BTB's Low Carb Log

[BendtheBar]

Logging my low carb journey...feel free to ask questions.

Phase One

Background

While I have run low carb before it was never for an extended period of time. Previously I wads eating low carb during the week and eating whatever on the weekends.

This run I am committing to low carb long term simply as an experiment. My primary reasons are to test the health benefits. My secondary reason for a long term test is to see if I lose weight while eating to satiety.

To recap I will be:

1. Listing noticeable changes in my health.
2. Listing weight loss/gains.

Minor Health Issues:

• Frequent headaches
• Sinus issues and headaches
• Minor asthma
• Frequent lack of deep sleep
• General sluggishness
• Unable to function well on less than 8 hours of sleep - feel foggy and have no energy

First 20 Days

I just completed my 20 days of low carb, which I am calling Phase One. I had a carb refeed yesterday, but kept the calories to around 2500.

During Phase One I ate until satiety, never going to bed hungry. I was not trying to diet, nor diet I think about calories at all.

My meals were very high fat, and I ate a lot of steak, pork, eggs, chicken, cheese and low carb pizza (low carb pizza crust). My snacks were usually almonds and string cheese.

Thought I allowed myself fruit, I wasn't eating much. The occasional strawberry of two. I didn't go out of the way to force myself to eat veggies like broccoli, but I did use some in combination with my meals - onions, peppers, spinach, etc.

Phase One Results

Weight. My weight dipped to 307.2 pounds. This is the lowest it has been for months. At my last meet I was 318 going in, and tried to cut weight. I nearly missed the 308 class, weighing in at 308.6.

A week after the meet my weight reached an all-time high of 322 pounds. I have been trying to cut since, but it's been 2 steps forward, one step back. Family gatherings have been minimizing my progress. Just last month, after reaching 310 the week prior, my weight had bounced back up to 318 after 2 weeks of family BBQs.

During Phase One I lost nearly 11 pounds without trying. Obviously this was a lot of intra-cellular water weight, etc., but it's still the lowest I've been in months - and without trying to diet.

Headaches. I have not had a single headache in the past 20 days, nor taken any Advil. Last night I had a carb re-feed, today I woke up with a small migraine.

Sinus Issues. No sinus headaches in the last 20 days. Could certainly be weather related or seasonal.

Asthma. No noticeable differences. Breathing easier because of the weight loss though.

Sleep. Sleeping much better. When I wake up in the middle of the night I feel very foggy and can tell I am sleeping deeply. This has been very consistent. I have not had an issue falling back asleep the last 20 days whatsoever. 20 minutes after I am awake I feel mentally alert.

Sluggishness. This has been gone. I have not felt blah, lazy, tired or sluggish during these 20 days. I am more productive at work, and feel mentally more alert.

Less Than Optimal Sleep. The days after sub-par sleep (forced to get up earlier because of kiddies/dog/whatever) are going well. I do not feel tired, am not yawning, and feel about the same as I do on days I get perfect sleep.

Today, after my carb re-feed last night, I feel sluggish, with a headache, and general lazy and unmotivated.

Thoughts

I did not enter this experiment expecting sleep to be better, or to feel more energy during the day. I also never expected 20 days without headaches. This could be from low-carb, or cleaning up my diet in general, though I am leaning with the low carb side. I've cut many times previously using clean diets and not seem some of these benefits. We shall see...

Whether these are tied into the low carb lifestyle or not is yet to be determined. In any case, I am sleeping the best I have slept in years, eating until satiety, losing weight, and have more energy. On to Phase Two.

[BendtheBar]

Phase Two

During Phase Two I will attempt to go low carb for 60 straight days. I will document meals, and monitor my weight, headaches, sleep, gym performance, etc. I will begin Phase Two on Monday, after my bodyweight has settled back down following last night's carbs.

[LtL]

Great log. Look forward to following this.

Al

[JTurner]

Great log, I've been planning something similar so ill be following closely.

[BendtheBar]

Thanks for following guys. I debated starting a log, but after 20 days I figure it was time to get this official.

[Goat]

BTB, I am thinking of following your footsteps here. What was your carb intake like.

I just received another good blood test after eating high fat for the last six months lipid down, ldl down and hdl up. If I can just get rid of the carbs, I know that my BS will come down and I can get of the meds.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Goat

BTB, I am thinking of following your footsteps here. What was your carb intake like.

I just received another good blood test after eating high fat for the last six months lipid down, ldl down and hdl up. If I can just get rid of the carbs, I know that my BS will come down and I can get of the meds.

I don't monitor carbs unfortunately. I don't eat any sunstantial amounts of fruits and veggies. My only carbs come from a few here and there in my whey protein powder, and the carbs in almonds. I doubt I ever get over 30-40 per day.

Sometimes I will make a spinach salad, or cauliflower mash, but again not many carbs in either.

[BendtheBar]

August 25th, 2012

Back on low carb after yesterday's carb re-feed. Felt like crap all day. Lingering headache, and oncoming sinus headache to boot. Feeling a bit tired and sluggish.

Must have drank 2 gallons of water yesterday after my carb meal. Wow was I thirsty.

8:30 am - Whey protein in coffee, 24 ounces.
10:30 am - Whey protein in coffee, 24 ounces.
Workout - One scoop of Hydramino in 16 ounces of water.
Post-workout - 3 pieces pepper jack string cheese with one scoop of Hydramino in 16 ounces of water.
3:00 pm - 3 pieces pepper jack string cheese.
5:30 pm - Taco beef with cheddar cheese, salsa, fresh onion and sour cream. One scoop of Hydramino in 16 ounces of water.
Snack - Probably 10 small sausage links with a couple Hydramino drinks.

[bruteforce]

In for the carbs. Mine starts today. Lets rock this.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by bruteforce

In for the carbs. Mine starts today. Lets rock this.

Rock it like Dokken!