Counting CARBS and CALORIES?

[Angelkc22]

Hi... I'm a newbie to low carb. I mean, I've done low carb before, but I think I was doing it wrong. I was eating lots of bad stuff without considering calories. Will I lose weight any faster if I combine calorie AND carb counting? Are you supposed to count calories on a low carb diet?

Right now I am staying at or below 20g carbs/day and between 1500-1800 calories.

Thanks!

[PaganCub]

You shouldn't have to count calories on a low carb diet, no. But if you are obsessive and have the time like me, go ahead. Personal choice. I base my calorie intake on how much I want to lose by Thanksgiving...which is 42 pounds. To do that I need to eat no more than 2513 calories a day. Personal choice, but no...not needed.

[junkfoodmonkey]

Some people find they need to count calories, some don't. It can depend on lots of factors, how close to goal you are, age, sex, resistance to weight loss, exercise etc.

I don't count calories but I suppose I do watch them. Naturally less snacking, fewer "beverage calories" from those foamy coffee shop drinks, and I've been working hard on portion control. So I have reduced calories, but without counting them. Had to bring them back up a little recently, thanks to exercising. But I've never counted a calorie, and lost 90lbs the first time out never counting. This year I've lost 22lbs of the 30 or so that sneaked back on, still not counting, just "watching".

[ElleH]

Originally Posted by Angelkc22

Hi... I'm a newbie to low carb. I mean, I've done low carb before, but I think I was doing it wrong. I was eating lots of bad stuff without considering calories. Will I lose weight any faster if I combine calorie AND carb counting? Are you supposed to count calories on a low carb diet?

Right now I am staying at or below 20g carbs/day and between 1500-1800 calories.

Thanks!

Dr Atkins says in his 1972 book that even though calorie-counting in the sense of a traditional "low-calorie" diet is unnecessary, that a 1500 calorie low carb diet will take off more pounds and faster than a 2000 calorie low carb diet. Dr Eades of PPLP fame (in his blog) said that a good calorie range is 1500-1700 for weight loss on a low-carb diet. It sounds like you're doing fine, as long as you don't feel deprived or hungry on a daily basis.

Be prepared that you may experience some rebound hunger at that calorie level after a while. If you do, go ahead and eat more protein and fat until it subsides. I never noticed a slow-down in my weight loss as long as I ate only more protein and fat on those days where I was more hungry than others and not more carbs. It happened about once a week, the rebound hunger, for me.

[Dismal_Bliss]

Originally Posted by Angelkc22

Will I lose weight any faster if I combine calorie AND carb counting?

Most likely, yes!

Originally Posted by Angelkc22

Are you supposed to count calories on a low carb diet?

Depends on whose program you are following. Most low carb diet authors will stress that there is no need to count calories, just count the carbs. This is because a typical low carb dieter will automatically consume less calories than before dieting, because of ketosis and it's appetite suppressing effects.

Originally Posted by Angelkc22

Right now I am staying at or below 20g carbs/day and between 1500-1800 calories.

Good. That sounds good.

I dropped 19 pounds in 3 weeks and then hit a 3 week long stall. I had to start logging everything I was eating and make it a goal to stay below 2000 calories to get the weight to start coming off again.

I believe my problem was that I started making a bunch of recipes in the Recipe Room for fun, and eating considerably more than I had at the beginning.

- Bob

[Angelkc22]

19 lbs in 3 weeks?!

[catne]

Bob's point about making new recipes & then eating too much is well-taken.

I find that if I want to lose, I have to avoid all the LC desserts & LC substitutes for HC foods (by subs I mean like the LC version of lasagna or pizza. Can't use the LC bars & drink mixes & such at all-they stall me immediately.) On the LC subs like oopsies & cheesey dishes, I just can't get started because I way overeat on these. (Yes it is possible to eat completely legal LC food and not lose an ounce; even gain.)

