[Razorbackbritt]

Hello all! I am not new to 3FC. I did Metabolic Research Center's food plan from September to April...and lost 30-40 pounds. However, the food plan and protein drinks were getting old and I took a break. I gained about 5 pounds back, but have been holding steady around 168-170. I REALLY want to lose another 20 pounds. I have been calorie counting, but that wasn't getting me anywhere in the three weeks I was starting. I bought a BodyBugg calorie counter to see what I was using daily. It startled me. On days I don't work out, its telling me I burn 2400+ calories! I have been eating about 1200 calories a day.

Since getting the BodyBugg last week and really watching it, my scale shows a 2 pound GAIN! What might I be doing wrong? I am just starting to be a calorie counter and switch out of MRC mode.

My day looks like this:
Breakfast: 40 calorie bread and sugar free jam, fruit of some kind (cantelope, strawberries, watermelon, orange), and some sort of light protein (cheese, carnation sugar free instant breakfast, turkey lunch meat)

Snack: greek yogurt or nuts (my fave is Planter's NUTrition South Beach blend- almonds, cashews, macadmias)

Lunch: either a salad with turkey and cheese or a sandwhich (made with 2 slices 40 calorie bread, slice of cheese, lunchmeat and pickles), fruit (apple, orange, cantelope)

Snack: fruit or string cheese

Dinner: varies greatly, but I try to keep it to 400-500 calories (always a protein, veggie, and starch...like tonight is chicken lettuce wraps with brown rice....or bison meatballs, cauliflower and a bit of mashed potatoes....or fish, green beans and rice)


Am I eating too few calories at 1200 when my BodyBugg says I'm burning 2400+ (I haven't used it on a workout day yet. I teach Zumba twice a week and just got the BodyBugg in Friday...and I teach Tuesdays and Thursdays). Oh and I drink 80-100 ounces of water daily, and maybe one drink with caffeine every other day (such as one cup of coffee or one diet coke). I sometimes have a small glass of "light" juice (50 calories) to take my medicine with.

Suggestions? Tips for calorie counting? Help a sister out...

[Lori Bell]

I see no reason you would have gained, unless you're eating more sodium than usual, (lunch meat, nuts and cheese usually have a bunch of salt) or PMS? It could just be water retention. Why don't you keep at it for another 2 weeks and see what happens. Really, it seems like you should be losing....and NO, before someone says it...you can't possibly be in "starvation mode"

[shopgirl]

Hey, Razorbackbritt!
I, too, have been doing MRC. I lost 48.5 lbs with it and needed a break. I have been doing calorie counting for a week now and I'm down 3.2 lbs (and that's WITH my TOM)!! I'm hoping to see good results when I weigh next time b/c of that.

I am using myfitnesspal.com I use the app on my iPhone as well....it's SO convenient! They have a huge database of foods and you can add in a food if you can't find it in their database. I still try to limit carbs and eat more protein.....MRC is too much a part of me! LOL! Myfitnesspal keeps track of your nutrients daily and weekly, too. I LOVE that you can calculate your exercise on there as well and it automatically updates your calories, too! It's easy and great! My friends have all lost weight using myfitnesspal. A coworker of mine has lost 40 lbs! She looks great and I'm impressed b/c she's tried everything (like we all have....lol).

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions about it. Glad a fellow MRC chick is on here