question on calories

[sweeten09]

I have been eating between 1600 and 2000 calories a day. I am still 100% legal on Atkins and right now I am in a stall. My fat is about 65%, 5% carb and about 30% protein. I am concerned that because I am not that active, this maybe too many calories. It is difficult for me to do anything but walk, should I try to cut back on calories?

[liv]

How long since your last weightloss? Are you measuring as well?
Walking is great exercise. Just do as much as you can. I am not familiar with your situation but it is somewhat easy to do a bit of strength training. Perhaps with a water bottle.
Anyways have you been on induction a long time? Maybe it is time to try to add some more veggies and see if that is what is needed?

[sweeten09]

I have been in a second stall. Both times it has run about 6-8 weeks. I measure cups and oz.s and tablespoons. If I add more veggies than the 10-12 grams, my sugar goes up. My veggies are - 1-2 cups salad (greens) 1 cup of either stringbeans or cauliflower. I have cut out almost all the splenda. I my cloths are looser. I am still on the induction phase. I will try more exercise and push on a little further. Your response is so appreciated.

[msanjelpie]

How tall are you?

Are you really 75 years old? That has a lot to do with the speed of your metabolism as well...

[chinadoll]

Two questions. How tall are you and are you male or female? I didn't see that in your signature.

[sweeten09]

I am really 75 and I am 5ft 6in now. I use to be 5ft 7.5 but I guess you shrink with age. I have been wearing a 20W for 40 years on and off. I have now gotten down to a 18W. I would like to wear some updated cloths that I use to wear in business. 16W would be fine with me for now.

[chinadoll]

OK, well I can only tell you what I have found for me...I am 48, female, active.

I do 2 hours of pilates a week, four hours of walking, 2 hours of weight lifting and usually an hour or so on an elliptical. This is every week! Plus I walk and climb stairs a lot.

BUT if I eat more than 1800 cals a day I don't lose. As it is I lose a little more than a pound a week. I am guessing you may need to cut back to 1500 calories given your age and activity level.

[msanjelpie]

I was just going to suggest between 1400 and 1500 calories and 15 carbs per day. Upping your fat to 70% can help also...

That was the only way my mother who was 75 when she started Atkins was able to lose AT ALL. She was inactive and lost twice as slowly as I did, but she plugged away and lost 22 lbs. before she quit, claiming that she was losing 'too slowly'... She started at 216 and got down to 194. Eventually I was able to get her to go for a walk around the block... she enjoyed that. Now she weighs 183 and is 80 years old... She shrunk from 5'6" to 5'2" over the years.

Just stick with it... the only way from here is down...

[imagood1]

hi sweeten -- are you on any medications that mighbe be slowing down your weight loss? I know cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and many other medications make it harder and slower to loose.

I have noticed that when I have lost weight before I've always lost fairly quickly and with little effort. Since I turned 50 I'm having more trouble loosing (partially because of the medication I take - and partically because of my age) so I've had to do more to loose.

You say the only exercise you can do is walk - that is excellent exercise. My mother is 80 and lives with us, we walk every night because it's the only thing she can do. If we don't walk she gets charleyhorses in her legs during the night. A couple weeks ago we started her lifting vegetable cans for resistance. She puts a can in each hand and does curls by putting her forearms on the table facing up and lifting toward her chest with the cans - she says she is starting to feel a difference in her arms already. She also does leg lifts while sitting on the chair - I told her in a week or two I'm going to hold her ankles for a little resistance when she lifts her legs. She had cancer surgery a few years ago and never got her strength back so we are trying to slowly get her some strength again.

I wish you much luck with your weight loss. If you ever need anything all you have to do is ask!!

[sweeten09]

thank you Carol, I am on all kinds of meds. my sugar is under control and I have Afib. I think all these meds slow my weight loss down. I have reduced my calorie intake by about 200 and am watching my ratios on fitday (great site). I did my first tread mill 20 minutes today and I am going to try to do it at least 2-3 times a week. My first day was only 1/2 mile but it is a start. Thank you for your response. audrey