Delighted to read your conclusion re sticking to 50 carbs despite the "huge"(?) gain. My weight isn't good either - but mainly due to my scales letting me down, and I think they'd been kidding me for a while as my tum blubber is worse since England 2 weeks ago!
Re tolls - we can avoid them, but then we can't go on motorways... which makes a 2hr15 journey a 4 hour one. ugh!!