less than 500 calories per day

[CAlotto]

I'm on week 4 of induction, and weight loss had definitely slowed - not stopped- but slowed.

I'm trying to balance things out, and after putting my diet on some calculating websites, discovered that in the last 2 weeks, my average daily intake is about 400-500 calories per day. This concerns me; are there risks to having such a low calorie diet?

[Checkers]

Waaaay too low! You may want to post your menu. Upping your calories can help your weight loss.

[america57]

That is way too low, your body will go into starvation mode, weight loss will stop,you don't want that! Here is a free web site, you put in your weight, height and age and it gives you a read-out of how many calories you should consume in a day. Mine is 1600 and I have lost 33 pounds eating this way. Here is the site: http://www.room42.com/nutrition/basal.shtml If you haven't read Dr. Atkins books yet, you need to read them.

[CAlotto]

This is a pretty typical day for me:

Food Name Servings Cals Fat Carb Prot
Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing 80 8 3 0
Fresh Express Lettuce Trio 10 0 2 1
Tuna, canned, water pack 160 1 0 35
Oroweat/Atkins low carb bread 60 2 6 5
Sweet Picle Relsih 20 0 4 0
skinny cow fudge ice cream bar 88 8 2 2

Totals 418 19 17 43

[ttdriver]

You're starving!! Your body is clinging to every pound for dear life!

You need to figure out your basal metabolic rate (the minimum calories you need per day just for your body to function) and your active metabolic rate (factoring in your exercise and exertion) and eat more than your BMR and less than your AMR for good weight loss.

Go to www.countcarbs.com and use their tools calculator and it will tell you how many calories you need for both.

Here's the link: http://www.countcarbs.com/tools/basal_active.htm
EAT!

Betty

[CAlotto]

these are my results (simply):

1657.4 calories per day is your Basal Caloric Rate

2154.7 calories per day recommended for your Active Caloric Rate.

but what does all of that mean tome? there is a huge difference in calorie amounts. How many Calories should I be consuming, and how do I get them?

[Checkers]

Hi,
if you have your book handy you can look up sample menus. If you don't have the book you should get a copy asap, and for now look up sample menus on the Atkins Nutritionals website. What rung are you on now? If you're doing induction then you should dump the bread and ice cream for now and sweet relish may be a suspect. You shoule be eating lost of veggies and you can cook them in butter. Basically you really need to restart properly. Good luck!

[ttdriver]

these are my results (simply):

1657.4 calories per day is your Basal Caloric Rate

2154.7 calories per day recommended for your Active Caloric Rate.

but what does all of that mean tome? there is a huge difference in calorie amounts. How many Calories should I be consuming, and how do I get them?

You should be eating at least 1657.4 and less than 2154.7 to lose weight.
Your calories should consist of 65% fat, 30% protein, 5% carbs per day. Use www.fitday.com to input everything you eat throughout the day and it will figure your percentages automatically.

Betty

[CAlotto]

well, my basic rule right now is no more than 20 carbs a day. I try to stay away from Sugars, as much as possible, but i'm not as strict on that as I was during my first 2 weeks.

[ttdriver]

I try to stay away from Sugars, as much as possible, but i'm not as strict on that as I was during my first 2 weeks.

Huh? This is about NO SUGAR WHATSOEVER IN ANY FORM.

You can't expect to lose weight and eat sugars. It just doesn't work that way. Sugar is the fastest way to sabotage any weight loss plan. If you want to be a lifetime successful Atkineer, you simply MUST say no to all sugar. That includes starchy foods that turn to sugar immediately when they hit your bloodstream (for example, a baked potato will convert to SUGAR in your bloodstream faster than a TWINKIE!!)

NO SUGAR. Ever. Period.

Betty

[CAlotto]

I obviously need to read the book.

[love2beeamom]

looks like your not eating enough veggies.. and it seems as if you are only eating one meal?

[CAlotto]

No, I eat 2. I have a salad for lunch usually.

and some tuna with a slice of bread for dinner.

[love2beeamom]

Just remember Dr A says go no more than 6 waking hours without eating.. So, maybe you need to add another meal.

[Moochiecat]

This is a pretty typical day for me:

Food Name Servings Cals Fat Carb Prot
Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing 80 8 3 0
Fresh Express Lettuce Trio 10 0 2 1
Tuna, canned, water pack 160 1 0 35
Oroweat/Atkins low carb bread 60 2 6 5
Sweet Picle Relsih 20 0 4 0
skinny cow fudge ice cream bar 88 8 2 2

Totals 418 19 17 43

Yes, you really do need to read the book. This isn't Atkins....this isn't really even Atkins at the maintenance level, and I'm not surprised it's not working for you.

The book we go by here is Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, version 2002, DANDR for short. Along with the details of the diet itself, it'll explain the 'why' behind the diet and that can be really helpful in and of itself to understand about how food affects your blood sugars.
You actually get to eat awesome yummy food and lose weight...and you'll find it much more satisfying than what you are doing now.

If you want to do your own plan, that's fine too, really it is :yes ...and you can get support here in the "Low Carb other than Atkins" forum.
I encourage you to do your research and follow Atkins to get the max out of this time you're wanting to devote to weight loss.
I don't know about you but I want this weight off asap!! :icondance