Ask Kimmer!

[Kimmer]

I hope people don't mind if I start a thread for "Kimmer" questions. It will be easier for me to keep them together and can be a reference for often asked questions. Sometimes I don't go back to threads and miss extra questions after my last post.

So, if anyone wants to ask about Kimkins, water fasting, starvation mode or Fitday menus, please do!

Here's a link to my Fitday during my weight loss phase:

Kimmer's Fitday

Here's the guidelines for Kimkins:

• Up to 20 total carbs (not 'net')
• Up to 3 cups salad type veggies or
• Up to 2 cups salad veggies + .5 cup 'cooked'
• 70-90 lean protein grams
• No LC products, treats, junk or alcohol
• Just enough fat to make your menu work (don't overdo)

Here's the guidelines for the Kimmer Experiment (not M/E):

• As much lean protein as you desire
• Length of time is 3-5 days depending on how 'carbed up' you are
• Purpose is to experience 'real' ketosis (weight loss, no appetite)
• Useful as a springboard for other LC programs
• No alcohol, no cheese
• Basic condiments and spices OK (watch catsup & A1 sauce)

[Mrsevans]

Kimmer,

A question about my calories? Do you think 900 calories a day is ok if I am not hungry for anymore then that? Will my body go in starvation mode do you think? Even if im not hungry?

thanks for your time

[CARBBABY]

What a great Idea. Kimmer threads are so full of information and are scattered throughout this board. Having them in one place will be helpful. Thanks.

[Sleepy]

how come you can only have .5 of cooked veggies instead of all 3 cups of cooked veggies

[Randy]

Why don't you have your own forum? Seriously. The admins should consider the "Ask Kimmer" forum. You could start it off with a disclaimer.

And now, Kimmer trivia.

Hey Kimmer, what does SNATT stand for?

[willgetthere]

Yes i do use a food scale i want to know exactly how much i am putting in my mouth i guess you could say i am almost obsessive about it. At this point i cannot handle any gains. I was just worried because with the small gain this morning sent me over the edge. I thought gee i gained just by thinking about ice cream. I have to lose at least 20 lbs my may 26 and will do whatever it takes to do it

[colleen44]

great idea- I often wonder how you find the questions for you that get buried lol somehow you always do. Lots of different people ask the same question over and over, I always wonder how you don't get frustrated and just copy and paste your answer! Anyway...good idea...makes it easier for us too

[Kimmer]

Originally Posted by Mrsevans

Kimmer,

A question about my calories? Do you think 900 calories a day is ok if I am not hungry for anymore then that? Will my body go in starvation mode do you think? Even if im not hungry?

Not at all. Look at people with gastric bypass surgery (400-500 calories), Stillmans (600-750 calories) or the water fasters (0 calories) ... all lose 1 pound a day or more.

What you do want to do is pick highly nutritious foods like half a grilled chicken breast & lettuce/spinach/salsa roll-ups instead of a LC bar ... for the same 250 calories.

Be sure to take a Centrum type (or better) vitamin each day. The intent of very low carb ... hence very low appetite ... is to lose fast, then when you get close to goal, increase calories with additional food. KajunDC has very good advice about whole food vitamin supplements.

[Kimmer]

Originally Posted by laura7166

how come you can only have .5 of cooked veggies instead of all 3 cups of cooked veggies

Carb count.

Dr. Atkins never allowed 3 cups of cooked veggies because broccoli, cooked spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, etc. all contain more carbs than salad type veggies like lettuce, raw spinach, etc.

The intent of Dr. Atkins original book (or Dr. Stillman's) was to lose body fat very quickly via very, very low carbs ... then, start adding foods back once you've done your bod a favor by dumping the fat.

Dr. Atkins even went to far as to say "loosely" measure lettuce, as if firmly packed lettuce would have had huge carbs. His point was low, low, low carb.

[Kimmer]

Originally Posted by Randy

And now, Kimmer trivia.

Hey Kimmer, what does SNATT stand for?

A trouble maker in every crowd, eh Randy?

I asked about a separate area for Kimkins, water fasting, etc. so the contraversial topics would be sequestered, so to speak. I think it's being considered, but I don't understand much about how websites work or if it's a financial issue. LCF has been very good to me, it's a wonderful free site, and I would never question the decision of the owner.

[Kimmer]

Originally Posted by willgetthere

Yes i do use a food scale i want to know exactly how much i am putting in my mouth i guess you could say i am almost obsessive about it. At this point i cannot handle any gains. I was just worried because with the small gain this morning sent me over the edge. I thought gee i gained just by thinking about ice cream. I have to lose at least 20 lbs my may 26 and will do whatever it takes to do it

Your carbs are very, very low (and calories too), so you're do for a "whoosh" by tomorrow morning. Once it starts, it's like a domino effect and gets bigger, faster ... you'll see.

However, as Dr. Atkins wrote, "cheating is the kiss of death on this diet", even a small amount of high carb food can bring ketosis to a screeching halt and takes 4-7 days to recover.

[Kimmer]

Originally Posted by CARBBABY

What a great Idea. Kimmer threads are so full of information and are scattered throughout this board. Having them in one place will be helpful. Thanks.

Easier for me anyway, LOL ... you know how I dislike exercise.

Colleen, what I've learned over the years on this BB is how differently people process information. Where I might think I've been very clear, someone will "quote" me and re-ask the same question ... so I messed up.

Sometimes I'm tempted to cut & paste, but I think if someone has taken the time to type their question, the least I can do is reciprocate.

[cindysandia]

Thank you for all the wonderful information....
Cynthia

[colleen44]

Originally Posted by Kimmer

However, as Dr. Atkins wrote, "cheating is the kiss of death on this diet", even a small amount of high carb food can bring ketosis to a screeching halt and takes 4-7 days to recover.

oh yes, I think we all know about the dreaded 'back to siggy' problem. I had a 7 day carbfest on vacation and now I'm paying for it. But I know kimkins will nip it right in the butt. Thanks for being there to help so many people Kimmer!

