AM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

Message

raspberry331 -> Are You a Carb Counter? (6/15/2008 11:00:19 AM)
Do you monitor your carb intake on a regular basis?

Konstantinos -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/15/2008 11:15:12 AM)
i monitor everything, but i do eat carbs. just never sweets, and half whole wheat half "normal" also depends on whether its gym day or not

csl7037 -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/15/2008 2:25:20 PM)
I said yes although I certainly don't "avoid [anything] at all costs" - that's an unhealthy and counterproductive way to look at it. Like Konstantinos, I monitor everything. I eat what I eat on purpose, by a plan, and for a reason - for what it can do for my body. Carbs have their place in that too. Right now, I'm "carb cycling" which, in a nutshell, it means I eat a low number of carbs (for me, 70g) two days/week, a high number (138g) two days/week, and moderately (100g) the other three days. If I'm reading this chart correctly, it looks like more Americans need to start doing the math!! According to that UN information, Americans average 3,790 calories/day at 100g (400cal) protein, 150g (2,040 cal) Fat, and 508g Carbs (2,040 cal) - how is that possible!!?!?! Let me play with those numbers. That would be approximately...one chocolate cream-filled donut, a 12 oz latte, grab-bag size potato chips, Fast Food cheeseburger with large fries and a larg Coke, 10 hershey kisses, another large Coke, lasagna and garlic bread and a piece of chocolate cake. And that's on average. There's nothing in there that's giving a person what they need to live on! But it's a whole lot of nothing!! By contrast (but not a good contrast), maybe a typical American on a diet would eat something like 2 cups of coffee with cream and sugar, a Healthy Choice frozen entree, a bag of reduced fat tortilla chips, low-calorie caesar salad for dinner and, throughout the day, 4 diet Cokes. That gets them 155g of fat, 27g of transfats and otherwise not-real-food sources of bad fat, and next to no protein for 935 calories. Basically still nothing their body needs. I'm sorry but this is fascinating to me. I've been on both of those extremes and, frankly, wonder how I survived either lifestyle. People need to start counting a lot more than carbs . . . like "the cost"! I personally hate being looked at as some kind of weirdo because I bother to track and control what I put into my body. We are torturing ourselves and driving medical costs through the roof - and we're all walking around miserable for it. I wont live like that.

Harvie -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/15/2008 11:38:06 PM)
I didn't like the choices in the poll. I am diabetic; so I carefully and closely watch the number and type of carbs that I eat each day. I strive for low glycemic complex carbs whenever possible. No, I don't "avoid all carbs." I know the difference between a "good carb" and a "bad carb" -- as far as my diabetes goes. I control my diabetes through oral meds, diet and exercise -- so I care about carbs. I spent several years on insulin and don't plan to go back to doing THAT again if I can help it.

agapetos -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/16/2008 12:44:17 PM)
quote: I didn't like the choices in the poll. Nor me ~ I found them too narrow so couldn't vote. I watch the carbs I eat. I rarely eat 'bad carbs' (to quote the op but have modified my diet to eat 'good carbs'. I don't freak out about it though. If I go out for a meal then I don't worry about what I can and can't eat. It has nothing to do with losing weight, I just find avoiding some foods makes me feel better. Losing weight may be a positive side effect of eating better.

HisCovenant -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/16/2008 12:58:36 PM)
I didn't vote either. I have just started trying to balance my protein, carbs, and fats, so I am counting carbs. But I'm not avoiding them at all costs... and I'm aware that all carbs are not equal. I do try to eat the more nurtitious, lesser processed carbs, even when I'm not counting carbs. It makes me feel energetic, healthy, and clean... and I get all the nutrients I need without having to suppliment when I do so.

MamaPyratekk -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/17/2008 7:58:27 PM)
Instead of counting carbs, I generally just make things easy with whole foods... With whole foods I can do a rough estimate of carbs just by how much of something I'm eating. Take into example complex carbohydrates (the good guys!). A serving of complex carbs from whole grains is approximately the size of a tennis ball. A serving of complex carbs from fruits or veggies is approximately a "heaping handful". When I was weightlifting I was a little more strict about it than that, but overall I think that using that as a basic rule of thumb for portion size is super easy and all that any "dieter" needs to really do unless they're on a very strict eating regimen like that of bodybuilders.

