what should my daily intake be?

[BiGV99]

I am just starting my research on this low-carb plan. I am curious as to what my daily intake should be in order to lose the weight. I am 6'1", 230...basically how do I know I've sufficiently cut my carb intake to lose the weight?

As well, are there any ideal shakes/shake mix I can purchase and make? I currently make the Nutribar shakes or the Slim Fast shakes for breakfast.

Any advice or references would be appreciated as I am new to the plan.

Thanks

[Mistertut]

Atkins recommends 20 grams of Carbs daily at first, most coming from green veggies, none from sugar or wheat. If you are interested in Atkins, I HIGHLY recommend getting the book and visiting www.atkinscenter.com for complete info.

This Way Of Eating is wonderful and works really well, but is not to be taken lightly. You really have to understand and follow the rules. Little mistakes or cheats can really set you back. If you decide to pick a LC plan (whichever), we're all here to help you along with answers and support!

Mazel Tov!

[wbahn]

Good advice already given.

In addition, look at the link to the right titled, "Which low-carb plan is right for me?"

For your weight, the general rule of thumb of ten calories per pound of body mass is probably going to be pretty reasonable, so figure somewhere in the 2000 to 2500 calorie range. The carb levels depend on the plan you choose, but you will almost certainly have to give up the Slim Fast and any other "traditional" diet and weight loss products - the almost universally focus on low fat and high carb.

So look over the plans, pick one that sounds well suited to your tastes, beg/borrow/buy/steal the book, then READ IT! That seems to be the biggest mistake the people make. Then start off down the path giving it an honest effort for at least a couple of months. You can always switch to a plan that fits you better as you learn things about low carbing in general and your specific body in particular.

Keep the Faith!