carb cycle

Ok - so I fell off the "good eating wagon" for a while.  Well, I haven't been eating bad foods, but more like too much!  I havn't counted in a long time, and I have been dreading having to do so again.

So - I am going to try carb cycling instead.  So far, I did low carb 2 days in a row and lost 3 pounds!  I know it is all water weight as low carbs deplete glycogen stores and the water that goes along with it.  I am eating carbs today.  So far had oatmeal and a ripe peach cut up into it.  yum.  I am planning on a moderate carb day, cutting off carbs by noon.  Hopefully, all three of those pounds don't come back!

At least, it has given me the motivation to get better at the food thing, because it is different.  Also, I felt pretty full the last two days, even though I had about 20 carbs.   Another thing is that I learned if I want to get a couple pounds leaner for a pool party or something all I have to do is no carbs for a couple days before.... even if it comes back the moment I eat carbs again!

I will post progress................

Yoga, it may sound strict, but it's not like I intentionally cut these foods out. I just found that I prefer lentils to rice, and since they are much higher in protein than grains, I'm more than happy about it.

I used to eat oatmeal EVERY day for dinner, for months! That was before I started trying to stick to 30-30-40 ratio. It was a difficult change to make because I had to find time and motivation to cook something else (oatmeal isn't exactly time consuming :))

Now I eat salmon/trout 2-3 times a week, and in my opinion it tastes best when served with veggies as opposed to grains or potatoes.  Why add extra starch if it tastes better without it?

The only things that I intentionally avoid are cookies, packaged cereal and pastries (unfortunately my hasband likes to bake)

Good for you!  Fish is good with veggies, I agree.  Like you, I think I would do much better without having to worry about the rest of the family.   I am sure that is probably the case for everyone trying to watch their intake.

Usually, we have a meat, a veg and a "good" grain/potato.  Hubby doesn't like fish, so for me it is mostly a lunch thing or when he goes out of town.  He also loves his ice cream and chocolate!  He does manage to stay pretty thin though.

I haven't given up on carb cycling yet.  I just need to get better at the discipline!  I have a new found love of chocolate graham crackers.... suggested here in the food forum.  Sheesh!

The problem with my hasband is that he's too skinny. He's just finished Hyp I  from NROL and did gain a bit, but I suspect it has something to do with me constantly reminding him to eat and packing his lunch. I envy him sooo much! He eats like 1.5 cups of tropical tail mix every day, and I'm counting out my 20 g of peanuts or cashews. It's really hard to come up with tasty high cal snacks for somebody else AND resist them at the same time. He just "forgets" to eat.

Did you kill the person who suggested chocolate graham crackers? (drools...)

I failed epically yesterday at my low carb day. I guess I don't know how to do it.

I avoided the carbs until after lunch and then I had a stupid raisin bran muffin. Supper came and I had a half a cup of pasta, THEN I was craving cereal before bed! That never happens, I swear. I had a handful of mini-wheats.

I didn't have today scheduled as a low carb day, so I had my PB abd banana sandwich for breakfast.

Tomorrow I will try it again. Any tips or tricks would be helpful!

I guess I am lucky I have a hubby who is also as health conscious as me. He doesnt really even like sweets (its just me) and will try mostly anything.

this is a typical week of dinners for us:

-cedar planked fish (trout/salmon/char) with BBQ veggies

-tacos made with ground chicken or turkey. light sour cream and a bit of light cheese. (piled with veggies too- onions/peppers)

-homemade baked falafels with weight watchers wraps (90 cals each) and tzatziki and a salad

-shrimp scampi

-BBQ chicken breast with mini potatoes and cucumber/tomato salad

Thats actually what we ate last week. Delicious and pretty good I think? I consume the majority of my carbs from snacks/protein shake/veggies I think...

How would you rate those meals? Any suggestions to add to it? I know I need to eat more grains but not sure what to do with them. Made a quinoa salad once that was pretty good....

Hi Guys, Just wanted to report my progress on this so far. I am up to only 22Grams of carbs on my 1st low carb day. I think this could really work for me because I do tend to feel better/have less carb cravings when I am eating this way but know I will feel too deprived if I can't have oatmeal and certain other things each week. BUT will it produce RESULTS? Jury is out!

Here's what I have eaten:

BKFST-2 veggie "sausage" patties + 1egg and 1/2 cup of egg white omelette with 2TBSP each of mushroom/greenpepper, pat of butter and 1/4 cup shredded colby jack cheese.

Snack-Cheese stick

Lunch-4 cups of Raw Spinach w 2TBSP each of green pepper/mushrooms,1 hard boiled egg, 7 walnut halves, topped with 2 more TBSP of colby jack and olive oil/balsamic. This was really  GOOD and filling.

I am up to 957 cals-will see how I do tonight. Going for Bike Ride so that will keep me busy.

I also tend to keep carbs on the lower side as usual-avoid refined anything and eat only 1 whole grain item a day, plus oatmeal. But with that I am still up to 150-200 Grams. So this is pretty good for me. And I am not hungry-just worry about alot of extra fat/less fiber-but again if it is only a couple days a week....

So 88  total grams of carbs yesterday. Is that low enough to be 'low carb'?

Sure was a lot of fat though.

Original Post by igloogal:

I failed epically yesterday at my low carb day. I guess I don't know how to do it.

I avoided the carbs until after lunch and then I had a stupid raisin bran muffin. Supper came and I had a half a cup of pasta, THEN I was craving cereal before bed! That never happens, I swear. I had a handful of mini-wheats.

I didn't have today scheduled as a low carb day, so I had my PB abd banana sandwich for breakfast.

Tomorrow I will try it again. Any tips or tricks would be helpful!

 I do hard-boiled eggs, Spoons of peanut butter, nuts, salad & meat.  These tend to keep me filled.  The PB is kinda carby!  lol

Original Post by chelslaw1984:

How would you rate those meals? Any suggestions to add to it? I know I need to eat more grains but not sure what to do with them. Made a quinoa salad once that was pretty good....

 Yumm!  Sounds good to me.

Original Post by future214:

So 88  total grams of carbs yesterday. Is that low enough to be 'low carb'?

Sure was a lot of fat though.

 I guess that would depend on how many carbs you normally eat.  To me, I would consider it moderate carb day.  My low ones are around 30.... but everyone is different!  88 is low accordning to what I read.

I know it has been months since anyone has posted here but hopefully some of you are still around.  Would you mind pointing me to some reading material about carb cycling?  I tried low carb for 2 days and by the 3rd day I was just dying for a fruit salad and some brown rice with dinner.  I know on the low carb days you are allowed about 30g but that barely allows for 1 piece of fruit.  I think the cycling thing might just fit for me. 

Any update on the progress YogaGirl?

Hey Ash.... Sorry to say, I gave up on the whole idea!  I think I just love my carbs too much.  I read alot of info just from googling "carb cycling".  There are a few different ways to do it.  I did initially lose like 3 pounds.... but that was it and that is why I quit.  (they did not come back though!)  I didn't have much to lose... just trying to get more "cut".

I think it would be good to do a couple days before an event that you wanna look good for - even if it is only a couple water-weight pounds.

I still eat "good carbs" and try to stay away from white bread, etc.  & I wish I were better at portion control, because that is my weak point!

Good luck to you... and keep us posted if you are going to try it!