MyCatSmokey2006 -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/17/2008 9:55:30 PM)
I voted Yes because it was the only choice that reflected my actual views. I'm supposed to be on a low carb eating plan, but have difficulty sticking to it. When I do follow it, I don't avoid all carbs, just severely limit high starchy ones like bread, potatoes, corn, pasta, rice, sweets, etc.

Bridgitt -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/25/2008 9:36:31 AM)
I said no, however, I do avoid sweets.

StephK -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/25/2008 9:56:02 AM)
I didn't vote because the choices don't apply for me. I aim for balance between carbs/protein/healthy fats. I don't do refined foods if at all possible.

laura... -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/26/2008 11:30:30 AM)
I voted yes. If you read in the weight loss support thread you will see that my doc has put me on a very strict, low carb diet to get my blood sugar levels down, my weight down and other numbers down. He prefers (and so do I) to control those numbers with diet instead of medication if at all possible. On this diet it is possible. I am on a modified fast diet. I eat enough protein and carbs to keep my body from going after muscle and just burn fat. My carb intake is 10 grams a day. For the most part I eat plain meats and low starch vegetables. I can have low carb slim fast as a breakfast alternative. I take supplements to keep my vitamin and mineral levels good. I am finding that my metabolism is working much better at this low carb level. My glucose levels are superb. I went from pushing 200's to now averaging 85-90. My bowel functions have become way more normal. I am nearly gas-free. I'm not carrying water. My gums have stopped bleeding every time I brush. I'm loosing weight at a healthy 2 lb. a week. My energy level is up. I don't feel hungry all the time. Is it easy, no, but it's worth it.

JimboFletch -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/26/2008 11:37:59 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: StephK I didn't vote because the choices don't apply for me. I aim for balance between carbs/protein/healthy fats. I don't do refined foods if at all possible. I'm with you. Avoiding all carbs can be dangerous - several people died in the early 70s from all protein diets. And I know there are many good carbs and plenty of bad carbs - same with fats. So I couldn't vote.

Jenny-Fair -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/26/2008 11:45:48 AM)
I voted no. I don't count anything that I eat. I also don't count calories expended through what you might call 'exercise'. I do track my physical activity on my calendar, though, so that I can see that I have made progress (working on endurance, etc.).

StephK -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (6/26/2008 11:56:10 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JimboFletch quote: ORIGINAL: StephK I didn't vote because the choices don't apply for me. I aim for balance between carbs/protein/healthy fats. I don't do refined foods if at all possible. I'm with you. Avoiding all carbs can be dangerous - several people died in the early 70s from all protein diets. And I know there are many good carbs and plenty of bad carbs - same with fats. So I couldn't vote. It's been a trial and error thing but that is where I function and feel the best. I do know that for some people the lower carbs are what they need to do for their health and when it is done right they are at their peak. The same goes for some people who need more to function at their best. I do think more people need to understand that over the last 100 years the quality of the food has indeed changed and that is where a lot of the problems are coming from.

ricegirl -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (7/1/2008 7:59:51 PM)
I voted but not the way I really wanted to I needed another choice or too. [:@] I am diabetic and I too control mine with diet not meds so far it is working and I find myself reading labels on everything. I go for the cereal with lower carbs and sugars. Just posted a long post on another thread about using Splenda ( having some problems whcih after reading about Splenda on the web and other people with the samme problem stopped using it starting today. I couldn't belive all the hehalth different people had using it. SOme of them things I am going through too. ( Bladder infections-showing blood in urine, swelling in legs and ankles. and many more. Hope it is what is causing my not feeling well then by stopping this stuff I might heal. Please LOrd let me find out why I have these problems something like just giving up a chemical would be great. Etc. Won't repeat everything here you can read my post on the other thread. Haven't been on This forum much lately . Buess I better come here more often.

Christianiron.com -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (7/7/2008 10:02:28 AM)
Avoiding carbs in general is not healthy, avoiding high glycemic LOAD carbs, empty carbs that come from refined sources and have no real nutritive value would be much more worthwhile. I am currently reading a book called Ultrametabolism which speaks on this. Great read, very informative

SusieQ567 -> RE: Are You a Carb Counter? (7/10/2008 8:59:32 AM)
I lost 40 pounds on Atkins, eating healthy meats, fish, veggies and fruits, nuts and seeds. Atkins is sooo not what most people think. I eat good carbs and try to eat as little processed food as possible.It really works and is much healthier in the long run. Oh, i eat a lot of healthy fats too.

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