net carbs vs carbs? atkins gone wrong

lauraoneill43

So i started the atkins diet as of last tuesday, and ive been only allowing myself to nave 20g carbs a day,not net carbs, im assuming it wont of made a big difference? Thanks

heybales

Potentially, huge difference.

What if all those carbs is fiber to provide recommended to the body?

There's 20 carbs your body doesn't actually get to use.

All I can say is, don't do a bunch of cardio, unless really slow and easy. If you are going to follow it, read up on exercise recommendations too and follow that.

Be prepared for great water weight drop as your storage of glucose drops. And that is Lean Body Mass, and that is metabolism, so that instantly lowers too.

lauraoneill43

I had losg 3lb in the same amount of days but then cheated at the weekend, (slice of bread) so ive stalled.

selfepidemic1

If you're on an Atkins diet you need to just, avoid carbs. Try to continuously do the Atkins diet, eating carbs and then not eating carbs is just playing havoc in my opinion.

That said, Net carbs is not counting the fibre, fibre is good, especially for the poop! On atkins you'll need to make sure you're eating enough fibre else you'll have, not so good poop days!

GamerGirly

You need to join Low carb or Keto forums. I would refrain from posting on the main forums as you'll get a lot of non-friendly responses and lots of big headed opinions regarding low carbs.

As far as counting carbs. You need to count and log net carbs.

lauraoneill43

Thanks all for responses, not had any toilet issues, and will obv avoid carbs it wasjust a momrnt of weakness.

Crochetluvr

I have to eat low carb because I have diabetes. But I don't go TOO low. Low carb does make you lose weight but staying on it for the rest of your life may be difficult at best. Committing yourself to eating 20g of carbs forever is quite a commitment and if you can do it, I applaud you. But I allow myself between 90 and 100g a day on average. Keeps my blood sugar within parameters and you still lose weight. I don't use net carbs counts because that just tends to make me eat more carbs.

lauraoneill43

Ive just found out that in the uk we do count the carbs not net carbs so ihave been doing it correctly .

QuietBloom

Potentially, huge difference.

What if all those carbs is fiber to provide recommended to the body?

There's 20 carbs your body doesn't actually get to use.

All I can say is, don't do a bunch of cardio, unless really slow and easy. If you are going to follow it, read up on exercise recommendations too and follow that.

Be prepared for great water weight drop as your storage of glucose drops. And that is Lean Body Mass, and that is metabolism, so that instantly lowers too.

Losing water weight will not lower your lean body mass, nor slow your metabolism.

MelRC117

Net carbs and carbs is a BIG difference. Net carbs is carbs MINUS fiber and sugar alcohols...although you may just want to avoid sugar alcohols all together (especially induction).

The old Atkins book focused on carbs, not net. The new Atkins book focuses on NET carbs.

Also, you don't eat 20g of carbs forever. This should be during Induction and is NOT the way you lead the rest of your life. I suggest people that claim that to read more on Atkins. Atkins is a LIFESTYLE change if you want it to be successful...JUST LIKE EATING LOW CALORIE.

GamerGirly

Ive just found out that in the uk we do count the carbs not net carbs so ihave been doing it correctly .

Counting carbs is different in various countries?

That's news to me. I have done Atkins, Keto, and VLCD for nearly a year. Ticker shows my loss.

Best of luck to you. Don't kill yourself with your "staying away from carbs" routine.

yarwell

Counting carbs is different in various countries?

That's news to me.

Correct. Every day is a school day.

UK labels and probably EU in general do not have fibre as a sub-component of carbohydrates. So here in the UK flaxseed should be about 3-5g of carbs whereas in the States it'll be more like 30-35g of carbs per 100g.

We analyse for carbohydrates and report that number along with a separately determined fibre value. In the US the "Carbohydrates" are actually Total - ash - moisture - fats - 6.25*N (protein) so it's done by difference. Fiber is analysed.

