April Slow Carb - The End!

Well, this is the basically the last day of April Slow Carb, since I will be cheating tonight @ dinner and tomorrow night. I usually don't weigh in on Saturday, so let's call this, April 29th, the last day of slow carb. And now, the tale of the scale, date - spot weight - 10 day moving average:

	2011-04-29	190.60	191.92
	2011-04-28	190.80	192.12
	2011-04-27	191.00	192.40
	2011-04-26	192.60	192.96
	2011-04-25	194.00	192.90
	2011-04-24	193.60	192.66
	2011-04-23	191.40	192.52
	2011-04-22	191.60	192.68
	2011-04-21	192.00	193.04
	2011-04-20	191.60	193.10
	2011-04-19	192.60	193.24
	2011-04-18	193.60	193.34
	2011-04-17	196.60	193.42
	2011-04-15	192.00	193.24
	2011-04-14	191.60	193.80
	2011-04-13	192.20	194.24
	2011-04-12	193.00	194.64
	2011-04-11	195.20	195.02
	2011-04-08	192.60	195.00
	2011-04-07	193.00	195.22
	2011-04-06	193.60	195.47
	2011-04-05	194.40	195.75
	2011-04-04	194.80	195.73
	2011-04-03	197.60	195.71

So, depending on how you want to look at it, I lost 7 lbs in 27 days (.25 lbs/day) or I lost 3.79 lbs if we go by trend weight. I personally feel that 7 lbs is closer to the reality. I wish I had done the Total Inches measurements, because I still suspect that some of this is re-composition - trading fat for muscle, which means your weight just shifts, but doesn't necessarily drop all that quickly (the old "muscle weighs more than fat" defense).

Still, it was a very successful month. 7 lbs is pretty good. And now we can re-calibrate and try something new for May. Exact goals to follow soon, but I think I will be slightly less carb restrictive, but more exercise and change the supplements a bit.

April Slow Carb - T minus 4

Oh yeah, down to 191.0 this morning. I am *breaking* through that 190 marker by Friday morning. Yes!

I know I'm not supposed to get caught up in the weight thing, but it's a hell of a motivator. And I've noticed that my body fat percentages are starting to come in consistently at 24.5% or so, where they used to be around 25.5% or even higher sometimes (bio-impedance sucks).

Could it be that I'm actually losing some fat? My pants definitely fit a little better now. May is going to be *awesome*.

April Slow Carb - T minus 5

5 days to go. Down to 192.6 this morning, so definitely back on track.

Holy hell am I sore from running yesterday. Didn't realize how much running I haven't been doing over the past few months. Gotta get back on that horse.

Workout

Jumped up to 194 lbs this morning, which isn't bad considering the damage I did this weekend.

Also, took this first Policosanol last night before bed. 10mg.

Resolved to finish the month strong by going to the gym this morning and banging out 3K in 27 minutes, which is a triumph for me. Felt really strong, no leg pain, good breathing, could have kept going but had to get back to work.

Suddenly a 5K in the fall seems very possible. Let's do this!

April Slow Carb - The Final Week

Well, the cheat days finally got me: jumped up to 193.6 lbs today. And, of course, today was Easter dinner with the folks, so I had to cheat a bit there too. I tried to keep it reasonable, but I know I'm going to get another jump tomorrow morning.

So, as we head into the last week, things are going pretty well. If the trend continues, I should get down under 190 in a spot weigh-in this week, probably on Thursday or Friday morning. And while that's a little less than 10 lbs, it'll still be a pretty good start.

As I head into May, it'll be more of the same. I'll continue the slow carb diet I think, but I'm going to try some new additions:

1. Full PAG stack (no garlic until I can find a better brand)
2. CQ addition
3. 3 workouts/week

More info in another post at the beginning of May, but if I can finish April at 190-ish, then I don't think 180 is out of the question for end of May.

Also, giving some serious thought to training for a 5K in the fall.

April Slow Carb - Cheating Like A Mofo

On this easter weekend, I have been cheating like you wouldn't believer. But here's the thing: weight is still coming down. For two days. Just small amounts, but I keep waiting for the spike and it just isn't happening. And this is after potatoes, stuffing, beer and many, many glasses of wine. Wild.

I expect tomorrow morning or Monday to be the day where it all comes down.

In other news, did a little P90X this morning. Tried out the Kenpo routine...awesome stuff, I actually enjoyed it. Wanted to do the whole thing, but ran out of time...

April Slow Carb - Stall?

A little bummed out today. I know you're not supposed to focus too much on daily weigh-ins, but it was getting addictive to see that number going down a little every day. Until today, where I was 1/2 a pound heavier this morning than yesterday. Again, I know this is not a big deal, but still. I have a number in my head when I step on that scale, and 192 lbs wasn't it. Oh well.

This weekend is easter, and that's going to mean some tough choices about meal selection. There's going to be mashed potatoes, stuffing, beer, etc. etc. We'll have to see how that goes down.

Finally, added a shot of garlic to the supplement routine after dinner last night. I can't remember how much or what brand, but I can tell you three things: 1) the pills, although "odor controlled", smell terrible; 2) some stomach discomfort last night. Not a full on stomach ache, but just weird and continues a little bit this morning; and 3) TMI warning: full emergency sprint to the bathroom about 10 mins ago.

Garlic doesn't agree with me in that quantity or form.

Workout

Quick visit to the gym this morning. Didn't have a lot of time, so banged out 15 mins on the elliptical and 1 circuit of the machines (bench, leg press, pulldowns, shoulder press, curls) and out the door. Not great, but something. Just trying to get the habit started again in preparation for May, when it all goes down.

