How many carbs should I eat?

[Susanne 32]

Here is a real interesting article about carbs:

http://www.marksdail...rate-continuum/

I was looking for a threshold of what constitutes "low carb". I am usually teetering around 100g. I was never scared of carbs, but I guess since it seems to work for others, maybe I should try it. But then, I just hate the thought of trying to figure out good carbs, bad carbs in my log. I mean, an orange has 20g of carbs, and I don't want to fear those - how do I split that in MFP.

Anyway, I found the below really interesting, here is part of the article that I'd like to share. From that, I will really try to stay between 50 and 100g:

300 or more grams/day - Danger Zone!

Easy to reach with the “normal” American diet (cereals, Pasta, rice, bread, waffles, pancakes, muffins, soft drinks, packaged Snacks, sweets, desserts). High risk of excess fat storage, inflammation, increased disease markers including Metabolic Syndrome or diabetes. Sharp reduction of grains and other processed carbs is critical unless you are on the “chronic cardio” treadmill (which has its own major drawbacks).

150-300 grams/day – Steady, Insidious Weight Gain

Continued higher insulin-stimulating effect prevents efficient fat burning and contributes to widespread chronic disease conditions. This range – irresponsibly recommended by the USDA and other diet authorities – can lead to the statistical US average gain of 1.5 pounds of fat per year for forty years.

100-150 grams/day – Primal Blueprint Maintenance Range

This range based on body weight and activity level. When combined with Primal exercises, allows for genetically optimal fat burning and muscle development. Range derived from Grok’s (ancestors’) example of enjoying abundant vegetables and fruits and avoiding grains and sugars.

50-100 grams/day – Primal Sweet Spot for Effortless Weight Loss

Minimizes insulin production and ramps up fat metabolism. By meeting average daily Protein requirements (.7 – 1 gram per pound of lean bodyweight formula), eating nutritious vegetables and fruits (easy to stay in 50-100 gram range, even with generous servings), and staying satisfied with delicious high fat foods (meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds), you can lose one to two pounds of body fat per week and then keep it off forever by eating in the maintenance range.

0-50 grams/day – Ketosis and Accelerated Fat Burning

Acceptable for a day or two of Intermittent Fasting towards aggressive weight loss efforts, provided adequate Protein, fat and supplements are consumed otherwise. May be ideal for many diabetics. Not necessarily recommended as a long-term practice for otherwise healthy people due to resultant deprivation of high nutrient value vegetables and fruits.

[Becca 108]

Very interesting....I am staying aroud 50-60 carbs per day. Glad I am in the "good" range for weightloss. I just can't function on really low carbs. I know I was in the danger zone before my sleeve!

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,281]

I'm around 50-100g per day range. I'm losing quite well and really don't have a need at this time to change anything. That's not to say that might change in the future, however right now I'm very comfortable.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

I'm in the second week and am at around 60... which is pretty low for a vegetarian I think. Im pretty sure Im in Ketosis, my mouth feels like an ild sock. My best success losing weight before surgery (on a diet that is) is consuming low glycemic index carbs, like South Beach. Im hoping that will work for me now too, in less quantities and a closer eye on the Protein which I never really did before.

[DougNichols 124]

Getting over 300 carbs is surprisingly EASY:

chicken Fajita Quesadilla (Chili's) Per 1 quesadilla - Calories: 1830kcal | Fat: 95.00g | Carbs: 151.00g | Protein: 86.00g

chocolate shake (Medium) (Whataburger) Per 1 serving - Calories: 1000kcal | Fat: 26.00g | Carbs: 171.00g | Protein: 22.00g Nutrition Facts - Similar

[feedyoureye 3,087]

Getting over 300 carbs is surprisingly EASY:

chicken Fajita Quesadilla (Chili's) Per 1 quesadilla - Calories: 1830kcal | Fat: 95.00g | Carbs: 151.00g | Protein: 86.00g

chocolate shake (Medium) (Whataburger) Per 1 serving - Calories: 1000kcal | Fat: 26.00g | Carbs: 171.00g | Protein: 22.00g Nutrition Facts - Similar

It has been so easy to eat that type of food and just move on without accountability. I would probably just scream if I really could look back and see how I loaded up my body some days....(eating out mostly.....)

[chilo1 62]

How interesting. This week I tried to lower my carbs cause I was stalled. Still didn't manage as good as I would liked to, but have been having between 50-100 so I guess it's not that bad. Before that it wasn't that different , only that sometimes , maybe once a week I would go a bit higher than 100, 120 at the most. I did break my 1 month 1 week stall at last this week, I lost 2 lbs!

[SouthernSleever 228]

Woo hoo Chilo! I'm thinking of lowering my carbs. I've only lost about 6 lbs in the last month and I'm less than 4 months out! YIKES!

[coops 1,790]

How interesting. This week I tried to lower my carbs cause I was stalled. Still didn't manage as good as I would liked to, but have been having between 50-100 so I guess it's not that bad. Before that it wasn't that different , only that sometimes , maybe once a week I would go a bit higher than 100, 120 at the most. I did break my 1 month 1 week stall at last this week, I lost 2 lbs!

Nice one Chilo... soooo glad you broke that pesky stall... been thinking of you! xx

[klus263 9]

I love carbs and they love me....I can think about carbs and I would gain weight. During my recent stall, I was getting around 50-60 carbs a day with 60 grams of Protein. I dropped my carbs to around 30 and some days I am below 20 (I am really focusing on getting my proteins). I broke my stall with the lower carbs. Everybody is different and I seem to find that for me to lose weight at a steady pace, I have to stay very low carb.

[Globetrotter 1,340]

I've always tried to keep my carbs below 30g's, per my surgeon's recommendation. A really successful day IMO was if I could keep the carbs in the teens. Lately though they have crept up into the 50's and I have been in a stall for 12 days so I am going back on super low carb and low cal to see if I can shake things up. On vacation though I ate real carbs every day - bakery bread, Christmas Cookies, milk, etc - and I lost weight like gangbusters, so, who fricken knows ...

[Susanne 32]

Well, at least the article says that below 50 is good for accelerated loss - but not good for your health, which makes sense to me.

That said, I overindulged on some delicious organic "Rooster Buns" which made me cross the 100g line. Boo me...but my mouth said "Hmmm, yumm!"

[M2G 1,836]

Thanks for posting this Susanne.

know for me personally I try to stay around 30-50g a day and that seems to work for me. I have done a zero sugar diet before (it was a chiropractor diet that was offered through my Curves) and I honestly never felt better, but it was ultimately not sustainable (surprise!) for me. The no-sugar extended to things like carbs that TURN into sugar once they hit your system. So it was essentially a no-sugar, no-carb diet. I do better with complex carbs (fruits, veggies and whole grains) than the simple (i.e. junky) carbs.

[Georgia 2,908]

That is very interesting, Susanne. Very easy t understand. I have reached goal but noticed I have picked up lots of carbs and edged up a couple of pounds so this is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. Good Luck everyone!