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

OMG I know.. but honestly, looking back it does make sense about carbs. I went to my tracker back in september and saw my carb range was under 50 grams a day - Now, for the whole month of october my carb grams jumped to about 110-125 almost every single day.

Mind you my weight was flying off of me in september and took a stall in October...

That's kind of what I'm doing Missy. I know there needs to be a large difference between low and high carb days. I need to work on widening that difference. But, being on day 2, I'm kind of winging it too! I'm following the guidelines set by Chris, but have some work to do.

I kinda figure if I can get a 100g difference between the low and high days, I'm on the right track.

I kinda figure if I can get a 100g difference between the low and high days, I'm on the right track.

OHH deff!!

Is it total carbs - dietary Fiber or just total carbs?

It's total carbs

Just finished logging in day #2! I ate:

~800 calories

41g of Carbs

30g of fat

69g of Protein

Gonna make an early night so i don't get the munchies later and eat bad things!!

Thanks mis73 and everyone else for the advice!!

Just finished logging in day #2! I ate:

~800 calories

41g of Carbs

30g of fat

69g of Protein

Gonna make an early night so i don't get the munchies later and eat bad things!!

Thanks mis73 and everyone else for the advice!!

I say you did very very good today!

This looks very interesting! I think I may try this...I am tired of seeing the same number on the scale!

For a 100g difference I would definitely need to introduce toast back into my Breakfast planning. Looking back on my myfitnesspal history I am hitting any where between 70 to 90 grams of carbs. So I am guessing I should shoot for less than 30 - 40g on a low carb day and 90 - 110 on a high carb day.

Going to need some trial and error runs to figure it out but back when I did Atkins I was successful but I did slowly hone the program to my needs. So it was really a modified Atkins. Two things I am not wanting to really give up is my decaf coffee and my Protein shake. So I will need to plan that in some how. Unfortunately, I never became a black coffee drinker. I usually use fat free half and half and two splenda.

Edit: I also figured out how to save text from a Kindle book and covert it to Word or pdf form so it can be saved or printed. Anyone need any assist with that PM me. I don't want to detract off the topic of this thread.

Edited November 13, 201213 yr by Jim1967

I say you did very very good today!

Thanks!!

Today hasn't gone as well....

I made for breakfast a morningstar garden veggie patty on whole wheat toasted bread and i guess i ate too fast/had morning tightness/am not used to eating bread (or a combination of all of the above) and it made me sick and I pb'd a little bit

I guess i'll try making better choices for lunch and beyond!

Thanks!!

Today hasn't gone as well....

I made for breakfast a morningstar garden veggie patty on whole wheat toasted bread and i guess i ate too fast/had morning tightness/am not used to eating bread (or a combination of all of the above) and it made me sick and I pb'd a little bit

I guess i'll try making better choices for lunch and beyond!

Hanna, ohh I am so sorry to hear this hon. Yes, you might of ate just a little to soon or to fast, or both. I know for myself when I eat a little too fast I do get a small discomfort. but nothing more than that. I have no problems with eating food on bread as long as I take my time, chew it till minced in my mouth, and take smaller bites. Actually, when I eat a sandwich I do use a knive and fork,it helps tremendously.

((hugs))

Thanks!!

Today hasn't gone as well....

I made for breakfast a morningstar garden veggie patty on whole wheat toasted bread and i guess i ate too fast/had morning tightness/am not used to eating bread (or a combination of all of the above) and it made me sick and I pb'd a little bit

I guess i'll try making better choices for lunch and beyond!

Don't feel bad. I dropped my kids at school, came home,and went back to bed. The problem is, when I sleep my band gets super tight, which is the main reason I always have Protein shakes for breakfast.

So I woke up again just before lunch...took two bites of mac and cheese...and it's just not happening. WAY too tight from sleeping!

It happens

Since I am cycling I thought it would be appropriate to update my ticker to reflect that.....haaahaaaa

You know something I'm realizing with my own, as I look back at my logs, my fat content is WAY too high for the low carb days. I've got get that down considerably.

Just something for everyone else carb cycling to keep an eye on!