feedback please

[sandkou]

I understand the carb count 55 a day I am about 14% over what the book says I should be but don't quite understand where to find how many proteins something is.I calculated my daily intake to be 44, 15 a meal.Is it the number next to the portion in parenthesis on the effective carb content table? Is the protein count very important? How is this different than counting carbs. Will it work if I just count the carbs?

Please give me feedback.Obviously I am an former Atkins person since 2002 .

[muffles]

Can you check your tables again? 44 grams of protein does not sound like enough!
According to my book, the smallest amount of protein per meal is for a 5 foot women of 100 pounds, 20grams of protein, or 60 per day. Have you perhaps calculated it at 44 per meal, or132 grams per day?
There are some charts in the book showing how to get enough protein (eg 2 eggs plus some cheese). You can also use fitday or myplan to calculate the amounts.
THe protein count is very important.Part of this plan is stabilising your blood sugar to prevent insulin surges. The balanced protein through out the day is how this happens, plus it ensures you eat enough protein to properly fuel your body.
Imo, you will not do as well on the plan only counting carbs.
Maybe go back and reread the book? It does explain it all in the book.

[sandkou]

Thanks,
I will recheck the book and use fitday for my protein.

[ElleH]

Sandkou, I would agree that 60g grams should be your "rock bottom" for protein intake. Even though my "old PP" calculations show me as needing about 50 grams per day, I make sure I don't go below 60 grams, because any less just doesn't seem like enough, based on other things I've read over the years. Let 60 grams be your floor and go from there.

I do believe that you can just count carbs. I lost the majority of my weight just counting carbs and eating to satiety (Atkins), and only began to moderate my protein intake (more like PP levels) to lose the last 10, b/c I was eating too much protein for my size and activity level. (I didn't decrease my calories, however.) Both are great plans, just a little different here and there.

If the issue is that you have trouble eating ENOUGH protein, then I would suggest a target intake and tracking it, at least loosely in your head, to make sure you get enough, b/c it *is* of utmost importance. You don't want to lose lean body mass.

60 grams of protein is roughly 9 ounces of protein food per day. There are roughly 7 grams of usable protein per ounce-weight of protein foods. You can track that in your head (3 oz at breakfast, lunch and dinner--or however you want to divvy it up) pretty easily.