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

Patty!! WOOHOO!! Grats on the 5lbs!! and if it wasn't for your monthly friend you would have totally lost at least a couple more!! Great job all! I am starting mine today with my free /high carb day! lol.. Oh yaaaa.. I was looking forward to this, and god willing I am goin to get off this stall in weight loss! and daymmmm Missy andother lbs.. you are on FIREEE!!!! go ladies! ( and gentlemen !!)

Thanks Destynee! Best of luck on your first carb cycling.... Dont forget to let us know how you are doing in the next several days to come. You are gonng rock this out too!!!!

Day 1 for me and doing high carb day I got 40g of carb in at breakfast but it took me an hour plus to get it down. My band is so tight in the morning.

I am such an odd duck, my band is great in the early parts of the day.. its later on around dinner time it gets a tight feelin. But I don't have a fill so gooooooo freaking figure!! LOL

Hi Hanna! Thank you! OMG I have my 'friend' sooooooo bad today. I haven't had it since August I am peri-meno and it suxs because I am not consistance. Yesterday was a high carb and today back into the swings of things, and I am feeeeeeeling the Looooows already. I just drank a yoohoo mixed with skim milk and ice to save me from getting into other things. At least, this isn't too bad and I can fit into my low carb day. Its early, and I hope I don't cave into the sugar monster... LOL

How are you doing so far??

Ahhh sorry to hear about your "friend" heck, with friends like these who needs enemies??

lol

Hope you feel better soon!!

btw, I'm on my low carb day and already had 12g of carbs so far...

Gonna have turkey slices for dinner with pickles and red onions.

Starting a new job tomorrow and am so stressed that I wanna pig out and devour everything in sight!!

But i'm really gonna have to hold back...

I'm on a low carb day today, too. I need to find some variety because I swear I eat the exact same thing for every low carb day. My problem is, I am not a meat eater at all so due to my finickiness I don't feel I have a lot of choices.

I'm on a low carb day today, too. I need to find some variety because I swear I eat the exact same thing for every low carb day. My problem is, I am not a meat eater at all so due to my finickiness I don't feel I have a lot of choices.

What about fish? Nuts? Cheese?

I happen to hate fish, but I eat string cheese, yogurts etc. A lot of dairy on low carb days...

I eat a lot of cheese LOL! I am a cheese-aholic big time! I eat nuts too, in fact I just ate a spoonful of peanut butter lol.

Fish is a good idea! Why didn't I think of that? I think I'm going to get a bag of frozen orange roughy so I can make one fillet at a time as I need them.

Thank you!!

I eat a lot of cheese LOL! I am a cheese-aholic big time! I eat nuts too, in fact I just ate a spoonful of peanut butter lol.

Fish is a good idea! Why didn't I think of that? I think I'm going to get a bag of frozen orange roughy so I can make one fillet at a time as I need them.

Thank you!!

LOL Glad I was able to give u a good idea after all the help/advice you've given me!!

I am like Missy when it comes to meats. I do need to chill out on the cheese, I am eating way to much of it since banded because I use it mostly as my source of protein. Not to mention I am a huge mouse, I am pretty sure I was one in my past life the way I eat it...

Missy, I bought a box of Mrs. Paul's Beer Battered Fish Filets, omg they are sooooo good (i put it in the toaster oven)

for 1 beer battered fish filet is:

Calories : 120

Fat: 6.5

Sat fat: 1.5

Carb: 9

Protein : 4

I do like filet of sole, crab meat, scallops. I am don't like salmon even though its the best for ya.

How are you all doing with your fat content on a high carb day? With dinner still left to be had today I am at 13g. I know the goal is to keep the fat content low on high carb days.

Here is where I am at so far without having dinner. I believe my Wife is planning bone pork chop a veggie and small starch for dinner.

How are you all doing with your fat content on a high carb day? With dinner still left to be had today I am at 13g. I know the goal is to keep the fat content low on high carb days.

Here is where I am at so far without having dinner. I believe my Wife is planning bone pork chop a veggie and small starch for dinner.

You're doing great! I'm usually between 20-25g of fat for high carb days!!

Dinner sounds yummy by the way.

Thanks. These high carb days are going to be tougher on me then the low carb. 2 slices of toast with 3/4 cup of egg white took forever to eat and then a lunch a I had lean pocket and that was rough. I think my protein is coming in a little lower than I would like so some tweaking is in order.

This band is definitely working that much is for certain. Never in my life have I ever had such a task eating toast and eggs. Back before I was banded I would've had 4 slices of toast and a cup of egg white gone in 20 minutes and then out the door.

Thanks. These high carb days are going to be tougher on me then the low carb. 2 slices of toast with 3/4 cup of egg white took forever to eat and then a lunch a I had lean pocket and that was rough. I think my protein is coming in a little lower than I would like so some tweaking is in order.

This band is definitely working that much is for certain. Never in my life have I ever had such a task eating toast and eggs. Back before I was banded I would've had 4 slices of toast and a cup of egg white gone in 20 minutes and then out the door.

See that's so funny, because I'm just the opposite. The high carb days are a breeze for me but I struggle with the low carb ones big time. Just getting in enough calories on the low carb days is hard. It's just so filling and I have no appetite.

I agree about the band. I don't even attempt solid foods in the morning, I'm way too tight when I first wake up. By lunch I'm fine, but for breakfast I just have a protein shake.

What's weird is this: If I take a nap during the day, when I wake up, I'm super tight again. I've missed countless dinners because I took a late nap and couldn't eat when I woke up.

I've been considering this technique ever since I saw CP on Dr. Oz last week. I am new to lapband (banded 9/8/12) and am still leary to eat any kind of carb. Especially toast/bread. Now that I see all you having good results, I think I'm going to try it!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using LapBandTalk