When is it a carb?

  • I've been on Phase 4 and am struggling to keep off the weight. I know I do not drink enough water, but I have other struggles as well. One of my biggest problems is determining when I should count food as a carb and when it's a protein. Example: Oberto Teriyaki Turkey Jerky. Total Carbs = 9g, Dietary Fiber = 0g, Sugars = 6 g, and Protein = 10g.
  • It looks like 9g of carbs and 10g of protein to me.
  • Quote: I've been on Phase 4 and am struggling to keep off the weight. I know I do not drink enough water, but I have other struggles as well. One of my biggest problems is determining when I should count food as a carb and when it's a protein. Example: Oberto Teriyaki Turkey Jerky. Total Carbs = 9g, Dietary Fiber = 0g, Sugars = 6 g, and Protein = 10g.
    If it is an either or question, I'd say it's a carb - during phases 1-3, the proteins that we're eating don't have carbs, so I'd use that as a guideline.
  • Quote: I've been on Phase 4 and am struggling to keep off the weight. I know I do not drink enough water, but I have other struggles as well. One of my biggest problems is determining when I should count food as a carb and when it's a protein. Example: Oberto Teriyaki Turkey Jerky. Total Carbs = 9g, Dietary Fiber = 0g, Sugars = 6 g, and Protein = 10g.
    When in doubt, use this site to check ingredients.
    http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

    Edit: Googling brought up this information. 9 carbs and 480 g sodium (1/3 your daily ration) doesn't look good.
    Nutrition Facts
    Serving Size
    11.00000 oz (28.0 g)
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories
    8080
    Calories from Fat
    99
    % Daily Value*
    Total Fat
    1.0g1.0
    2%2
    Cholesterol
    10mg10
    3%3
    Sodium
    480mg480
    20%20
    Total Carbohydrates
    9.0g9.0
    3%3
    Sugars
    6.0g6.0
    Protein
    10.0g10.0
  • Quote: I've been on Phase 4 and am struggling to keep off the weight. I know I do not drink enough water, but I have other struggles as well. One of my biggest problems is determining when I should count food as a carb and when it's a protein. Example: Oberto Teriyaki Turkey Jerky. Total Carbs = 9g, Dietary Fiber = 0g, Sugars = 6 g, and Protein = 10g.
    I think you may have 2 things confused here. The protein amount does not in any way impact or reduce the carbs (or vice versa). The fiber amount does. So, if a food has 6g of carbs and 2g fiber, it is said to have 4 net carbs. (you subtract the fiber from the carbs).

    According to my coach, in phases 1-3 the "net carbs" are not what counts, it's total carbs. In phase 4 you can start counting "net carbs". But, that jerky has 6g of sugar/carbs (no fiber to subtract).

    Some people also choose to subtract sugar alcohols or other sugar replacements from the carb count, but there still seems to be a lack of agreement on the part of researchers about which ones do or don't count (e.g. maltitol vs. xylitol vs. stevia etc.). Most of these still have some impact on insulin production, which to me means,"avoid it when possible" even in phase 4. No reason to go back to stressing my pancreas when I just spent so long healing it. So, I continue to count these as carbs so I keep them on my radar. Just better safe than sorry!