How many carbs per day??

[hlane]

My job is doing a 12 week Biggest Loser contest. (2 weeks in & I am winning!!). The person in charge of the contest is a personal trainer. He asked me yesterday what I had been eating all week & he was just mortified when I told him. He said I am eating WAY too many carbs. He said I did well with my loss this week but I could have done a lot better if I had ate "cleaner", meaning a lot less carbs. I am doing WW & plan to stick to that but I also want to start keeping track of my carbs. Can someone tell me how many carbs a day I should be having? I was thinking 100? I stayed within my WW points yesterday but also watched my carbs, I ended up having about 85 net carbs for the day. TIA for your help! You guys are wonderful!!

 

[sap1227]

I am doing WW too. I am not counting my carbs, but I am avoiding all "white" stuff--no white sugar, no white bread, no white potatoes, no white pasta and no alcohol. I still will have whole wheat bread (has to be 100% whole wheat) and I have sweet potatoes about once a week. Maybe you can try something like this to see if it helps.

Christy

 

[Lani]

hlane -- Having lost weight on Atkins, I can tell you that low-carb plans would consider 100 grams a day to be a tremendous amount. 100 grams a day works fine if you've already lost all your weight, you're on maintenance and you're vigorously exercising at least an hour a day (full cardio, not light workouts). Actually, even then they say no more than 90 grams a day.

Christy's advice is great. Try to avoid any white starches to start. Those are all simple carbs and they are nothing but energy (vs. nutrition). Also completely eliminate refined sugars. That means checking the nutritional info on packaging. If sugar, sucrose or fructose is listed as one of the first five ingredients, avoid it (the ingredients are listed from largest to smallest amount).

On average, those on lifetime maintenance on Atkins only eat about 50 grams of carbs a day unless they're exercising a lot. That's still not a lot, and most people get it from adding more fruits to their diet.

Those who are ON Atkins start at around 25 grams a day, and all of it comes from bright-colored vegetables (read: avoid iceberg lettuce).

 

[Debbie]

Well just this week, I had DH to the diabetic clinic where the dietician talked to us. He is allowed 3x60g carbs a day...not countin any carbs in salads/raw veggies. + another few in a nighttime snack. That's looking like 180g a day.

For me, I journal on Fitday and I am happy if my carbs are about 50% of my caloric intake. Since most of mine are in fruits and veggies, + some whole grain bread, I know that I am eating healthy, even if it is closer to the 60% that the Food Guide recommends.

I am always amazed (and envious ) of the Atkins people. I give them a LOT of credit because there is NO WAY in creation that I have the determination to eat <25, <50, <100 carbs a day! Heck, I aim for that in a meal (Can you tell that I am a carb-addict? )

BTW, once I get my DH counting carbs for his diabetes, I'll be working on counting fat for his weight. He'll never know what hit him!

 

[hlane]

I talked to someone who is controlling her diabetes through diet alone & she eats right around 30 net carbs per meal three-four meals a day. From what I've seen on the internet 100-180 is ideal for someone who is wanting to watch their carbs but is not doing the Atkins type plan. I started keeping track of my carbs on Friday & I've stayed right about 85 per day. I have weigh in on Friday so I'll see how it goes & make adjustments if needed. I hope to not have to adjust it too much because I LOVE my carbs!!!