Summer is an adventure, and for me in the last decade, it’s been a learning adventure. It’s always uncomfortable but fantastic once it’s over. Good learning, hard to do.
This summer seems to be about basics, and one of them is about the idea of calories, so I’m doing an experiment.
In 2012 when I lost my excess, I was doing low-fat, no more than 1200 calories per day. Once I hit my goal, I pushed it up to 1500.
If I went too far over that, I gained. Frustrating. When I shifted to keto, I found I could have around 1500-1600 to maintain, but I still spent a lot of time nearer to 1400, fearful of gaining, and I thought that’s what I had to do. I was more satisfied than I was on low-fat, but my calorie count still seemed a little low. All the literature and calculators suggest my resting metabolic rate is around 1700, but when I got near that, I gained.
In July, I learned my low-calorie years had tanked my metabolism, but it was possible to get that fire burning again–YEA– and it will take time, I would likely gain weight, but it would eventually recognize the lack of famine and drop that away as I burned more calories. So I set about to add calories to my low-carb/Keto plan.
Here’s how it started:
Days 1-5: 1500 calories–gained 3 pounds, jeans didn’t fit any differently. Hmmmmm
Days 6-10: 1600 calories — gained 1 pound, jeans still don’t fit any differently — and by then, they should have.
Days 11-14: 1750 calories. No change on scale or in jeans, but I’m QUITE full. The goal is 2000 per day, but I’m wondering how I can eat that much given how satisfied I already am.
Now on Week 3: Working on the 2000 calories, but I’m struggling. I may need to take a bit longer to get there. The thing is, though, if I’m satisfied, I’m so happy after decades of being hungry all the time. Keto is very satiating.
Oh, and even doing this many calories? I’ve lost a pound. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN???
My other rules:
1. Low carb/keto choices
2. No sugar
3. No snacks
4. Fit my meals into a 10-hour window. Could do 12 some days or 8 on others.
The main point for me is managing my insulin response. It seems it may be a thing whether or not one is diabetic. If this works for me, it will be a game changer.
As always, if you need a little support to establish good habits, don’t hesitate to contact me. We truly can get you where you want to be.
