For 39 weeks I have been eating a low carbohydrate/high fat diet. I set out to lose 40 pounds at the age of 40. I am fast approaching my 41st birthday and am ready to admit failure. I've only lost 30 pounds.
My BMI when I changed my diet was 29 and today it is 24.5.
My waist to height ratio was 52.21 and today it is 44.85.
When I first began I averaged a one pound per week weight loss. That has slowed tremendously. I've been stuck at the same weight for eight weeks now. Though I do continue to lose about a quarter of an inch of fat every couple weeks. My activity level has been very low. I have not exercised much at all this last year. I'm excited that I still have the results that I do and believe I'll be able to continue losing fat at this rate without upping my activity level but I'm just not that patient. I'm eager to get back to lifting weights and doing some high-intensity interval training.
I can't express enough how easy this has been. I am so thankful I made the decision to believe it would work and implement the changes to my diet. The only will power that was necessary was in the first week of curing my sugar/carbohydrate addiction. I probably didn't do it "the right" way but the way I did it worked - I have not craved anything for over nine months. I am not tempted by food. In fact, the only signals I have to eat are the clock - I eat breakfast, lunch, and supper and occasionally, if I am active, I'll notice a dip in energy that lets me know I need to eat some fat. I don't ever feel a hungry feeling.
In addition to the weight loss, the positive benefits of eating this way for me have been:
-No more inflammation pain in any of my joints or tendons
-Fast recovery from injury
-Strengthened immune system
-Pleasant disposition - no ups and downs in mood, no depression or feelings of deprivation
-Excellent sleep
-If I drink a few too many - no hangover
-Improved eyesight
-Excellent digestion - I'm never bloated nor do I have any digestive discomfort
-Improved brain function - clearer thinking and improved retention of new information
-Consistent energy
-No PMS symptoms (except for one month when I was experimenting with intermittent fasting)
So now it's on to this year's goal of achieving a BMI of 21, a waist to height ratio of 42, a 20 pound weight loss, a commitment to doing some form of HIIT 3 days a week and to achieve my previous personal records in lifts.
Happy New Year!
Yay! You are so inspiring! Great results and best wishes for this years' goal achievement!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWell done on all you've achieved, SD!
ReplyDeleteI thought of you the other day, when I was having breakfast with some girl friends... one was cooking bacon and eggs, and she went to dab the grease off our bacon with a napkin. I said, "Wait! What are you doing? Are you draining the grease off the bacon?!? That's the best part!"
I was horrified :P
Thanks SS! I say the same thing whenever I hear someone tell me their eating something low fat: "Why would you do that? You need fat!"
DeleteIf I may suggest, build up a solid aerobic base cardio before getting into anaerobic cardio including HIIT because " HIIT workouts dramatically increase stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine, which over time can lead to health problems and injuries. Low testosterone levels in men and low progesterone levels in women occur from training too hard, too often, with insufficient rest. This can come from too many HIIT workouts or too much high intensity “cardio”
ReplyDeletehttp://sock-doc.com/sock-doc-training-aerobic-intervals/
Something to consider.
Thank you for the tip and the link. I'll take a look.
ReplyDeleteAccording to this trainer who has done a keto diet as a lifestyle for years, you don;t need to do cardio. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fINQHPtco
ReplyDeleteAccording to the book, Why we get fat and What to do About it. Excerise increases the amount of calories you body needs. If you know you won't stick to cardio for life then don't do it. When you quit your body is use to eating more than your burning, instant weight gain. Weights are enough excerise for most.