Is it possible to eat 'too many calories' on Atkins?

[pdxchix]

I read the Atkins book, I know you're not supposed to eat so much you're stuffed but just satisfied.

Is there an amount of calories we're supposed to stick to or thereabouts? I hope someone is honest here.

I just don't see how me eating 2 pieces of chicken and mayo for breakfast, a ceasar salad with bacon and 3 eggs for lunch and a 400 calorie burger and a heaping T. of mayo can keep me losing weight.

Should I be worried? I'm starting to feel like a glutton.

[Georgiana]

Re: Is it possible to eat 'too many calories' on Atkins?

Is there an amount of calories we're supposed to stick to or thereabouts? I hope someone is honest here.

No. You might discover that you can't lose weight by eating 2500 calories per day, but you do not have to stick to a certain number of calories every day. Some days you will eat more, while other days you will eat less. It's normal not to have a 1500 calories (just a random number) appetite every day.

I just don't see how me eating 2 pieces of chicken and mayo for breakfast, a ceasar salad with bacon and 3 eggs for lunch and a 400 calorie burger and a heaping T. of mayo can keep me losing weight.

If that is what it takes to satisfy your appetite one day, then it's okay (btw, spread those veggies throughout the day to avoid a blood sugar spike). Just remember that it takes some time for the body to "admit" not needing more food, i.e. you may be able to eat 2 burgers in 10 minutes, but if you ate only one and then waited for 20-30 minutes for your body to figure out whether it requires more food, you might not need to eat the second burger at that meal. You can also apply the strategy Dr. Atkins describes in DANDR and eat only part of the food on your plate, then wait a few minutes and ask yourself if you need more... if you do, eat a bit more and then ask yourself again if you're hungry... and so on (Chapter 11, page 138 ).

[blueberrylady]

Re: Is it possible to eat 'too many calories' on Atkins?

We don't have to count calories but a lot of us do. I'm only 5'2 so I have to watch what I eat. I keep a hand-written journal and track the cals and carbs.

The signal your body gives you that you are full is very subtle and usually comes way before you think you've eaten enough, sometimes after just a few bites, so you miss it. Try to learn to listen for it and you may be amazed at how little food your body actually wants. Good luck to you!

[liv]

Re: Is it possible to eat 'too many calories' on Atkins?

I could eat that stuff you mention in your example and lose weight - as long as my carbs were under my CCLL.
But yes I bet there is a limit.
If most of the calories are from fat it would be hard to put on weight. A lot of protein can be turned into sugar and carbs we have to watch.