John V said:Ah, I am with you now ..... it appears to be all very subjective ....
I get how you'd see it that way, but it's really not all that
subjective. The basic rules are pretty fixed:
1. Determine how many calories you need to keep your current weight,
and if you want to lose weight, eat between 500 and 1000 fewer
calories than that, but in any event not less than a 20% reduction in
calories.
2. Determine your protein needs (.36 x current body weight plus 45g
for brain functioning). Multiply by 4 to convert to calories.
3. Determine your carb level (start at 25 or 30g per day for a couple
of weeks, then add 5g each week until you either stop losing weight or
start getting cravings, then subtract 5g, and stay at that level until
you lose all the weight you want). Multiply by 4 to convert to
calories.
4. Subtract your protein and carb calories from the total in #1, and
eat that many calories of fat (divide by 9 to determine the number of
fat grams).
THEN, if you want to see what percentages this works out to for you,
that's all fine and good, and it may be a nice shorthand for you.
That said, some dietary approaches, like the Zone, are big on
percentages; they feel it's the *ratio* that matters, rather than
specific amounts. Personally, because I need my carbs to be
significantly lower than is allowed on the Zone, the approach that
Jenny the Bean details on her website makes more sense to me.
..:. Craig
