Minimum calories

[america57]

Re: Minimum calories

You know, I tend to eat the same amount every day. I haven't tried moving up or down, but I'm stalled right now, haven't lost weight for 2 weeks, maybe I need to increase my calorie intake and see what happens.

[Finelly]

Re: Minimum calories

Sonia, again. It's not about "eating as much calories as your fitness level". The BMR number is static. You only need to pay attention to that, not add activity calories.

[Perry]

Re: Minimum calories

The main reason people on Atkins cannot reach their BMR easily is the appetite supression effect of ketosis. Some say that is the reason Atkins works - people just eat less. Debate is still alive on that one.

If you are very active you MUST consume enough calories (and the right kind) to meet that activity level.

[Finelly]

Re: Minimum calories

Yes, but isn't "very active" more than the regular workout? When trying to lose, one shouldn't go far below the BMR or too far above it, either. My understanding from the book and various articles and the Atkins.com website is that even when we're not hungry, we should strive for the bmr number, not add additional "activity calories" to it.

[tickletussler]

Re: Minimum calories

Sonya is right.

Everyone needs to consume AT LEAST their BMR because that is what your body needs to keep itself going even if you lie in bed all day. BMR doesn't count the fact that you walk up those stairs up to work or even run to catch your bus. I remember clearly reading that if we are active, we eat our AMR, but to lose weight, we need to eat something between our BMR and AMR.

I know my BMR is 1,400, my AMR says 2,100. As I am not hugely active, I eat around 1,700 and I find that keeps me losing. If I eat anything up to 2,000 cals I still lose. If I eat anymore than that, I can lose, but I don't want to do that because I would stop losing completely.

Sonya - as you have only 10lbs to lose, and you are close to goal, you need to watch your cal-intake more so than those with lots to lose. DANDR does say there isn't a need to watch cals during Induction, but after reading so many posts, I gather that the closer to goal we get, the more we have to watch our cals.

Nikki - yeah, try and up the fats - I find that when I do up it, esp after I haven't lost for a while, I am pretty much guaranteed a loss just after that.
If you're having difficulty meeting your BMR or feel stuff/bloated, why not replace some of the foods you're currently eating with more calorie-dense foods?

[Sonya Parker]

Re: Minimum calories

Tickletussler - thanks. It took me a week and a half to fine tune Atkins for myself. You are correct. Because I have a small amount to lose, I really need to watch my calories. At first on Atkins, I was doing it by the book. I was eating the full 4 oz of cheese (that was my way of cheating considering I came from a low-fat mentality before). And I also was eating at my AMR.

In the last couple of days, I cut out the cheese completely and moderated my portions to achieve slighty above my BMR. I am not starving but am not full either. Sure I could eat more, but it wont help.

In the past 2 days, I've lost a pound already. Its encouraging. I think I will go onto Extended Induction since it took me the first week just to tweak my diet.

FOR ANYONE STALLING MY BEST ADVICE - CUT OUT THE CHEESE!