Am I Cheating ??

[Jennyxxx]

I have followed everything by the book since I started on Jan 9th, never cheated on any no OK foods etc.

But my fear is maybe I am not doing Atkins properly as my calorie intake is always under 1000 - (the Calculators say my BMR is around 1400) I will be losing weight cos of this low intake obviously - but does this mean I am sort of cheating the system ??

My net carbs are OK I think around 30/35 average

I must be pretty honest I am too scared to up my calories - even worse I am tempted to lower as I am near goal (even if I have put on a pound so I have 5 to go) - I would just like to know if I am effectively doing it right

Thankx in advance and Happy Easter to all

Jennyxxx

[Nancy in PA]

Jenny,

I'm very new to this, so please make sure to verify what I'm about to say. I couldn't help responding to you because your statistics are almost identical to mine. I'm 43 and 5'8.5" and my weight right now is about 142. I'm in the middle of Induction right now and was just visiting this board out of curiousity. From what I understand based on what I've read on the Induction forum, you should never go below your BMR. If you do, your body will think you are starving and will start conserving every calorie it can. That's very bad for your health. Believe it or not, you will have MORE success losing weight by upping your calories.

I'm also concerned by the fact that you are striving for 124 lbs. Unless you are an exceptionally small-boned person, that seems like a very low weight for someone who is 5'8". I'm a little taller than you and would consider myself pretty thin at 130. 124 would be almost impossible for me.

Anyway, I'm sorry if I've offended. I'm sure someone with more knowledge and experience will jump in here soon and respond.

Nancy

[2big4mysize]

I'm assuming you are in Premaintnenance and have your carbs as about 20% of your cals so your percents would be okay. At goal our fats are about 50% of our total cals ao you might be okay for your food ratios but unles you are a very fluffy low lean body mass person you need to be eating more food period.

Have you measured your lean body mass to see what % your body fat is?
You can use the Katch McArdel formula to caluclate your exact minimum cal needs if you now your lean mass.

On of the problems with getting you calsto low is your body draws down its reserves on only for energy but for cellular repairs raw materials too and those come from canibklizing your muscles and organ proteins which will lower your metabolism too as those are the body areas that burn cals all the time.

We had a memeber her last fall who was a big loser but she didn't eat enough on the way down and was suffering from malutrition and had to have asssitance from her doc to correct that problem.

Dr Atkins said it should take us 6 months to lose the last 5-10 pounds so eat mnore andslow it down and do it right so you will have a long healthy life to enjopy the new smaller you.

Happy low carbing.

[cmcole]

If you search for posts by me, especially in the Maintenance forum, you will see that I've been struggling with the concept of eating at least to BMR, and hadn't been meeting that number (98% of the time) since mid-May 2004.

I'm realizing the effects of it, and to tell you the truth, they are not kind to the body or the energy level or the metabolism.

So, as counter-intuitive (and against all the diet books or exercise magazines you've likely read) please re-think your position and re-vamp your menu accordingly.

Since this past week, when I've been making a genuine effort to eat a minimum of calories equivalent to my BMR, I've regained my energy, my health, and a whole lot of things I hadn't realized I had been missing.

You won't regret it in the long haul.

[Jennyxxx]

Thankx to you all for your time and comments.

In fact Nancy I am very light boned and I have always been, for 20 years, around 56/57 kilos. I put on weight starting in October 2003, but I definately feel better thinner.

Thankx 2Big - I use the Body Fat Monitor every 15 days and I checked now with the theory you mentioned - my LBM is 94 lbs and that on sedentary life gives a rate of 1290. I do actually exercise pilatus and abs tape every morning and the stationary bike 3 times/week.

I used the FitDay Reports for Nutritional Goals and over the last week it gives me average Total Carbs 25.5 (Dietary Fibre 5.). With a percentage of 15% I am on Rung 5. Is that too low ?

I read that you should not go less than 500 cals below this .. so in teory I am still within that .- is that correct. ?

I appreciate your reply Cmcole - in fact I am feeling pretty depressed and with low energy at the present - I think I will up the cals a little to see what happens.

Have a lovely easter monday all

Jen

[ex-barbie-doll]

I'm also concerned by the fact that you are striving for 124 lbs. Unless you are an exceptionally small-boned person, that seems like a very low weight for someone who is 5'8". I'm a little taller than you and would consider myself pretty thin at 130. 124 would be almost impossible for me.
Nancy

:wave Well, I am 5'7" and although I am down to 130 lbs I am still "fat" around the middle and abs and my arms are still plump.

My last diets when I was in my 30's and 40's I went below 120 and looked great..... I ate low cal and no fat and regained all the weight...
hopefully not this time but my goal is 120 or maybe even below... I am small boned... :yes I was slim in my teens and 20's and started gaining after 30... :no

[Jennyxxx]

Pleased to meet you Ex barbie :wave

I too have a considerable pot belly still and love handles which I absolutely hate !

I have been down to 120 before but due to a months spell in hospital and that was too low for me. 56 kilos is my mark and I really hope to get there soon :joy.

You have little weight to lose like me and I think it is just as hard to gauge as losing lots.

Have a nice evening

Jen