Calories
 

Has anyone doing MRC logged their foods in everyday to see how many calories we are actually eating following the green menu? I've been logging my foods and it's only averaging 690-800 calories a day. Wow! Then when I started maintenance they had me doing 1330 calories, no wonder I gained my weight back?

You're lucky they didn't bother you with the ketosis strips.

I'm not picky about protein bars - I pretty much view them as a treat, although I don't eat them for dessert but rather in "emergencies" for when I've had to skip a meal. I gave up trying to find healthy ones (as in, ones that I can read all the ingredients) that I like, and just go for the candy bar type. They are my one non-whole food that I consume when I'm eating healthy. I really liked the ones I sampled at the center but have never bought a box. I currently have the Pure Protein bars from Costco since they were on instant rebate a few weeks back. (It's this pack, only cheaper: http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Protein-B...e+protein+bars)

If I'm at home when I'm looking at going 5-6 hours before I can get to my next meal, I make a protein shake instead with almond milk and the Syntrax Nectar Sweets protein powder that Big Dog was always talking about. Recently discovered they work really well warmed up for protein packed hot chocolate or vanilla steamers too! And I love adding hazelnut or caramel sugar-free syrups to them.

skelley, I only learned about MyFitnessPal through you on this site and started using it just as I was entering stabilization. By the time I got through the four weeks of adding foods in stabilization I was eating about 1200-1300 calories/day, though I have no idea what the calorie level was beforehand. They started me out on the 1200 calorie menu in maintenance and were bumping me up every couple of weeks to see if I could handle more without a gain. At 123.5 pounds, I was able to eat 1500 calories/day without gaining. But by then I'd already had my first binge and as you know it's been a roller coaster for me ever since.

While on plan I'd had no idea the calories were that low. I was really naive and trusted that the numbers worked out. I thought I was eating so healthy with all that lean protein and the fresh fruit and vegetables every day. I will not do that to myself again now that I know. That's why I'm eating the same things, but tracking to make sure I consume at least 1200 calories worth of those things and get more of those calories from carbs for energy so that I can workout without getting faint (like I did when on plan). I bump my calories up to 1500 on weekends too - I want my brain/body to learn to trust that I won't starve it again.

going4fit:
I'm following the green menu but as you are doing i'm tracking and doing the same thing, staying around 1000-1200 calories thru the week but on weekends when i'm more active I add a little more. since I got my fitbit flex i'm doing the calories in calories out with a -750 deficit and so far i'm losing. I have my goal set at losing 1 1/2 lbs a week. I keep my carbs under 100gm a day and still do high protein. Once I reach my goal weight again I will set it to maintain. Its amazing and it's helping me move more. I started doing my walk away the pounds a week ago but it's boring so today I went to the mall and walked for 30 mins during my lunch hour. I'm walking thru the week around 6000 steps on weekends I usually hit 10,000.

Like you I want my brain/body to learn to know that I won't starve again either. I'm more relaxed since I've started using the fit bit flex, knowing how many calories I actually burn a day. :carrot::carrot:

I lost 1 lb this week but that's okay, my flex says i'll reach my goal dec 28th and that's fine with me, doing the MRC way you lose it way too fast

Thanks Gumdropmom for the explanation. :)

I know that hormones do play a big part of weight loss. I also know that if you do not drink enough water, that you will retain water. I have done the later. So I actually make myself drink a minimum of 112 ounces of plain ol water a day. Seems to make a difference for me.

So after losing 3.5 lbs yesterday...i celebrated by eating 2 jif to go containers with way too many pretzel sticks, animal crackers, and pecans....wth.. but i was hungry...i couldn't get full. This am I ate my normal bf and my stomach is growling right now...sometimes I'm ok and others its like this (or last night)...its frustrating.... :/

I had maintenance weigh in today and gained two pounds. Have no idea why, as no reason for it, but will have to work to get it off before next weigh in.

Patzi

I'm usually right around 1200 when I follow the green menu.

Weighed in at lunch and down 1.5 pounds. Woohoo! Almost at 25 pounds. :)

Jen ....
This is fantastic.. I am so happy for you.
Patzi

I am between 1100-1200 when following green menu
Patzi

JenB72:
Yahoo!! Congrats on your loss!!!

You have done great so far! You have lost a lot of weight...keep up the good work. Don't be so hard on yourself, slip ups happen. Have a great day!!;)

25 lbs is awesome!! You can do it!!