Correction to my Metabolic Calculator

[Blood Sugar 101]

Two weeks ago when I was in the grip of the flu, someone had contacted me about a problem with my metabolic calculator that occurred when weight was entered in Kg. I went and corrected it in a way that turns out to be wrong!

I had forgotten that I was calculating protein needs in pounds, not kilograms. So after the fix the protein amount suggested was coming out too low.

I have corrected this and I believe the calculator is now calculating what the assumptions section says it is calculating.

Note to self: Do not work on software when running a fever of 101!

[laureninva]

I just have a general question - one of the activity level choices is Sedentary with Metabolic Advantage....just what does that mean? TIA!

[Blood Sugar 101]

The "Sedentary with Metabolic Advantage" category works in the assumption that a person eating a low carb ketogenic diet can eat slightly more calories without gaining than a person who is not eating the ketogenic diet.

Atkins called this the "metabolic advantage." It's a rough estimate based on my own experience and a few other poeple eating low carb for long periods of time. The regular "sedentary" class uses the factor that came out of a large study of people who were eating a mixed diet.

[PMoon]

That's a very handy tool. I've been trying to find out how much protein I need. I didn't think the forty or fifty something grams a day was sufficient. And I thought the 185 grams suggested by a calculator method was WAY too high. Your calculator came up with 84 grams a day. That sounds more plausible to me.

[laureninva]

Originally Posted by Blood Sugar 101

The "Sedentary with Metabolic Advantage" category works in the assumption that a person eating a low carb ketogenic diet can eat slightly more calories without gaining than a person who is not eating the ketogenic diet.

Atkins called this the "metabolic advantage." It's a rough estimate based on my own experience and a few other poeple eating low carb for long periods of time. The regular "sedentary" class uses the factor that came out of a large study of people who were eating a mixed diet.

Thanks..yes I'm very familiar with the metabolic advantage as explained by Dr. Atkins in his book and from other info I've read. I guess what threw me off on your site was the only category that offered the "with metabolic advantage" was sedentary. Don't all people who are following a ketogenic diet have the metabolic advantage, regardless of activity level?

[Blood Sugar 101]

Originally Posted by laureninva

Thanks..yes I'm very familiar with the metabolic advantage as explained by Dr. Atkins in his book and from other info I've read. I guess what threw me off on your site was the only category that offered the "with metabolic advantage" was sedentary. Don't all people who are following a ketogenic diet have the metabolic advantage, regardless of activity level?

The adjustment for exercise is already very generous.

So many people stall out because they assume they are exercising at a high activity level. In most cases this is probably illusory. What I've read about exercise NOT written by people selling exercise related products suggests that after the first few weeks of a new exercise program, exercise does not make a significant difference in how many calories you can take in.

Unless you are training at the level of an NFL lineman or hanging wallpaper six hours a day, the regular adjustment factor is probably more than enough. How many people here put in more than an hour a day at the gym a few times a week. If the rest of the day you are sedentary, you probably will do better treating yourself as sedentary.

[ozdancer]

Originally Posted by Blood Sugar 101

How many people here put in more than an hour a day at the gym a few times a week.

Not that I'm using your calculator BS101, but I work out 1hr in the morning 6 days a week (alternating HIIT cardio & weights workouts), plus 1-2hr dance classes 3+ times a week, plus walking/jogging most weekday afternoons. I think I qualify for very active .

[Blood Sugar 101]

Originally Posted by ozdancer

Not that I'm using your calculator BS101, but I work out 1hr in the morning 6 days a week (alternating HIIT cardio & weights workouts), plus 1-2hr dance classes 3+ times a week, plus walking/jogging most weekday afternoons. I think I qualify for very active .

I think that most of the calculations for "active" are based on the old days when factory operatives shifted heavy things around for 8 hours, or swung sledge hammers, or hoed, or picked cotton.

I did heavy factory and farm work when I was young for months at a time, but still managed to pack on weight while doing it--mostly because it ramps up appetite too.

That is why I think most people with urban lifestyles who exercise, while they are considerably more active than those who don't, are not active enough to be able to add significant calories.

Plus, there is an interesting study I read last winter where using metering they found show that when people expend a lot of exercise energy, they compensate the rest of the day by burning less. It's not something they are aware of.

[ozdancer]

As long as I'm losing (which I am consistently) then I'm not too worried about calories. Although I have started a food diary recently so I can at least be aware of them seeing as they may become more important as I get closer to goal and for maintenance.

[Blood Sugar 101]

Ozdancer,

I think age and menopausal status probably have as much to do with the impact of calories as does closeness to goal.

I could tolerate SO many more calories before menopause, even with the same activity level. Now calories seem to be ALL that matters.

[ozdancer]

Yes this seems to be a recurring complaint on LCF - I lost so well last time, now I'm post menopausal it's not happening, etc. So glad I'm currently young enough to not have this issue and hopefully will be informed enough when the time comes to deal with it (but it's a while away hopefully ).

[Blood Sugar 101]

Weight loss is possible, post menopause, it just takes much more attention to caloric input. For me menopause seems to have chopped 400 calories a day off my BMR quickly.

And six years after I did my last serious run at weight loss at age 55 I seem to have lost another 400. Eventually I won't need food at all. <Sigh>