OMIGOSH, tell me it isn't true.

[WiseChoices]

If it takes 3500 calories burned a week to lose a pound, then to lose a pound a week I'd have to lose 500 calories less than I do now. 3500 divided by 7 = 500.

If my basic metabolic rate is 1500 calories a day to just maintain what I am, then I have to eat 1000 calories a day to lose 1 pound a week. 500 calories a day (can't do that) in order to lose 2 pounds a week.

Someone tell me I just suck at math! ACK! Am I missing something?

[ValidRouge]

You're missing a lot

If your BMR is 1500 calories, thats how many calories you burn just by lying still and not moving, just breathing and digesting and being alive. Any physical activity you do burns calories IN ADDITION to that. You should aim to eat at least as many calories as your BMR. You NEED those calories to be alive. Now, any physical activity you do on top of that is what is burning the fat. This is where exercise is NECESSARY if you have a sedentary job. So, if you burn 250 or 500 calories a day in exercise you should be good to go. You burn calories by daily activity too--walking, typing, talking, any type of movement.

Now, add the metabolic advantage of a ketogenic diet like Atkins. This metabolic advantage means that a ketogenic diet REQUIRES more calories than other types of diets (such as a low fat one) just to metabolize the fat that we eat and the stored fat on our bodies as fuel. You can think of it like this...just for giggles, let's say that you eat 9 calories of fat, 4 calories of protein and 4 calories of carb. That's 17 calories, BUT it might take your body 20 calories just to burn those calories and support life. So, your body has to go get the difference (3 calories) from it's stored reserves. But wait! That was 3 calories of fat, that now takes 21 calories to burn, so it needs another. See how that can add up?? Kind of like compound interest you get in your savings accounts at the bank.

I hope I actually helped and didn't confuse you more.

[WiseChoices]

Well, kinda. But, I think that explains why despite eating more calories, we can lose weight on Atkins and not other diets? I just panicked at the thought of eating only 500 calories a day, and that made my brain shut down. Math was never my strong suit.

I have a treadmill and after an hour is says I lost 200 calories. I can't imagine what I'd have time to do to lose 500 a day. I'd kill myself.

I was looking for what I can do to lose faster, just for the next month. I'm attending something and wanted to lose at least 8 lbs in 4 weeks. I've been losing an average of 2-3 lbs a month. Boo hoo.

[ValidRouge]

Just follow the plan the way it's written in the book. The weight will come off. Unfortunately we can't control how fast that happens.

[TWS]

Originally Posted by ValidRouge

You're missing a lot
I hope I actually helped and didn't confuse you more.

Joy,
That was a good explanation--thank you. I think that the notion of 'reduce calories; lose weight' is so ingrained that it's hard to think otherwise. I reference Gary Taubes book (Good Calories...) around here and it always draws skepticism. My family thinks of Atkins as the latest fad-diet. From there we have discussions about both Banting's work in the 1860s and the diets of Paleolithic people. Some how they've gotten the idea that Weight Watchers is good for them.

Thanks again,
TWS

[losetocruise]

If your BMI is 1500, you probably are not too overweight. The less you have to lose, the slower you should lose it

[Desihue]

Goodness you're smart!
I need to eat much more than I do...

Originally Posted by ValidRouge

You're missing a lot

If your BMR is 1500 calories, thats how many calories you burn just by lying still and not moving, just breathing and digesting and being alive. Any physical activity you do burns calories IN ADDITION to that. You should aim to eat at least as many calories as your BMR. You NEED those calories to be alive. Now, any physical activity you do on top of that is what is burning the fat. This is where exercise is NECESSARY if you have a sedentary job. So, if you burn 250 or 500 calories a day in exercise you should be good to go. You burn calories by daily activity too--walking, typing, talking, any type of movement.

Now, add the metabolic advantage of a ketogenic diet like Atkins. This metabolic advantage means that a ketogenic diet REQUIRES more calories than other types of diets (such as a low fat one) just to metabolize the fat that we eat and the stored fat on our bodies as fuel. You can think of it like this...just for giggles, let's say that you eat 9 calories of fat, 4 calories of protein and 4 calories of carb. That's 17 calories, BUT it might take your body 20 calories just to burn those calories and support life. So, your body has to go get the difference (3 calories) from it's stored reserves. But wait! That was 3 calories of fat, that now takes 21 calories to burn, so it needs another. See how that can add up?? Kind of like compound interest you get in your savings accounts at the bank.

I hope I actually helped and didn't confuse you more.

[Desihue]

Okay now I'm intrigued...I have a BMR of 1461.2 ((faint))work with me a little here...

Right now my biggest issue is I'm not eating enough. (go figure right?) So should I aim to try to eat at least this amount of calories per day? I'm still trying to get the scale to move a bit more.

[ValidRouge]

Desi, give it a try, many of us found that helped. HOWEVER, the caveat here is that I, personally, recommend that you add those additional calories from fat/protein and NOT carbohydrate--unless those are veggies

[Desihue]

Originally Posted by ValidRouge

Desi, give it a try, many of us found that helped. HOWEVER, the caveat here is that I, personally, recommend that you add those additional calories from fat/protein and NOT carbohydrate--unless those are veggies

ahhhhhhhh...okay. Will make sure not to add extra carbs just calories. I'm thinking this might help me a lot.