Does the Body Adapt?

Is it possible for the body to adapt to a particular diet? 

I went on Adkins back during the fad of it (2003) and lost 35 lbs. 16 of those lbs during "Phase 1", so I figured that since I want to lose 20 lbs I would start it up again.  However during this "Phase 1" portion of it I only lost 2 lbs in 2 weeks.  Granted I wasn't the angel that I should have been (had 1 oreo and a handful of chips) but I worked out just as hard as previously.  I figured I wouldn't lose the 16 but maybe 8-10.

Is it possible that since my body has adapted to low carb and is holding on to them even harder?  Oh also, I'm sure turning 30 doesn't help either but do I reall yhave to work 10x harder for 2 lbs?

Sincerely,

Feeling Frustrated

You can count carbs if you want, but really it ultimately comes down to calories.  So if you restrict carbs... but eat way more protein, you won't lose. The main reason why Atkins works is that you are limiting one of the major groups of food that people have problems with.  If you did a low fat diet, you would get the same result... it works to restrict fat, because you're limiting calories.  But you can gain on a low-fat diet, if you over eat sugar.

Same way, I know someone how has lost 30 pounds by not eating carbs after 6 pm. But there is no science to support this.... it works because evenings were her problem time.

You can make up any type of diet, if it places a limitation you will probably lose weight. So (I'm making one up here), say you go on the "orange-food diet." Can eat only orange food. Likely you will lose weight just out of boredom. But if you decided to load up on candy corn all day long, you could gain weight.

So these diets that limit a food group, but don't have you count all calories, tend to work to a point. Counting calories is way more effective.

In addition, when you lose weight, your body needs fewer calories to maintain the lower weight, so your deficit gets smaller. To continue to lose at the same pace, you have to also lower calories.
If you continue to eat the same calories, weight loss gets smaller and smaller each week... and eventually you woud plateau... because you woud be then eating the calories needed to maintain that lower weight.

Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. 

I guess I will have to cut back further and see where it takes me.  According to the charts on this site, I burn between 800-1200 caleries at the gym so I need to take in about 2000 total throughout the day.  Perhaps I should start counting them... that might help. 

Perhaps be more stringent than before, as I get older it only gets harder. :(

Thanks again.

just posting to add that Shiptona's absolutely right.  been there and done that.  now just counting calories, not restricting any one type of food and losing weight steadily.  also the excercise pays off.  it's been 2 weeks...count your calories and keep working out for another 2 and i bet you are seeing changes in clothing fit as well as the scale.  i've only lost 7 pounds so far but wow i look a lot different and am 1 - 2 sizes smaller.  ( i just did a mini celebratory clothes shopping ) :D

good luck!

I will be counting.  I'm going to be using this website to see what exactly I am eating. I still will be burning my 1000 cal at the gym 4 times a day and I will give it 2 more weeks before I decide to go a different route.  I'll keep you posted.

Sorry about that.... it shoudl read 4 times per WEEK.  I do have a job during the day. :)

Low carb diets are helpful for quick weight loss but don't help much in terms of long term weight loss and maintenance.  It sounds to me like you have a lowered metabolism due to the yoyo dieting (losing, then gaining it back, losing, etc). 

You need to have an adequate balance of nutrients - you can't just eat as much protein as you want and not concern yourself with fat, or just count calories and not consider whether you are getting enough fiber and protein.  I used the calorie calculator for women on www.nutrition.about.com to determine not only how many calories I need based on my weight, goal weight, height, age and how much exercising I'm doing but also how many of those calories should be carbs, protein and fat.  Knowing how many grams of carb, protein, fat, etc that I need has really helped me align my eating so that I am getting enough calories and providing my body with the fuel it needs to work more efficiently.

As to answer your direct question of whether or not your body can become immune to dieting the answer is yes.  Your weight naturally fluxuates throughout the year but when you are not at a healthy weight or you severely diet, this messes up your natural cycle. 

So you are saying the low carb diets are not good for you.  I have just started the South Beach Diet and I know my body does not like crabs I just put on weight., so now I am confused!!

 

 

From what I took from that was that Low Carb diets aren't necessarily good or bad.  Studies have shown (at least the ones that I have read) that a low carb diet can help you lose the weight faster.  However, putting it back on is easier because you reintroduce the foods that got you heavy in the first place.

Then again, a low fat diet could have the same yo-yo effect too.  The best way to lose the weight and keep it off is to change your eating habits both physically AND mentally. 

I personally lost 35 lbs in 6 weeks by cutting carbs to <30 day.  Then over the course of 5 years I put 20 lbs back on.  Very frustrating, but what I found was that if I just mentally tell myself that I need to cut back on both fat & carbs, that is the best.  I monitor what I eat using this website and inputting everything into the Food Activity.  This way it keeps me accountable for what I eat and keeps me motivated to keep eating healthly and low carb/far/calories.

Overall, it doesn't matter whether it is low carb or low fat, the key is to watch your calories.