Confused on calorie intake BMR

[downwardspiral4]

My basal metabolic rate is just above 1800 calories. My daily caloric needs are 2200 for being sedentary. I have barely managed to stay at 1200 calories a day since being on this WOE for a month now. Question is, does it matter if I stay a few hundred under my needs? I am on Rung 1 of OWL and I know as I add more food I’ll be adding more calories but for now is it fine?



I plan on starting exercise and know I will have to eat more foods once that happens. I just didn’t want to start exercise until I am a few rungs in that way I have a lot more food to cook and not worry too much about having enough calories. I am on a very tight budget (paycheck to paycheck) and I have to budget my groceries for myself and my husband and kids and so I can only buy so much every week. The problem here is that I need variety and I can only get so many veggies at a time and that’s what makes it difficult for me to stay on plan, I need variety but can’t afford to buy too many assorted veggies and when I do a lot of it spoils because I usually cook my own meal and my family eats a separate meal than mine (they will eat some of my stuff but only if it taste good to them) and there’s so much leftover.

Also, I think I read that you burn 300 calories while in ketosis everyday, how does this affect your caloric needs?

[not2late]

Re: Confused on calorie intake BMR

My basal metabolic rate is just above 1800 calories. My daily caloric needs are 2200 for being sedentary. I have barely managed to stay at 1200 calories a day since being on this WOE for a month now. Question is, does it matter if I stay a few hundred under my needs? I am on Rung 1 of OWL and I know as I add more food I’ll be adding more calories but for now is it fine?



I plan on starting exercise and know I will have to eat more foods once that happens. I just didn’t want to start exercise until I am a few rungs in that way I have a lot more food to cook and not worry too much about having enough calories. I am on a very tight budget (paycheck to paycheck) and I have to budget my groceries for myself and my husband and kids and so I can only buy so much every week. The problem here is that I need variety and I can only get so many veggies at a time and that’s what makes it difficult for me to stay on plan, I need variety but can’t afford to buy too many assorted veggies and when I do a lot of it spoils because I usually cook my own meal and my family eats a separate meal than mine (they will eat some of my stuff but only if it taste good to them) and there’s so much leftover.

Also, I think I read that you burn 300 calories while in ketosis everyday, how does this affect your caloric needs?

With the exception of nuts and dairy, OWL foods tend to be lean and are relatively low cal.

Out of curiosity, post your typical menu, including the amounts of food you eat. During Induction your fats should have been about 65% of your total calories. If you've been eating about 1200 calories a day, that would mean your fat calories were about 700 calories or 80 grams of fat a day.... I'm having a hard time imagining what your daily menu looks like.

[downwardspiral4]

Re: Confused on calorie intake BMR

Well, my menu is like this:



Couple slices of bacon

Two large eggs cooked with olive oil or butter



4oz. chicken

Cup of salad



4-6oz chicken (or beef or pork) usually cooked in butter or oil

Cup of broccoli with a tablespoon butter



I usually snack on a cucumber or a cup of jicama



This usually puts me around 1200 calories

[not2late]

Re: Confused on calorie intake BMR

Well, my menu is like this:



Couple slices of bacon

Two large eggs cooked with olive oil or butter



4oz. chicken

Cup of salad



4-6oz chicken (or beef or pork) usually cooked in butter or oil

Cup of broccoli with a tablespoon butter



I usually snack on a cucumber or a cup of jicama



This usually puts me around 1200 calories

Do you use any salad dressing or dip for your salad or cucumber/jicama? Mayo, dressings, dips, etc. are counted as a part of your daily calorie/carbs. Anything you drink (like coffee with cream) is counted too.