April Slow Carb - Supplement Update

Just for the record, my supplement program has stabilized at:

1 Centrum Forte multi
1000mg Omega 3
2400 IU Vitamin D
100mg ALA
400mg EGCG green tea extract

Which means it's probably time to add something new! I'll probably start with Policosanol before bed and/or garlic extract after dinner.

Saving the CQ for May.

April Slow Carb - Another Update

An interesting development: On Wednesday, I had a couple of things working against me. First, I was in a 5 hour meeting at work, and lunch was brought in. And, of course, it was sandwiches. I managed to steal a turkey wrap to keep the carbs down, and get some salad in there. I did however, have a cookie, because I was flatlining in the meeting.

Wait, it gets worse. That night, retirement party! Glass and a half of red wine, and a few jack and cokes. Now, normally, I would have had beer, so that's a small win. But now the killer: I was so hungry that I had McDonald's on the way home. Double cheeseburger, fries, Sprite, the whole 9 yards. Then I got home and ate banana bread, cheese and, I swear, M&Ms. Good lord.

So, I was prepared for a bit of a "spike" on Thursday morning.

Nope, lowest weight since I started: 191.6. What the hell? I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but it feels like I'm in pretty good shape so far. For those keeping score at home, here's the latest tally:

April 3 (start day) - 197.6
April 11 (1 week later) - 195.2
April 15 - 192.0
Total lost so far - 5.6 lbs

I'm definitely on pace to do 10 lbs this month, but I'm also thinking that I'll probably have to starting getting to the gym more regularly. And no more McDonalds.

April Slow Carb - Update

Two interesting things today:

1. Weight is basically back to where it was before the cheat day. In other words, I ended last week at 192, ate like a pig for a day, jumped up to 195, and it's back down to 193 on Tuesday morning. Nice. And exactly what's supposed to happen on this plan.
2. Back in the gym today for the first time in a loooooong time. For some reason I decided to hit the elliptical today. Now, back in the day, I was all over the elliptical - it was my "go to" cardio. But somewhere along the way I gave up on it. Well, I'm happy to report that the elliptical was a pretty good workout and the bonus? It doesn't beat the hell out of your knees like running.

So, 20 mins elliptical and another 15 or so doing some light weights. Hey, it's better than nothing.

Really, the best news was that the gym is not busy at 8am. Which is *perfect*. If I can get to work by 7:30 or so, I can get into the gym for an hour at 8 and be back before most people show up at 9am. Sweet.

April Slow Carb - Week 1 Recap

Off to a pretty good start in April. Just got through my first weekend, including the cheat "day" and only bounced up about 3 lbs, which I'm told is normal. So, if you're scoring at home, my weight looks like this over the first week:

Start - April 3: 197.6 lbs
End of week - April 8: 192.6 lbs
... cheat day...
Start week 2 - April 11: 195.2 lbs

Interesting. Have to keep it going this week. Made some chili yesterday for this week's dinner meals and last night added ALA back to the stack and will track how that goes down this week. Supplementation looks like this right now:

Multivitamin (Centrum Forte)
1000 mg Omega 3
2400 IU Vitamin D
400 mg Green Tea Extract
100 mg ALA

April Slow Carb - Whatever Day This Is

I stopped counting the days because I'm so hungry. Just kidding!

I'm actually not hungry at all. That's the nice thing about this "diet": you really don't have to deprive yourself of food. Certain types of food yes. But not food in general.

So far things have been going well. I am 4 pounds down from my start weight and feeling good. I am being much more strict this time. The only thing I am cheating with is a little bit of cheese. I basically can't live without cheese. But it's not a lot, I swear.

Green tea extract supplement is working out okay. Not noticing any real changes or weirdness. I might even re-start the ALA. We'll see. I'll probably give the GTE another week and see where we're at.

April Slow Carb - Day 2

Ugh, sore from the yesterday's workout. I didn't mention that? While my wife and kids were watching Tangled at my sister's place, I was doing pushups, crunches and yoga stuff until I felt sick.

Anyhoo, day 2. Protein shake in the car on the way to work. That actually worked pretty well. Lunch was chicken breast on salad. And dinner? Well, more salad. This time a taco salad thing that was actually very tasty. Tonight's snack was our old favorite, red wine.

And now it's 10:30 and I have to go to bed before I find something to eat.

Oh, yes, the coolest news of the day: I lost 3 lbs of (water) weight in 24 hours. Nice. I guess we should have a goal for the month. The 4HB says you can do 20 lbs in 1 month. I'm going to keep it real and go for 10 lbs. That would make me about 185 lbs. That'll be tough. We'll see.

One more thing: I popped a Green Tea Extract supplement for the first time today. 400mg (200mg of EGCG). Will be tracking that too.

April Slow Carb - Day 1

Well, enough is enough. After hitting a ridiculously high 197 lbs and not having been to the gym in 2 weeks, it's time to make a change. I've been thinking about it for a while and honestly, this is the final straw.

So, on Friday, I decided that I'd do the 4HB slow carb diet in April. Not, the "modified" version that I made up in January. News flash: it didn't work at all. Nope, the real, full on, slow carb version. I'll probably starve to death.

Naturally, I started with a cheat day, to get it all out of my system. Pizza, cookies, chips and beer. Good times. Then came Sunday, and the good times ended. My Sunday menu:

1. Breakfast: Protein shake (have to get 30g of protein with 1/2 of waking up)
2. Lunch: Butternut squash soup (homemade, and damn tasty)
3. Dinner: Steak and asparagus
4. Snack: Glass of red wine

How did I feel? Interestingly, I was peeing like a champ all day. I guess that's the water fleeing the building as the sodium level in my body drops. I also was a little weak and headache-y in the early evening. Later, I felt like I was genuinely starving.. I had to go to bed at 9:30 to try to forget about the hunger.

On to day 2! Had the protein shake in the car this morning. Green tea at work. Let's do this!