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

Great job!!!!

How long ago did you get the lapband. I got it sept 27 I have lost 22lbs I think it to little to have lost

How long ago did you get the lapband. I got it sept 27 I have lost 22lbs I think it to little to have lost

My last message was for mis73

How long ago did you get the lapband. I got it sept 27 I have lost 22lbs I think it to little to have lost

I was banded about 10 months ago, in January 2012. I've lost 168 pounds since then.

I was banded about 10 months ago' date=' in January 2012. I've lost 168 pounds since then.[/quote']

OMG!!! Great job.. You must be very proud..

OMG!!! Great job.. You must be very proud..

Thanks, it's a lot of hard work, but I owe A LOT of the credit to my surgeon. He's been extremely supportive and encouraging through it all.

Wanted to share my lunch! I know exciting, LOL

Thin deli chicken breast cream cheese spinach roll-ups (in the picture is only 5 because I ate 1), LOLOL

6 slice of Thinly sliced chicken breast (deli style)

1/4 cup of low fat cream cheese

1/4 cup of frozen spinach (cooked and drained)

a pinch of garlic powder

Mix cream cheese, spinach, garlic powder, add mixture into chicken slices, roll up, place in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Enjoy! (you can doctor this up anyway you like)

Calories 182

Fat 10.4

Carbs 8.5

protein 15.1

Fiber 1.1

Wanted to share my lunch! I know exciting, LOL

Thin deli chicken breast cream cheese spinach roll-ups (in the picture is only 5 because I ate 1), LOLOL

6 slice of Thinly sliced chicken breast (deli style)

1/4 cup of low fat cream cheese

1/4 cup of frozen spinach (cooked and drained)

a pinch of garlic powder

Mix cream cheese, spinach, garlic powder, add mixture into chicken slices, roll up, place in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Enjoy! (you can doctor this up anyway you like)

Calories 182

Fat 10.4

Carbs 8.5

protein 15.1

Fiber 1.1

Oh my gosh this looks SO good! I'm totally trying this!!!

Aside from the half and half I am about to put in my decaf Coffee I am closing the book on day 2 Low Carb. Fat is a little high but work is in progress.

Wanted to share my lunch! I know exciting, LOL

Thin deli chicken breast cream cheese spinach roll-ups (in the picture is only 5 because I ate 1), LOLOL

6 slice of Thinly sliced chicken breast (deli style)

1/4 cup of low fat cream cheese

1/4 cup of frozen spinach (cooked and drained)

a pinch of garlic powder

Mix cream cheese, spinach, garlic powder, add mixture into chicken slices, roll up, place in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Enjoy! (you can doctor this up anyway you like)

Calories 182

Fat 10.4

Carbs 8.5

protein 15.1

Fiber 1.1

Sounds and looks good. I just copied and pasted that into notepad so I don't forget!

Aside from the half and half I am about to put in my decaf Coffee I am closing the book on day 2 Low Carb. Fat is a little high but work is in progress.

Actually for a low carb day, your fat is fine! In fact you did really good overall!

Do you struggle to get in calories on low carb days? I do big time, I'm just full all the time.

Aside from the half and half I am about to put in my decaf Coffee I am closing the book on day 2 Low Carb. Fat is a little high but work is in progress.

Nice!!

btw, how did u paste your totals from mfp here?

Yes, low carb days are hard for me as well calorie wise. I do find low carb days easier to manage then I do high carb days. I feel like I eat like a pig on high carb days. Funny I thought when I started this I would look forward to high carb days but I don't.

Band has not just changed my body. It has changed my mind...

I HATE these high carb days!!! :(

They're so much harder for me than the low carb days because I really let myself go. Also by the low carb days I have a very clear idea of what I CAN'T eat, so it's way easier for me to make good choices.

so far today I ate

912 calories

91g carbs

And I still have a wedding to go to, so i'll be lucky if I'll keep my calories below ~1200.

I usually like to keep 'em below 1000....

Nice!!

btw, how did u paste your totals from mfp here?

I use the snipping tools built into Windows 7. It is under accessories. I snipped the header and then snipped the totals and pasted and lined them up in paint. Saved it and uploaded it.

I was a little discouraged with Lose It. It seems there database of food is not as good or should I say accurate as myfitnesspal and when you add foods it has to go through an approval process. I do like the reporting options better in Lose It but for me I would rather have the accuracy of MFP.

I have a couple of questions. Are you supposed to exercise with this program? Is it meant for long term or "7 days"?

I am new and I am losing successfully (so far) but think that this is obviously an interesting thread. There is a lot of buzz around it for sure.

Since the contestants on BL are also working out A LOT AND body builders use this the lean out I was just wondering LONG TERM how it would effect a LB patient who is not exercising? Is it meant to go hand in hand with exercising? Is it meant to be used for 7 days then go back to "regular eating" Clean carbs are meant to give you energy and teach your body to burn fat WHILE working out (or at least I thought)

Thanks in advance for not eating me alive for asking!