In late June, I made some measured modifications to my now-(depending on how you define it) famous slow carb diet practice.
For starters, I resumed drinking Gatorade during Krav Maga training sessions. I noticed an immediate increase in my mental acuity and energy levels, resulting in better training, both physically and mentally. I am also allowing myself up to one soda – usually club soda, lemon juice, and stevia – per day.
Next, I allowed myself one “slip day” (in addition to my cheat day) per week, where I can eat restricted foods (dairy, or grains) provided I do so after a resistance training workout, and I stay within my daily total energy expenditure (so if I have a couple slices of pizza after hitting the gym, and keep the calories sane, I’m okay.
I’m also skipping breakfast – yes, the most important meal of the day – on most days. Also, I haven’t been eating as many legumes as previously, usually only having them a few days or of the week now.
Finally, I allow myself some night time carbs. This has usually been a small amount of dark chocolate, but could also be a granola bar. In addition to satisfying any cravings, this had resulted in better quality sleep than melatonin, valerian, or GABA. Again, I make sure to stay within my daily TEE so this is not a bingefest like some Saturdays turn into.
The results? Not much to report, actually. There has been a modest decrease in weight over the last few weeks, but nothing dramatic.
Given all of these adjustments, I’m not sure it even qualifies as the slow carb diet even more, but hey! As long as it works, I’m happy.
Slow Carb Diet Success
In May I embarked on a low-carb diet. Shortly after choosing to start this, I resumed the “slow carb diet” which was popularized by Tim Ferris when he released his second book, the four hour body. I tried the diet last year after the book first came out, with lackluster results. This time, it worked. Continue reading “Slow Carb Diet Success”
Low Carb Diet – Round 3
In the last week of May, 2012 I started a low carb diet. This is not my first attempt at such a thing, as I successfully lost 45 pounds following a program called Medifast in 2008, and I experimented with the slow carb diet for a couple of months in 2011. While I am not necessarily looking to lose weight this time around, I do want more energy and would like to tone up some. Since moving to Boston, I have increased my regular exercise regime to where I am doing some form of exercise pretty much every day, whether it is yoga, martial arts, or cycling.
However, I was feeling quite exhausted on occasion, most likely as a result of not yet changing my diet.
I have not adopted a formal diet this time, preferring instead to “trust my gut” and see what happens. While I am not counting calories, I am consciously choosing to intake fewer carbohydrates, which is difficult for me, as I miss my popcorn and potatoes. However, I have noticed that after eating a big meal, by skipping the potatoes with dinner, I do not feel “stuffed” to the point of needing a wheelchair to leave the dinner table. Rather, I feel comfortably satisfied.
I am allowing myself to eat all of the protein that I want, whether it is beef, fish, poultry, etc., does not matter. I am also increasing my daily intake of vegetables. So far, the resulting diet has been rather similar to the slow carb diet, minus the weekly “binge day,” and allowing for some occasional, albeit small, doses of carbs, e.g., a slice or two of Ezekiel bread every few days.
For the first week, my energy levels definitely dropped, which is to be expected when you first start something like this. However, now that I am in the second week, they seem to be coming back. I don’t know if my weight has changed yet, as I will have to wait until returning to Vermont, where my scale is, but I do seem to be getting a little more muscle definition already.
Medifast: Success Story. From 208# to 165# in Four Months
I just weighed in at 165.8. Take out the 8oz. coffee and 8oz. soup I ingested prior to weighing myself, and I am now officially under my target weight of 165#.
I win.
Medifast Progress, Below 170, Less Than 5# Away!
Weighed myself a couple of days ago, and I was 170#. Now I’m wearing size 32 pants for the first time in over a decade, if not two. Yowza!
Medifast Progress: Down 33#
I am writing this from a friend’s house in sunny Tampa, Florida. Prior to leaving, I weighed in at almost exactly 175# – down 33 from where I started. That means I’m only about 10 pounds away from my goal of 165. Oh yeah. Continue reading “Medifast Progress: Down 33#”
Medifast – 2 months, ~25 pounds
Two months ago, I started on the Medifast plan. I was 208# then, and I’ve been as low as 183.4# a couple of days ago. Weight fluctuates, so I’m up a bit today, but I’ve lost nearly 25 pounds in two months. It doesn’t sound quite as impressive as when I lost 18 pounds in the first month, but I knew that the rate would slow as I got nearer to my goal, so I’m not worried.
Today was the first time that people commented, unprompted, at how I was losing weight. The were folks whom I hadn’t seen in over a month, so they had the “old me” (read “fat me”) in mind and could really see the difference. Also, today I wore a pair of dress pants which I hadn’t worn in well over a year because I outgrew them – something which really bothered me at the time, because my wife picked them out with me after a time when I had gained weight. So basically, I couldn’t fit into my “fat pants.” That did not feel good, but wearing them today sure did.
Now I need to replace the four new pairs of jeans I bought back in May. Maybe I can take them in…
Medifast – Stumble!
Two days ago I was just a shade over 190#, down 18# from my starting weight of 208#. Yesterday and today, I weighed in at over 193#. I suspect that I know why. Two days in a row, I “winged it” with my lean portion (sliced turkey meat). I suspect I ate too much. Furthermore, two days ago I dug out some of my old favorite hot sauce, Iguana Gold.
To my dismay, I realized that the second ingredient on the list is cane sugar. Sugar is a big no-no on this diet.
Damnit.
So I’m back on track, and using some Tabasco (much less salt, no sugar, etc.) and paying closer attention to my intake again.
Medifast Log: 30 Days and Counting (Down)
One month ago, I joined my wife on the Medifast plan. This is just a short progress report to say that, as of 8:40am this morning, I have lost 16 pounds in the first month. Continue reading “Medifast Log: 30 Days and Counting (Down)”
Medifast – Steady as She Goes
I’ve been sticking with the Medifast plan since June 13. As of today, I’m down about seven pounds. It’s been surprisingly easy, and the toughest part has been the hour just before dinner, when I’ve been very hungry and concerned that there wouldn’t be enough food to satisfy me. Fortunately, this is not the case, and I have not once gone to bed hungry. Continue reading “Medifast – Steady as She Goes”