Thread: Do you count/record every carb??

Hello! I've been on Atkins induction (if I'm doing it properly) for a week and have dropped 5 lbs. However, I have not been strictly counting my carbs. Do most of you count, or just keep a ballpark figure in your head?? I've been staying pretty darn low, but after ages doing Weight Watchers I just can't bring myself to again count everything that goes into my mouth.
Thanks!
Staci in AZ

During induction, it's wise to count every single carb using either a simple notebook, or FitDay. This will help you if you start to stall - you'll be able to easily figure out what to cut back on.

5-6 months later, I now just ballpark it, since I'm pretty familiar with what I put in my mouth - I still track new items, though.

(296/223/135) 04/01/03
The Downward Spiral Begins

Welcome, Staci, and congrats on the 5 pounds lost already - you're off to a great start.

I agree with Shrinky that it's best to keep track of exactly how many carbs you're consuming, until you get to the point where you know the numbers by heart (which doesn't take long). If you review the posts on this board from people who are not losing the way they'd like to, you'll see that often they are eating more carbs than they thought. Sometimes the extra carbs are sneaky, like those hidden in "low-carb" bars, and sometimes people just don't realize an item contains carbs, such as with coffee or eggs.

So in my humble opinion, it's best to count everything meticulously, at least at first. Having said that, if you are following the induction phase of Atkins precisely ~ and I mean PERFECTLY, eating only those items on the list of acceptable foods for induction, in exactly the prescribed amounts ~ then you are getting the right amount of carbs. But later you'll need to find the CCL that works best for you, and you can't really do that without knowing for sure the carb values of everything you eat.

I can understand not being too interested in tracking every bite, but it really does pay off, and you won't have to do it forever. As Shrinky suggested, check out Fitday.com - it's kinda fun to have a running record of your progress. I'd suggest you take your measurements now too, so you'll have something besides the scale to use as a benchmark.

Best wishes,
Sky
Atkins since 8/02
186/144/under 150

[img]http://www.lowcarbeating.com/lcesupporter.gif[img]

Like you, when I started out I 'guestimated' my carbs and did pretty well that way. I also found that after induction (when more foods can be added) it became a little more difficult for me to keep track of everything so I started using Fitday. I would be lost without that program and was surprised at some of my results once I actually started tracking everything.

Susan

LC and feeling better every day!

Atkins since 7/18/03
210/185/140

I know what you mean about measuring and monitoring every little thing. But it's true--it helps. Especially with a new program.

With Atkins, if you are eating strictly from the approved lists, the kind of food matters more than quantity during the early stages.

As you begin to add more carbs, measuring quantity becomes more important. It isn't always easy to judge what's 1/4 cup, or 1 Tablespoon.

For many of us, total calories remain a factor. But I find that I can eat a more satisfying menu on low-carb than on low-fat--and more calories as well.

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003
162/135/140

Yes. I count each and every carb, daily, hourly, religiously. Some of us have to do that in order to have a reality check of what we're ingesting.

Your milage may vary.

April
352 / 201 / 180
5'10", large frame, size 13 shoe
www.geocities.com/aprilreinhardt
NOTE: my web site will be changing shortly...the Yahoo people deactivated my account for some silly reason

Ditto Barb and April.

I’m in a phase right now where I’m not counting but in general, I do think it’s best when just starting out. It lets you get familiar with carb counts of various foods and takes the guess work out of your daily totals.

Just look on the bright side, you don’t have to count your fat grams! At least, not at first. Later you might but don’t worry about that now.

Good luck!


Member since 2001
http://www.ilovelowcarb.com
Size 24(start lowfat)/Size 18(start LC)/Size 14/Size 8

I don't do any math with carbs anymore. I'll describe how I do it. I think other people do it too. It's sort of a simplified version of Atkins.

Everything you can eat is put into one of three categories:

1) Things you can eat all you want, whenever you want. This includes things like green veggies and meat and eggs and mayonnaise.

2) Things you can never eat. This includes anything with more than trace amounts of sugar or flour or potatoes, for instance.

3) Things you can eat in moderation once in a while, but with caution. This would include, for instance, nuts, berries, etc. This part tends to be very individual.

The trick to this is knowing WHICH category things belong to. That's why counting carbs for a while is a good way to get started. My own policty is, if I ever binge on something I can only eat in moderation, I put it in the never-eat category.

Some people feel uncomfortable when a food is ever permanently cut out of their diet. It makes them feel deprived. For people like me, though, it's great, because I've dieted so many years I already see the world of food in terms of good and evil.

I prefer to simplify my life this way. It makes it easier for me to live with the day-to-day burdens of a low-carb life. I don't have to worry about the size of portions in restaurants, for instance.

But, like I said, the tricky part is knowing which category everything belongs to.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."