New Atkin's Member w/ A Question! Please help =)

[JHo]

Hi,
I am a 5'3 137lbs Asian girl with a slow metabolism and with a goal of 115lbs. I just started my induction phase 3 days ago. I've been doing research on it and seem to be doing everything correctly so far, but can not find any information on calories. I know this is not a calorie counting diet, but calories still do matter a bit, especially since I eat A LOT. I want to be able to get maximum results on the first phase (lose 15 lbs) and was wondering how I would be able to calculate the calories I need.
I know my body needs at least 1300 calories to function and according to Atkins, a female would need about 1500-1800. I've been eating about 2,000. In order for me to lose 15 lbs, I'm assuming I would have to be eating around 1500 calories otherwise I would not achieve the 15lbs weight loss?
I had 1,700 on my first day and the 2nd day had about 2,000. My first day, I saw no results. After the 2nd day, I believe that I saw instant results, and figured that a 2,000 calorie intake might be best for me, but I am not sure whether if it was just water weight I lost, if I am just having a false illusion of myself due to my faith that this diet really will work, or if it really IS the best calorie intake for me to achieve maximum results. Is there any mathematical formula to figure out a person's OPTIMUM weight loss level rather than using trial and error to figure it out? I don't want to lose any days on this diet, because I am on a time limit and would like every day to be at the maximum weight loss level.

I appreciate the help.

Thank you,

Julia

[Elizellen]

Re: New Atkin's Member w/ A Question! Please help =)

Hi Julia
Welcome to our ADBB family

I would not try to regulate calories at this stage in your Atkins journey at all.

Concentrate on eating up to 20 net carbs, most from your 3 cups of vegetables, drink your water, exercise and avoid eating anything not on the allowed list instead and see how your body reacts to it over the first 2 weeks on induction.

Learn to listen to your body and eat when you are hungry and till no longer hungry instead of deciding how many calories to eat. Our body needs different amounts of food on different days depending on many factors, so try to let your body dictate what you eat instead of some arbitrary number.

And rather than deciding now to stay on induction till you have lost 15 pounds, see what you have lost after 14 days and then make the decision about when to move to OWL - which is the main weightloss phase of Atkins.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: New Atkin's Member w/ A Question! Please help =)

Sadly, with not much to lose, you're not likely to lose 15 pounds on Induction. An excellent rate of loss is 10% of the total amount you have to lose.

About calorie needs ... Atkins is about counting carbs. However, you do need to eat enough calories, and many people do undereat.

One rule of thumb is to eat 10-12 times your current body weight in calories. There's also a thought that women shouldn't be below 1500 calories. Some find success with eating at 250 calories above their BMR, which can be figured here: BMR Formula

[JHo]

Re: New Atkin's Member w/ A Question! Please help =)

Hi Elizellen,
thank you for the warm welcome and advice. I was wondering if I need to keep it at a 20 net carb range. What if I'm eating very low carbs? Is it bad to eat too low of carbs too? Does it matter what kind of fat I eat a day? What if I eat the things on the acceptable food list, but I'm eating all the same thing in one day. I tend to eat about the same things all day long rather than have variety and then I will switch it a couple days later, because I cook my meals ahead of time and just leave the left overs in the fridge, so one day I will get all my fats from fatty meats such a pork, beef, etc...and then other days I will get all my fats from avocados.

[JHo]

Re: New Atkin's Member w/ A Question! Please help =)

Hi Atkinsgal,
thank you for the information. I guess I'm just going to keep at it until I lose all the weight. I've been trying not to eat over 2,200 calories a day. Yesterday I ate 3,081 =/
I'm worried that might be a little much...
My BMR is 1,333.

[Elizellen]

Re: New Atkin's Member w/ A Question! Please help =)

Hi Elizellen,
thank you for the warm welcome and advice. I was wondering if I need to keep it at a 20 net carb range. What if I'm eating very low carbs? Is it bad to eat too low of carbs too?

By only eating a few carbs you might be depriving your body of nutrients - especially if your 3 cups of veg are only lettuce or similar. If you choose some higher carb veggies from the 2 lists you would be getting more nutrition from them.

Does it matter what kind of fat I eat a day? What if I eat the things on the acceptable food list, but I'm eating all the same thing in one day. I tend to eat about the same things all day long rather than have variety and then I will switch it a couple days later, because I cook my meals ahead of time and just leave the left overs in the fridge, so one day I will get all my fats from fatty meats such a pork, beef, etc...and then other days I will get all my fats from avocados.

remembr we are limited to 1/2 of a small avocado if we are choosing that from the options on the special category list. So if you are getting all your fats from avocados in one day you are probably eating too much avocado!

Have you listed a few days worth of foods to show us where you are getting all those calories from?
Edited to add
I see you have given a list of your foods in another thread.

Having said that - are you losing weight while eating that amount of food? You know what they say - if it ain't broke don't fix it! So if you are losing why change things?