Does anybody use this calculator? I do not do Atkins, but my own combination of a few different LC plans, mostly of the Glycemic Index variety. Is this calculator more for Atkin's? I am still new to LC so I am not sure if this is something I should be using!
I have not used it - does not look that useful to me. Some plans subtract fiber from carbs but I don't think the new Atkins does.
The GI Index is kind of what I'm using too - trying to make low GI choices - without becoming a complete fanatic about it. There is so darn much information out there that can lead to lively discussion.
The authority on Glycemic Index in my book is Rick Mendosa. The website is www.mendosa.com
Once there look for the lists and abstacts of articles.
Or just do a search for low carb and you'll find tons and tons of sites with varying strictness about levels you can eat, but usually they have FAQ's that are helpful.
I think Andrew Weil is into the Glycemic Index these days, as is The Zone. There are very good food lists by GI in al the Zone books, and I think at Zone sites also.
Here is a page of links via a diabetes info group, that is almost all Low carb, calculators and safe info sites:
I just went and took a look at the calculator. and really it is helpful. you may find that some foods are made with a sugar subsitute that is not added in to the carb count, I forgow which one it is but there are a few they do not count, and especially if the fod is made in europe that is frequently that the conts are off. I would bookmark the site and save it for when you use some foods bars and drink mixxes and run them through before you eat them so you know what exactally you are looking at eating.
That is a good question. I personally don't use a carb calculator but aim at either balancing my carbs each meal or eating very few carbs during the day then balancing them at the evening meal by sight. That is the Heller's way in the CALP book. And almost all of the low carb books suggest eating low glycemic carbs or at least high fiber complex carbs. Fruits are actually such simple carbs (they get to the blood very quickly and can cause our insulin levels to skyrocket too fast) and must be eaten in small amounts. So, knowing the carb content of a food is not the only thing you need to know.
The deal with subtracting the fiber is that fiber (most of it at least) is not digested and absorbed by our bodies, so we should be able to subtract it from the carb count of foods. In other words, if a food has 10 Gm carbs but 2 Gm is fiber, then the actual amount of carbs you will get from the food is only 8 Gm carbs. I think the Eades did this first and Dr Atkins started it later. Most of the low carb people now seem to agree that it is okay to consider only the carbs which are digestible.
One could get overly fanatic about counting carbs, but most of the books are simply trying to get us to eat WAY less carbs than we did when we (erroneously) were eating a low fat diet with lots of carbs. Some of us did that for so long we have some serious medical complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypoglycemia, and the rest of the list. For us, we must be very careful of the carbs we take in, since we are already damaged by the horribly high insulin levels we had for so long.
The USDA has a site where you can get THE answer on how many carbs are in foods. I don't have a link, but you should be able to find it by a search. When you get the hang of how many carbs foods have, it is much easier to do this whole low carb thing.
Another possible problem with a carb counter like the one you have a link to, is you have no way of knowing if it is accurate since there is some controversy about how carbs are determined anyway. Most of the nutrition labels on foods get carb counts by finding the fat and protein counts in a food, determining the calories of those, then considering what calories are left over must be carbs. Not accurate. So, carb counts can be misleading. But unless you are going for a strict diet of counting carbs such as Protein Power or Dr Atkins diet, a general idea of what is high and what is a high fiber carb, and what is balanced (carbs to protein is the balance I am speaking of) you can begin to feel when you have eaten too many carbs and don't need to count so much.
Until you do get used to eating low carb without having to wonder if you are eating the right amount of them, you can try a variety of ways to determine what the carb content of foods might be.
I hope you have found the joy most of us feel from the low carb life. All the indegestion, cravings, sleepiness after a big meal, and so on are gone. And we feel better than we have in so long by eating fewer carbs. Who knew? So, welcome to this way and I hope it works out well for you.
Jennifer Pat also posted a bunch of sites on another thread for you, hope it allhelps. there are many ways and ins and out of thie woe so just ask and we come out with many answers. So like giggles said the main point in all this is to eat much more sensible in your choices of carbs.
Wow, thanks for all of this! I would be much more relaxed not using that calculator, it seemed to add a lot of calculations and rules into what I really want to keep as simple as possible. Thanks for the other links, I will look at these and look for the ones that Pat put on another thread. Where is the new challenge being posted at?
Right now I am 'off plan'. I have had diarrhea or cramping or nausea since last Thursday and the doctor told me clear fluids for 24 hours and then the Banana-Rice-Applesauce-toast diet for 24 hours, all the things I shouldn't eat! I will keep it no added sugar, long grain and whole grain. Hopefully I will be back on plan and back on the treadmill on Wednesday.
Sorry that I could not offer additional links cause anything that these great chicks here post, I swallow up and go for it! lol
The new challenge is what we are calling the S-U-C-C-E-S-S challenge. Currently it's by the day but with a reminder of our long term GOALS. Many of us have posted our long term goals on the Halloween Challenge thread yet monitoring our daily ups/downs/SUCCESSES on the SUCCESS Challenge thread.
Jennifer~I am a pretty lax/layed back kind of person, I absolutely do not have the time or lifestyle to be counting TOOOOOO much. That is why I follow CAD. Plus, I do not feel deprived on a daily basis. As long as I have my balance....I'm on plan and losing. However, there are so many wonderful chicks here that can offer insight, knowledge and links to great LC plans such as The Zone, Schwartzbein, Protein Powers, AND great WW and LC Combo plans. As I said, I personally lean towards the CAD or CALP programs as I know I can have my potatoes or pasta's and still be on plan. These wonderful chicks can offer so much knowledge! I'm sure they will be dropping in soon to share and offer encouragement!
YaaaaaHoooo! Are you ready to join us in our S-U-C-C-E-S-S 's??
We are a motivated bunch of chicks ready to tackle issues and move forward!
Let me add to Janice that www.fitday.com will do the counting for you just subtract the fiber from the carbs. but a better one that i like is www.lifeform.com they have a 21 day free trial but it tracts everything. I donot know how much the real version is, but i am sure that it is well worth the money.
I do not have the time nor inclination to count the exact carbs either. i did in the begining but not followin the carb count and being accountable has made me not lose the weight that i should have. but well ........ it is not lke i am an
Low Carb Calculator
Hi Suzanne!
it is not lke i am an 