I do best on plain-cooked moderately fatty meats (grilled or fried, no sauces no cheese), plain veggies (salads, and green veggies.) Boring, but I prefer losing to variety. With boring, I know I generally stay around 1200-1500 cals. a day (not going hungry...eating until satisfied.) I don't actually count calories, but eliminating the stuff I stall on keeps the calories down, cuz it's all high calorie stuff. I know when I do add the cheesy/creamy variety dishes, I go way over 2000 cals. a day and stall out completely. YMMV.

[Dismal_Bliss]

Originally Posted by Angelkc22

19 lbs in 3 weeks?!

Yup.

Week 1: 223 to 216
Week 2: 216 to 211
Week 3: 211 to 206
Week 4: 206 to 206
Week 5: 206 to 205
Week 6: 205 to 204
Week 7: 204 to 200 so far (monday to monday)

I not only have the metabolic advantage of eating low carb, but I also have the male advantage of being a guy. When I am determined, I can lose a pound a day at 1500-1800 calories and less than 20 carbs. When I get a little lazy or get sucked into the Recipe Room, I stall out at 2500 calories or more. I know the math doesn't add up. I don't get it either.

I guzzle citric acid, aspartame, sweet and low, splenda, and a zillion other things that people say makes them "stall", and it doesn't effect me as far as I can tell. The only thing that stalls me is when I eat way to liberally.

So I've been nice and determined this week. Once I dip below 200, I'll dive into a low carb pizza and something else really fun.

- Bob

[PaganCub]

Originally Posted by Angelkc22

19 lbs in 3 weeks?!

I've lost 10 pounds in the last 10 days, so definately possible.

[bigdog]

I count calories to ensure I get enough daily. I try to hit between my RMR and BMR, and most days it is a struggle unless I count and plan. If I don't pay attention to it I tend to hit 800-1000 calories below my desired range.

[maria40nc]

Originally Posted by catne

Bob's point about making new recipes & then eating too much is well-taken.

I find that if I want to lose, I have to avoid all the LC desserts & LC substitutes for HC foods (by subs I mean like the LC version of lasagna or pizza. Can't use the LC bars & drink mixes & such at all-they stall me immediately.) On the LC subs like oopsies & cheesey dishes, I just can't get started because I way overeat on these. (Yes it is possible to eat completely legal LC food and not lose an ounce; even gain.)

I do best on plain-cooked moderately fatty meats (grilled or fried, no sauces no cheese), plain veggies (salads, and green veggies.) Boring, but I prefer losing to variety. With boring, I know I generally stay around 1200-1500 cals. a day (not going hungry...eating until satisfied.) I don't actually count calories, but eliminating the stuff I stall on keeps the calories down, cuz it's all high calorie stuff. I know when I do add the cheesy/creamy variety dishes, I go way over 2000 cals. a day and stall out completely. YMMV.

Laughing.... how true! I have to be a plain Jane too. Grilled chicken and romaine lettuce <eyeroll>. I cannot open a bag of beef jerky, almonds, or sunflower seeds without eating the entire bag. I do not dare buy protein bars, shakes, or any other marketed product. I want to be able to do my diet using only regular whole foods.

I also find that I must take in most all of my calories during the day. I get home between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. and if I eat a full meal, it seems the scale will not budge.

I got concerned that maybe I was not consuming enough calories so I started keeping track today. It looks like I'm right on target for 1400 to 1500 calories, so I think I'm fine; but I'll keep track for a few days just to be sure.

and I still don't know what an oopsie is...

[ljguitar]

Hi Angel...
The only time I counted calories as a low-carber was when a claim was made by a news organization that all weight loss is a result of reducing calories ''INCLUDING LOW CARB''.

Two days of counting my typical intake blew that out of the water...Have never thought about counting them since, and don't plan to now.

I'm a male with a medium frame who hasn't been under 200 pounds for over 20 years, and am not struggling for an unrealistic goal of improbable weight loss...just staying healthy and enjoy a variety of good food and not being hungry.

At our age (60) my wife and I are eating the way we enjoy and it's awesome to feel this good, & have the doctors like what they see at annual checkups (the only time I get weighed). We made a decision to live this way, so why would go to the trouble to check on something that we are totally unconcerned about.

