Hmmmmm... Maybe I am eating too much!

[MRC2CWO3]

Week one down, but I may have to call that a training week... I lost 1 lb, but that is not reliable since I measured in the am this week, and the pm last week... Could be that I gained.

I am sure that I am not eating too many carbs, as I have had a hard time eating the 20g of vegetables from the acceptable list... Here are some things that I have figured could be the culprits:

1. Probably overdid cheese.... maybe did as much as 5 oz on a day or two.
2. Probably over-ate the yummy meats like hamburger, steak and chicken. I did not pay a bit of attention to portion size, I just ate.
3. Diet Rite Soda (splenda additive) replaced my coffee, and I would consume two to three cans per day.
4. Exercise was not on point. I worked hard (manually) several times during the week and all day on Sat and Sun, but I should probably treadmill/elliptical or go for a long walk everyday.
5. Journal everything that I eat. I have the calorie king software installed on my Macbook, so no excuse.

Okay, so I am 5'8, 221 lbs.... I want to see results.... How many calories should I take in? I am willing to do whatever is needed, just think that despite reviewing the text of Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution (2nd Ed), I am missing the boat....

Advise please.

-Rob
222/221/175
41/M

[Georgiana]

Hi Rob. There is no exact number of calories you should eat. Those calorie calculators on the web estimate your caloric intake without taking into account your body composition, so they can be off by hundreds of calories. They also don't take into account the metabolic advantage given by a low carbohydrate diet, which varies from person to person.

Are you eating only to satisfy your hunger, without stuffing yourself? If you have problems finding the borderline between the two, are you using the portion control strategy Dr. Atkins described in DANDR (eating only part of your meal, waiting to see if you are still hungry, etc.)?

If you post a typical menu, including quantities, we can see if there's anything to tweak there in terms of foods. Without a menu, it's a bit difficult.

Also, good points you mentioned there about cheese, exercise, etc.

[MRC2CWO3]

Georgiana-

Here is my diet from yesterday, and perhaps I ate less than prior days, but I ate about the same stuff.

B-
3 poached eggs with tbs of butter
3 slices of bacon
1 sausage patty

snack-
1 diet rite cola (splenda)

L-
3 hot dogs with mustard
1 oz mozarella cheese

snack-
1 oz cheddar
1 diet rite cola (splenda)

D-
8 oz pork country style rib, roasted
2 cups romaine w/ apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing.

Today, so far:

B-
3 egg omellete with 1 oz goat cheese
1 sausage patty

snack
1-12 oz cup black coffee with splenda

L-
8 oz pork country style rib, roasted
2 oz mozarella cheese
4 oz Jicama, sliced.

[bellajgw]

Rob, while everything looks "ok" what screams to me is SALT SALT SALT!!!!!!!! Between the soda sodium, the coffee's caffeine, and the enormous amount of red meat you are probably holding onto enormous amounts of water.

You also don't mention anything about drinking water, which you may have just forgotten to add in there, but its worth mentioning.

May I recommend trying to cut out a little red meat and replace with chicken, cut back to 1 soda a day and 1 cup of coffee, and try to drink as much water as you can!

You may find that it really is just your body holding onto that water thanks to all that salt in your diet. Cutting a little sodium out and increasing your water intake may help get rid of that water weight you're holding onto.