Do I eat too many carbs? Here is a typical day:

Morning: scooped-out bagel and fruit spread, 3 cups black coffee, 4 or 5 pieces of hard candy.
Lunch: navel orange, 2 slices watermelon, 1 cup steamed spinach, 3-ounce bag of pretzels.
Afternoon: sugar-free hot cocoa,1 small bag Skittles candies, 10 mini rice cakes, 1 sorbet bar.
Dinner: steamed broccoli and baby greens with lime and a shave of Romano cheese, 1 cup homemade bean soup.
Snack: 2 cups dry cereal (Raisin Bran or Shredded Wheat and 2 cups watermelon. LOTS of water and weak iced tea per day.

Where have I gone wrong?

This is as black-and-white a question as I've ever been asked. Simply saying "yes" to the question of whether you eat too many carbohydrates would be a huge understatement, in my opinion. I can't imagine dieticians or the A.D.A. agreeing with this diet.

I know, this is a "low-fat diet." Well, these meals are about as low-fat, low-protein, and high-carbohydrate as you can possibly get.

This is a prime example of the failure of the low-fat fad, and it's coming from someone who's possibly very conscientious (we won't discuss the Skittles or hard candy). Check the labels on the foods you're eating for carbohydrate content. The total number will be HUGE (and most of it refined), without enough fiber, protein or fat to blink at, much less enough to slow the release of all those carbs into the system. Your pancreas must be screaming for mercy.

Consider at least a "zone-type" diet (The Zone, or 40-30-30 Fat-Burning Nutrition), or Sugar-Busters, or maybe even all the way to an Atkins-type diet (low carb, high protein). You might be very pleasantly surprised.

I don't find the low-fat fad in general to be the best way for most people (although there are short-term exceptions). I can't imagine this diet being the best for anyone.

Good Health,
A.N. Spreen, M.D.