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

Hey experts. I'm attempting my first day on this and after reading all the posts and my notes the only thing I can't seem to find ( and maybe I just missed it) is the approximate amount of fat grams most of you are trying to stick with on high carb days...I think I got on Low carb days 30-35 carbs and no more than 50 grams of Fat, and on high carb days=up to 240 carbs but how much fat? Thanks in advance...

Hey experts. I'm attempting my first day on this and after reading all the posts and my notes the only thing I can't seem to find ( and maybe I just missed it) is the approximate amount of fat grams most of you are trying to stick with on high carb days...I think I got on Low carb days 30-35 carbs and no more than 50 grams of Fat, and on high carb days=up to 240 carbs but how much fat? Thanks in advance...

Well, there's no set amount lol. We're all trying to find what works for each of us. Here is what I am doing:

Low carb-

-30-35g of carbs max, eaten early in the day if possible

-I watch saturated fat, don't worry about fat overall. (you need fat in the absence of carbs)

-I try to get at least 90g of protein

High carb

-Unlimited carbs, but I usually end up around 170-180g

-Low fat, no more than 20% of my total calories

-At least 60g of protein

Ok got it! Thank you !

Manage to get my fat down slightly this being day 3. I was also able to get my protein up on high carb days. Still more tweaking needed I think. I am finally getting my calories up as well. I have been struggling with that for a while.

Manage to get my fat down slightly this being day 3. I was also able to get my protein up on high carb days. Still more tweaking needed I think. I am finally getting my calories up as well. I have been struggling with that for a while.

I think you're doing great!!!

Any thoughts for low carb mushies? I've had cottage cheese, egg salad but not sure what else.

Any thoughts for low carb mushies? I've had cottage cheese, egg salad but not sure what else.

Hmm...how about chicken or tuna salad? Ricotta cheese?

Or, you could cook up a chicken breast, chop it up, and put a bit of chicken broth with it in a blender. Then, it'll be a mushy, taste good, and low carb.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy those carbs!! Get some exercise, too. My Family & I are doing a fitness walk called "the Turkey Trot"! Should be fun.

Be well.

Mis...do you eat 5 times a day doing the cycling or 3 per the typical Bandster rules?

I honestly don't follow any rules on that. I eat when I'm hungry and I don't eat when I'm not. Usually that means I only eat 3 meals a day but if I am hungry between meals, I will definitely eat.

The rule I follow is I won't eat carbs after dinner. I try not to eat at all after dinner.

So I weighed in today and was really hoping for a better showing on the scale. I am only down 1 pound from my lowest but when I started this I was bloated and was up to 357. Today I am 352 which isn't horrible in the grand scheme of things. I did not go crazy at all for Thanksgiving and everyone was buzzing about my energy level. I took a lot of work of my wife's plate the last two days and my sister was able to relax. My Wife and I entertained 14 this year.

All in all I am happy with my progress and if anything I think this kicked my metabolism a bit which is what I wanted. I am 2lbs shy of my 350 goal which I set for Christmas. It will also be the 100lb mark since Surgery in April.

I hope you are all doing well and didn't get thrown off track too much by the holiday. If you did though remember not to sweat it too much. Get back in the game!!

I just bought the book last night my goal is to get started with this carb cycling on Monday!! Can't wait to give it a try!!

I haven't been updating here as of late.. but I am still sticking to this. Thanksgiving well.. it was my high carb day.. On thanksgiving day, I was so excited because I hopped on the scale, and I was down 2 lbs! which was great considering I've been at a plateau for 3 weeks or so. Well, after thanksgiving it said I had gained a lb back, I was like hm.. ok.. not to bad.. it was a low carb day so I thought, I'll get it back down, I only was able to eat about 600 cals .. and the next day I was back up 3 lbs.. omg I wanted to scream. It was my own fault though, I did alright with the eating.. I had my plate and had that same plate for lunch and dinner, for dinner I just added some stuffing.. what really hurt me I think is the rolls I ate and um.... **Braces from all the frowns...** 2 pieces of pie I had early in the day.. well 1 early and the other VERY late.. I had 5 shots of patron.. and you all know when ya drink ya get the munchies.. and I had that.. I shouldn't do this... oooh what the hell!

Grrrrrrr... well, I have been on low carbs for 2 days trying to set things right.. and back down a lb or so.. tomorrow I hope brings better results.

I do find it hard to get in more than 600 cals on low carb days. I mean.. I eat a lot of protein.. breakfast/lunch/dinner I even add some stuff just to get more calories in. today I stopped the snacking ( even healthy Snacks ) late night.. I think that may be hindering my weight loss as well. Gaaaaah! but all in all.. I think it would work a lot better for me if I did it right. lol.. I'm trying to tweak it.. it was my first week.. and weigh in tomorrow for the total.. I am being optimistic! I do love this though.

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

Congratulations Missy !

6 Jumbo Black Olives stuffed with low fat cream cheese - You can doctor it up to your liking.... (one is sliced in the pic below)

Calories: 110

Fat: 8.6

Protein: 2.4

Carbs:4.4