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

Missy,

I've started reading already and I wondered... did you do the exercise? Did you name your machine? I did

Ok yes, the book does give sample menus. Some of it looks rather good too. He also has a website with some menu ideas.

As far as the low carb days, I'm still struggling to find food I like lol. I find myself eating a lot of salads with ham, cheese, and chic peas. I also like ham rolls (chives cut up into cream cheese then rolled into a piece of ham). chicken breast, pork chops, lunch meat. I've taken to eating a spoonful of Peanut Butter as a snack, too.

omg you sure we aint related? LOL I looooove thin sliced ham rolled up with cream cheese and chives. I thought I was the only one that did that. sometimes I even chop roasted red peppers in it too and black olives

Missy and PG... I make a cheeseball with ham, cream cheese, green onions, pineapple and cayenne pepper that is to die for! Sounds like you ladies might like it. You can put as much or as little of each ingredient into it as you wish!

I just bought the book on Barnes and Noble for my Nook. It was only $9.50!

I am just about done with the book now and I may give it a try. One of the things I did not like was the fact he wants you to cut out all milk. Regardless of whether it is skim, 2%, 1%. No milk period. I will have a hard time giving that up as I use Simply Smart milk to make my shakes. I am glad to see it is working though.

I did Atkins low carb about 9 years ago and did work and I lost over a 170lbs. But it is true that you quit the diet the weight comes back on.

Btw....if you friend request Chris Powell on Facebook you can ask him questions and he does answer when his schedule allows. I have spoken with him a couple of times.

I am just about done with the book now and I may give it a try. One of the things I did not like was the fact he wants you to cut out all milk. Regardless of whether it is skim, 2%, 1%. No milk period. I will have a hard time giving that up as I use Simply Smart milk to make my shakes. I am glad to see it is working though.

I did Atkins low carb about 9 years ago and did work and I lost over a 170lbs. But it is true that you quit the diet the weight comes back on.

Btw....if you friend request Chris Powell on Facebook you can ask him questions and he does answer when his schedule allows. I have spoken with him a couple of times.

Yeah I didn't take the book verbatim For instance, I'm not about to cut milk nor do I follow his menus. However, I do very much like the basic premise of his theory, so I use that combined with what I know works best for me.

I too did Atkins years ago...ended up losing 40 pounds but also with a raging kidney infection due to a build up of Protein. Of course, gained like 60 within 6 months of stopping the Atkins diet too.

I've looked on amazon and can't order it till Dec 12th. That's the release date!

I've looked on amazon and can't order it till Dec 12th. That's the release date!

That's for the soft cover, you can get it hard cover here: http://www.amazon.com/Powell-Chriss-Choose-Lose-Hardcover/dp/B008EAWFG0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1352500671&sr=8-3&keywords=7+day+carb+cycle+solution+by+chris+powell

Thanks Missy, I ordered the Kindle version and will check it out! As for no milk... can you use almond milk? That is what I use almost exclusively.

I read some of the sample menu meals and they included almond milk. Whew, I LOVE almond milk!

I'm using almond milk in my morning Protein shakes since reading the book only because it has less carbs so it's great for the low carb days.

But, for everything else, I'm still using skim milk. I use the book more as a guideline rather than a bible, I don't/won't follow everything exactly.

I'm still on week 1. This sounds interesting. I'll be checking it out. Thanks!

I found this example for carb cycling - go according to your daily caloric intake. If you are on a 1200 calorie a day that is what you follow.

Example ONLY!

For a 160 pound female, your carb cycling diet may look like this:

Monday: low carb, 1,150 calories, 0 to 50 grams carbs maximum

Tuesday: high carb, 1,950 calories, 243 grams of carbs maximum

Wednesday: low carb, 1,150 calories, 0 to 50 grams carbs maximum

Thursday: low carb, 1,150 calories, 0 to 50 grams carbs maximum

Friday: low carb, 1,150 calories, 0 to 50 grams carbs maximum

Saturday: high carb, 1,950 calories, 243 grams of carbs maximum

Sunday: low carb, 1,150 calories, 0 to 50 grams carbs maximum

***Missy Let me know if this is different than the book******

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/217520-carb-cycling-meal-plans/#ixzz2BpvAurXu

This is good info! I have not had apiece of bread rice or pasta since April 30, 2012. Lost 23 lbs pretty quick but the last 13 not so much . I'm stuck! Definitely giving this a look!

He doesn't give set amount for carbs and Protein, however he does offer formulas and charts to figure out your daily calorie intake. I will say the amount of calories he recommends is higher than I typically eat, but being a bandster I figure I need less anyway.

His rule for carbs on low carb days is, have your carbs with Breakfast then cut them.

I need actual numbers, so I've been staying between 30-40g of carbs on low carb days and well over 140g on high carb days. One day I actually had 223g of carbs even!

I find I eat less calories on low carb days but considerably more fat- which he says is fine so long as it's healthy fat (nuts, fish, non-saturated, etc)