Mr_Knight

I had losg 3lb in the same amount of days but then cheated at the weekend, (slice of bread) so ive stalled.

At 20g per day, it doesn't really matter whether that's net or total carbs.

However, you didn't lose anything, the 3lb is just water that will come right back when you get back on normal food. And one slice of bread wouldn't stall a chipmunk, never mind a human being, so don't worry about that.

MelRC117

I had losg 3lb in the same amount of days but then cheated at the weekend, (slice of bread) so ive stalled.

At 20g per day, it doesn't really matter whether that's net or total carbs.

However, you didn't lose anything, the 3lb is just water that will come right back when you get back on normal food. And one slice of bread wouldn't stall a chipmunk, never mind a human being, so don't worry about that.

So I lost 90 pounds of water?

Mr_Knight

So I lost 90 pounds of water?

This will no doubt come as a shock, but my comment was a reply to the OP, about the OP's specific situation.

But hey, 2 thumbs up for getting the humblebrag in there!

lauraoneill43

I lost 6lb not 3, sorry typo.

jaycbrf4

I have to eat low carb because I have diabetes. But I don't go TOO low. Low carb does make you lose weight but staying on it for the rest of your life may be difficult at best. Committing yourself to eating 20g of carbs forever is quite a commitment and if you can do it, I applaud you. But I allow myself between 90 and 100g a day on average. Keeps my blood sugar within parameters and you still lose weight. I don't use net carbs counts because that just tends to make me eat more carbs.

20 net carbs is only for the first 2 weeks to get your body into ketosis. After that you are supposed to gradually increase your net carb intake until you stop loosing weight. Then go back down 5 -10 net carbs so you slowly loose a bit per week. Then once you are at your goal you increase by 10 net carbs a week until you can stay at your goal.

There are so many people here who know nothing about the Atkins Lifestyle but continue to bash it. Either read the entire book or don't say anything. Also do not just eat low carb and say you are on Atkins because that's not it...

MFP is great for tracking net carbs. fat and protein. I just ignore calories.

As far as sticking to it for life, maybe I have more willpower than you. Maybe I love my kids enough to stay away from candy, pepsi, and other poisons.

I eat bread, pasta, pizza, whatever I want to. I just have to stay within my carb limitations or go low for a few days to lose what I gained.

Remember this lifestyle was developed and perfected by a doctor.

MelRC117

Because some how your reponse was so much more constructive?

You don't know if her 3 pounds is water weight, but you implied that her weight loss didn't matter. And it does.

Mr_Knight

You don't know if her 3 pounds is water weight..

Yes, i do know.

It is physically impossible to loss that much as fat, in that short a period of time, short of using a scalpel. This is a very well understood phenomenon of low-carbing.

rml_16

I had losg 3lb in the same amount of days but then cheated at the weekend, (slice of bread) so ive stalled.

A single slice of bread stalled your weight loss?

This is not a diet I want to even try.

Holly_Roman_Empire

I had losg 3lb in the same amount of days but then cheated at the weekend, (slice of bread) so ive stalled.

A single slice of bread stalled your weight loss?

This is not a diet I want to even try.

:laugh: My thoughts exactly!

Holly_Roman_Empire

You don't know if her 3 pounds is water weight..

Yes, i do know.

It is physically impossible to loss that much as fat, in that short a period of time, short of using a scalpel. This is a very well understood phenomenon of low-carbing.

You're one of my MFP forum heroes. :drinker:

Stage14

I have to eat low carb because I have diabetes. But I don't go TOO low. Low carb does make you lose weight but staying on it for the rest of your life may be difficult at best. Committing yourself to eating 20g of carbs forever is quite a commitment and if you can do it, I applaud you. But I allow myself between 90 and 100g a day on average. Keeps my blood sugar within parameters and you still lose weight. I don't use net carbs counts because that just tends to make me eat more carbs.

