The 3 Cup Diet for Sedentary Lifestyle

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Replies

  • Mitzigan94
    Mitzigan94 Posts: 393 Member
    Hollis100 wrote: »
    Good luck to you. If it helps you, it helps, which is the bottom line.

    The MFP calorie tracking system works well for me, not the shape or size of things. I eat a large salad every day, sometimes with 1 to 1.5 cups of split pea soup. By cups, I mean 8 oz. The soup is 100 calories a cup. My soup and salad would probably max out your 3 cups, let alone account for other meals, plus snacks like an apple. How do you fit an apple in a cup and have any room left over?

    As far as being sedentary with an illness, have you checked out swimming or chair yoga? Again, good luck.

    My doctor told me as long as it doesn't trigger the paralyzation then it's fine. 😉

    Though I have learned since autoimmune is sort of a demyelination attacking the spinal cord's myelin sheath plus I also have scoleosis so Ive been told that there are some yoga stretches and exercises that I cannot really do.

    Still I push myself to do some that are allowed. 6 to 10 mins a day is all or nothing. Even if its twice or thrice a wk.
  • Mitzigan94
    Mitzigan94 Posts: 393 Member
    ReenieHJ wrote: »
    3 cups of food a day? That doesn't sound like a lot, unless I'm misunderstanding completely. Gee, like that'd be a first. :)
    Ok, I ran back to reread the OP and it said it was equivalent to 9 c. a day. Hmmmm. Interesting.

    It is! Though this is really not recommended to people who has a very active lifestyle.
    Ive seen alot of musicians and dancers who collapsed because they had an active lifestyle but still they forced their bodies to do the 3 cup diet.
  • MarcyMavin
    MarcyMavin Posts: 142 Member
    lgfrie wrote: »

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.


    Amen. And okay, yeah, that’s what I should have said. But I was having too much fun. ;)
  • Pipsqueak1965
    Pipsqueak1965 Posts: 397 Member
    Sorry - is it 3 cups a day or 3 cups a meal (9 cups)?
  • Mitzigan94
    Mitzigan94 Posts: 393 Member
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    apullum wrote: »
    This is potentially dangerous advice. Without any guidance about calorie intake and/or nutrition, there's no reason why someone following this "plan" to lose weight wouldn't just fill up their cups with low calorie vegetables, risking both undereating and poor nutrition.

    Don't worry! I'm on a sedentary lifestyle and my height is 4'11-5ft ish. I can definitely fit my 1200 to 1400 calories in those 3 cups per meal and I make sure I have my fiber, my white rice(carbs/grains), and my protein.

    My breakfast goes between 300-400 calories, if I feel the urge to snack I just squeeze in 1 cup of snacks of boiled eggs, lunch goes between 400-500 cals,
    Dinner goes between 300-400 cals.


    Thats why I mentioned the 3 cup diet is for 'sedentary lifestyle. '

    Another thing. I have an autoimmune disease which causes me on and off lower extremities paralyzation.

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.
    MarcyMavin wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.


    Amen. And okay, yeah, that’s what I should have said. But I was having too much fun. ;)

    Thanks guys. 3 cup helps me with portion control and not overeat. Because if I will just eat directly on a plate I easily go over the calories.

    Just thought of sharing this post of 3 cup diet.

    Peace and love!
    God bless!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Oh and I do not want to judge because I don't know your situation but if there is anything you can do to move out of sedentary and into a lightly active lifestyle it would be a worthwhile thing to do.
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Oh and I do not want to judge because I don't know your situation but if there is anything you can do to move out of sedentary and into a lightly active lifestyle it would be a worthwhile thing to do.

    I do have an autoimmune disease which causes on and off lower extremities paralyzation, thats why I noted that this '3 cupdiet' fits for sedentary people. :)

    This is why I do not judge. I would suggest that you not just accept that sedentary is your fate unless you have no choice. For ideas you can reach out to others in your situation or in a similar situation.

