How many calories are you eating?
 

I am rededicating to IP/alternatives...I have been doing the plan for about a month but every week or so I have something off plan that sets me back. I am ready to stick to it and start making headway again!

My question is - are we supposed to be consuming a certain number of calories? Most days i am eating 500-700, is that s problem? Will my body go into starvation mode? I am 41 yrs old, 5'4" and 159 lbs. I am wondering if the low calories (even though i am not very hungry) are contributing to me having trouble staying on plan for more than a few days at a time.

We only count carbs technically. Your body is supposed to be in something called Ketosis and if you are having enough protein intake and vitamins etc. that is supposed to stop that.

Have to agree...calories really are not anything that we observe. Nor will it really matter as it matters more 'where' these calories come from. If they are coming from carbs or sugars then its completely off the IP protocol.

You would probably get more information from the Alternatives Thread. I do the "official" (aka, expensive) Ideal Protein protocol and we don't count carbs, calories, etc. as it's already been planned. Here's a link - you can also post your question in the Daily Chat Thread for today, as it gets more eyes. I'm not sure how much more planning that doing alternatives involves compared to the 'official' IP since we just do our 4 cups of Select Veggies, 8oz protein, and 3 packets (only 1 restricted IP packet/day) each day.

Phase 1 Sheet:
http://slimdown4life.com/Phase_1.pdf

Alternatives Product Thread:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...phase-1-a.html

That sounds low. I used to track my days and they were usually around 800. Are you eating 8 oz of protein?

My calories in p1 are between 700-800.

I tracked on Fitday for a few days because I was curious too. It averaged around 800-900 cal a day.

Maybe i am not eating enough. I am tracking in myfitnesspal. I am using IP packets but also subbing Bariwise and Proti packets that have the same calorie/fat/protein/carb ratios as the IP product.

I am not looking to keep track of calories on purpose but rather have noticed that mine are low and wonder if that could be a problem. I do have one Serving of protein and 4 of veggies but I am thinking the protein is more like 3-4 oz.

Phase one, one meal of 8oz of raw meat = 5oz of cooked meat.

That seems low to me too. I'm using alternative products too, and track regularly on fatsecret.com. My daily calorie count is generally between 800-900. I posted today's food intake on the 'what I'm eating' thread a few minutes ago, and in checking I see that (depending on whether I go for a before bed protein drink - or protein bar) my daily cals will again be in the 800-900 range.

Don't know the sugar alcohol link, but Many ip foods have sugar alcohols- bars, cookie, etc.
I avoid them all as they give me terrible bloating and gas. To compensate I use the simply bar, which has similar stats, but different ingredients.

Look up Mark sission, the primal diet... He has an area that talks about drinking on low carb. I found it one of the more helpful articles out there, I have read a few on the topic... Not like I a lush or nothing:D. Lol

First, here's the thread on sugar alcohol: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...606-sugar.html

Second: the eating calories thing is balanced by ketosis and some weird way the body breaks down the fat...and when I find it I'll post it.