Question about carb intake according to size...

[krispysky]

I'm halfway through my third week of induction. Down 15 lbs! I have a question about how many carbs to eat though. I haven't found anything in the book relating to how many carbs you should eat according to body size. I'm fat, sure, but I'm only 5 feet tall and have a petite frame hiding under here. I'm finding that fitting in 20 carbs per day is hard for me. I'm having to make myself eat to get them and usually am coming in closer to 15 by the end of the day.

Can somebody point me to the right info or chapter?

[Greeneggs&ham]

I don't believe the number of carbs is based on your height or weight. Atkins recommends starting at 20 grams as a minimum and to increase that in 5 gram increments until you are not losing weight to determine your personal max level.

I find that during Induction, it's hard to meet the 20 gram limit every day after discounting fiber. However, it is possible, and once you begin moving up the OWL ladder and adding different types of carb items to your menu, you'll find it much easier to reach (an exceed if not careful!) your carb limit.

You may want to post a day's menu if you would like pointers from other members here suggesting how to increase your carb intake.

[Georgiana]

There is no chapter discussing this in the book. What Dr. Atkins observed is that most of his patients got into ketosis and lost weight when eating not more than 20 net carbs per day. Why did I bold that? Because you do not have to eat exactly 20 net carbs, regardless of what atkins[dot]com says. Eating 15 net carbs is fine too (even 12 would be), as long as you get over half of them from 3 cups of vegetables.

You seem to be losing weight just fine, so the level of carbs you are eating now seems to be right for you. Congrats for the weight lost!

[krispysky]

Okay, great, "not more than." Works for me! Thanks!