I'm new, w/a question about calories

[Shells9]

Hello.
I mostly hang out on the resorts and theme park boards, but I ventured here and am glad to have found you all!


I am on Atkins for the second time. I am 3 weeks in and still doing induction. A year and a half ago I did it and dropped about 30 pounds. Stress and the discovery of cappuccino with vanilla syrup helped me put it right back on!

I am using Fitday for the first time, and am struck at how low my calories are. Yesterday I was at about 850, and today -- even with dinner -- I am just below 800.

How many should I have? The thing is, I am not hungry. I know I am losing inches, although I do not measure, but the pounds are much slower this time. Probably due to the fact that I was skipping the water part, which I have resumed the past two days. I used to be really good about it, and now I know I have to do it.

So, how many calories is the average person supposed to have?

 

[TigerBear]

That seems low to me. I have read that you are not supposed to go below 1200. Your body will supposedly shut down if you eat less because it thinks you are starving. I have also read that if you eat so few calories to lose weight that once you lose it you are more likely to gain it back. Your body resets itself to only need that amount of calories. Therefore, if you eat more you will gain weight back. I am not a calorie expert so hopefully others will join in.

 

[Shells9]

I have also read that if you eat so few calories to lose weight that once you lose it you are more likely to gain it back

That's what I am afraid of, and what I don't want to happen, but I'm not hungry, and I am drinking water when I want to snack. I am emotional eater and one who eats of boredom.

For example, today I had:
Breakfast - 4 slices of deli ham and half a slice of cheddar cheese
Lunch - 1.5 cups boiled yellow squash and zucchini squash with butter and salt, along with 2 pieces of the deli ham
Dinner -- 2 grouper fillets with butter

 

[clarabelle]

See if this link will help- you type in your weight and some other stuff and it calculates how many calories you need to loose a pound a week


http://www.thebeehive.org/health/healthcalc.asp?calc=calorie&language=2

 

[wilderness01]

I like that link. It is helpful. Thanks.

 

[catherine]

If I were you I would check with your doctor. Typically you should keep your caloric intake to 1200 plus. Good luck with your plan

 

[Shells9]

Wow, according to that I need to eat a bunch more!
Any suggestions on high calorie, low carb stuff that I could try, especially when I'm not hungry?

Thanks so much!

 

[tkd lisa]

Cheese, nuts, eggs are generally high calorie, low carb.

Good luck, I also think that's way too low of an intake. I can remember staying under 1000 calories a day back when I was in college, and it was way too low!

 

[DoeWDW]

I think trying to stay around 1200 calories is a good idea.

Are you planning to stay on induction for quite a while? Your choices of foods during the next phase (OWL - ongoing weight loss) will make it much easier to get those calories in.

 

[DVCTiff]

That Beehive site said I should take in only 975 calories a day to lose weight. That is very dangerous information. I've always heard you shouldn't go under 1200. I don't think that site's giving out sound medical advice. Just a warning.

 

[TigerBear]

The link posted varies drastically based on how many minutes you calculate for each level of activity. I think it is hard to estimate how many minutes a day you walk, drive, read, etc. It seems to me that most waking hours are at least spent in very light activity (except maybe watching television/movies), but then the calorie level given is obviously way too high (3000+).

 

[clarabelle]

Sorry!
I don't always know how to check up on these things to see how accurate they are- I just thought the calculator was neat.

I too have read that generally a diet needs to include at least 1200 calories and that a reduction of about 500 calories a day from your regular diet will yield a one pound a week weight loss.
(I read that on the Havard med school health site called intellihealth so maybe that is correct).
It always amazes me that there is soooo much conflicting information out there.

Again I apologise if the calculator is inaccurate. It was not my intention to give bad advice.

 

[TigerBear]

Clarabelle, don't give it another thought. I have a feeling the calculator itself is not wrong because calorie intake is dependent on activity level. I just think without more guidelines as to how to calculate activity minutes, its utility is limited. Its not your fault though - you were just trying to be helpful.

 

[newholiday]

doc told me last May not to go below 1200

 

[nativetxn]

You've received some really great advice already, so I won't offer more. I just wanted to welcome you to WISH

It's great to see you here. Will you be taking the WISH challenge? Please say yes, we could use you in our support group.

Katholyn

 

[DVCTiff]

Clarabelle - dontcha worry about the calculator. Just didn't want you following bad advice. It's good to check out different sources and I think you're on the right track. I've gotten two different calculations for my average daily calorie burn so it's hard to know who to believe. Hang in there!