[Amaocean]

Hi. I've read a lot of low carb books and they call seem to give a different number. I know that everyone is different but I'm hoping that you all could give me a general idea of how many carbs per day I should eat to lose weight. I find that I feel comfortable at about 50g but I've been stalled for a few months. Is 50g too high? I'm 5'4 and currently weigh 152 and my goal is 135. Thanks for your help!

[Pooky]

Hello and welcome Amaocean!

It depends on the program you are following--I know that Atkins induction it is less than 20 carbs a day (am I right??) and for others it varies. I am following the carbohydrate lifespan progam (CALP) and there isn't counting involved, just balancing meals. You should got to your local library and pick up some books on low carbing and read, read, read. The information you get will help you to choose a program that is right for you and that way you can keep a close eye on how many carbs you take in everyday.

Hope you come and see us on the daily thread (it's the one that has the date on it) and let us get to know you!

[bes]

Hello, Amaocean

I’m fairly new around here, too, and I haven’t seen too much discussion of “the Zone” way of eating (which is what I do) but it’s based on the idea that 40% of your calories should come from carbohydrate choices, 30% from protein and 30% from fat. This works out to a Carb:Protein:Fat ratio (in grams, not calories) of 9:7:3 for everything you eat. Portions of what you eat are thought of as “blocks” so ultimately a block should be the perfect combination of 9:7:3. (but life isn’t perfect!)

(Not to confuse things even more, but grams of fiber are not counted towards the total number of carbohydrate grams. It’s easy to jus subtract the fiber from the overall carb count of what you’re eating -- they are separated out for you on the food label.)

The Zone philosophy is that everyone’s needs will be different, and you can calculate yours using body mass index, etc, or just listen to your body as you go along. Everything I’ve read suggests that you should never eat fewer than 11 blocks per day, or more that 18. (most women will be on the lower end of the scale – I’m right around 11.) So, multiply these recommendations by 9 (the number of carb grams in a block) and you end up consuming between 99 and 162 grams of carb per day. When you consider that fiber grams don’t count, that’s not too bad!

Anyway, hope this helps. I know it’s confusing. It gets easier though.

Barb

[JHP]

Hi Amaocean,

On Atkins induction (1st two weeks), you eat no more than 20 carbs/day which should come mostly from vegetables. After those two weeks you increase your carbs by 5 a day, stay at that number for a week, and continue to up by 5 carbs day (staying at each level for a week) until you stop losing weight. That number is your critical carb level & you need to stay below it in order to lose. Then you increase to prepare yourself for maintenance once you're close to goal.

Just as important as the number of carbs, is where they're coming from. They should mostly come from veggies, fruits (some are allowed on Atkins once you're halfway to your goal, I think) and not so much from "legal treats" such as nuts, peanut butter, cream cheese, bars, shakes, etc. which cause many to stall. I mention this because at 50 carbs/day I'm wondering what you're eating. My only carbs are 3-5 cups of vegetables, salad dressing, plus a couple of eggs per day and I very rarely go over 20 even without subtracting fiber counts (which Atkins allows).

I agree with Pooky that you have to read up on the different plans and decide which one is right for you. I don't know how long you've been doing this or how much weight you've lost, but you don't have a lot to go and the less you have to lose the slower you lose it. And don't forget exercise and water.

Good luck!

Jennifer

[nasus40]

Hey there girl. glad to see you here. I will warn you that it does slow down here on the weekends too. but many of us diehards are still here. I do PP as you know and I only do 30 carbs daily, but like jen said it may be the type of carbs that you are eating. post a few days of meals.