I need a bit of input.

I let a soda and pasta addiction get way out of control over the past few years. At my heaviest I was nearly 200 pounds at 5'8" at 24 years old. I drank nearly two 2-liter bottles of regular soda a day and my diet consisted of pasta, pizza and chinese food.

I started this WOE on August 11 and have lost 28 pounds in those nearly two months.

My goal weight initially was 170. When it became clear to me that 170 was still overweight for my body frame, I moved it down to 160.

I still feel like I'm carrying more than extra pounds. I've increased my carb count considerably, even throwing in a six-pack of beer a week with no slow down of weight loss.

At this point, I'd like to find out once and for all my ideal weight.

So, for all you "old timers", would you recommend I consult a physician? If so, what type of physician... I have a friend that is a general practicioner and she thinks I'm crazy for even following this WOE.

I live in Manhattan - would a trip to the Atkins Center be my best bet? Thoughts? Thanks in advance, and sorry for the monologue!

LC since 8/11/2003
196 / 168 / 160
Count 'em, *7* inches lost in waist!

Congratulations on your loss, Geoffrey.

Most folks don't need to knock themselves out determining some scientifically "ideal" weight. If you are an otherwise healthy person with a positive view of your body, you may simply look in the mirror to detemine what looks reasonable.

Some simple charts and graphs help determine ideal BMI's (search BMI using www.google.com ) and weights based on factors such as height and age, but they are mere guidelines - don't rely too much on them because lots of other factors affect us individually.

My guess is a medium frame male at 24 years of age would look pretty balanced at 162 - 168 lbs. Check it against your mirror.

Your weight loss ocurred very fast (!), which is a concern. This tends to make some folks "jump off" the LC plan once the goal is attained. They return to old habits which did not have time to be broken...then the pounds mysteriously reappear. Your weight loss should be methodically slowed by adjusting carbs as you approach your goal weight (Pre-Maintenence)...taking the time to "sneak up" on it and learn what foods and portions will help you keep it there for the long haul (Maintenence).

Mort

[This message was edited by MortNuke on 10-07-03 at 11:55 PM.]

[This message was edited by MortNuke on 10-08-03 at 08:53 AM.]

Here are some Body Mass Index calculators that may give you some perspective:

http://www.dietitian.com/ibw/ibw.html
http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.html

I agree with Mort (Hi, Mort!!) that the guidelines for ideal weight are just that - guidelines and not a perfect fit for everyone.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>If your ideal weight seems too low even after you've added 10 percent, realize that it isn't necessarily the weight at which you'll feel most comfortable or attractive. It's merely the weight at which, statistically speaking, the average person's disease risks are lowest. It may not be attainable or even desirable for you as an individual. Ask your doctor. Copyright © 1992-2002 by DietPower, Inc. All rights reserved. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you are continuing to lose weight after adding back carbs, add back some additional carbs. The Atkins book recommends adding 5g to the daily allotment, and raising by 5 g each week until you stop losing weight or start gaining. If you are gaining, the book says to back down by 5 g. Frankly, I'm just not that impressed by that approach to maintenance, but there it is.

If you're still losing weight, and if these BMI charts show you below or at the low end of what is generally a healthy BMI, then you might want to consult a doctor - or even the Atkins Center, as you are close enough.

If you decide to go to the Atkins Center, I'd be interested to hear your impression.

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/133/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

They're closing the Atkins center on October 15. There's an article about it in the Low Carb Diet and Health News forum.

Have you been exercising, weight training, sit-ups etc. That can mean the difference in how many pounds you can carry comfortably.

Rob
310/247/180

Geoffrey, my experience has been that when you get to goal weight, you still don't look thin because the weight just doesn't want to come off of the places that WE want it to come off of, at least not at first. The result is, if you had a lot of weight to lose, you can go from looking like Bluto to looking like Popeye. The only solution is to exercise and wait a couple of years for things to settle out.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

I believe that rather than weight, you may be better off measuring body fat. A guy should probably have &lt;15% and a woman &lt;22%. Of course, you can go too low, but do your own research. Doctors use body mass, but I like body fat better. You can measure it in several ways, probably the best it to get a good scale with a body fat indicator on it. If you get your bady fat in line, you are probably at or near your ideal weight. This kind of takes the subjectivity out of the goal setting and helps eliminate unrealistic goals.

What the Sleepless Dr(tm) said applies. You will need to work out to arrange that body mass to be what you want.

BTW: Completely as an aside here. I had a friend in the Navy. He was a body builder, and had a body fat content of about 0% (Hyperbole folks, I just know it was low) The Navy tried to put him on a diet because his weight was too high (body mass). He had to get a special waiver...

--jim