I made it through the first day and posted all my food intake on FitDay just to see what it all came down to.



Total calories - 929
Carbs - 18%
Fats - 34%
Protein - 48%

I went back to older entries on FitDay and found that when I was counting calories, I'd be at about the same number of calories but the carbs would come in at about 40%, the fats were way up there at about 50%, and protein would come in at 10%.

I didn't feel hungry yesterday, either.

Amazing what happens when EVERY calorie counts.

This is so cool! I am so glad to be doing this.

You guys have been so fun to hang with, too. I've learned more from all of you than you can imagine.

And I've had a few chuckles along the way, too. (Redneck, guest house, you know the posts.)

Thanks for everything, ladies.

You ROCK!

You really should up your calorie intake to at LEAST 1200 calories, 1500 if you are exercising. Add some nuts to your day or beans!

I agree. Post what you're eating.

Okay.

Breakfast I had two soft-boiled eggs (Eggland's Best) and coffee with Splenda.
Lunch was 8 ounces of fat-free cottage cheese.
Dinner was 4 ounces of broiled chicken breast in a salad of romaine, peppers, scallions, topped with 1 ounce Feta cheese and 2 Tablespoons olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing.
After dinner I had another 8 ounces of fat-free cottage cheese.

Six glasses of water with cucumber slices throughout the day.

Yowza! Have you read the book?

1/2 cup veggies at breakfast, and (goal) 2 c. each at lunch and supper. In phase I, they also tell you to eat at least every 3 hours or so, so a snack is called for. Often, people have to make themselves eat a snack, b/c you're just not hungry!! But, it's to avoid your body from going into starvation mode.

And don't forget your beans!!

Yeah, I've read the book.

Good stuff.

When I was doing this online at the "official" website, this issue of eating when not hungry was brought up. The woman I spoke with on the phone (and I must say that I was very impressed with customer service over there) clearly stated that most people on the SBD ate too much when they sat down at their meals because they were too hungry throughout the day.

She went on to tell me that if I didn't feel hungry, I shouldn't eat.

It's counter-intuitive to eat when you're not hungry.

I think the salad I ate was made up of vegetables, and as I stated in an earlier post, I got caught knee-deep in snow out here and couldn't head out to the supermarket to stock up.

I worked with what I had and just ignored the crackers and rice and pasta and all the other "stuff" in the pantry.

Anyway, should be able to get into the supermarket tonight and I'll load up on all my goodies.

As for starvation mode, you would be amazed at what sort of catabolic damage you have to do to your body to get to starvation mode. Most of us in the US are not anywhere near starvation mode. As a matter of fact, the average American has enough glycogen stores in the muscles and liver, as well as enough fat stores, to run two marathons back to back. What prevents it from happening are sore muscles, mental fatigue, and other factors. But it isn't the body.

Starvation mode, in my humblest opinion, has been overly stated with little to no medical evidence suggesting that a diet at 1000 calories per day will cause catabolic damage. What DOES happen when the calories drop is that the metabolism slows down. A slowed metabolism is not starvation. If that were the case, my 92-year-old grandmother would be in starvation mode.

If the metabolism slows down, less calories are burned. If you weigh less, you don't need to burn more calories. So really, what's the point?

Anyway, I do look forward to my mozzarella cheese and my home-made black bean soup.

Where are the rest of the veggies and the dairy? I also don't see any legumes. You may have the old book. The Phase I food list in the FAQ section is up to date.

I think it's time to reinstate the Phase I Thread so all the Phase I folks can post there and benefit from out collective wisdom.

I'll start a thread now.

Ruth,

We posted at the same time. You're too quick for me!

Anyway, the vegetables and the dairy are the grocery store.

It snowed and I worked with what I had.

Sorry. I missed your storm situation.

Wish I had, too.

Florida looking pretty good to me right now.

AnAbsoluteDiva,

I agree with the comments that you should be eating more calories, but as for the snacks, I agree with you that you should not eat if you are not hungry. I say this only because it doesn't seem that you are overeating at your 3 main meals. For a lot of people, eating 3 meals is too far spread out and so not having a snack leads them to be more famished and eat much more, and often unhealthy, food.

I always pack two snacks for before and after lunch, but there are days (like today -- Day 6, Phase 1) where I didn't need to use them, and other days when I feel like even with my snacks I'm starving! So listen to your body: it sounds like you're doing a relatively good job at doing so. Just bump up those calories and keep us updated!

Oh, and as for the 1200 minimum daily calorie intake, I don't do it for fear of "starvation mode" -- I eat that because when the body is trying to fuel on so little calories, it gets it from wherever it can, which is a combination of muscles and fat. Even if you have extra fat on you and no visible muscle definition, you're body won't just target the fat and leave your muscles alone. So that is why they recommend we keep those calorie numbers from being too low!

Diva - you've heard all the other stuff, so I won't repeat it.

I'm happy that you've found something that fits you. I'm glad that you like hanging out with us, we like having you around.

Hope to see you in the daily chats more often!

Thanks, Zeff.

That's awfully sweet of you!