I think you have entirely missed the point that the carb level each of us needs to consume is different based upon lifestyle while each of us is following a low carb approach. At 5'l" with a desk job often consuming 80 hrs per week I CANNOT consume the same carb level of my 6'3" husband who is walking constantly on his job. We both eat low carb. You are right on point about glycemic load. Dr. Atkins goes into great detail about that. When I deviated from the nutritional approach that I was taught in high school (oops my age is showing) to follow the low fat edicts of the late 60's to present, the pounds began to creep on while I remained extremely active physically.