How do you know how many calories you shold be eating?

Karen

Following the Atkins eating plan you shouldn't have to count calories. But for those of us who watch them, the rule is 10 to 12 times range. This range has to rules people argue between. I follow the time your current weight rule. Other belieave it time you goal weight. I guess then a good rule of thumb would be dont go below 10 to 12x your goal weight, and not above 10 to 12x your current weight. Find what ever range your are comfortable in within that area.

I think 10 to 12 times your current weight makes sense to me since you would reduce your calories as you lose. If you shoot for 10-12 times goal, heavier people would be mightly hungry at the beginning and probably would go off plan very quickly from deprivation and possibly make their bodies think they are starving and reduce their metabolisms.

You are 152.5lbs. This means you should eat at least 1,525 calories a day to avoid going into starvation mode.

Oh...I don't agree.

I am "heavier people"...and I go at 10X GOAL weight. My goal weight is 225 , so I keep it to 2250 calories a day...which is plenty of food. In fact, most days I have to struggle to eat it all!

Its really a matter of how quickly you wish to lose weight. As I have so much weight to lose (about 75 pounds)...I would love to burn half of it off quickly.

Also, for you "light-weights" with only 20 pounds to lose, going 10X goal weight might be even more important... as those "few" pounds can be real tough to get off.

Just a thought!

Best to all;
Jake

My goal weight is 115. 10x that is only 1,115 calories. I don't think I could keep my cals that low and not starve. As long as I keep burning more then I take in (trusting fitday on that one) I don't worry to much. I am trying to keep them under 2,000 though, hopefully around 1,500. If I don't make that though I don't sweat it.

I feel everyone is right to a degree. If I was to eat 10 to 12 times my current weight, I would have to eat 3,390 to 4068 which would be way too many calories for me. I gained my weight because my body did feel it was being starved.

I have been aiming for between 1660 and 2000. I have went over some and I have went under some.

I think the most important rule is to eat what you can and not feel overstuffed

The more I read these the more I understand that I should be eating at least 1500 cals a day. My goal weight is 100lbs (I'm only 4'11") and if I were to go by 10X my goal weight I would only be allowed 1000 cals a day?? Don't think so. I need more then that and I personally think that is unhealthy.

Thank you for everyones response, it made me understand what I need to do.

Thanks

This discussion just shows you that what works for one person doesn't work for another. There are no hard and fast rules. We each have to find what works for us.

Dear mammoth,

When I suggested 1,525 for the person concerned I was talking about Karen specifically. I think most people would think this is a reasonable amount. This does not mean I think a heavier person should eat 10 x his/her body weight. We all have to make our own minds up. Personally I can't lose weight on 10 x my current weight - I have to go a bit under or I just maintain.

regards,
Robert

I guess a linear formula like 10-12X weight formula probably doen't work for extremes of the spectrum.

Hi--Aleka again-- Presently I weigh 236--have been trying the 10x-12x goal weight and am getting hungry at night. Woke up with an acid stomach--Do you suggest I increase my calories???

My goal weight is 150--Aleka

How slow or fast do you want to lose weight?
If you want to drop it fast reduce calories-in the words of Dr A "I never said calories dont count! Of course you will lose faster at 1400 cals 20 carbs a day then you will at 1800 cals and 20 carbs a day"
Someone here emailed atkinscenter and they said 10 to 12 x goal weight.
But everyone is at their own pace just depends how long you are willing to wait to get results.

Something occured to me recently...about the 10x to 12x the goal weight thing. I think we might want to look at this a little differently.

It may be a mistake to limit yourself to an amount of calories equal to your final goal weight x 10 or 12 from the get-go. What if we want to lose, say 2 pounds a week...that would be our weekly goal, right? Just subtract two pounds from your current weight and you have your goal weight! Then, when you lose that, subtract two more pounds, and so on and so on...get my idea?

I mean, if my desired weight is 125, who's to say that should be my one and only goal???

If I'm at 200 pounds and want to be at 198 in a week, I eat 1980 (or so) calories until I lose the weight...then 1960 calories until I get two more pounds off.

By the time you get to your final goal, you have eased yourself into a healthier calorie count...without really feeling too deprived.

And, on that train of thought, even when we get to our goal weight (the final one, that is) we shouldn't be eating too little in the way of calories. There has to be an amount that will keep us at that desired weight and we have all this time between here and there to figure out just what that number is.

How does that sound?