Rose,

I have thought about this quite a bit since
you posted this message to me in response
to my reply about Protein Shakes.

A complete analysis of my diet on an average
day indicates that I only intake 108 grams of
carbohyrdrates.

I got the following stats on an about.com website
link at: http://exercise.about.com/cs/nutrition/a/lowcarb.htm

"So what is 'low-carb'?

* The National Academy of Sciences recommends no less than 120 grams of carbs per day
* The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 300 grams of carbs per 2000 calories (about 60% of total calories)
* Atkins initially recommends 20 grams per day (less than 5%)
* Protein Power recommends about 12-15% of calories should be carbs
* The Zone advises keeping carbs at 40% of total calories "

ON my losing diet regime I consumed about
1,300 calories a day on average.

I consume about 170 grams of protein a day x 4 = 680 calories.

I consume 108 grams of carbohydrates from the skim milk
I drink x 4 calories is 432 calories.

I also eat a large piece of chicken or turkey or red meat
each night for dinner too. 4 oz of turkey = about 25 grams of protein and 3 grams of fat.

So When I was on a losing diet I was consuming daily

170 grams of protein
108 grams of carbohydrates, and
25 grams of fat per day

That means that about 30 percent of
my intake per day was in carbs.

I am BELOW the ADA recommendation above
by 20 points. I am below the RDA by 50%
and I am below the ZONE diet by 25%.
And I don't think I am too far off from what
Eades suggests. (his website suggests around
50 carbs for best results, but I doubt he means
to live on that forever.)

I am not sure what Atkins said your final
level of carbs could be, but as far as I am
concerned, (I will repeat) I am doing what
works for me and one helluva lot less carbs
that Joe and Jill Jellybelly on the average
American fastfood diet.

You are right, however, that I don't do Atkins to
the letter. For one, as a 55 year old male I tend to
watch the fat content I eat. I do take a Fish Oil
Supplement which I forgot to count above, but
stay away from fatty meats.

I just prefer to bet my life on a lower fat alternative.

But as far as low carb goes, I am a great believer. I
don't do sugar or white flour and stay away from potatoes
and rice and other grains. And no fried foods.

I do cheat once in a while, but I never bring home foods
that I have a tendency to binge on that are not low carb
or allowable veggies.

I am now eating more per day on top of my 3 protein
shakes and am actually still losing a little weight.
I never feel deprived as the mix of HI Protein and
moderate carbs (and a little caffeine) keep me rev'n
between meals.

I will settle for calling myself a LOWER CARBER.
But I personally have no problem with drinking milk.

Everyone else's mileage may vary, and I am sure that
most of the successful people on these forums, those
that have lost their weight and those that ARE losing their
weight have modified plans to a certain extent too.

Peace to you and yours,