Well, I'm just confused about what my body is telling me. I posted yesterday saying that I'd been so hungry all day that I'd eaten nearly 3,000 calories worth of low-carb food (all good, nourishing stuff, but still!)

I resolved to do better today, and today I wasn't nearly as hungry, so it went fine. But here's the weird thing -- after eating so much yesterday, I felt FREAKISHLY good today. I had so much energy I practically doubled my productivity -- really! I worked out, and could bench press about 15 pounds more than normal. I tacked on an extra 20 minutes to my cardio. At the end of the day I had so much energy I cleaned a closet I'd been meaning to clean for three months. What on earth is my body saying to me? That it likes to be fed 3,000 calories of fat and protein a day? That it NEEDS it? I mean, come on! I'm a short, mid-thirties woman here, not an NFL linebacker!

But here's the weirder thing: I didn't gain an ounce.

I just find it physiologically bizarre that I could want to eat that much, and that I could eat that much and not gain weight, and that it so obviously agreed with me. According to the formula for the Basal Metabolic Rate another poster mentioned below, my BMR should be about 1406 calories a day. Even with my workouts, how could I be burning more than 2,000 calories a day, max?

Incidentally, does anyone know why Fitday thinks I'm burning 2,700 calories a day? Don't they use the same formula to calculate BMR?

I'm just baffled. I'm not complaining, really, I just don't get it.

I don't have the answers to all your questions. I know that, on the days before I lose some weight, I am often hellishly hungry and can eat a LOT. And I still drop the next day.

When you are in ketosis, you are 'exothermic'. That means that the burning of stored fat to produce energy, water and ketones gives off a lot of heat. So it's not unusual feel as though you are having hot flashes. That's good. Whether it's the 2000+ calories, I don't know. But it will work. As you and your body are proving.

BMR, depends on your activity level. It sounds like you are doing a killer workout! Take your BMR and multiply by 1.4 then subtract 10%.

There is more info here.
http://www.countcarbs.com/tools/basal_metabolism.htm
Jag

I can say that I worked out in the evening today after eating more for the past few days and eating all my meals before going to the gym today and I felt MUCH better.

I think on days that I work out heavily I need to increase my calories and my carbs to really give it all I can.

Not exactly the same thing you are talking about, but it might be related somehow.

BMR Is what your body requires in a resting state. If you laid on the couch all day you would probably need about 1400 calories. Now the fun part, add excersise and you can drastically increase your calories. A female 30 yrs old 129 pounds 5'2" would require 1400 cals. Add working out and moderate activity you can multiply your BMR by 1.4 to 1.5
1400 X 1.5 = 1960 calories.
I hope that helps.
Jag

So, how many cals above or below the BMR should one consume to lose weight most effectively? For example, mine with the exercise quitent added in is 2095.2 How much more or less should be taken in? This part confuses the heck outta me!

10 - 15 % less. More than that will slow your metabolism.
If you cut more than 15% your body will think you are starving and try to hold on to everything.
I would recommend 1800 - 1850 cals per day.
Jag

http://www.ecybex.com/education/cal...s/bmr_calc.html
Here is a calculator.

2422 BMR * 1.4 = 3390

So I should consume between 2882 and 3051 calories per day?

My daily workouts are 40min cardio (heavy exercycle or basketball) and 30min weight training or boxing.

On an average day I burn between 800 and 1000 calories in the workouts.

Tcastro, you keep working out like that and you're going to be Superman when all is said and done! I'd bet with a workout schedule like that, you could eat darned near anything and still keep losing. I wouldn't change what you're doing or worry about calculating your BSM ... it sounds like you're doing great.

Tcastro wow! And here I thought I was kicking butt with my 60 min of cardio! You are THE MAN! lol. Thanks jagbender for clearing some of this up. You sure made it seem less confusing.

ok let me see if i got this figured out....

1978 BMR * 1.3 (hurt my foot can't exercize at the moment) = 2571

2571 - 10% = 2321 roughly

so i need to eat 2321 calories?!?!

Good lord I have trouble hitting 1800.

am i doing this wrong???

Funny thing about low carbing. Alot of people can eat more and lose at the beginning of LCing. I would shoot for 2300 cals. If you are cutting below 15% of calculated BMR it will slow your progress. Try 2300 for a while and keep us informed of your weightloss. If have trouble maintaining 2300 cals try using natural Flax oil it is great for your body and has 100 calories per tablespoon. I use it on salads, on scrambled eggs and use it 50/50 with mayo for egg salad and tuna salad. Flax oil should not be cooked as it will destroy some of the healthy benifits.
jag

http://www.barleans.com/literature/...nd-figures.html
Here is a good link on flax oil.
jag

TC 2800-3000 should be good. watch how your feel.
BTW your progressing well!
Jag