20 net carbs is only for the first 2 weeks to get your body into ketosis. After that you are supposed to gradually increase your net carb intake until you stop loosing weight. Then go back down 5 -10 net carbs so you slowly loose a bit per week. Then once you are at your goal you increase by 10 net carbs a week until you can stay at your goal.

There are so many people here who know nothing about the Atkins Lifestyle but continue to bash it. Either read the entire book or don't say anything. Also do not just eat low carb and say you are on Atkins because that's not it...

MFP is great for tracking net carbs. fat and protein. I just ignore calories.

As far as sticking to it for life, maybe I have more willpower than you. Maybe I love my kids enough to stay away from candy, pepsi, and other poisons.

I eat bread, pasta, pizza, whatever I want to. I just have to stay within my carb limitations or go low for a few days to lose what I gained.

Remember this lifestyle was developed and perfected by a doctor.

Wow, really? Anyone who eats candy or drinks a Pepsi doesn't love their kids as much as you do?


You're really doing a lot there to dispel the notion that people on low carb diets are snobs who push their lifestyle on others.

lauraoneill43

I actually just made this post to ask for some advice, didntexpect so much critism espically as were all in the same boat since when was being healthy a competition?

firstsip

Because some how your reponse was so much more constructive?

You don't know if her 3 pounds is water weight, but you implied that her weight loss didn't matter. And it does.

A critical distinction needs to be made between "imply" and "infer." What you're inferring from damir's comment is that "weight loss didn't matter." Damir didn't imply that.

But congratulations on your weight loss! 90s lbs lost with a calorie deficit, where you also happened to be limiting carbs, is something else!

allisonrinkel

You need to join Low carb or Keto forums. I would refrain from posting on the main forums as you'll get a lot of non-friendly responses and lots of big headed opinions regarding low carbs.

As far as counting carbs. You need to count and log net carbs.

Exactly. Net carbs are your fibers, which are very important!

yarwell

Exactly. Net carbs are your fibers, which are very important!

Net carbs = US carbohydrates minus fiber so they are not fiber they're the opposite - the carbohydrates that aren't fiber.

The OP doesn't have this problem as her labelling regime is different.

MelRC117

I have to eat low carb because I have diabetes. But I don't go TOO low. Low carb does make you lose weight but staying on it for the rest of your life may be difficult at best. Committing yourself to eating 20g of carbs forever is quite a commitment and if you can do it, I applaud you. But I allow myself between 90 and 100g a day on average. Keeps my blood sugar within parameters and you still lose weight. I don't use net carbs counts because that just tends to make me eat more carbs.

20 net carbs is only for the first 2 weeks to get your body into ketosis. After that you are supposed to gradually increase your net carb intake until you stop loosing weight. Then go back down 5 -10 net carbs so you slowly loose a bit per week. Then once you are at your goal you increase by 10 net carbs a week until you can stay at your goal.

There are so many people here who know nothing about the Atkins Lifestyle but continue to bash it. Either read the entire book or don't say anything. Also do not just eat low carb and say you are on Atkins because that's not it...

MFP is great for tracking net carbs. fat and protein. I just ignore calories.

As far as sticking to it for life, maybe I have more willpower than you. Maybe I love my kids enough to stay away from candy, pepsi, and other poisons.

I eat bread, pasta, pizza, whatever I want to. I just have to stay within my carb limitations or go low for a few days to lose what I gained.

Remember this lifestyle was developed and perfected by a doctor.

Wow, really? Anyone who eats candy or drinks a Pepsi doesn't love their kids as much as you do?


You're really doing a lot there to dispel the notion that people on low carb diets are snobs who push their lifestyle on others.

I like doing low carb, it works for me and I'm comfortable with it.

Others, it won't work or they have difficulty sticking to it and that's fine.

The thing I will agree with though are people who assume what Atkins is and say things like "I could never live off of only 20 grams of carbs forever". That's incorrect. Its not forever. I'm really sick of uneducated people saying things like that and try to tell me that my lifestyle is impossible.

