I completely disagree... I think...

fifibox

I think it's unfair that when I have something which is virtually carb free such as the atkins chocolate bar, its still 280 calories on my diary!

sugar is bad for u, therefore less or no sugar should equal low calories not high calories.

whoever invented the definition of calories being calculated on fat or whatever, needs to seriously re think the importance of sugar.

On biggest loser what do they do? cut our carbs/sugar...

It's hard to meet your calorie goal on here when your trying to do low sugar but then it calculates u as high calories anyway

Frustrated.

Thoughts anyone?

anzura

Calories in vs Calories out....that's all that counts!!

heyitsmekatie

i guess it depends on what kind of eating plan you're following... for low carb plans like atkins, calories don't matter. on restricted calorie plans, they do.

_LDM_

Is this a meal replacement bar? Otherwise, I can't imagine why the calories would be so high.

oceanrose78

The Atkins chocolate bar, is still, just a chocolate bar. Calories are strictly energy, it's just if we store energy we end up with fat.

And sure the BL cuts down on white carbs, and sugar but they also limit calories.

_LDM_

Calories in vs Calories out....that's all that counts!!

Check this out!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Calories,_Bad_Calories

ebgbjo

calories don't come just from sugar, or carbs
Also, I don't see any of their bars on their site for 280 calories. Which one are you talking about?

Newmammaluv

Don't go by what this site says for food nutritional value 100%. Do your own research... as far as low suger = high calories.... I'm finding that I'm ok with that as long as I have enough veggies. That's what's really filling me up. I like to see a full plate so I always do 2 sides of veggies with almost every meal.

modernmom70

It's processed so it is bad for you anyways. Doesn't matter how many calories something has, it's what makes up those calories that count. Why are you eating that, there must be a way to spend the calories better. All calories are not created equal.

JigglyPig

A calorie is a unit of energy. It's not up for debate! Lol

But I understand your frustration. Sometimes I look at nutrition facts, and I just scratch my head. How in the world is this THAT many calories?!?!

Goal_Seeker_1988

To explain the "removal of carbs" if they cut out the carbs they replace it with sugar and it works the same way with sugar. Carbs are bascially sugar when it becomes broken down. Try to aim for no more than 100 grams of carbs a day. 1 to 1.5 time your body weight in protein and 20 grams or less of fat a day. That should help ya. Also stay away from replacement bars, make your own. If you can't read the label on something then don't buy it!

anzura

Calories in vs Calories out....that's all that counts!!

Check this out!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Calories,_Bad_Calories

Yes, I completely agree that there are good calories and bad calories. I'm a firm believer in REAL food. 100 calories of veggies is going to process in your body different than a 100 calorie processed diet bar. But when you get down to real food calories, you need to burn more than you consume to lose weight.

beatlemom

A calorie is a unit of energy. It's not up for debate! Lol

But I understand your frustration. Sometimes I look at nutrition facts, and I just scratch my head. How in the world is this THAT many calories?!?!

Totally agree!

elliecolorado

Calories in vs Calories out....that's all that counts!!

Yep when it comes down to it that is really all that matters! I think I have posted this before:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html
I don't believe that it is good for overall health, but when it comes to losing weight it really all comes down to calories in vs. calories out.

_LDM_

Calories in vs Calories out....that's all that counts!!

Check this out!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Calories,_Bad_Calories

Yes, I completely agree that there are good calories and bad calories. I'm a firm believer in REAL food. 100 calories of veggies is going to process in your body different than a 100 calorie processed diet bar. But when you get down to real food calories, you need to burn more than you consume to lose weight.

Can't disagree with that!

armywife1986

Usually, Atkins products have a kind of high amount of fat in them. For every gram of fat, there is 9 calories. If you eat an Atkins bar that has 10 grams of fat, it adds at least 90 calories. Then, obviously there are lots of other ingredients in there, too, such as each gram of protein 4 calories, and carb 4 calories (:

nehushtan

I think it's unfair that when I have something which is virtually carb free such as the atkins chocolate bar, its still 280 calories on my diary!

sugar is bad for u, therefore less or no sugar should equal low calories not high calories.

Sugar is not the only thing that provides calories. That Atkins Advantage bar has 12 grams of fat and 18 grams of protein. It also has 22 carbs but because 10 of those are fiber they "don't count" in a low-carb plan -- fiber is indigestible and therefore does not turn into glucose the way simple carbs like starches and sugars do. But all three of the "macro" nutrients (carbs/fats/protein) are used by the body for energy... that's what calories measure -- energy being used or stored by the body.

Even fiber counts toward the calories reported for a food, which I think odd because it doesn't matter if you are following a low-carb or a reduced calorie diet -- your body will not digest those fibers.

Calories are a useful fiction. There is no such thing as a calorie. Food is made of chemicals -- carbohydrates (sugar, starch, and fiber), fat, and protein, along with micronutrients like Vitamin D and iron. Calories are just a shorthand way of talking about the energy content of the food.

jms023

1 (kilo)calorie = the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius. Calories in food are measured by bomb calorimetry, i.e. burning the food and seeing how much the temperature of water rises. It is not arbitrary and not something someone just made up based on their perceived value of the food (fat vs. carbs, for instance). That's why I don't buy all the crap about low carb diets, low fat diets, if the end result is to lose weight. Your body needs a balance of nutrients, and a certain amount of calories, and the two concepts have to be separated.

Mindful_Trent

To explain the "removal of carbs" if they cut out the carbs they replace it with sugar and it works the same way with sugar. Carbs are bascially sugar when it becomes broken down. Try to aim for no more than 100 grams of carbs a day. 1 to 1.5 time your body weight in protein and 20 grams or less of fat a day. That should help ya. Also stay away from replacement bars, make your own. If you can't read the label on something then don't buy it!

100 grams of carbs is quite low. While some people successfully use a low-carb diet to lose weight & get healthy, it is far from recommended for everyone, and it's not a good idea to go around telling everyone to do it so matter-of-factly.

To the OP: as others have said, no one "defined" a calorie - it is what it is. If you try to eat more real foods - non (or very low)-processed fruits, veggies, meats, eggs, grains & starchy veggies, nuts, beans, etc - you'll find you feel you get a much better value for the amount of calories they "cost".

anzura

1 (kilo)calorie = the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius. Calories in food are measured by bomb calorimetry, i.e. burning the food and seeing how much the temperature of water rises. It is not arbitrary and not something someone just made up based on their perceived value of the food (fat vs. carbs, for instance). That's why I don't buy all the crap about low carb diets, low fat diets, if the end result is to lose weight. Your body needs a balance of nutrients, and a certain amount of calories, and the two concepts have to be separated.

LIKE LIKE LIKE!!

DrBorkBork

Solution: Stop eating Atkins processed crap and do Atkins the way it's meant to be done (clean eating). If you need a chocolate fix, go out and get a high quality dark chocolate bar. At least that way the sugars are natural, and the item is full of antioxidants and other nutrients.

Seesaa

anything processed is gonna hit ya hard one way or another. In the end it is you who has to decide, do you want to take the hit or search for something else...bout all anyone can do.