http://www.lowcarbcrib.com/carbohydrate/counter/ A carbohydrate counter is essential for anyone on a low carb diet. Not only can a carbohydrate counter help you determine how many carbs are in your favorite foods, but some can also help you keep track of your daily carb intake. en-us Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:49:43 EDT Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:49:43 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 Keeping track of your intake with a carbohydrate counter The hardest part of any diet is keeping a journal of what you eat and counting -- whether it's carbohydrates, calories, fat grams or points. It takes time, especially if you're new to it. But that's what helps to make your diet a success. You can buy a carbohydrate counter in the form of a book, a PDA or one of the many carb counting websites out there. If you're considering a low carbohydrate diet, the first thing you should do is buy the book for the diet you're on, then get a carb counter. It's imperative if you don't know which foods are carbs. It can get confusing but we are here to help. In case you don't know which goods you should avoid on most low carb diets, here's the short list: Breads and bread products Pasta Rice Oatmeal Cereal Most fruits and vegetables Sugary fruit juices and sodas Desserts of all kind As for what you can have, here's the short list of those: Meats Cheese Eggs Meal replacement shakes Meal replacement bars That should get you started, but you need a carb counter to be judicious about the carbs you choose. After all, you only get 20 grams a day during the first two weeks, then 40-60 grams a day during the next phase until you've lost the weight you want to lose. Most of us have no idea what our current carb intake is, but if you count your current carb intake, you might be surprised. (You should actually start carbohydrate counting before you start your low carb diet. It's probably far more than what you think it is.) Chances are it's around 250 grams a day--maybe more! When you consider that you only need 130 grams a day, you understand why so many people are counting carbs. It is so easy. Wanna know one way you can make your low carbohydrate a huge success? Want to know the secret to everlasting happiness? Get a carbohydrate counter! Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:49:43 EDT