Do calories count?

[Binsk]

I have been thinking about the way Dr. Atkins designed this diet, and I think that if you follow it exactly as he says, you are limited to about 1600 calories per day. I base this on the 65/30/5 percent ratio. If you are limited to 20 grams carbs per day, that is 80 calories (4 calories per gram of carb) and 80 is 5 percent of 1600 calories. That would mean that the rest of the ratio would be 480 calories for protein (120 grams, 4 calories per gram) and 1040 calories from fat (115.5 grams of fat at 9 calories per gram).

I am no math whiz, so maybe some of the experts here can tell me if this makes sense.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by Binsk

I have been thinking about the way Dr. Atkins designed this diet, and I think that if you follow it exactly as he says, you are limited to about 1600 calories per day. I base this on the 65/30/5 percent ratio. If you are limited to 20 grams carbs per day, that is 80 calories (4 calories per gram of carb) and 80 is 5 percent of 1600 calories. That would mean that the rest of the ratio would be 480 calories for protein (120 grams, 4 calories per gram) and 1040 calories from fat (115.5 grams of fat at 9 calories per gram).

I am no math whiz, so maybe some of the experts here can tell me if this makes sense.

In Chapter 8, he gives a menu of one of his patients, Harry Kronberg. His Atkins menu was 1900 calories.

Your daily calorie intake is individual because it depends on a number of things including your metabolism, your activity level, etc. Betty (ttdriver) probably eats more than I do on a given day, eventhough she weighs less, because she is more active than I am. That's why I'm not a big fan of the 'magic numbers'---there's too much individual variation.

But as for calories and their role in this WOE:

Chapter 11 DANDR 2002:

Although there is no need to count calories, they do matter. Gaining weight results from taking in more calories than you expend through exercise, thermogenesis,(the body's own heat production) and other metabolic functions. Research has shown that on a controlled carbohydrate program, more calories are burned than in a low fat/high carb diet, so there is a certain metabolic advantage to the controlled carb approach. But understand that this does not give you a license to gorge.

[2big4mysize]

actually you made a serious assumption error there. We are limited to 20 net carbs not 20 carbs. fiber has calories by definition we just don't digest them soi if youhad a high fiber day say 15 grams of fiber you had 35 carbs which is 5% 2800 cals

[ttdriver]

IMO, calories *always* count. We can deny it and debate it, but the truth is, your body counts every calorie whether you do or not. The good news is, your body also subtracts the ones you burn through exercise! So, the moral of the story? Burn more than you consume and your weight loss will continue.

Betty

[cleochatra]

Amen, Betty. Calories count.

[Jasmain]

Bottom line, if you've just started and have no problems that would cause you to not lose, like metabollic resistance, don't worry about the calories. You can count them for your own reference if you want, or in case you fall into the SMALL percentage of people who have problems, but you don't have to unless it becomes an issue. Happy low CARBING! Count the carbs.

[notfat4long]

Of course calories count to some degree. I personally found that at the beginning of the WOL I ate more to become "satisfied"... I think it was more a mental thing because I was no longer eating breads, pasta, etc.

As I have progressed I find that I eat less because it takes less to satisify me. If you haven't started, try using fitday.com to track what you eat. You'll get a good idea of where your calories are coming from. It's free to use or you can purchase the program to put on your PC- I use the free version and it's working great.

[Binsk]

I take your point 2Big. I had not thought of fiber. My point was that perhaps the good Dr. had cleverly built in a caloric limit by giving us the ratio breakdown. If we have net carbs, do we also have net calories? Of course TTDriver and Cleo are right that calories in vs. calories out (or burned) would change the weightloss outcome. I just found it interesting that the Dr. didn't just limit us to 20 net carbs, but also gave us the ratio, because without the ratio, we could be consuming thousands of calories and still be following the plan.

[Rick]

Here's another thread about this same topic:

Calories still matter, even on a low-carb plan

This is a topic that could be talked about forever, and we're just never all going to agree.

[kellygirl2]

Calories count. They so count. This has been a big debate for the longest time. The difference in Atkins and "other" eating plans, for me, is I am full without counting. The way to lose with Atkins, in my opinion, is NOT to count calories everday, but to stop when full and to spot check. I check calories one day once a week to see how I am doing. It amazes me that I eat less than before without "trying". It is the fat I think.

Just my opinion.