Yes Nat is right, you need to be eating more than you are right now, regardless of the 10-times "rule".

It would be helpful if you indicated the size of the portions you ate. (you can state in grams, no need to convert to ounces ) .. Looking at your menu, I think perhaps you've miscalculated the calories and protein grams - but still too low for successful low-carb weight loss (and keeping it off afterward). And way, way too little protein for good health. Plus, Atkins is very clear that you may have 20g carbohydrate each day, so you should have 2 salads, or one salad and a portion of cooked vegetable - broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, etc.

Women require 60g protein minimum. That amount is necessary just for making hormones, enzymes, digestive juices and all the other chemical processes that take place in the body every day ... as well as normal repair and replacement of tissues, organs. After that has been accomplished, the body then uses any extra protein to build new muscles. If one does not consume adequate protein in the diet to perform those first vital functions, the body will break down the muscles to get what it needs.

As Nat explained above, when you eat too few calories, your body will adapt by turning the metabolism down, down, down ... until you stop burning fat altogether, and will stop losing weight. The trouble with this system is that each time your body slows the metabolism down, it "forgets" that it was ever running in a faster mode. You become stuck at that slower-burning level, and so you have to eat even less to see any weight loss ... but then the body slows more, so you eat less ... and so on and so on ... you see the picture???

I can tell you from my own personal experience that gradually increasing the calories to a level that is bare minimum of 8 to 10 times your weight in pounds ... in the form of fat (good olive oil and flax {fresh linseed} oil) .. will stimulate weight loss. I routinely eat over 100g fat per day, plus I make every effort to ensure 80 to 100g protein. I also keep my carbohydrate intake around 20 to 25g per day.

So, it would be good for you to make an effort to eat more ... and at the start, for your health ... please eat more protein. Then, add a little more fat ... use 10 or 15 ml good olive oil to dress the salad. Dip the chicken breast in seasoned mayonnaise. Have cooked broccoli with melted butter. 15 ml olive oil, butter or mayonnaise will give you approx. 120 calories, and 14g fat .. .. Fat is the low-carber's friend. Fat is the low-carber's friend. Fat is the low-carber's friend.

I think you will find that you have more energy and vitalilty. The weight loss will be successful, and you will have better luck at keeping it off. What's the use in starving yourself to lose a few pounds, if 6 months from now you gain it all back when you are sick to death (literally!) of eating starvation rations, and try to eat the way you plan to for the rest of your life?

Doreen