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  • What is my ACE (CCLL)?

    Your Atkins Carbohydrate Equilibrium, or ACE, is the number of net carbohydrates you can eat without gaining or losing weight. The term ACE was introduced in Atkins for Life, and it replaces the old term CCLL, which meant Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing.

    You determine your actual ACE by moving up the rungs of the OWL ladder and finding out how different foods and exercise affect you. This is when you really start to personalize your diet. It can help to have an idea of where your ACE is likely to wind up.

    To estimate your ACE, you must first know your metabolic resistance level. This is determined based on your first two weeks of induction and the amount you had to lose. You can then use your metabolic resistance level as a guide for how many net carbohydrates you will be able to eat each day on OWL to reach your ACE. Everyone is different, so use these charts as a general guide.

    Code:
    Degree of Metabolic Resistance for Men
    ...................Pounds Lost in First 14 Days
    Pounds to Lose......High........Avg........Low
    Less than 20.........4...........6..........8
    20-50................6...........9.........12
    More than 50.........8..........12.........16
    
    Degree of Metabolic Resistance for Women
    ...................Pounds Lost in First 14 Days
    Pounds to Lose......High........Avg........Low
    Less than 20.........2...........4..........6
    20-50................3...........6..........9
    More than 50.........4...........6.........12
    
    Metabolic Resistance........Approximate ACE Range
    .......High.................15 grams of carbs per day
    ......Average...............15-40 grams of carbs per day
    .......Low..................40-60 grams of carbs per day
    ..Regular exerciser*........60-90 grams of carbs per day
    
    
    *In this context, a regular exerciser is someone who does vigorous exercise five days a week for at least 45 minutes.
    Example 1: A man needing to lose 60 pounds that lost 13 pounds during the first two weeks of induction has an average metabolic resistance. He can expect his ACE to fall between 15 and 40 net carbs per day.

    Example 2: A woman needing to lose 30 pounds that lost 9 pounds during the first two weeks of induction has a low metabolic resistance. She can expect her ACE to fall between 40 and 60 grams of net carbs per day.

    Dr. Atkins said that exercise was not an option on our diet, and the charts above help to show why. Either of our example people can drastically increase their ACE through regular exercise. You can increase your ACE and have fun too by joining us in the Atkins Diet Bulletin Board exercise challenge. You have nothing to lose but pounds!
    ~ Elleth
    Baby Talk Zone

    40/f 5'5" Start 10/18/2003 - 180/133.0/125
    My Diet Progress | Read my Blog




  • #2
    Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

    What do you mean by "want to lose"? I mean I understand my goal but that may be over or under how much I need to lose to get a healthy weight. Does that matter?
    f 138/120/110 started 2006/05/15

    vegetarian

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

      Originally posted by loliloli
      What do you mean by "want to lose"? I mean I understand my goal but that may be over or under how much I need to lose to get a healthy weight. Does that matter?
      The charts in the book are set up for your "ideal" weight. So unless you are extremely overweight and only want to lose maybe 5 pounds, the metabolic resistance charts will be accurate for you.
      ~Megs~
      242/141/160 (130)
      dress size 26/10/8
      5'4", Female, May 2, 2003
      My blog:
      http://mformiscellaneous.blogspot.com/

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

        im lost, sorry! Tell me if Im reading this correct.... Im a female, 5"5 138lbs
        I've lost roughly 10lbs in two weeks.... am I low on the ace? so I can 40-50 carbs a day? Is having a low metabolic rate bad?

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

          Originally posted by pdueck
          im lost, sorry! Tell me if Im reading this correct.... Im a female, 5"5 138lbs
          I've lost roughly 10lbs in two weeks.... am I low on the ace? so I can 40-50 carbs a day? Is having a low metabolic rate bad?
          How much weight do you want to lose? The chart in the book is based on how much weight you want to lose and how much weight you lost during Induction.