    Funny, you mention. Im not saying I accept it of course even if Im paralyzed I still force my arms to move.
    Especially in my case of different kinds of relapses you are not allowed to go on overboard for physical activitie because you could easily get paralyzed again, if you were in this you would really understand. To let you know I do have my physical therapies where in a therapist can assist my arms in pedaling on a desk cycle pedal exerciser. But thats very light not to the point it would burn tremendous amount of calories. Thats why my neuro doctor advised me that its okay to go on a calorie deficit as I am under 5'4. I am at 4'11-5ft ish.
    And by the way, everytime the autoimmune attacks the spinal cord, my legs and in severe cases my arms are so weak.

    Hope this helped you understand!

    God bless!

    Again, I am not judging at all because I can't really understand. I was just making a high level comment. I had a lot less limitations and I accepted sedentary a little too often and a little too easily.

  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    apullum wrote: »
    This is potentially dangerous advice. Without any guidance about calorie intake and/or nutrition, there's no reason why someone following this "plan" to lose weight wouldn't just fill up their cups with low calorie vegetables, risking both undereating and poor nutrition.

    Don't worry! I'm on a sedentary lifestyle and my height is 4'11-5ft ish. I can definitely fit my 1200 to 1400 calories in those 3 cups per meal and I make sure I have my fiber, my white rice(carbs/grains), and my protein.

    My breakfast goes between 300-400 calories, if I feel the urge to snack I just squeeze in 1 cup of snacks of boiled eggs, lunch goes between 400-500 cals,
    Dinner goes between 300-400 cals.


    Thats why I mentioned the 3 cup diet is for 'sedentary lifestyle. '

    Another thing. I have an autoimmune disease which causes me on and off lower extremities paralyzation.

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.
    MarcyMavin wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.


    Amen. And okay, yeah, that’s what I should have said. But I was having too much fun. ;)

    Thanks guys. 3 cup helps me with portion control and not overeat. Because if I will just eat directly on a plate I easily go over the calories.

    Just thought of sharing this post of 3 cup diet.

    Peace and love!
    God bless!

    I think the important part is that for now you are excited about it and hopefully you are making progress. Methodology is not that important as long as it results in sustainable and healthy weight loss. When/if you stop progressing then it is time to consider adjusting this method or considering a new one.
  • Mitzigan94
    Mitzigan94 Posts: 393 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    apullum wrote: »
    This is potentially dangerous advice. Without any guidance about calorie intake and/or nutrition, there's no reason why someone following this "plan" to lose weight wouldn't just fill up their cups with low calorie vegetables, risking both undereating and poor nutrition.

    Don't worry! I'm on a sedentary lifestyle and my height is 4'11-5ft ish. I can definitely fit my 1200 to 1400 calories in those 3 cups per meal and I make sure I have my fiber, my white rice(carbs/grains), and my protein.

    My breakfast goes between 300-400 calories, if I feel the urge to snack I just squeeze in 1 cup of snacks of boiled eggs, lunch goes between 400-500 cals,
    Dinner goes between 300-400 cals.


    Thats why I mentioned the 3 cup diet is for 'sedentary lifestyle. '

    Another thing. I have an autoimmune disease which causes me on and off lower extremities paralyzation.

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.
    MarcyMavin wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.


    Amen. And okay, yeah, that’s what I should have said. But I was having too much fun. ;)

    Thanks guys. 3 cup helps me with portion control and not overeat. Because if I will just eat directly on a plate I easily go over the calories.

    Just thought of sharing this post of 3 cup diet.

    Peace and love!
    God bless!