Stage14

I have to eat low carb because I have diabetes. But I don't go TOO low. Low carb does make you lose weight but staying on it for the rest of your life may be difficult at best. Committing yourself to eating 20g of carbs forever is quite a commitment and if you can do it, I applaud you. But I allow myself between 90 and 100g a day on average. Keeps my blood sugar within parameters and you still lose weight. I don't use net carbs counts because that just tends to make me eat more carbs.

20 net carbs is only for the first 2 weeks to get your body into ketosis. After that you are supposed to gradually increase your net carb intake until you stop loosing weight. Then go back down 5 -10 net carbs so you slowly loose a bit per week. Then once you are at your goal you increase by 10 net carbs a week until you can stay at your goal.

There are so many people here who know nothing about the Atkins Lifestyle but continue to bash it. Either read the entire book or don't say anything. Also do not just eat low carb and say you are on Atkins because that's not it...

MFP is great for tracking net carbs. fat and protein. I just ignore calories.

As far as sticking to it for life, maybe I have more willpower than you. Maybe I love my kids enough to stay away from candy, pepsi, and other poisons.

I eat bread, pasta, pizza, whatever I want to. I just have to stay within my carb limitations or go low for a few days to lose what I gained.

Remember this lifestyle was developed and perfected by a doctor.

Wow, really? Anyone who eats candy or drinks a Pepsi doesn't love their kids as much as you do?


You're really doing a lot there to dispel the notion that people on low carb diets are snobs who push their lifestyle on others.

I like doing low carb, it works for me and I'm comfortable with it.

Others, it won't work or they have difficulty sticking to it and that's fine.

The thing I will agree with though are people who assume what Atkins is and say things like "I could never live off of only 20 grams of carbs forever". That's incorrect. Its not forever. I'm really sick of uneducated people saying things like that and try to tell me that my lifestyle is impossible.

And that gives pp the right to insult the parenting skills and question the love and commitment of parents who don't eat like you and him? Don't you get it? Responses like that make the poster just like the people you are all so sick of and angry with. I did not say jack**** about your/his lifestyle, but he insulted and judged me with that post. Pot/kettle and all that. That was my only point.

heybales

Potentially, huge difference.

What if all those carbs is fiber to provide recommended to the body?

There's 20 carbs your body doesn't actually get to use.

All I can say is, don't do a bunch of cardio, unless really slow and easy. If you are going to follow it, read up on exercise recommendations too and follow that.

Be prepared for great water weight drop as your storage of glucose drops. And that is Lean Body Mass, and that is metabolism, so that instantly lowers too.

Losing water weight will not lower your lean body mass, nor slow your metabolism.

Losing water weight associated with stored glucose, as I was specific with, is NOT fat mass, therefore it is NON-fat mass, which is the same as Lean Body Mass.

Only 2 distinctions in body composition when it comes to metabolism, fat mass and fat-free mass (LBM).

LBM has the largest effect on metabolism, so much so fat mass can be ignored, unless extremely obese.
5 organs of the LBM have the biggest impact on metabolism. Liver with glucose stores and attached water is one of them and the process done on supplying that to the blood.
Muscle comes down the line.
Of the muscle metabolism, dealing with glucose stores and associated water attached is majority of metabolism. Glucose used for energy, water removed from cell and dealt with.

You stop storing a bunch of glucose because of low carb diet, your body no longer is dealing with a bunch of water it would otherwise, less energy spent on that, lower metabolism.

You can look up the estimates based on how much muscle you think you have, can range from 100-300 calories daily. Of course if only 100, probably didn't lose much water weight either as must not have much storage.

rml_16

Maybe I love my kids enough to stay away from candy, pepsi, and other poisons.

It's lucky that I don't love my kid at all then and can enjoy my candy. I'm not a soda fan, though.

I tend to avoid ingesting poison, though.