Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

[not2late]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

I think fitday is now taking the 'fiber not contributing to calories' thing into consideration. I only use fitday to figure out recipes. A month ago, I entered a customized food--I think it was a legume---anyhow fitday wouldn't let me enter the food values that were on the label. Specifically it had a problem with the calories. So I think they adjusted for the fiber and calories thing.

[mitzimarie]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

The percentages should still be correct though, shouldn't they? Fiber has no calories because it is not absorbed by the body. So the percentages should reflect the percentages of CALORIES from each nutrient group.

YES! That is what I was trying to say when I wrote this:

"I'm just wondering... when figuring the percentages with digestible carbs instead of all carbs, what happens to those calories from the fiber in the overall calorie total for the day? Say you get 20 grams of fiber from 45 veggie carbs - that would give you 25 net veggie carbs. As for as calories, the fiber is worth 20 x 4 = 80 calories. I wonder how this 80 calories would be classified in the percentages? In theory, it would not be counted as a carb, but that doesn't make it fat or protein either. Does it sound possible that to find the percentage for each, the number you would have to use for your calorie total for the day would be the actual number of calories minus the amount of calories attributed to fiber? If that is the case, then the percentages would probably be the same."

So, really, Fitday doesn't have to "account" for this, because the percentages remain the same. YAY! I understand!

[mitzimarie]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

I think fitday is now taking the 'fiber not contributing to calories' thing into consideration. I only use fitday to figure out recipes. A month ago, I entered a customized food--I think it was a legume---anyhow fitday wouldn't let me enter the food values that were on the label. Specifically it had a problem with the calories. So I think they adjusted for the fiber and calories thing.

I've had Fitday reject a custom food I was trying to enter. It wasn't because of the fiber thing, however. The amount of calories from each nutrient didn't add up. (and I was getting the info from a label!)

There are 4 calories per gram of carb. There are 4 calories for each gram of protein. There are 9 calories per each gram of fat. When Fitday did the math for each of the categories listed, it didn't add up to the total calories, so it wouldn't accept it. I did the math to double-check Fitday, and they were right, so the label I was copying from was wrong.

[julirama723]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

I thought carbs had 9 calories per gram?

[mitzimarie]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

I thought carbs had 9 calories per gram?

Nope... I am positive about this. It is 4 calories per gram... fat is the only one with 9.

[julirama723]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

Ahh you're right.

Hmm...sometimes fitday doesn't like what I enter in either, but I think fitday does the math strictly with that formula. The only thing I can figure when that happens is that the nutrition label has "hidden" carbs somewhere, or is rounding up or down.

[elsy]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

I had to go yesterday so I'm just now trying to catch up on the discussion. O.k., so it seems to me that you all have it "all together" now. I don't. All I know is that Dr. A said to count "carbs" not "calories". So why are we so worried about this? I'm trying to understand. Could someone please explain what you all do to make it simplier to follow this WOE. I can't imagine living my life like this. As it is, I hate math and really bad at it. That's why I loved the idea of just worring about carb counting. But now it sounds more complicated then ever.

Another concern now is, is FitDay really a realiable carb counter source?
Or is it better to just use the carb counter on back of the book?
If I do use FitDay, do I take the total carb count given in that chart and then subtract the Fiber count?

To all the Atkins Veterans/Experts out there.........HELP!!!

[not2late]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

Mitzi, for my customized food it was the fiber. I recalculated it myself with and without fiber and fitday like the value without the fiber.

Elsy, I only counted carbs. During Induction, if you eat according to the Rules, the percentages will be around the "ideal" 65/30/5 ratio. Unless you eat lean meats during Induction, the amount of added fat you need is about 1/2 to 1 tablespoon added fat per meal. When you move to OWL, you'll need to play around alittle with the added fat you use, because you either use the same amount or you use a little less (like 1/2 to 1 tablespoon less). The most common mistakes I see are people increasing the added fat and increasing the carbs or increasing the carbs and increasing their protein intake.

Fat is calorie dense and while you can eat slightly more calories on Atkins than you can on a low fat diet, if you eat too many calories, you won't lose weight. That's why the folks who butter their cheese cubes aren't doing themselves any favors in the end.

[mitzimarie]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

I am running so late for work, so I apologize in advance that this will be so short. Believe me, someone else will come in and help you as well today.

Short answer:

Fitday rocks! I resisted it for months, finally bit the bullet and used it, and now I can't imagine not using it.

Yes, it is a reliable carb counter source. You just need to subtract the fiber from the carbs at the end of the day. But, you would have to do that using any kind of carb counter. It's not that hard.

The reasons we track calories is to make sure we are eating enough and to see what are percentages are for each category - carbs, fat and protein. You don't have to track the percentages, but I find it helpful.

It is daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it is actually fun.

Best of Luck!

[mitzimarie]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

Mitzi, for my customized food it was the fiber. I recalculated it myself with and without fiber and fitday like the value without the fiber.

Just curious... when you entered it each way, what figure did you put for carbs? Was it the same number of carbs each time, or did you manipulate the carb number for one way and not the other way?

Soooo late! Gotta go! Thanks!

[not2late]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

Just curious... when you entered it each way, what figure did you put for carbs? Was it the same number of carbs each time, or did you manipulate the carb number for one way and not the other way?

Soooo late! Gotta go! Thanks!

For the total carbs, I entered the total carbs listed on the label. Then put the fiber grams in. Fitday rejected the food. So I figured it out using the formula and saw that the label's info was correct. I even looked up the food in Corrine Netzer's book and the info was the same as it was listed on the label.

After fooling around with it, I subtracted the fiber from the total carb and entered that amount as the "total carb" for fitday. Fitday took the food. So I figured fitday is subtracting fiber cals from their total cal calculations.

Like I said, I only use it to figure out recipes. So it's not a big issue with me.

[elsy]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

not2late, so what you're saying is that Fit day already gives you the net "digestible carbs?' So you don't have to take the total and then subtract the fiber?

[elsy]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

Thanks for those of you who have attempted to answer my question. However, I'm getting different answers. The quetion is:

Does FitDay give you the Net/Digestible Carbs or the Total Carbs?

[julirama723]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

It gives you TOTAL carbs, and fiber is listed separately. So you need to subtract the fiber from your total carbs to get your NET carbs.

[mitzimarie]

Re: Total Carbs vs. Digestible Carbs???

It gives you TOTAL carbs, and fiber is listed separately. So you need to subtract the fiber from your total carbs to get your NET carbs.

Yes, this is exactly how you do it. It's not hard - you can do it!