[Kansas Deb]

Originally Posted by catne

Bob's point about making new recipes & then eating too much is well-taken.

I do best on plain-cooked moderately fatty meats (grilled or fried, no sauces no cheese), plain veggies (salads, and green veggies.) Boring, but I prefer losing to variety. With boring, I know I generally stay around 1200-1500 cals. a day (not going hungry...eating until satisfied.) I don't actually count calories, but eliminating the stuff I stall on keeps the calories down, cuz it's all high calorie stuff. I know when I do add the cheesy/creamy variety dishes, I go way over 2000 cals. a day and stall out completely. YMMV.

That is what I have to do to lose weight too.

[muranojo]

Angel,

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I have a similar woe and had planned to write for advice tonight. First time I tried Atkins, I dropped 10 lbs in two weeks and continued losing 2-3 lbs/week after that. Last two times I've tried, it has been a bummer.

This is my 4th week, and I have only lost about 6 lbs. Now, I have to say I have cheated a few times (wine twice for special occasions), and a beer once.

I am afraid for me it may be the LC recipes I have found on this site and the Carbquik, which I just discovered and love. I've been making Carbquik cheese biscuits and blueberry muffins and enjoying one a night. Plus had a LC tortilla this weekend. And I'm not truly doing Atkins induction as we have a garden and I've been skipping the salad for dinner and having about 2 cups of fresh veggies.

Though I am walking about 30 min. a day and doing weights 3x a week, it is obvious to me I need to get serious and go back to real induction I guess. Carbquik will have to wait for another 30 lbs. or so.

[junkfoodmonkey]

Yeah, as great as the recipes are, a lot of them are heavy on cheese and cream and other legal, but high calorie goodies. Or possible stallers like sweetners.

I've started to do a few of the recipes (which I never did much before, being a crappy cook) but I'll only do maybe one a week, or a batch of something to have a serving of a day, while keeping the rest of the day simple plain food. And I rarely touch the dessert ones at all, trying to lose the sweet tooth.

[maria40nc]

Originally Posted by muranojo

Angel,

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I have a similar woe and had planned to write for advice tonight. First time I tried Atkins, I dropped 10 lbs in two weeks and continued losing 2-3 lbs/week after that. Last two times I've tried, it has been a bummer.

The exact same thing happened to me. Big successes the first couple of times I started Atkins induction, and completely stalled this time. I thought that I maybe hurt my metabolism with the yo-yo exercising and dieting. And I blamed my age <over 40 now>.

The bottom line about any diet, no matter which one is that you must burn more calories than you eat. I decided to take the extra time to write down all my food, carbs, and calories for a few days to see what was going on. I was actually getting a lot of calories from the things like butter and cheese. I decided to cut out the high calorie foods/fats and suddenly dropped 3 lbs practically overnight.

I don't think we need to count calories faithfully (who wants to bother with that). But I do think it is a good idea to do it at least a few days and see where you stand.

Good luck!
Maria

[berries&cream]

Calories definitely do still count. But if you avoid eating too much mayo, butter, sour cream, cream, etc, you really shouldn't need to actually count the calories.

I do track mine though just because I like putting everything into fitday.com

You can find out how many calories you should be taking in by using a daily caloric needs calculator. Just use google to find one. You will lose 1 pound a week for every -500 calories. Don't average less than 1000 calories a day.

Don't let the calorie restriction leave you hungry though! Keeping down the butter and cream and staying in your carb range is usually enough. Especially during the first 2 weeks of induction it is important to keep your fat % high, so feel free to use these items in controlled amounts.

[jdsgirl]

I have started LC again. It seems to be the only thing that works for me. My question is, how much fat a day is reasonable? I am using fitday and most of my calories are from fat! Not a problem with the carbs, staying under 30 and calories around 1400. Just concerned that I may be eating too much fat.

[flourchild]

Originally Posted by jdsgirl

Just concerned that I may be eating too much fat.

Ratios aren't quoted in the book, but Atkins is specifically designed to be a high fat / moderate protein / low carb plan. When people here post their personal ratios they often fall in the 65% - 80% range for fat. The higher the better on this plan.