    I think the important part is that for now you are excited about it and hopefully you are making progress. Methodology is not that important as long as it results in sustainable and healthy weight loss. When/if you stop progressing then it is time to consider adjusting this method or considering a new one.
    . I had the same advice from my family and doctor too. What they're making sure is that I don't undereat.
  • Mitzigan94
    Mitzigan94 Posts: 393 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    apullum wrote: »
    This is potentially dangerous advice. Without any guidance about calorie intake and/or nutrition, there's no reason why someone following this "plan" to lose weight wouldn't just fill up their cups with low calorie vegetables, risking both undereating and poor nutrition.

    Don't worry! I'm on a sedentary lifestyle and my height is 4'11-5ft ish. I can definitely fit my 1200 to 1400 calories in those 3 cups per meal and I make sure I have my fiber, my white rice(carbs/grains), and my protein.

    My breakfast goes between 300-400 calories, if I feel the urge to snack I just squeeze in 1 cup of snacks of boiled eggs, lunch goes between 400-500 cals,
    Dinner goes between 300-400 cals.


    Thats why I mentioned the 3 cup diet is for 'sedentary lifestyle. '

    Another thing. I have an autoimmune disease which causes me on and off lower extremities paralyzation.

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.
    MarcyMavin wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.


    Amen. And okay, yeah, that’s what I should have said. But I was having too much fun. ;)

    Thanks guys. 3 cup helps me with portion control and not overeat. Because if I will just eat directly on a plate I easily go over the calories.

    Just thought of sharing this post of 3 cup diet.

    Peace and love!
    God bless!

    I think the important part is that for now you are excited about it and hopefully you are making progress. Methodology is not that important as long as it results in sustainable and healthy weight loss. When/if you stop progressing then it is time to consider adjusting this method or considering a new one.

    Thanks!
  • Justin_7272
    Justin_7272 Posts: 341 Member
    edited November 2019
    I only have 16 oz cups. Should I cut them in halves? But then if I cut 5 cups in half I'd have 10 8oz cups, which could be overly tempting. Better cut 2 inches off (hopefully 2 inches = 2 ounces) but I still have 1 extra cup! Too tempting.

    Damnit! Half my cups don't have bottoms. Time to start over. Better cut them lengthwise, but now they're more like boats than cups. I hope that's okay.

    So 10 boats. Can I fill them to the brim? What if they tip over? 10 second rule? Sounds good.

    But what about hot food? Better use Styrofoam. But they only sell styrofoam cups in 12ozs. No!!! Plus I hear those cause cancer when microwaved. I guess I can't do this "diet"because it causes cancer. 😞

    Okay, bought a scale. Weighed my food. Success!
  • KimberlyCapone
    KimberlyCapone Posts: 42 Member
    I only have 16 oz cups. Should I cut them in halves? But then if I cut 5 cups in half I'd have 10 8oz cups, which could be overly tempting. Better cut 2 inches off (hopefully 2 inches = 2 ounces) but I still have 1 extra cup! Too tempting.

    Damnit! Half my cups don't have bottoms. Time to start over. Better cut them lengthwise, but now they're more like boats than cups. I hope that's okay.

    So 10 boats. Can I fill them to the brim? What if they tip over? 10 second rule? Sounds good.

    But what about hot food? Better use Styrofoam. But they only sell styrofoam cups in 12ozs. No!!! Plus I hear those cause cancer when microwaved. I guess I can't do this "diet"because it causes cancer. 😞

    Okay, bought a scale. Weighed my food. Success!

    You've thought of everything! :D:D:D
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    This type of portion control is not new but other methods I have seen like dividing a plate into regions has more instructions so that the meals are nutritionally balanced.

    Even though I have gotten quite good at eyeballing portions when I need to do it I am always looking for a good alternative portion control system that would be easy to use on vacation. This cup system is not it.

    I wish you the best of luck and I hope you find success with your cups.

    Yes, for people unable to weigh I'd recommend something like Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate

    https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/

    HEPJan2015-1024x808.jpg
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    This type of portion control is not new but other methods I have seen like dividing a plate into regions has more instructions so that the meals are nutritionally balanced.

