Calories per day
 

I have been told that I should be eating 10-12 times my weight on this diet. Now is this my current weight or my goal weight?
I'm 293 now so does that mean I'm to eat 2,930 - 3,516?
or is it , using my goal weight of 160, 1,600 - 1,920?
Also how much is too much protein? Is there such a thing?

I think I did say current in your journal, but I have a bad memory. As your weight goes down, so does your need for calories.

Protein is very safe as in its pure, meaty form. Getting protein from say, processed meats is not a good idea.

IMHO, you've got to get your LC vegetables in there too as well as good fats.

Karen

Lessara we had a very interesting discussion on this not that long ago, I've included the thread so you can take a look. The discussion on BMR should be of particular interest. There are a few formulas there for figuring out your basal caloric needs.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...&threadid=20767

Cheers,
Nat

What I found out
 

I figured out what my calories using the two methods mentioned above.
I got two numbers: 2060 and 3223.
Wow, that's alot of calories! I still haven't figured out the protein thing yet...

Protein
 

Protein requirements vary from individual to individual, like caloric needs. You require (based on your age) a minimum 60g to get by. Depending on your exercise level you figure out protein based on .6 to .9 g per / lb. I am fairly active so I use .8g per lb as a minimum. 165g / day. Try to divide it up into 4 or 5 meals so that it is spaced out through the day; like your calories and carbs.

Nat

What I figured out again
 

So let me get this right, I weigh 293 and I'm currently only biking for half an hour for 6 days...
Is the Math: 293 x .7 = 205g ??!
I'm suppose to eat 51g of protein (4 times a day)? Wow that's alot!
I've come to the conclusion I need a book so I can figure out the protein and the carbs in things... as well as sodium.

Lessara, it says in your profile that you've read Protein Power.... I'd go back and read the chapter again about figuring out your Lean Body Mass and Protein requirements. It's all in there, along with some samples of what different protein requirements look like (e.g., 2 eggs, 1 oz cheese or 3 oz chicken...)

205g is not what you have to eat.. it's what you could eat. That's like the top end of your caloric intake. Eating 3223 would take a lot of planning, but by trying it ensures you're not going to eat too little, which is a real problem for people starting out on this WOE. Also, 6 meals would be better :D ( I know, I know... 6 :eek: ... smaller more frequent eating helps stabilize your blood sugar)

Fitday will help you figure out the carb and protein count on things as well as calories

Nat

Fat
 

What is alittle scary is the percent of fat we eat.
I mean look at me. I'm suppose to eat around 2500 and 20g is Carbs and 205 g is Protein. The rest is fat??

Yes, Yes and YES. You need to trust us and the book here, Lessara. Go back and re read your PP and pick up a copy of Atkins if you havent already. Fat is good for you.

Nat

Just a comment really
 

I have notice something.
Since I've started taking notice of my calories and proteins as well as my carbs I have discovered this:
1. When I eat more than 5g of carbs I get the "munchies".
2. When I eat 1800 or less calories I get very weak.
3. When I don't drink my 3 liters of water, I'm sleepy and my work productiveness goes down.
4. When I eat enough proteins I just don't get that hungry... kinda a catch 22.

More like, LC is working for you ;)

• 1) Keeping to 5g of carbs per meal is just right
  2)Eating 1800 + calories is what you should be aiming for. Your body is telling you what it needs
  3) Water : See above, your body needs it
  4) Protein: see above ;)

Planning what you're going to eat a day before helps with getting the calories in. It's easier because you arent stuck knowing you need to eat something while faced with the feeling that you're not hungry.

Nat

I'm still stuck. Do you think my 1200 cal has put me in starvation mode?
Cry... I just can't win. I was thinking to myself, even if I'm stalled because of the caffine, I should be losing weight eating 1200 cal per day. Isn't that the way "traditional" diets work?

Should I go suck on a stick of butter? I'm getting really frustrated.