It's a good question, I've found it such a complete change from being hungry and feeling deprived that I've been grappling with the 'What is the minimum I need?' question calorie-wise.

Part of my theory is that, apart from not being hungry, because we are getting some of our energy from fatty acids and ketones internally we just don't need as many external calories to get through the day and our body knows it.

We do, however, need our essential minerals, proteins, fats, vitamins, etc so I'm not advocating eating below 1200.

I were short at the end of the day (I rarely am these days having flirted with very low calorie in a past, futile, diet ) then raw nuts, more butter on veggies or berries with cream would not be a bad way to top up.

And who does not like berries with cream to end the day?

The long-term theory I'm working on is that once my metabolism is in decent shape (i.e. efficiently burning calories and liberating fat as needed) then it will cope with fluctuating calorie levels anyway within a reasonable range if I just eat good quality food.

As we must have evolved to do, if we HAD to eat a certain number of calories in a narrow range daily to thrive then surely we would have died out as a species long ago ...

No need to track anything then, job done, stop logging, continue to enjoy food within the framework.

Then I can devote more time to the forums and annoying people

t's a good question, I've found it such a complete change from being hungry and feeling deprived that I've been grappling with the Then I can devote more time to the forums and annoying people

I realize that you get fuller easier on low carb, but I am really not a fan of eating under 1200. I actually have NO IDEA how people do that without hunger. I can't - even if I eat sausages all day. But I can understand how full low carb makes you feel, too.

I would push to eat the 1200. Although, some days I know I can barely eek that out, but then a day later I am starving. I guess I kinda do the zig zag diet a bit by going with what my body is telling me.

I like how my responses is wishy washy. HAHA! In the end, I can't see how someone can eat less than 1200 and feel ok... Once in awhile, yes. Everyday, no.

I realize that you get fuller easier on low carb, but I am really not a fan of eating under 1200. I actually have NO IDEA how people do that without hunger. I can't - even if I eat sausages all day. But I can understand how full low carb makes you feel, too.

I would push to eat the 1200. Although, some days I know I can barely eek that out, but then a day later I am starving. I guess I kinda do the zig zag diet a bit by going with what my body is telling me.

I like how my responses is wishy washy. HAHA! In the end, I can't see how someone can eat less than 1200 and feel ok... Once in awhile, yes. Everyday, no.

I've eaten around or slightly under 1200 a couple times, but not very often. I also tried eating only 1400 NET calories and lower carb and play rugby last spring, and that was a disaster!! I thought I'd lose faster that way; instead, I just felt awful and it impacted my performance, and not in a good way!! I'd end up binging on the weekends because I was so hungry during the week. I ended up increasing to 1600 net, and it made a huge difference. I cycle (or zig zag) my carbs in-season based on my activity level. Oh, and guess what else, after I increased my calories to 1600 the scale started moving again, after months of nothing!!

But yes, on days I've been hardly active at all, I have eaten around 1200. Highly active days (or sometimes the day after) I can eat twice that. I try to go by how I feel now.