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

Oh nooo!!

The day is practically over and its my high carb day, and I only got 62g of carbs, I am so behind!!

Any ideas of a low calorie food that's high in carb so I can finish the day right?

you got any whole wheat bread/bagels around? toast that baby right up add some Peanut Butter and half bananna. yummo!

I made some of that taco soup which comes in handy on carb days (today was my first one). How about a whole grain English muffin with peanut butter or quinoa

Thanks for the idea!!!

I'm also very scared that i'll eat too much fat grams. this really takes a lot of planning!!!

you got any whole wheat bread/bagels around? toast that baby right up add some Peanut Butter and half bananna. yummo!

OHH drink an 8 ounce glass of skim milk with that, LOLOLOL

Thanks everyone! Just finished logging for the day

1031 calories

118g of carbs

61g of protein

Unfortunately I also had too many grams of fat...

Still trying to get this right...

Lapbandster....what would be the right amount of carbs? I think I hit 79 today. I haven't really pushed high carb, just it's a day with carbs and tomorrow will be a day without.

Grats Maddy!! that is great!! and you are too cute! in fact.. You ALL are dolls omg!! and thanks all.. I felt I needed a jump start in my metabolism.. and hoped this would be great.. I'll slow it down.. although I haven't been able to eat much, so I was going a bit insane.. I love ya guys.. you all are so helpful truly..

Minime.. so what are you doing to keep the weight coming off every week? I walked 30mins today and danced for 30mins.. and also, I can definitely relate.. not about the self sabotaging.. but everything else.. I really do see it all in a different light now, it's not the same as before when I would hop on a diet, it really does feel like a life change, and I watch everything I eat now.. though I do get discouraged a bit when I don't see results.. I am definitely going to only weigh myself once a week. I was weighing every morning only.. but yes it's not working. lol.

again.. thanks all.. and patty I am sure you will receive some emails from me throughout this journey! <3 thanks all.

Grats Maddy!! that is great!! and you are too cute! in fact.. You ALL are dolls omg!! and thanks all.. I felt I needed a jump start in my metabolism.. and hoped this would be great.. I'll slow it down.. although I haven't been able to eat much' date=' so I was going a bit insane.. I love ya guys.. you all are so helpful truly..

Minime.. so what are you doing to keep the weight coming off every week? I walked 30mins today and danced for 30mins.. and also, I can definitely relate.. not about the self sabotaging.. but everything else.. I really do see it all in a different light now, it's not the same as before when I would hop on a diet, it really does feel like a life change, and I watch everything I eat now.. though I do get discouraged a bit when I don't see results.. I am definitely going to only weigh myself once a week. I was weighing every morning only.. but yes it's not working. lol.

again.. thanks all.. and patty I am sure you will receive some emails from me throughout this journey! <3 thanks all. [/quote']

I'm just sticking to the program. Watching fat intake. I eat Greek yogurt for breakfast, grilled fish, eggs, or chicken and veggies for lunch and dinner. I rarely snack. I rarely eat cheese or pork or beef. Those are things that have always slowed my personal wl. I don't eat processed foods like Mac n cheese or frozen meals.

I just keep it light and fresh. I will eat beans, humus or toast once in a while when my body tells me I need something more.

I'm taking TRX classes 3 times a week and jogging 2 times a week. I don't now, it just seems to work for me.

sounds great! thanks for the tips!

I pretty much eat the same as Minimi. If I get hungry between meals I have sf hot chocolate or chai tea and that takes the edge off.

I pretty much eat the same as Minimi. If I get hungry between meals I have sf hot chocolate or chai tea and that takes the edge off.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention tea! Hot wonderful, herbal tea! It is my drug of choice now. Morning, night and anywhere in between. My favorite for the moment is red leaf chai tea, tastes good and is caff free! If I'm craving sweet I put a little sf pumpkin flavored syrup in it. Calms all the demons!

This sounds like something worth trying, since I too suffer from the dreaded pleatues as well.

Oh yeah' date=' I forgot to mention tea! Hot wonderful, herbal tea! It is my drug of choice now. Morning, night and anywhere in between. My favorite for the moment is red leaf chai tea, tastes good and is caff free! If I'm craving sweet I put a little sf pumpkin flavored syrup in it. Calms all the demons![/quote']

Are we related? Chai my fave!lol

Hey everyone!!

Once again i'm stuck on my high carb day...

Anyone have any ideas of a low fat high carb dinner?

I'm thinking chicken breast teriyaki and orzo, but I dunno if that's ok.....

That sounds good as long as the breast is skinless. What are you putting on the orzo?