Thread: counting calories

Rebecca, I have found that once I get to within a certain weigh from goal (about 15 pounds from goal) I HAVE to watch my calories or no matter how close to 20 net carbs I am I will not lose. Obviously, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary), but if you are unable to exercise then you really should be tracking your calories... it is the simple fact that if you give the body more fuel (calories) than it can burn it will HAVE to store it...

Log onto a site called Weight Loss for Good http://www.weightlossforgood.co.uk/ This is a GREAT site... look at the left hand column, see the subheading, "Weight loss tools"? click under there on Daily Calorie Calculator.. put in the data they ask for and it will calculate how many calories you need to maintain your weight. If you want to lose a pound a week - you must subtract 500 calories from the total (I subtract 600, just to be safe)... this can help you figure out approximately where you should be in terms of calories per day.

Next - get yourself signed up for a free FitDay account: www.fitday.com and start tracking your food intake - all of it - and you'll be able to easily see whether you are getting more calories than you need...

HTH!!

I sure do hope this will help - and as far as low carb / low fat food ideas... salads, salads, salads... I know it can sound boring - but there are a billion varieties and ways to get lots of greens - they are almost like negative calories (take more energy to burn then they give you in the first place)!

The other things that has changes my eating habits and helped a LOT in the weight loss department is to start drinking green tea (or herbal teas) as often as possible - I've started drinking a huge (20 oz) mug every morning at the computer. . . and if the weather is hot - make a big container of iced herbal tea and keep it in the fridge! I make loads of mint and lemon iced tea.

Good luck! And check in again with questions - I'll keep thinking of low carb/low cal foods...

hugs - Rach

Sorry, Rebecca, about your injury. Hope you'll be fully recovered in time.

Fitday really is a helpful tool for tracking the quantity and quality of a menu, and I use it periodically for a check-up. I think the calorie allocations for various exercises are on the low side, but most trackers are just a rough estimate anyway.

Here's how things work for me.

Currently, I'm winding up two weeks of induction, to correct an off-plan excursion. At this time, my fat percentage is running about 70%, and carbs are very low--15-20 gms. Calories run fairly high for me, too--1500-1800. (The site Rachel posted suggests about 1850 cals for my stats, including what they call a moderate level of exercise.) But I really don't like counting calories, and I believe that the "Atkins advantage" occurs as a result of high fat intake and the lipolysis process, regardless of where I am in relation to my "ideal" weight. I'll continue to count carbs--and to be mindful of the kinds as well as the quantities of food I eat from day to day.

As I move into OWL, carbs will go up, and fat will go down. Consequently, calories will go down, too. I think that's the idea. More healthy veggies = fewer calories. I think it's important though not to eliminate healthy fats from the mix. That's what makes Atkins palatable and liveable.

So, as Rachel suggested, eat those salads.

If you can do any type of exercises, I recommend Oxycise. These are exercises coupled with breathing techniques. She shows some exercises with a girl in bed, and some are seated exercises. She claims that the deep breathing helps to burn calories.

If you are in physical therapy, have your therapist recommend some movements you can do. You won't be burning a lot of calories, but you'll be keeping your muscles toned.

And make sure you drink plenty of water. Sometimes if we aren't active we tend to drink less, but you still need lots of water to keep your system healthy.

I hope you get to doing better, and are soon able to get around more. Keep us posted on your progress.

I track carbs, and calories (using fit day) and I noticed when I get over 1500 calories or over 40 carbs I stall, so I try to keep both under those numbers and I do pretty well.

ymmv is right, some people have no problem just worrying about carbs, but some have to watch calories also... so just keep doing what you are doing and when you have some stall, look at what you are eating, and see if that is the problem.
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R in R,
I don't understand how you are gaining weight on Low carb?

Please post a menu of a day's food intake.

The first time that I tried this WOE I didn't work out for some 3 months and 38 pounds still melted away!?