Calorie Count Worry

[Bean1294]

I've been on the Atkins plan for almost a month. Second week into the diet I was having crazy cravings(dreams of stealing kids halloween candy) (even though I was doing it clean), a friend of mine recommended doing the meat & egg fast to control my appetite (it has worked, for the first time in my life I don't spend the day waiting for the clock to say 12 so I can pig out, now I just eat to maintain). I have been doing this for the last 5 days. Weight has been falling off. I have already dropped a pant size, lost 17lbs (10 on induction) and feel wonderful (for the first time in a LONG time) . Ok, here is the question I for the first time entered my food into Fitday (didn't miss one item) and it says this

630 Calories
25 Fat
4 Carbs
91 Protein

Now I'm new but I thought I was told to maintain my weight(of course my goal is to reduce it)
212(my weight today) x 10=2120 Calories
So if I'm shorting myself 1490 Calories a day am I still going to be healthy?
Also if 3500=1 Lbs. how am I dropping weight everyday? :q:

[vampere]

I personally don't worry about my calories. I do the 20 carbs a day and I'm losing around a 1/2 to pound a day. I keep reading everywhere that calories matter but my Atkins book doesn't say anything about it unless you are having trouble losing weight. By the way, what is the meat and egg fast?

[Bean1294]

For what I understand its a made up diet. Everyone has their own interpretation. Mine has been something different everyday. Problem is that now I have to force myself to eat (eating become a chore). Day 5 and I'm ready for a break from eggs. I am going to add some more veggies tonight and hope the cravings are gone. I drink about 120oz or more of water I love water!

Example 1
Breakfast
1. 1 Sausage patty
2. 1 egg
Lunch
1. 8 oz Skinless Chicken breast
2. 16oz cup of coffee
Dinner
1. 1 cup of steamed shrimp

Example 2
Breakfast
1. 6oz ribeye steak
2. 1 Scrambled egg
Lunch
1. 1 cup Egg salad (with mayo & mustard)
Dinner
1. 8 oz Pork Steak
2. 1 Fried egg

Example 3
Breakfast
1. 3 slices of bacon
2. 1 egg
Lunch
1. 3 thin slices of ham
2. 1/2 cup Chicken salad (dill relish and mayo)
Dinner
1. Ground beef seasoned with italian seasoning
2. 1 egg

Who knows if I followed it correct since there is no set rules. It helped me do what I needed it to.

[vampere]

I remember reading in a magazine once that eggs contain some nutrient that is suppose to speed up your motabolism. My problem is that I can't stand eggs. The only way that I can really eat them is deviled.

[lauren0522]

The only problem I have come across with not eating enough calories is that your body will jump into starvation mode! Your body will think it is starving and not allow you to loose, in the beginning you may lose but in the end it is not healthy. You NEED a certain number of calories a day to sustain life, not to mention that if you are exercising you will need even more calories.

[CindyG]

You know... I'm not so much worried about the calories, but the lack of veggies. It might be a good time to go back to induction. The meat and egg fast isn't a long term approach to weight loss. It's certainly working well for you now, but the lack of variety and nutrients could be an issue down the road. You should still be in ketosis at induction level carbs, so the appetite should be suppressed. And it's pretty likely that the cravings will still be under control as well.

Good luck!