Why am I reading about counting calories in some of these posts?

[pdxchix]

I thought Atkins wasn't about counting calories. I saw people talking about how many calories they had and how much they should be eating to lose weight. Is this truly how Atkins is followed?

[Georgiana]

It is not necessary to count calories on Atkins and you can successfully lose weight without doing the calorie math BUT only as long as you don't have a tendency to overeat. Many of us see our food through diverging lenses, and thus supersize our portions. If this happens, we must either count calories and/or develop strategies to deal with overeating.

Dr. Atkins did indeed say we do not need to count calories, but he also said that calories are still important and overeating will either keep us from losing weight or even cause us to gain weight. This is why in DANDR it says we should eat until satisfied, not full/stuffed and we should not eat beyond the satisfaction point just because we can afford eating a few more carbs for the day, because there is still some food left on our plate, because we still have room in the stomach or because the food we eat is very low in carbs (e.g. mindless snacking on pork rinds, meat, mayo, etc.). If you can separate between being satisfied and being stuffed, then there is no need to count calories --- your body should know how many it's supposed to consume.

[not2late]

Also some people are just used to counting calories, that they find the habit hard to break.....sort of like smoking.

[Eama]

If you can separate between being satisfied and being stuffed, then there is no need to count calories --- your body should know how many it's supposed to consume.

This is an excellent point. After years of abuse (ie massively overeating and binging), my body just can't tell when it's sufficiently fed. I'm working on training it throughout this diet, of course, but right now, it gives me a feeling of security to know I'm not going over a certain number of calories per day. At this point, I'm not particularly limiting them, but I may need to near the end of my journey.

[momtomany1]

Some tend to undereat as well, esp. when the appetite gets suppressed, and they need to make sure they are getting enough to reasonably satisfy their metabolic needs.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by Eama

This is an excellent point. After years of abuse (ie massively overeating and binging), my body just can't tell when it's sufficiently fed. I'm working on training it throughout this diet, of course, but right now, it gives me a feeling of security to know I'm not going over a certain number of calories per day. At this point, I'm not particularly limiting them, but I may need to near the end of my journey.

If you work at it, you'll be able to do that and not have to count calories.

What I did was fill my plate as much as I usually did. Then I would eat half of what was there (making sure I got the veggies, of course.) Then I would pause and ask myself if I needed to eat more. If I did, then I would eat 1/2 of what was on my plate. Pause, then ask myself again.

I also used to stand up after I ate: if I could feel the weight of the food in my stomach, then I knew I over-ate the meal.

After a while, I got used to only putting on my plate and in my stomach, what I needed to eat.

I didn't count calories during my Atkins. Even when ketosis made me lose my appetite because I found that some meals I was hungrier than others. So I just ate the amount to satisfy that hunger----I figured my body wasn't so stupid that it would let me starve. And it's worked for me. Today for lunch I had a hard boiled egg and about 8 zucchini chips. This morning for breakfast I had 2 scrambled eggs, some freshly made tomato salsa, and two slices of bacon. It wouldn't surprize me if my supper will be heavier than lunch.

[msanjelpie]

I started counting calories because I was stalled and wanted to give my body the best possible outcome. I found out based upon my height and weight that if I wanted to lose I should try to keep my calories around 1500 per day... But lots of days I am over that amount, and I don't freak out, I'm just aware of it and try to stay as close to that amount (same as being aware of my carb amount) as I can...

I still have stalls, and I still am frustrated that I'm not losing as fast as I did 5 years ago... but at least the number is going down... so it's working for me.