          ~Megs~
          242/141/160 (130)
          dress size 26/10/8
          5'4", Female, May 2, 2003
          My blog:
          http://mformiscellaneous.blogspot.com/

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

            Thanks...very helpful!
            "Thin is Possible!" formerly known as "Is Thin Possible?" Atkins made a believer outta me!

            SW/295.5 on 2/2004
            LW/164 reached on 9/2005
            Gained back 22 pounds in last year
            Restarted on 3/10/07 @ 186
            CW/179

            Gained back 22 pounds and dealing with it...instead of it dealing with me!!

            Exercise mileage starting 3/01/07: 200
            (bike riding 10 miles per day or walking 5 miles)

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

              Originally posted by not2late
              How much weight do you want to lose? The chart in the book is based on how much weight you want to lose and how much weight you lost during Induction.

              OOPs sorry I would like to lose another 18lbs

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

                Originally posted by pdueck
                OOPs sorry I would like to lose another 18lbs
                When you began your Atkins Induction, what was your start weight and your weight loss goal? For example, my start weight was 242 pounds (or whatever I have in my siggy...it was a long time ago lol!) and my goal weight was 130. So I had a 112 pound weight loss goal. I lost 9 1/2 pounds during my 14 days Induction. So if you look at the women's chart in the initial post, I wanted to lose over 50 pounds and I lost 9 1/2 pounds during my Induction. Therefore, I had average to low metabolic resistance to weight loss.

                So, on the CCLL chart, my estimated CCLL was 15 to 60 net carbs daily. (Remember that CCLL chart is an estimate because our bodies are individual and can react differently to different levels of carbs and to different carb foods.)

                Anyhow, this is why I'm such an S.O.B. on the Induction Forum about doing a clean Induction and not cheating with little bites of this or that or whatever----those 14 days are super-duper important to the remainder of your Atkins. If you spend your 14 days cheating, then your weight loss result might be vastly under-estimated and that will give you a false impression of how 'easily' you can lose weight. For example, your body could have lost 10 pounds, but you cheated with a bite of lemon meringue pie on Day 2, a couple of glasses of wine on Day 3, a quarter of a bagel on Day 5, half an apple on Day 7, etc. you didn't care because you were using those ketostix and they kept turning pink, so you figured your cheats weren't cheats because they didn't hurt your loss. However due to your cheats, your 14 Day result is 5 pounds. Then you look at the charts and figure you have High metabolic resistance and freak out because you think you have to stay on Induction longer, etc. etc. etc.

                I'm willing to bet if you poll the folks on "Extended Induction" the majority of them don't know what their degree of metabolic resistance is because they don't know about the charts in the book.

                On of these days, they'll learn. Until then I can only hope.....
                ~Megs~
                242/141/160 (130)
                dress size 26/10/8
                5'4", Female, May 2, 2003
                My blog:
                http://mformiscellaneous.blogspot.com/

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

                  [QUOTE=not2late]When you began your Atkins Induction, what was your start weight and your weight loss goal? [quote=not2late]

                  I was roughy 148-150 my scale is off kilter sometimes... I wanted to be 120lbs
                  so I lost 10lbs in the first two weeks and I never cheated on induction. this whole owl thing makes my head spin

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

                    Originally posted by pdueck
                    Originally posted by not2late
                    When you began your Atkins Induction, what was your start weight and your weight loss goal?
                    I was roughy 148-150 my scale is off kilter sometimes... I wanted to be 120lbs
                    so I lost 10lbs in the first two weeks and I never cheated on induction. this whole owl thing makes my head spin
                    Okay so 149 - 120 = 29. That was the weight you wanted to lose. So look at the chart above. The "pounds to lose" is between 20- 50 pounds, right? So look across and see what it says for 10 pounds. That will tell you your degree of metabolic resistance to weight loss. What is it?

                    The one thing about the estimated CCLL chart is that if you are a regular exerciser, your CCLL might be higher. So again, the numbers on the CCLL chart are an estimate.

                    As for OWL, all you have to remember is that your Induction menu is your basic daily menu. To that you will add 5 net carbs of the Carb Ladder Foods. I've used this analogy in other threads....

