As many of you know, I was stuck for more than a month. I was monitoring my calories, getting in all my Protein and exercising, yet the scale didn't budge. I know, plateaus are normal, but they still suck. Around the time the plateau hit I also started taking birth control pills. I even gained 2 pounds, which for me was the deal breaker. I had to find a way to break the plateau and start losing again.

So I started researching. Low carb, high carb, no carb, etc. I see so many variations on here! What's right? What's wrong? I already knew it was a matter of choice without a clear right or wrong answer, but I also knew individual body needs also played a very big part in it. During my research I kept coming across something called carb cycling, so I decided to look more into it.

Carb cycling is essentially trying to optimize your metabolism by alternating high and low carb days. Body builders often do this to build muscle and burn fat before a contest but it's also very helpful for weight loss. Then one day I turned on Doctor Oz...and wouldn't you know it... it was an episode on carb cycling. Chris Powell, of The Biggest Loser, was on his show talking about he has all the contestants on the show carb cycle and how he does it. For me, this was the point I decided to give carb cycling a try.

Chris Powell's method is specifically for weight loss so I decided to go with his (there's many out there). He has an excellent book called “Choose to Lose: The 7-Day Carb Cycle Solution”.

His theory: No carb diets don't work. It's not sustainable long term and eventually it significantly slows the metabolism. Worse, people who cut out carbs usually end up gaining all their weight back and then some when they do suddenly reintroduce carbs. Carbs are the energy block of the body and a long term lack of carbs will cause the thyroid to slow down significantly.

7 day diet/carb cycling: High carb day followed by low carb day, alternating daily. Start on a high carb day and always eat within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning. Always limit or omit carbs after 6pm.

All this is within your own personal daily calorie allowance.

High carb day/energy day:

• Preferably complex carbs. Protein, low fat. unlimited veggies.
  

Low carb day/burn day:

• A little carb in the morning to boost metabolism
  
• Cut carbs the rest of the day.
  
• Protien, healthy fats, unlimited veggies
  

3 of each/low carb and high carb. 7th day is cheat day

Cheat day:

• Boost calories to boost metabolism
  
• Boost to no more than 1000 extra calories a day
  
• Cheat at Breakfast and lunch, not dinner. 6-12pm “behave”
  
• Cheat at a table. Not in a car, or at a sofa, etc. No “hypno binging”
  
• No leftovers allowed.
  

Mind you, this is the short version of all this. If this interests you, I'd strongly suggest buying his book for a better understanding. It's very enlightening.

...So this is what I've done for the last week. I am very happy to say, carb cycling broke my plateau, despite still being on the birth control pill too. I lost 5.4 pounds this week!

I have decided I am going to continue to carb cycle. I am not a fan of the low carb days, but I am getting more used to them. Plus, I find my "carb cravings" have all but disappeared since starting this- something I didn't think possible.

For me, it's working. I just thought I'd share the results of my little self experiment

Angel that is amazing, I'm so happy for you!

I'm down another pound this morning too, for a total of 10.8 in just under 2 weeks since starting carb cycling! That's including a cheat day (per the book) too!

I seriously should cheat. I bet that would kick my metabolisim right in the big ole hiney, LOL

This sounds so doable!! thanks for posting!!!!

I seriously should cheat. I bet that would kick my metabolisim right in the big ole hiney, LOL

Well the 7th day is supposed to be a cheat day! I was scared to death to do, but I did, and I followed the rules.

You must cheat breakfast and lunch, never dinner. You can go a maximum of 1000 calories over your daily allowance. You must eat at a table- no grazing, no distracted eating. No leftovers, whatever you don't finish from your cheat, throw away.

I did this last Friday. I had a package of peanut butter cups and I took my kids out to eat at Cracker Barrel. There I had some very fatty looking meatloaf and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy lol. But I stuck the cheat day rules, and sure enough, I still woke up lighter the next morning.

However, this week I'm not having a cheat day. With Thanksgiving next week, I figure I better behave because that whole day is bound to be one big epic cheat LOL!

