I know it sounds counter-intuitive Molly, but double your calorie intake. Seriously. You are not having results on a very very low calorie diet. Try following the Atkin's induction rules and do not limit or count calories. Overeat if you want to. It isn't about calories for you on this diet. Try making all of your meals at least 1,000 calories. Breakfast 1 pound of bacon with 3-4 eggs and some cheese. Lunch 2 double quarter pounds with cheese no bun, no ketchup, extra mayo. First dinner 1 pound of sausage. Second dinner I dunno, more bacon lol.

"If something is low in fat, my rule of thumb is to add butter or some other fat to it. It keeps my motor running all day long."

lol me too. I love baked chicken but I find it is a little too low in fat so I often drink some heavy cream with it - yum!

***edit - for the record I didn't read your post where your said "counter-intuitive" prior to my post where I said counter-intuitive brine lol.