                    When you get dressed for a night out, what do you do? You pick a dress, right? Then what do you do? You look through your drawers, jewelry box, and closet to accessorize that dress, right? So you might put on a pair of dangly earrings, you might put on some strappy sandals, you might tie a scarf around your waist, you might wear your hair up, you might wear a darker shade of lipstick, right?

                    That's what you're doing during OWL, too. Your basic dress is the Induction menu. Those earrings are the 5 net carbs of Rung 1 foods. Those sandals---5 net carbs of Rung 2 foods. The scarf? 5 net carbs of Rung 3 foods. The hair do? 5 net carbs of Rung 4 foods. The lipstick? 5 net carbs Rung Rung 5 food.

                    And what happens if those earrings don't go with your outfit? You remove them and try on another pair until you find a pair that does look 'good' or go without, right? That's the same thing you do on OWL. If adding 5 net carbs of tomato sauce to your Induction menu stops your weight loss or causes any blood sugar instability problems (cravings, bloating, etc.), you drop the tomato sauce from your menu and try 5 net carbs of another Rung 1 food.

                    ~Megs~
                    242/141/160 (130)
                    dress size 26/10/8
                    5'4", Female, May 2, 2003
                    My blog:
                    http://mformiscellaneous.blogspot.com/

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

                      Seems to be pretty straightforward. I had over 50 lbs to lose. I lost 19 lbs in the first two weeks of Induction. Therefore I have low degree of metabolic resistance. I also exercise 6 times per week for 1 hour per day. I figure that I will have an ACE of somewhere between 40 carbs and possibly as high as 90.

                      Am I correct in this scenario? If my ACE is as low as 40, then the furthest that I can go up the carb ladder is from veggies, to dairy, then berries, and up as far as nuts. However, if I have an ACE of 60 and I skip the 6th rung (I can't stand legumes), then I can get all the way up to whole grain low carb tortillas.
                      Don


                      Before @ 360 At Goal 200

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

                        Originally posted by gonnabskinny
                        Seems to be pretty straightforward. I had over 50 lbs to lose. I lost 19 lbs in the first two weeks of Induction. Therefore I have low degree of metabolic resistance. I also exercise 6 times per week for 1 hour per day. I figure that I will have an ACE of somewhere between 40 carbs and possibly as high as 90.

                        Am I correct in this scenario? If my ACE is as low as 40, then the furthest that I can go up the carb ladder is from veggies, to dairy, then berries, and up as far as nuts. However, if I have an ACE of 60 and I skip the 6th rung (I can't stand legumes), then I can get all the way up to whole grain low carb tortillas.
                        The ladder is more Induction veggies (Rung 1), Fresh Cheese/Dairy (Rung 2), Nuts/Seeds (Rung 3), Berries (Rung 4), Alcohol (Rung 5), Legumes (Rung 6), Fruits other than berries (Rung 7), Starchy veggies (Rung , Grains (Rung 9).

                        If you found your CCLL on Rung 4, you can eat at your CCLL and still go up the ladder, using 5 of your net carbs for the higher rung food. See, you don't have to eat all the foods from all the rungs, everyday.

                        For example, your CCLL is 40.

                        Your daily carbs are from the 3 cups of Induction veggies (these are you minimum daily veggies), 5 net carbs of the Rung 1 Induction veggies, 5 net carbs of Fresh cheese/Dairy (Rung 2), the 1 oz of nuts from the Nut/Seed Rung, and 5 net carbs of berries. Let's say you want to go up the ladder. You skip the alcohol rung, because you aren't a drinker, so you try out legumes. You can add 5 net carbs of legumes, but you swap those 5 net carbs for one of the other 5 net carbs. So on Monday, you have 5 net carbs of soy milk, and you skip the 5 net carbs of cottage cheese that day, so that you're still eating at your CCLL, but you've tried out a different food group.
                        ~Megs~
                        242/141/160 (130)
                        dress size 26/10/8
                        5'4", Female, May 2, 2003
                        My blog:
                        http://mformiscellaneous.blogspot.com/

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

                          Got it! Thanks Megs!