Missy is my rock, I wouldn't know what to do without this girl. The best thing that ever happened to me coming on here was finding her

On that note, she is a very special person who really does care and understands....

Aww thanks hon. You're always there for me too, though. It goes both ways. Who else can I text at 11pm about a newer relationship to gush like an idiot schoolgirl? LOL!

Okay, I am soo making thanksgiving my cheat day. I always have thanksgiving over at my place I do the cooking and baking. It will be hectic, I do plan on drinking for the first time in like 7 months. (should be interesting). I will drink and be merry, hehe.

Aww thanks hon. You're always there for me too, though. It goes both ways. Who else can I text at 11pm about a newer relationship to gush like an idiot schoolgirl? LOL!

You know I love it! I get to live vicariously through you!

Missy is my rock' date=' I wouldn't know what to do without this girl. The best thing that ever happened to me coming on here was finding her

On that note, she is a very special person who really does care and understands....[/quote']

+10000!!!!

Thanks missy for everything!!! Your answers to every ones questions are very helpful and caring, they have helped me tremendously on this journey.

Btw this diet is great!!!

I'm down 3.6 lbs since Sunday!!!!

You are all brave woman, I am going to wait my full 7 day to jump on the scale. I am tempted don't get me wrong. but I am use to getting on the scale once a week so I don't want to make a habbit of doing it everyday. I can't handle the stress like that, No really I may wand up throwing my scale at the backyard window. Imagine the neighbors watching a scale fly through the air..... hahahahaaa.

+10000!!!!

Thanks missy for everything!!! Your answers to every ones questions are very helpful and caring, they have helped me tremendously on this journey.

Btw this diet is great!!!

I'm down 3.6 lbs since Sunday!!!!

Hanna, o wow that is great!!! You are doing really good on this too! ((hugs))

You are all brave woman, I am going to wait my full 7 day to jump on the scale. I am tempted don't get me wrong. but I am use to getting on the scale once a week so I don't want to make a habbit of doing it everyday. I can't handle the stress like that, No really I may wand up throwing my scale at the backyard window. Imagine the neighbors watching a scale fly through the air..... hahahahaaa.

No you're smart to stick to your routine!

But if you do chuck it through a window? Have hubby take a pic as it happens please!

Hahahahaha!

Ladies, I wanted to share with you this. I found these mini whole wheat wraps. OMG, they are so good and so healthy. Especially on those low carb days, really any day, but especially those days because we need all the fiber we can get, LOL

Thanks Missy! I owe it all to you! I had never heard of carb cycling until you started this thread. Reading your initial post and how successful you were with carb cycling your first week got me excited about trying it.

I had gotten into a rut the last couple of months and hadn't really felt all that "into" even trying as much as I did at the beginning. I was on a plateau, partially of my own making. I wasn't nearly as excited as I had been. When I read your initial post, I got excited again and it re-awakened my determination! Thanks so much for starting this thread. I really think it is helping quite a few of us.

PattyGirl, where did you find those wraps? I've never seen them at the store. They would be great to have my chicken salad or tuna salad on on the low carb days.

Thanks Missy! I owe it all to you! I had never heard of carb cycling until you started this thread. Reading your initial post and how successful you were with carb cycling your first week got me excited about trying it.

I had gotten into a rut the last couple of months and hadn't really felt all that "into" even trying as much as I did at the beginning. I was on a plateau, partially of my own making. I wasn't nearly as excited as I had been. When I read your initial post, I got excited again and it re-awakened my determination! Thanks so much for starting this thread. I really think it is helping quite a few of us.

I found them at my local Shoprite store.

Okay here is what i had for Breakfast this morning. (low carb day)

2 Hard boiled egg whites only (I remove the yolk)

1 laughing cow lite cheese wedge

1 mini whole wheat soft wrap

1 bed of lettuce

pepper for taste

Calories: 135

Fat: 3.5

Protein: 18.8

Carbs: 10.8

Fiber: 6

Replying to Carb Cycling- An Experiment Gone Right!

Post Options

• 
  Enable emoticons?
  
  
• 
  Enable signature?
  
  
• 
  Follow this topic?
  

•