After a somewhat emotional and stressful day yesterday, I am somewhat unsurprised to see no change in my weight (or waist), and I can't REALLY expect to continue losing a pound a day, realistically, no matter how appealing the prospect may be or how hard I try. I can't say I'm not disappointed, but certainly far from derailed. My menu yesterday was two cups of BP coffee, first at 8:00AM and the second at about noon, because I was getting a little peckish. I was late breaking my fast and reached a near-meltdown point, but managed to basically keep my cool and make it through til four, when I had baked salmon and a green salad. I also had some fresh juice right before eating the salmon, which I normally don't put a lot of fruit in, but I think I put too much this time which may have also negatively impacted my fat burning capability. I did not get hungry again for the rest of the day, but ate some more salmon with some zucchini (again, probably a little too high in the carb range, really) at 9, the end of my feeding window, because I knew I would be hungry at bedtime if I didn't. I may not do that again.
Energy levels, apart from the 3:00 meltdown, remained pretty high and I got a pretty good bit done yesterday. Slept well. I have noticed that my ankles and left knee hurt just the teensiest bit again, so I may need to make some adjustments for inflammation. My mother's doctor, or chiropractor, or accupuncturist, or one of the dozen people she's being treated by, has put her on an anti-inflammatory diet that claims that fat is bad for inflammation, which runs counter to what I have been reading lately, but maybe there is something to it? Hard to say yet. I will keep going the way that I am for now, as I am still enjoying it immensely.
So, basically, you're adhering to a very LC diet or Ketogenic Diet, right? Are you simply counting carbs and keeping the net carbs per day at a specific level? How long are you planning to fast? Is the purpose of the fast to give your body a springboard, so to speak, to allow the pounds to drop faster?
ReplyDeleteJust curious.
I would assume, after a few weeks of eating this way, you would see a substantial loss.
I am indeed working on getting my body into a regular state of ketosis as part of this grand experiment. I'm not so much counting carbs as following guidelines (close to Primal Blueprint, the Bulletproof Diet, and Wheat Belly) about what foods provide optimal nutrition with minimal toxins and starch. Still figure out a rhythm. I'm also grappling with a general identity crisis faced with the knowledge, or at least very strong possibility, that my vegetarian diet has, essentially, been killing me. I have never eaten meat, apart from a couple of childhood lunchbox swaps, and I find it very difficult to imagine myself eating meat. On the other hand, one cannot live on eggs and salmon alone! I am planning to fast indefinitely, however, watching to see how my body reacts. If I start feeling like it has been a negative lifestyle choice, then I will change it. The program I am following advises a once or twice a week "re-feed" day of healthy carbs to help reset insulin sensitivity. That day is today, my friend. Though the diet really calls for the use of "healthy carbs," I am probably going to stray a little beyond what might be recommended and eat a few chips at a Mexican restaurant. It's all part of the experiment at this point! But as long as I feel like my body is benefiting, and that I am not somehow nutritionally deficient, I will keep going. I will likely give it at least sixty days for my body to adjust if anything starts feeling off (but not dangerous). The weight loss, to a certain degree, is more of a side-bonus. My goal is basically optimal health. Because of the way I define obesity (as a warning sign of poor health, not the cause) I am not working to lose weight, the weight loss (combined with improved mental focus, muscle tone, energy, mood, and sleep) is just another sign that what I am doing is healthy and right. I don't think that obesity is anyone's natural state, no matter how much it may feel that way - which it has, to me, for most of my life. I think we just had no idea what was wrong for way too long and a lot of people have had to die prematurely before we figured it out.
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't take very long to be in ketosis. As I recall, when I began back in 2008, the urine sticks I purchased every month began to turn lavender and then deep purple within just a few days. I was so thrilled to see that, knowing that my body was then starting to actually burn stored fat. Unfortunately, due to far too many years of adhering to the low fat, calories in, calories out BS that we all believed in for too long, my body just did not drop the weight quickly or regularly. It took a year to drop 30 pounds, and I suffered thru many plateaus.
ReplyDeleteNow, I am of the same mind as you, I will never be 5'10" and weigh 130 pounds! LOL I stick to this WOE for health, not for weight loss.
I am enjoying your blog. I hope you soon have many more readers.
Yes I have put my body through a lot over the years and I expect I have a few major hurdles ahead of me. In terms of weight, I expect to start having a much harder time by the time I get down to about 195, my previous peak. I also have yet to give up cheese, which I think is possibly going to become a problem at some point. Ultimately, I have no idea what to expect from this new lifestyle. Maybe it will be the key to finally get me down to a healthy weight for the first time since I was in grade school. Maybe it will just make it easier to get around. Who knows?
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