Subtract fiber?

[Adena]

When I got to the end of my day, FitDay said I had eaten 24 carbs -- oops! But, then I checked my fiber, and was 10 grams.

I've read the sticky in here about not subtracting sugar alcohols, that for induction purposes, they DO count (and we shouldn't be eating them anyway right now). But what about fiber.... is my carb count for the day 24 or is it really 14?

Thanks in advance for your insight.

[prfctlildvl]

Great question!

I thought you were supposed to look at net carbs but I just reread the rules of induction on the Atkins site and it says:

"Eat no more than 20 grams a day of carbohydrate, most of which must come in the form of salad greens and other vegetables. You can eat approximately three loosely packed cups of salad, or two cups of salad plus one cup of other vegetables (see Acceptable Foods)".

It doesn't say net carbs.....................I wonder if I've been doing it wrong as I was subtracting my dietary fiber.

[CarbaholicJoe]

From the sticky topic above:

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate (see Ch. 8 DANDR 2002 for a complete explanation of fiber) which has little effect on blood sugar, so it is subtracted from the Total carb amount.

Sugar alcohols, or polyols, are a controversial topic in low carbing. They are artificial sweeteners that mimic the baking qualities of sugar. They supposedly have little effect on the blood sugar too, which leads some low carb product manufacturers to subtract these substances from the Total carbs. However, some low carbers experience weight loss stalls or slow downs when using these products. Not to mention sugar alcohols are notorious for causing diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and gassy discomfort.

Due to the effects on weight loss, some low carbers will either subtract ½ of the sugar alcohol amount from the Total carbs or won't subtract it at all.

[Desertthorn]

Yep, subtract the fiber. Aint that grand

[2big4mysize]

fiber is the only substance that enters the human mouth and exits the body unmetabolised period! any chemical compound that can do that is classified as fiber. Low carb food manufactures tried to get the FDA to allow them to list glycerine, hydrogenated starches, and sugar alcohols as fiber and thank goodness our FDAstood up to them and said NO since there are metabolised even if ti is minamal blood sugar impact.
Dr Atkins used to say net carbs were just total carbs on US labels minus fiber carbs on US labels ( UK labels already have the fiber subtracted in their total carbs). And he had another listing called net effective carbs which was net minus sugar alcohols, hydrogenated starches and glycerine. me I just subtract the fiber and count everything else.

[Adena]

Thanks, all -- that's very helpful. With this info, then I've found one downfall of Fitday.... on the summary page, it doesn't list fiber. So, it makes it look like I'm over in my carbs for the day. But, I made both fiber and carbs as personal nutritional goals, so I can get a snapshot view of total carbs like that.

Ahhh... I never knew WHY you subtracted fiber... I thought it just somehow cancelled out the carbs. I didn't realize it actually WAS a carb -- just a special kind of carb that isn't metabolized. Now that makes more sense to me!

Thanks again! I bought some flaxmeal today, and look forward to using it (in moderation while in induction, of course).

[2big4mysize]

if you added fiber to your goals it should be showing them in your daily total under the carbs with that circle of %s graph

[prfctlildvl]

You can also go to the goals tab and under create nutritional goal put in both Totaly Carbohydrates and Dietary fiber.

Then when you go to the reports tab and go to custom nutrition goals (in the reports tab) and hit go it will bring you to yuor nutritional goal where they show you both and you just subtract from there.

[Adena]

Ahh -- you're both right. I've made it an nutritional goal, and it does show up in that box. I just didn't see it there before.

Thanks much!

[jennyj]

Just to make sure I have this right then........If I am on induction and Fitday shows that I've had 30 total carbs and 10 grams of fiber for the day (just an example), that counts as 20 net carbs for the day, right? Sorry if I'm slow...I didn't sleep well last night!