Only 99 to go!!

Alexandra · December 5, 2003

Donali, may I say you are my hero? ;-) It's really a joy to read your posts, even if I did get to this one late.

Congratulations on your milestone!! :cool: :D You are well on your way to a different way of being in the world, and I am so thrilled you're sharing it with us. I'm newly inspired when I read your ruminations, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Enough of the mushy stuff. :rolleyes: The basal metabolism thing is very interesting, and does sound like it makes sense. But according to Fitday my basal metabolism rate is 2045. Are you saying that I should be eating MORE than that to lose weight? I guess the million-dollar question is, how much more? The "lifestyle" element of my calories burned is 1330, bringing my daily total of calories burned to 3375. Theoretically, then, if I take in fewer than 3375 calories each day I should be losing weight, right?

I've recently been indulging a bit more in carbs, like eating a quarter of the bread that comes with my daily deli sandwich, because of the Fiber thing. But a life completely without carbs seems very unhealthy to me (and my doctor), so I don't think that's my problem. But I will try tracking my food on Fitday for a while and see what that teaches me.

Thanks again, Donali, and MORE POWER TO YOU!!! :D

donali · December 5, 2003

Thanks, Alexandra, for all the kind words and mushy stuff {blush} .

As far as your questions about basal metabolism, I personally do not say anything, but I've read that you should not eat less than the calories required to support your basal metabolism. So if fitday says your basal calories burned are 2045, then according to them you should not eat less than 2045 calories a day, and as a woman, you should be able to eat up to about 200 calories more than your basal requirements and still lose weight and keep your metabolism alive and well.

Mine is 1795 or something like that, and for the couple weeks where I conscientiously hit that mark or slightly over I initially lost 3 pounds, and have kept it there. I'm not very good about tracking, and in principal do not believe in it as I think it keeps me focused on food and eating, which isn't what I want to be focused on, but I think it's justifyable when learning what your current patterns are, and seeing ways to adjust if necessary.

I am clueless about the optimum carb ratio, but must say that my gut feeling is that it really is different for everyone. Since diabetes is a well-documented fact, no one can argue that carbs effect everyone in the same way - it's obviously not true.

That fact presents problems for our "formula" based society - we all want the "recipe" for success. We don't want to hear that it's different for everyone, because then we "waste time" searching for what works for us. :rolleyes:

I know that for me, I have always seemed to do better on the high protein/high fat/low carb WOE. The problem with that is that as a carb addict, the diet mentality made carbs ever more seductive. Now, since I no longer have anything off limits, I try to choose for the most part the Atkins way, bearing in mind that if I choose to add some high carb things (mainly sugar/white flour products - basically anything besides meat/green veggies - lol - then health-wise I could be doing some damage with the combo of high carb/high fat. Weight is no longer the issue for me here - just the basic chemical reaction of my body to what I put in there.

Geez, I'm running late for work again!

:cool:

I'll look up some of the links where I read the metabolism stuff so you can have your own them.

donali · December 5, 2003

And so the saga continues... :rolleyes:

Here are some of the links I've found interesting. If by chance any of them are selling anything, please do not take this as an endorsement by me - I have bought nothing from any of these sites, and have no personal interest in their financial gains. I used them for my informational purposes only.

You can find sites that will endorse just about any way of thinking - this is just the direction I have been interested in. I do not claim that this is the "right" way, the "only" way, or the "best" way, or even that any of these ways even "work" - these are just the ways my personal biases and interests have taken me.

I personally am not interested in supplements/diets/programs, anything with that kind of structure. I take what I like from what I read, and leave the rest.

Okay, disclaimers over! Here are some links:

Love this gal’s site – here’s her explanation of basal metabolism:

http://www.countcarbs.com/advice/LCG_CountCarbs_CountCalories_WhatGives.htm