[willgetthere]

Thanks Kimmer
I was a bit concerned about my calories and carbs being so low but to be honest i am not hungry at all. And if i was hungry obviously i would increase a little. But thank you for the support. I just didnt want to go into starvation mode and not lose anything

[colleen44]

Originally Posted by Kimmer

Easier for me anyway, LOL ... you know how I dislike exercise.

who needs exercise with all the calories you burn typin' away answering questions

[Kimmer]

Originally Posted by willgetthere

Thanks Kimmer
I was a bit concerned about my calories and carbs being so low but to be honest i am not hungry at all. And if i was hungry obviously i would increase a little. But thank you for the support. I just didnt want to go into starvation mode and not lose anything

If you check my Fitday, my calories were very low and I lost 160 pounds in 7 months. Look at how fast Star Jones, Carnie Wilson and Al Roker lost 100+ pounds?

Anyone with excess body fat is carrying their food with them.

Figure 50 lbs of excess body fat x 3500 calories, that's 175,000 calories just waiting to be used! The very reason we have body fat is for our bodies to tap into when we don't have enough food ... although few of us have to actually hunt it down anymore.

[My_Sharona]

OMG, I have 206,500 calories of fat yet to lose! That sure is another perceptive of looking at it!

[Kimmer]

Originally Posted by Bobbi Rose

OMG, I have 20,650 calories of fat yet to lose! That sure is another perceptive of looking at it!

It's even worse when you have 693,000 calories like I did! <faint> This is why the less we weigh, the less calories we need, the less calories taken from body fat and the slower the weight loss.

This can be a surprise for some people who wonder why they could eat 2500 calories at 300 lbs and lose, but have to go to 1500 calories at 150 lbs. Still, it's a nice situation to be in!

[Salty]

Thank you so much Kimmer for your willingness to help!!! It is much appreciated.
I have a couple of questions. I did a search, but couldn't find the answers....

1. On your fitday where it says that you ate things like mayo and horseradish...is that all you ate for that given day?

2. Now that you have been at a good weight for quite some time...do you find it difficult to keep off even when sticking to low calorie healthy foods?

Thanks again!
Salty

[cindysandia]

I need 455,000..Wow....I need to get to work...
Cynthia

[pixiegirl01]

Hi Kimmer. Have lurked awhile on this board, love reading the posts and information. I've often heard that (about if you don't eat enough calories, your body will go into "starvation mode"). You mentioned it briefly in this post ... what is your take on it? (Sorry if that's a repeat question) If you lower your calories below 1200, does your metabolism really slow down and your body start trying to store everything for the big famine?

Thanks!
Pix

[vickyraebrown]

Originally Posted by Randy

Why don't you have your own forum? Seriously. The admins should consider the "Ask Kimmer" forum. You could start it off with a disclaimer.

And now, Kimmer trivia.

Hey Kimmer, what does SNATT stand for?

I would assume because she doesn't get paid to be here...hah.

I get overwhelmed seeing KIMMER everywhere...I can't imagine trying to answer all those questions.

[dlslds]

Originally Posted by Kimmer

If you check my Fitday, my calories were very low and I lost 160 pounds in 7 months. Look at how fast Star Jones, Carnie Wilson and Al Roker lost 100+ pounds?

Anyone with excess body fat is carrying their food with them.

Figure 50 lbs of excess body fat x 3500 calories, that's 175,000 calories just waiting to be used! The very reason we have body fat is for our bodies to tap into when we don't have enough food ... although few of us have to actually hunt it down anymore.

Lawd have mercy girl! when you put it That way its just mind boggling aint it!!! that is going up on my fridge right Now!!!

[Kimmer]

Originally Posted by Salty

1. On your fitday where it says that you ate things like mayo and horseradish...is that all you ate for that given day?

2. Now that you have been at a good weight for quite some time...do you find it difficult to keep off even when sticking to low calorie healthy foods?

Thanks again!
Salty

Wow, I better go re-read my own Fitday! No, if there's a day with something odd like that, it was probably a day I used to figure something for somebody on this BB.

When I was entering stuff in my Fitday (including journal entries), I never had any intention of anyone else seeing it. When people starting asking for my "sample menu", I made the Fitday public ... and was very shocked that people were shocked at the calories.

I didn't count calories, only protein (making sure to have ENOUGH) and carbs. When you lose your appetite in 'real' ketosis, you're just not hungry. Right Mrsevans?

No, I find it very easy to keep my weight stable, but I think it's largely because I don't eat "white" ... sugar, pasta, bread, tortillas, rice. My meals tend to be lean protein, any veggie (tiny corn or potato on occasion), 2-3 fruits and a low cal yogurt. Why this works for me is because I don't like "thinking" which is why Atkins was perfect -- count to 20, got it.

My sister is doing LC for the first time, dropped 35 pretty fast and has stopped because she's wrestling with "whites" ... she loves rice & bread.

[Salty]

Whew!!!!!!! I was getting a little scared there, heh, heh.

There was one day where you typed in like 1 cup of mayo and 1/2 cup of horseradish. I am sooooo relieved.

Salty

[jinkies]

371,000 for me to go!

[walkingwoman]

This was a great idea! I love all your helpful suggestions and no nonsense methods of weightloss.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by vickyraebrown

I would assume because she doesn't get paid to be here...hah.

??????

Not sure what you mean. My thought was if there was an Ask Kimmer forum, then people with questions for her or questions about Kimkins, m/e, etc., could go there for answers.

There are separate forums for Atkins, Lean for Life, South Beach.....just makes