Question about eating carbs again.

[Ovahk]

Do you gain weight from eating carbs again or is it still from calories? Lets say I eat 100 carbs a day but then intake the same amount of calories as in the diet...will I gain weight? I don't plan on quitting, but I was just curious.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Question about eating carbs again.

A million dollar question!

Actually... if you overdo the calories however you eat, you'll put on weight. (energy in vs. energy out); but on Atkins we have a metabolic advantage eating low carb, because it take more energy for the body to function on reduced carbs than it does using carbs for fuel. So... I'd say the answer is: Both.

The key is to keep carbs down and eat only until your hunger is satisfied, no more. Takes practice, but if you manage to do this you won't need to worry about calories because it'll be your hunger leading you to the correct calorie amounts.

[julirama723]

Re: Question about eating carbs again.

That question will be more clearly understood when you are in OWL and Pre-maintenance. During OWL, you begin adding carbs in 5g increments to find your CCLL (Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing). This will let you know how many carbs you can eat per day while continuing to lose weight. During Pre-maintenance, you continue adding carbs in 10g increments to find your CCLM (Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance). This will let you know the limit of carbs you may eat per day to maintain your weight without gaining or losing.

Depending on your Metabolic Resistance discovered after induction (based on how much weight you lost during that 2-week period) you'll have a rough estimate of your CCLL. Regular exercise helps to increase your CCLL; regular exercise being 5x a week, 45 minutes each session, of strenuous exercise.

Some people may be able to eat 100g and maintain. Others may only be able to tolerate 30g. So far, I am able to eat 60g and still lose, but I exercise 6x a week and go to Kickboxing and Boot Camp classes, do strength training, and have begun running longer distances.

Each person is different and has a different degree of metabolic resistance.