Calorie Restricted Diet

[Beekel]

I have been doing reading on the calorie restricted diet and want to know what the opinion is on the adbb. I would love to hear what you all think.

[Beautifuldisaster]

Are you just talking about restricting your calories while eating atkins friendly?
What calorie restricted diet are you talking about? Maybe Im just confused?

[liv]

I was about to ask the same question (while eating my fried chicken with lost of skin on)

[JimboK]

Generally such a diet restricts calories by restricting fat, while allowing liberal amounts of carbs -- the polar opposite of Atkins.

Scientific studies show pretty clearly, IMHO, that calorie restricted diets are unsuccessful in the long term. Look at how many obese folks there are in the world today. Watcha wanna bet that most of them have tried restricting calories? Only to put whatever weight was lost right back on ... and more?

I have now lost 20 pounds on Atkins while averaging almost 3000 calories a day.

[ceemarie]

For me, the best part of Atkins is that I DON'T have to count calories. If I am hungry I eat, if I am not I don't. Some days you need more calories than others.

[boonie stomper]

For curiosity's sake, I coarsely calculated a few days' calories at the end of each day (having eaten to satiety on extended induction), rounding the calories up to the nearest multiple of 50, for simplicity's sake. I found I was fully satisfied in each case having consumed FAR FEWER CALORIES than I would typically before starting Atkins on a "conservative" carb-eating day. (an those days I was always ready to eat more carbs, too!)

So, while of course calories do make a difference, counting them when following Atkins should not be of concern as there likely won't be as many eaten plus they will be being burned up faster.

[rweeks]

I do count calories and I have to say that Atkins is lower calorie... believe it or not! I used to skip breakfast, have 4 double-cheeseburgers and a small fries for lunch from Mc Donalds (2100 calories) and have pasta or whatever was in the fridge for dinner (usually about 1200 calories). I forgot to include my vending machine run that had to be at least 500 calories for a whopping total of 3800 calories a day. After all of that I still felt like a bottomless pit. Since being on Atkins I eat 4 meals a day and can barely eat 2000 calories. I feel full and content. I now eat when I planned on eating, not when I feel like eating. So I am now at half of my previous caloric intake. With the atkins approach comes the stabilized insulin and blood sugar levels so no more Bottomless Pit. I feel full and satisfied at all times. Atkins is counter-intuitive with its high fat content but IS a lower calorie diet. I eat mostly fish, chicken, beef, and veggies.... That is healthier than anyone that I know personally. By the time you reach your goals and get to the maintenance phase, the only thing that you are missing that "normal" people eat are the starchy-taboo foods. Sorry to be so long winded and I will now get off of my soapbox. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

[ontheway2Stephanie]

I find that while eating Atkins that I actually consume about 1600 calories a day. And I'm not trying to restrict that at all. I'm just not nearly hungry enough!

[Einy]

As you all said, somedays are higher than the others.. I have logged every single day the past ~14 months on Atkins, some days I go up to 3000 calories and some others I find myself satisfied with 1000 calorie, but in general my average day is 1500-2000 calorie.. I don't count them, but I still keep a close eye.. I remember reading in Atkins book something like, don't count calories, but still calories count.

[Zarabelle]

I also log everything on fitday. Personally, I do find that calories make a difference but instead of having to drop to 1000 a day like on a high carb diet, I can stick at around 1500 and do fine. If I go up to 1900 (some days), I find I stay the same but don't gain so I think that will be my maintenance figure which is great! So yes, I think calories matter but you can eat more of them if you're not eating the carbs.