    Even though I have gotten quite good at eyeballing portions when I need to do it I am always looking for a good alternative portion control system that would be easy to use on vacation. This cup system is not it.

    I wish you the best of luck and I hope you find success with your cups.

    Yes, for people unable to weigh I'd recommend something like Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate

    https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/



    It lost me at french fries not counting.
  • Mitzigan94
    Mitzigan94 Posts: 393 Member
    Thanks guys for your wonderful comments! At least one another can share which diet or food portion control works for one another! We all have different bodies, different health conditions and different lifestyles! I wish you all success for your fitness goals!

    Hugs and Love!

    God bless! :-)
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Mitzigan94 wrote: »
    apullum wrote: »
    This is potentially dangerous advice. Without any guidance about calorie intake and/or nutrition, there's no reason why someone following this "plan" to lose weight wouldn't just fill up their cups with low calorie vegetables, risking both undereating and poor nutrition.

    Don't worry! I'm on a sedentary lifestyle and my height is 4'11-5ft ish. I can definitely fit my 1200 to 1400 calories in those 3 cups per meal and I make sure I have my fiber, my white rice(carbs/grains), and my protein.

    My breakfast goes between 300-400 calories, if I feel the urge to snack I just squeeze in 1 cup of snacks of boiled eggs, lunch goes between 400-500 cals,
    Dinner goes between 300-400 cals.


    Thats why I mentioned the 3 cup diet is for 'sedentary lifestyle. '

    Another thing. I have an autoimmune disease which causes me on and off lower extremities paralyzation.

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.
    MarcyMavin wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »

    It sounds like you're carefully counting your calories, so what is the purpose of the cups? You could just as easily say "I get 1400 calories per day" and then you'd be able to eat all sorts of foods of different calories per cubic inch. A cup of M&Ms and a cup of lettuce aren't comparable, but since you're looking at the calorie labels anyway ...

    That said, whatever works for you :) I have a few unusual diet habits I'm sure wouldn't appeal to others but they work for me, so I do them.


    Amen. And okay, yeah, that’s what I should have said. But I was having too much fun. ;)

    Thanks guys. 3 cup helps me with portion control and not overeat. Because if I will just eat directly on a plate I easily go over the calories.

    Just thought of sharing this post of 3 cup diet.

    Peace and love!
    God bless!

    I think the important part is that for now you are excited about it and hopefully you are making progress. Methodology is not that important as long as it results in sustainable and healthy weight loss. When/if you stop progressing then it is time to consider adjusting this method or considering a new one.
    . I had the same advice from my family and doctor too. What they're making sure is that I don't undereat.

    That is wise. That is the problem with this system and the reason why you are getting so many jokes. Ultimately it is not about the cups but your choices which could be to eat far too many calories or eat too few. That is the same thing for other systems too though. If you want something to work and you are prepared to consistently make the right choices at least most of the time it has a good chance of working. If you don't there will likely be areas to exploit.


    Thanks guys for your wonderful comments! At least one another can share which diet or food portion control works for one another! We all have different bodies, different health conditions and different lifestyles! I wish you all success for your fitness goals!

    Hugs and Love!

    God bless! :-)
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,091 Member
    apullum wrote: »
    MarcyMavin wrote: »
    What if choose three 6 oz cups of peanut butter? Is that okay?
    Or...2 cups of smoked almonds, and 1 cup of vodka?

    That sounds like an awesome day!

    "Day"? As the diet is described in the OP, 2 cups of smoked almonds and 1 cup of vodka would just be breakfast!

    I think all your food for the day is supposed to fit in the cups. Unless you want a snack, in which case you get another cup, but I really wasn’t clear on that part.

    Anyway, I want all my cups to be full of brownies.

    I thought this was a pretty clear indication that each meal is 3 cups, at least as the OP describes it (obviously, OP could be mistaken, and I'm not personally familiar with this diet):
    3 Meals are equivalent to 9 6 oz Cups in one day,