I am very new to low carb and have some questions, if these are already answered in the forum please direct me where to look. How many carbs a day should a person eat in order to lose weight? I weigh 212lbs. I want to try to lose for my health and to hopefully forego a problem with my sugar like many in my family. SO...what is too many, not enough? Thank you.

The answer to your question depends on which Low Carb plan you are following. I would first recommend that you choose a plan and get the book that goes with it. It would be money well-spent.

For and abridged introduction to low carb eating, I can tell you a bit about Atkins. For those people who follow the Atkins plan, he recommends starting with Induction, which limits carbs to 20g per day, and also limits the foods you should eat to (mainly), meats, vegetables and some dairy. You are to cut out sugar, starchy carbs and caffeine and up your water intake. Induction only lasts 2 weeks, then you move on to OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss), where you add carbs back into your diet, 5g at a time.

Each low carb eating plan has it's own "rules" which vary somewhat from the above basic idea.

A few things to be aware of:

1. If you are accustomed to eating a high-carb, high-sugar, high-caffeine diet, you may feel pretty crummy for a few days. This is because your body is detoxing and getting used to being fed much more healthfully. Some people call it the "induction flu." It only lasts a few days, and afterward you'll feel so much better!

2. No matter which plan you choose, try and drink at least 64oz of water each day. Many people recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces per day, some up to a gallon a day. Water does help melt the fat.

3. Stay away from most of the low carb, pre-packaged foods like the bars, and candies. Especially for the first couple of weeks. They tend to cause people to stall (especially the bars) and the sugar alcohols can cause, ahem, gastric distress. The more naturally you can eat, the better!

4. Once you get through the first couple of weeks, start looking for other recipes on this board (and others) that you can add to your diet to add variety. The One Minute Muffin (OMM) is a wonderful example, and you can find the recipe for that here in the Low Carb Cooking section of the boards.

5. Add exercise. Any movement helps.

6. Take your measurements in addition to your weight. Sometimes the scale doesn't move, but you may still be losing inches. It helps a lot to know your numbers.

5. Visit here often for support and encouragement, and to ask questions. LCE is a GREAT forum with a wealth of knowledge.

Let me repeat again - choose a plan and get the book. I know when I read DANDR (Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution) it was a huge eye-opener and a useful reference tool.

Finally - WELCOME! We're glad you found LCE!

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Mada
221.6/193.8 <--- ONEderland! /sz 8

Welcome, Peewee.

I can add nothing to Mada's excellent and well thought out advice!

Hope you'll make yourself at home here.

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Peewee, welcome to LCE. Hope you found answers in the great advice Mada has given. If you have other questions, I'm sure you'll find our member more than willing to help. Best wishes on your new WOE/L.

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Ozzie's Place

hello and welcome, peewee.

while i can't add to mada's advice, i'll repeat part of it: choose a program and get the book! it seems nitpicky, maybe, but time and again i've seen that make a difference between losing a couple of pounds and reaching your goal.

including for me. it will be the best six bucks you spend in your life.

good luck, dear, and peace out.

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