                          So even though am I on week 2 at 25 net carbs, this week I can try to add some dairy products in as long as I stay within the 25 net carbs. I just can't do more that 3 of any one product, so that I can figure out how I react to that product. Is that right? Next week, I could add nuts and seeds if I wish?
                          Don


                          Before @ 360 At Goal 200

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

                            Originally posted by gonnabskinny
                            Got it! Thanks Megs!

                            So even though am I on week 2 at 25 net carbs, this week I can try to add some dairy products in as long as I stay within the 25 net carbs. I just can't do more that 3 of any one product, so that I can figure out how I react to that product. Is that right? Next week, I could add nuts and seeds if I wish?
                            IT depends. Have you found your CCLL or are you still looking for it?

                            If 25 net carbs is your CCLL, then you can swap 5 net carbs of your 25 for 5 net carbs of dairy. Then follow the OWL rungs about adding foods.

                            If you're still looking for your CCLL, move to the Dairy rung and add 5 net carbs. Then follow the OWL rules.

                            Some people choose to keep their carbs artificially lower than their CCLL so they'll move up to 25 net carbs and then move up the Carb Ladder...I have mixed feelings about that because I think your body needs to eat at or slightly below your CCLL in order to continue losing weight steadily. Look at the people who extend their Induction, hit a stall, and break out of it when they finally move to OWL. Same thing happens to them.

                            We had a member in the past who did that: stayed at 20 or 25 net carbs while going up the Carb Ladder. She lost weight, then she hit a 4 month stall. She did everything to break it---upped exercise, upped water, lowered fat, lowered calories---everything except look for her CCLL. Then she quit Atkins because it stopped working for her. She started Atkins the same time I did and we had similar stats. The last I saw her was maybe 2 years ago. She posted once to say she had regained her weight and was giving Atkins another try. Then she never posted again.

                            From my own experience, I found that as I lost the weight and my body became slimmer, I was able to exercise more efficiently. I hit a period where I wasn't losing or gaining, but I was tired all the time. So I tried everything: upped the exercise, lowered the exercise, upped the fat, lowered the fat, upped the water, lowered the water. Then I re-read the book and saw that charts with the 'regular' exerciser CCLL information.

                            So I upped my carbs by 5 net carbs, and I wasn't as tired anymore and I started losing weight again. I found a 'new' CCLL and ate at that 'new' level. A few months before I moved to Pre-Maintenance, I wasn't losing or gaining and I was feeling tired all the time. After reviewing my menues and not finding anything there to cause this, I looked for my 'new' CCLL again and found it.

                            So that's why I'm not too keen on the "modified OWL" where you stay at Induction level carbs and move up the Carb Ladder. I think the CCLL does 2 things: it tells us how many carbs not to eat above to lose weight and it tells us how many carbs not to eat too far below to continue losing weight.
                            ~Megs~
                            242/141/160 (130)
                            dress size 26/10/8
                            5'4", Female, May 2, 2003
                            My blog:
                            http://mformiscellaneous.blogspot.com/

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: What is my ACE (CCLL)?

                              Thanks again Megs. No I'm not at my CCLL. I was thinking that since I still had so much weight to lose and because I stayed on induction longer, that I shouldn't up the 5 carbs each and every week, but stay at each increase a little longer, maybe two to four weeks. What you are suggesting is to go ahead and add the carbs each week in order to find my CCLL and continue to climb the carb ladder as I add each five carbs back in. Once I reach my CCLL I can stay there and continue to climb the ladder and alternate food from the lower rungs that I have already reached, as long as I stay within that CCLL. Now I think I understand.

                              Last thing I want to do is to do anything that is going to set me back or make me give up. I am going to do it this time for good, but I know that I need to do it RIGHT in order to succeed.

                              Thanks again,
                              Don


                              Before @ 360 At Goal 200

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