Calorie Question

[BekkiH]

OK, forgive me if I should already know this, but I'm confused.

I know that it is not necessary to count calories on this WOE, so I generally don't. But, in lurking the board, I have read numerous times that we're supposed to comsume at least out BMR in calories.

My BMR is 1900 cals. Today, I have only consumed 1600 (just finished dinner), and I am just not hungry for anything more.

I suppose that I COULD force myself to eat something tasty, but DANDR says not to eat unless you're hungry.

Honestly, I haven't been very hungry all day. I skipped lunch (just not hungry) and had a small pre-dinner snack to get me through until it was time to eat (making sure not to go longer than 6 hours without eating).

Anyway, I just wanted to find out what I should do. Do I absolutely have to eat more, or is it OK to be under my BMR every now and then?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Calorie Question

>>s it OK to be under my BMR every now and then>>

Maybe.

It doesn't take much undereating to put your body in famine mode.

>>DANDR says not to eat unless you're hungry>>

Well ... ketosis, especially in the early days of Induction, can be a natural appetite suppressant. The way to counter that so you don't undereat is to "force" yourself to eat ... maybe not a whole meal, but "grazing".

The problem with hunger cues at this point ... they're not reliable.

>> My BMR is 1900 cals.>>

You might want to try eating 250 calories above that.

10-12 times your current body weight is another "rule of thumb" that works, and ... well, you can do the math.

Not eating enough is counter-productive with Atkins.

[Georgiana]

Re: Calorie Question

It is not a problem if, occasionally, you have days when you are undereating... as long as this is not the norm. If this becomes the norm and you are not providing your body with the nutrients it needs, your health and metabolism will suffer.

I have read numerous times that we're supposed to comsume at least out BMR in calories.

Since I posted that, I should say that is a rule of thumb I've learned from Regina Wilshire. Some people might be able to eat below their "online-calculated" BMR without actually undereating. Others' BMR might be higher than the "online-calculated" one. Still, I consider it a good rule of thumb.

[BekkiH]

Re: Calorie Question

Thanks for the info!

I think I'm going to go ahead and eat something else, then. I'm not at the point of stuffing myself or anything. I was just following the rule of "eat until satisfied".

Can't complain if my new WOE involves eating more food than I am hungry for!

<3 Atkins!