Allan's "Math" Challenge: Eating at "160 x 11" Calories for 2 Weeks

I signed up today for DAILY BURN just to see what they recommend. This action was spurred by reading a challenge set out by Allan of Almost Gastric Bypass blog: To eat at goal weight level for two weeks.

I've been attempting pretty much that: Eat at the level of calories that it would take to maintain a 160 pound weight level (goal weight, not "thin weight"). I'd still be slightly overweight at that level (by about 6 lbs).

I've been trying to stay at about 1700 cals, no more than 1800. That might still be too much for me at that weight, but it's close to the maintenance weight for that poundage , so I figured rather than a "crash diet" or a VLCD, that I just get used to eating the way I'd have to eat anyway to stay at the lower goal weight. I mean, it's what I'd have to do to stay there anyway, so why not inculcate the 1700 calorie habit while losing, right?

So, Allan's challenge is to eat at goal weight x 11 calories. For me, that would be 1760, about what I'm doing now, though I've had some off days that went to 1900 and 2000 in the past two weeks, and a couple even over 2000.

Anyway, after reading Allan's challenge post about a half hour ago, I immediately headed to Daily Burn and got this advice for my height/weight/activity level:

OK, so here's the deal...

We estimate that you'll burn about 2,495 Cals a day from normal daily activity and exercise. To lose weight, we recommend that you eat about 1,996 calories a day. By sticking to this plan, you should reach your goal weight in about 91 weeks.
NOTE: It is not a good idea to drastically change the amount of calories you consume. Consult your doctor or nutritionist before changing your diet.

Your Recommended Nutrition Goals

Calorie Goal	1871 - 2121 cals
Carb Goal	99 - 149 grams
Protein Goal	139 - 239 grams
Fat Goal	54 - 93 grams

I find it very heartening to see that my two-year plan and caloric intake level and loss rate kinda matches up. They say I'll reach goal in 91 weeks. I allowed for 104 weeks 7 weeks ago. 104-7=97 weeks. Not that far off. :)

Their calculator will offer numbers for the "average". I have an impaired metabolism, so while they say I'll maintain at 2495, my own experience in the past year tracking my gains and losses with caloric intake tells me I maintain at 2300 (give or take 50 or so cals). Not that far off, but I'm making it personal. If they say I should maintain at 2495, and I know I maintain at 2300, there's almost 200 cals of difference. One can GAIN weight on that. :(

So, let's take 195 cals off their intake estimate for steady, healthy weight loss: 1996. Take away the 195 and round it down: 1800.

Using Allan's formula I get 1760.
Using Daily Burn's and adjusting for my metabolism lag: 1800.

Pretty darn close.

So, I'm gonna join the challenge and for the next two weeks. Here are the rules:

CHALLENGE RULES

* YOUR DAILY CALORIC INTAKE IS YOUR GOAL WEIGHT X 11
* EVERYTHING YOU INGEST COUNTS AND NEEDS TO BE RECORDED
* YOU DRINK 64 OUNCES OF WATER DAILY
* NO CHEATING AND NO BULLSHIT
* 2 WEEKS, STARTING 10/25/2010
* WEIGH IN MONDAY MORNING AND WEIGH IN 11/8/2010

So.....
~~I will drink the 8 glasses of water (which I almost never make, though I usually make it to 5 or 6) .
~~I will eat at or just under 1760 calories.
~~I will record my intake (I use Sparkpeople, but since this is a challenge, I may need to at least post calorie counts on the blog, yes?)

1760 cals. The amount of food fuel that (more or less) will maintain 160 lbs on my 5'6" female, post-menopausal frame. That's what I intend to weigh (God help me!) on September 3, 2012. (or sooner, if God really helps me!)

Let's see what the weigh-in will be like keeping to this consistently (and as I'm not the world's most consistent dieter, it's gonna be an experiment in disciplined consistency.)

Off we go.

Tomorrow, the challenge weigh-in.