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Confused about Calories.

When I read Dr Atkins '72 book, I'm almost sure he said not to worry about counting calories. (I must try to find it.) Gary Taubes and others, more or less debunk calorie counting. I clicked on the 'Keto Calculator' site, entered my personal data and it tells me that for weight loss I should have only 1226 Kcal's per day. I know, that more often than not, I exceed this per day yet my carbs average less than 20.

:help:

:wave: Hello Oldbird and welcome to the BEST LC WOE site on the planet!

I have an answer to your question about calories. More often then not, IMHO, most people do NOT worry about their caloric intake when they are following an LC WOE plan, BUT here's what Dr. Atkins said:

Quote:

Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution
1972
p.275

“Q. Don’t calories play any role?

A. There’s no question—of course they do. A 1500-calorie, 10-gram diet will take more weight off—and more quickly—than a 2000-calorie, 10-gram diet. If the carbohydrate levels remain unchanged, then the extra caloric intake does make a difference. People who eat out of force of habit and don’t cut their quantities lose more slowly because of their high caloric intake.

If you can cut down on your quantities, you are better off to do so—but not when it gets to the point where you have to put up with discomfort or hunger.

Dr. Atkins Super Energy Diet
1977
p.205

“If weight loss stops short of your ideal weight, even though you are producing ketones. You must conclude that the quantities within the diet are too great. The diet usually works best with just enough calories to stave off hunger. Too many people misinterpret the instructions regarding the diet as “Eat Unrestrictedly.” When they do this they will still lose weight in the beginning, which will reinforce their assurance that no heed whatever need be paid to quantities. In most cases, this practice will lead to a stalemate partway to the desired goal”.

p.205
“You may have to count calories in addition to carbohydrate. I have never said that calories don’t count, because I know of course that they do. I say that carbohydrate counts more. If your case is especially difficult, you may have to count both.

For most people, restricting carbohydrates is all that is necessary. However, there is no question that a 1500 calories 10 gram diet will take more weight off, and more quickly than a 2000 calorie-10 gram diet. So if you are having trouble losing you should cut down on your quantities, but not to the point where you where you have to put up with discomfort or hunger”

Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution
1992, 1999, 2002
p.143

“Although there is no need to count calories, they do matter. Gaining weight results from taking in more calories than you expend through exercise, thermogenesis, and other metabolic functions. Research has shown that on a controlled carbohydrate program, more calories are burned than in a low fat/high carb diet so that there is a certain metabolic advantage to the controlled carb approach. But understand that this does not give you a license to gorge.”

Hope that helps!

Onward and DOWNWARD! :cheer:

:rheart: Jo

What is the Keto Calculator? I agree that calories have their part in the equation, though the number may vary from person to person, and in most cases we don't need to actually count them. But I have very serious doubts that 1226 calories per day is an adequate number for a man of any size!

The keto calculator I use is found here:

Keto Calculator

In my personal experience calories do count.

Both calories consumed and calories burned count or perhaps calories consumed minus the calories burned.

Of course we are all different, and I've read posts on both sides of the caloric fence. For me I have to do a low carb AND low calorie diet to maintain (I went LC in 2000)

The bad thing about a low-glycemic diet is that fat and protein are calorie intensive. The good thing is that fat and protein keep your hunger satisfied longer, so unless you are eating out of habit (never a good idea) you can consume fewer calories per day.

Bob

I believe Atkins said don't count them if you're losing all right, but if you're not losing, you might need to take them into consideration.

Many thanks everyone, I followed Atkins '72 diet several years ago and lost 20lbs. I have since fallen well and truly off the Atkins wagon, tried WW and others, yo-yoing my way through the years between.

I do tend to eat because it's a 'meal time' however my breakfast is two mugs coffee with double cream, lunch is a salad with either an egg or cheese and dinner consists of green veg' and either - beef, pork, lamb or chicken. later I'll have one or two coffees with double cream.

Today I planned my meals watching both carbs & calories carefully. It should work out at: 12.7carbs and 1264kcals, which is 38kcals too many.

I am old and sedentary so don't expect miracles. Perhaps if I keep my kcals to less than 1300, I'll be able to lose - say.... ½lb per week and so relieve my arthritic joints a little plus boost my self esteem..

Edit.
I'm here to be shot at if anyone would like to contribute or feel I should amend my ideas. :)

I dont and never have counted calories since eating this way and I've lost 6 stone and kept it off for 11 years! I regularly eat around 4000 a day (mainly fat of some sort), altho I also find that there are days when I simply dont want to eat much, so I guesas it averages out??! I dont know, but I do know that I rarely go about 20g of carbs a day

Jo xxx

Wow ojoj, you are a star! Six stone, if I could lose 3st I'd be delirious! You must be so proud of yourself and rightly so.

I can never aspire to your success, my excuse is that I am old. It is only an excuse because I should have stuck with Atkins years ago - and years before that I should have stuck with Prof Yudkin..

My carb count is about right but as Just Jo and the other lovely posters here suggest, my calorie count needs a little trimming.

I lost 50 pounds (3.6 stones) in 2000 and have kept it off since then - usually under 20 carps per day.

You mentioned arthritis. I cured mine with two different things (well 99% cured anyway).

The first was the Arthritis/Bursitis diet. Before the diet I couldn't walk 2 city blocks without sitting down, and I couldn't drive the car without an ice pack behind my hip (it hurt to press the gas pedal).

The diet brought the pain from terrible to mild.

Then I discovered Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT). Now I go weeks without even remembering that I had arthritis, and then I might get a mild sensation (not even an ache) where the pain in my hip or hands used to be and then more weeks without a sensation.

Try the diet first and if that doesn't work, and your interested, I'll tell you about the PEMFT (it's probably more than I should post in this thread because it would be hijacking). Either PM me or if there are others interested, I'll start a PEMFT thread. I did a lot of research before I separated the good from the ineffective.

But the diet fits fine in the thread (I think) which I got from a doctor:

For both arthritis and bursitis, treatment is similar:

Try the dietary approach first, and if that doesn't work, take stronger action.

Foods that may contribute to chronic inflammation are foods with a high glycemic index (foods that convert to sugar quickly), such as fruit juices, sugars, simple starches, or rice cakes, foods heavy in polyunsaturated or saturated fats, and foods high in arachidonic acid. Some specific foods to avoid are:

* Fatty cuts of red meat (high in saturated fats)
* Organ meats: liver, kidney, and so forth (very high in arachidonic acid)
* Egg yolks (high in arachidonic acid) [my addition: fowl is even higher in AA than egg yolks]
* Pasta (high glycemic index)
* Juices (high glycemic index)
* Rice, especially rice cakes (high glycemic index)
* White bread (substitute whole grain breads such as rye or whole wheat)
* Nightshade Plants bother many people (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, paprika)

Glycemic index charts can be found on the Internet.

Better choices are foods with a low glycemic index and foods that are heavy in monounsaturated fats. Some specific good foods are:

* Salmon and other fish
* Oatmeal
* Fresh fruits and vegetables
* Olives and olive oil
* Peanuts and other nuts
* Whey proteins

The biggie for me was egg yolks. I was eating 4 or 5 eggs per day, it was my favorite low carb meal. I ate a lot of chicken too until I found out how much arachidonic acid was in fowl.

Now I eat a lot of lean beef, pork, fish, and nuts for protein.

My neighbor who used to walk with a cane got off the cane in less than 2 months. My DW is pain free too.

Bob