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

Nice!!

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

Low carb day is the very hardest for me too! especially calorie wise. I only seem to get in around 600. But you know what, going back to my tracker I was doing about 500 before carb cycling, so I am actually getting in more calories. I really have to work very hard on this. I think I am going to have to 'squeeze' a light snack inbetween meals. This might be my only way to get in those calories.

Its funny how we train our bodies to eat a certain way. Before banded I would snack allll day long. After banded I don't snack at all, and my calories are very low. Now, I need to incorporate snacking back in. See, its all a learning process for everyone

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.

Jim, your fat grams looks pretty good to me darlin! damn! 110 for protein, wtf!!! I really need to get on the ball with protein. Are you guys 'eating' your proteins or drinking protein drinks. I don't drink any protein drinks at all because it makes me sick. so I try to eat my protein as much as I can.

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!

My workout routine has not changed since I started this diet

I still go 3-5 times a week to the gym.

I exercise daily - i do about 20-30 minutes of walking on my gazelle edge and about 5 -10 minutes of upper body using 2 lb. weights. My routine in exercising has nothing to do with carb cycling.

Jim, your fat grams looks pretty good to me darlin! damn! 110 for protein, wtf!!! I really need to get on the ball with protein. Are you guys 'eating' your proteins or drinking protein drinks. I don't drink any protein drinks at all because it makes me sick. so I try to eat my protein as much as I can.

On the low carb days all I eat are foods filled with protein!!

Turkey, eggs, chicken etc

i wish i could drink those protein shots everyone talks about but I can't find 'em anywhere

I exercise daily - i do about 20-30 minutes of walking on my gazelle edge and about 5 -10 minutes of upper body using 2 lb. weights. My routine in exercising has nothing to do with carb cycling.

Umm yes it does. Calories in - calories burned= results.

Are you stalled and doing carb cycling or are you just trying it to try? I didn't read through all 15 pgs so excuse me if you have already posted the reply to this. Have you been doing it a while? Have you seen a difference? Missy did great losing over 5 lbs! That's exciting.

Again, thanks in advance for not chewing me up and spitting me out. I'm just curious!

My workout routine has not changed since I started this diet

I still go 3-5 times a week to the gym.

By " this diet" do you mean the 7 day carb cycle or the whole lb experience?

Thanks for your reply.

I noticed some mention of crashing between days, are you guys still experiencing this, or has it eased up?

Hi MiniMi!

Yes, you're definitely supposed to exercise, it's strongly encouraged for sure.

How long you do the carb cycling is up to you. I know when Chris Powell is trying to get morbidly obese people in shape, they are carb cycling the entire time they're losing weight. It's called the 7 day carb cycle because it's set up in 7 day segment. 6 days alternating between high and low carb days, then the 7th day is the "cheat day".

I discovered this after being on a plateau for over 5 weeks. I was monitoring my calories and exercising but the scale wasn't budging. So, I started researching low carb (because I see so many on here doing low carb all the time) and I ended up stumbling onto carb cycling by chance. To me, it made sense, and the more I read the more I really wanted to try it. So, I did.

I noticed some mention of crashing between days, are you guys still experiencing this, or has it eased up?

I honestly never dealt with that really. I think my first two low carb days I was a little "blah" but not enough to call it a crash. I guess I got lucky. I know some on here had a rough time with it.

Hi MiniMi!

Yes' date=' you're definitely supposed to exercise, it's strongly encouraged for sure.

How long you do the carb cycling is up to you. I know when Chris Powell is trying to get morbidly obese people in shape, they are carb cycling the entire time they're losing weight. It's called the 7 day carb cycle because it's set up in 7 day segment. 6 days alternating between high and low carb days, then the 7th day is the "cheat day".

I discovered this after being on a plateau for over 5 weeks. I was monitoring my calories and exercising but the scale wasn't budging. So, I started researching low carb (because I see so many on here doing low carb all the time) and I ended up stumbling onto carb cycling by chance. To me, it made sense, and the more I read the more I really wanted to try it. So, I did.[/quote']

Cool! Thanks for the candid clear reply. I also do not agree with low/no carb diets or life change or whatever it's supposed to be called. Even the cycling doesn't seem sustainable over a long period of time. You've had great results with it though for now so I say GOOD FOR YOU!

Thanks again!

Cool! Thanks for the candid clear reply. I also do not agree with low/no carb diets or life change or whatever it's supposed to be called. Even the cycling doesn't seem sustainable over a long period of time. You've had great results with it though for now so I say GOOD FOR YOU!

Thanks again!

You're most welcome!

I don't think I'll stay on carb cycling indefinitely. For one thing, I struggle with the low carb days. But, I am going to stay with it through at least the end of the month.

I figure then if I hit another plateau down the line, I can go back to carb cycling awhile.

Umm yes it does. Calories in - calories burned= results.

Are you stalled and doing carb cycling or are you just trying it to try? I didn't read through all 15 pgs so excuse me if you have already posted the reply to this. Have you been doing it a while? Have you seen a difference? Missy did great losing over 5 lbs! That's exciting.

Again, thanks in advance for not chewing me up and spitting me out. I'm just curious!

Sorry, I may just not understand your question as to exercising or carb cycling, or both. Yes, I do exercise as it is very important to 'move'. Before banded I did as much as my body weight could handle. But since banded and I have lost a lot of weight it is a little more easy for me to move.

As for carb cycling, my weight has stalled for 4 weeks with following a diet plan and wanted to give this a try to jumpstart my metabolisim, which it did. I lost a little over 5 lbs in just a week. I probably would of lost more but I wound up with my period during that same week I started. I am really glad I have tried this because I have learned so much about carbs and how it can affect your metabolism/weight.

In a nutshell, there really is no magic number when it comes to carb grams. We have to find out for ourselves what works best for us. This is why we are all adjusting accordingly to how we feel, how our body feels, and how we succeed. Its work in progress....

Are you considering carb cycling? Have you done it before?

Cool! Thanks for the candid clear reply. I also do not agree with low/no carb diets or life change or whatever it's supposed to be called. Even the cycling doesn't seem sustainable over a long period of time. You've had great results with it though for now so I say GOOD FOR YOU!

Thanks again!

Mimi, also let me add that I will not be doing this permanently, its temporary to get that metabolisim working again. Then I will just adjust my carbs daily, giving myself a balance that I can live with.

Hope I answered your questions

112 G protein.

Not bad for the day of a fill!