I've been looking through the website and it seems like a lot of folks count calories. I thought LC/Atkins did not count calories? If they are I'm in trouble! :(
Can someone clear this up for me?
Thanks,
Amber

A lot of people don't have to count calories, especially in the beginning. If you have a lot of weight to lose, then the ketogenic effects of this WOE help you to eat less food, and with the metabolic advantage that this WOE gives, you can eat more calories than on a low fat/low calorie diet BUT calories do count. As long as you remember that this is "eat until you are satisfied" NOT "eat all you want" most people do okay.

I personally don't have normal hunger responses and can go all day without eating, and never feel hungry. I actually count calories to make sure that I'm eating enough food. Funny... I almost never get hungry, but I would eat non-stop when I'm not watching my carbs because I'm a sugar/starch addict.

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Katie
275/238/150
Restarted 01/08/2007
37 pounds lost!
http://justanotherfatgirl.blogspot.com

Just to chime with my .02. For my first year or so (about 50-60 pounds) I just counted carbs. After I got within 20 or so pounds of my target weight, I had to start counting calories too.

As Felonee mentioned, in the beginning, you probably won't need to count calories (unless you have less than 20 or so pounds to loose). If you get to a prolonged stall, i.e. no loss for more than one month, you might want to try cutting calories to get yourself loosing again. Unless you are having a prolblem loosing, I wouldn't bother though.

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Started Atkins on 9/20/03
235-->190; 150 goal

I never counted calories, but it can be very helpful for those whose hunger/satiety feedback system is not reliable. In other words, if your body doesn't give you proper signals so that you can tell the difference between "satisfied" and "stuffed", keeping an eye on calories can help provide that feedback.

Unless the feedback system is seriously impaired, being able to detect the difference becomes more important as one approaches goal weight. Let's face it, at that point one is a smaller person and needs a lot less food than at the beginning.

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I have found that if I keep my calories under 1500/ and carbs between 30 and 40 I lose.... just what I have found in two years....

seems to work for me.
c

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carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

Thanks for all the responses. I'm reading the Atkins book and am starting to understand the concept a little more. Because I have about 80 pounds to loose I think I'll keep it simple to begin with. I know that I was eating WAY more than needed but I also was chowing down on carbs. It seems that I have less inclination to over eat when its salads & protien. But If I start to stall on weightloss then I'll look into counting calories. The problem for me is anytime I count calories...I feel deprived before I even start! Another mindset I'll have to change. Thanks again!

I think you've made a wise decision. The whole point of Atkins is counting carbs, not calories. Veterans of low-fat/low-cal yo-yo dieting know only too well the despair and deprivation calorie counting sets up.

When I started Atkins three years ago, I chowed down on pork rinds and cream cheese and did just fine. My satiety signals don't work very well either, and after all, a lot of overeating isn't about feeling hungry or full in the stomach, but feeling hungry or full in the heart.

For me, Atkins kind of automatically limits calories. So I find myself eating a satisfying diet of about 1500-1800 without thinking about it. I just make sure everything I put in my mouth is worthwhile and wholesome and within carb guidelines.

I also exercise at least 30 minutes every day.

Best wishes.

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

I'll chime in with the rest... Don't worry about counting calories at this time. One of the beauties of this WOE is the simplicity. I never worried about total calories at the beginning and never did until I got within 10 pounds of goal. When you get to that point you will probably be re-evaluating your strategy to fit you needs at the time. At this time your looking to kick the carb habit and by doing so you will reduce your caloric intake naturally. Good luck on your journey.

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To think is to create!
So What? Now What?
Tom
Restart LC 7/05/08

i didn't do much with calories, either. but if i stop losing or start gaining and the carbs seem ok, i look around to see if there is something high calorie, which occassionally can be an issue.

so, too much heavy cream, for example, can be an issue. or later on, too many nuts--easy to overdo!--can be an issue. but mostly, if you're losing fine and you're not hungry and feel good, you're probably doing fine!

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EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

whats a calorie? ;-)

okay... seriously... i never count em... never count the carbs either.. cause i know now what i can or cant eat ...

but if and when ..or when and if.. i get to where i dont do as well as i want withOUT counting one or the other.. i WILL count the carbs.. but i wont count calories...

as someone said.. it makes me feel deprived..

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

The general theme I'm hearing is to forget about calories for now. I forgot how great Atkins is and how easy it is to do well and still eat great food. I think that's why it works so well for so many people. Diets where you can only eat half a chicken breast with nothing on it and a slice of cucumber for dessert has never made points with me. This WOE I can see myself sustaining. WHEN (not if but when) I get close to my goal which is a helluva long way from here I'll revisit the issue if I start to stall. Thanks everyone!

I've entered everything I've eaten into www.fitday.com for almost 3 years now. I like to be aware of calories because I have a tendency to overdo those. You aren't likely to lose weight on any diet if you're eating 3000 calories a day.

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my blog

MMMMMm, yummy!!! Sounds like a very satisfying meal...................NOT!!!! LOLOLOL

I too must jump on the NO calorie counting bandwagon. Although, I am so close to my goal weight and haven't lost anything for months now, I KNOW I MUST do SOME calorie counting if I want things to change. But I don't care enough to do it. I'm happy where I'm at, so it's not a big deal.

And yes, when I DO count calories, I feel deprived. So I'd rather not go there.

When you get closer to your goal weight, you MIGHT be one who needs to count them, but hey, if you get there without any problems, why burden yourself with all that math???? LOL

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I don't really worry about the calories, I put my food into fit day... and when I am eating on track, food wise, and am losing consistently, I have noticed what my counts are.... when I start stalling or gaining... i notice what they are then....I don't stress about my calories, I just really try to keep my carbs at a certain level, and my calories almost always stay within a certain range.

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carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

OK...I guess I'm in the minority here...

When I started Atkins, I ate as much as I wanted and still lost weight. Well, that lasted about one year and although I strictly adhered to the plan, I managed to gain everything back that I had initially lost. Had I been more conscious of my calorie intake, I would have known that I had a SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED feedback system. Imagine my surprise to find out that I had been consuming 2500+ calories or MORE per day!!!

I never did get to my goal weight and wasn't able to handle any more than 30g. of carbs per day on that program.

In the end, I made a switch to a more balanced plan and am now VERY aware of everything I eat. As long as I'm not hungry, I'm a happy gal.

I think that some people can get away with no counting and others, like me, simply can't!

Donna