On Wed, 26 Jul 2000, Dori Zook wrote:

> Sigh.  Any indications on what's considered too low, calorically?  I'm 5'8"
> and have a medium frame, if not large.  No scientific proof on this, but I
> wear size 10 and 11 shoes, depending on the brand.  Translation; a delicate
> daisy I ain't.  And what I've been eating up to now (very low in carbs, of
> course) hasn't done squat, so I clearly need to cut my caloric intake.  But
> by how much?

Hmmm...  I'm guessing that a realistic weight for you might be in
the vicinity of 150 lbs., given your height and large frame.
Are your wrists fairly large?  That's another indicator of large
frame.  So, playing "guess your weight for a nickel" I suppose
your current weight is about 175 lbs.

If you were eating only 10 calories per pound of body weight,
that would still be 1,750 cal/day, and that is already considered
a major caloric restriction.  For most people, maintenance is
about 14 cal/lb., and 12/cal/lb. will cause weight loss.  I'm
guessing that you are already eating significantly less than
1,750 cal/day, and therefore are getting even less than 10
cal/lb.-- probably closer to 8 or 9.  My reason for this is your
statement that you are cold all the time.  This is one of the
ways in which your body attempts to compensate for severe caloric
restriction.  Because of this metabolic slowdown, it becomes very
difficult to lose weight.

What I don't know, of course, is whether your metabolism has
slowed *because* of caloric restriction or whether you have
restricted calories in an attempt to lose weight despite a
metabolism that has slowed for other reasons.  If you're going to
do the Anchell experiment, I suggest doing it his way: Don't
impose any caloric restriction on the meat portion of the meals.
Just eat until you feel like stopping.  Be careful with the
non-meat portions, as he says.  Give the exercise program your
best shot.  If possible, throw in some sort of exercise -- even
just a walk (Pennington suggests this) -- before breakfast.  See
what happens, and give it a couple of weeks so that you have a
chance to adapt.

Todd Moody
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