How many calories should I eat a day?

[limabean]

I am prolly not losing due to my calorie intake. How many should I consume in a day and what should I consume to get them up? I need more fat and less protien!

Joy

[Mary-chan]

I'm not an expert, but I haven't been counting calories. How full do you feel when you're done eating? If you feel stuffed and like you have to unbutton your pants to breathe, I would say that it is your calories. If you only eat when hungry and stop when satiated - I would say it's probably something else.

When I stalled my third week in, I thought it might be too many calories, but then I found out it was actually low-carb products and drinking diet coke that was causing the problem. Just my situation, yours might be different though! I'll let someone else chime in with their expertise..

[Katlam]

Joy my friend, try this part of the board

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/viewforum.php?f=106

There are so many posts there regarding how Atkins works there.

In particular look for BMR and basal metabolism

Hope that's what you need.

Kathy

[limabean]

My BMR is 2165 so I should eat at least 2000 calories per day?

[Katlam]

So Joy, that 2165 is your base number. Increasing your activity levels will mean that you have to increase the calories you eat.

Yea, you need to eat a minimum of 2000 calories, and possibly more as you work out more.

sometimes it all gets so confusing doesn't it?

That's why you also need to use fitday to track your percentages of fat/protein/carbs

...you can get more calories in with more fat (which will make you feel fuller longer)

or you can increase your carbs, up to your ACE number (that's the one calculated from how many pounds you lost during your clean 2 week induction).

That would also be a way to move a bit up the OWL ladder, get more calories into your diet and still lose weight.

Hope that helps some.

Kathy

[limabean]

Yes I hope so. I still need to stay on induction, so I am going to be adding in fats where I can to eat 2000 calories. I am sorry to be asking all these questions, but I should not be gaining weight when I am not cheating. I am getting to the point where I will just accept being fat forever. It ticks me off everytime I weigh.

[RunAwayMichelle]

if you're not loosing you might want to really look at the food you are eating. There may be hidden carbs. I was just reading a post that Appleby's adds sugar to their steaks. The actually inject dextrose right into the steak. :yikes So steak and salad at some restaurants may not be safe.

I also find that even if I do stay on the induction food lists that some days I wind up with as much as 35 carbs from too many red peppers or tomatos. Fit day is a big help in tracking down those nasty hidden carbs. It is surprising how fast 1 carb here and 2 carbs there add up. :yikes

[limabean]

Yes and I measure, but I have decided to cut tomatoes/peppers/onions to see if that is the problem as well. I will eat others till I figure this out.