First, I have to thank TJ for his advice on this, since I was previously stalled at one weight for weeks. It seemed odd, but I put my faith in it and he was exactly right.

I was 226 on 3/24, and I'm 218 today.

This is amazing considering I've worked in some real beer and some bread, twice! It was just as TJ predicted though--I guess my body had found balance and even though I was still well under 40g/day and usually under 30, my Ketone levels stayed in the "trace" range and I lost no weight. Immediately after having a few beers one night, my Ketone levels then bounced up to mid-range in around 48 hours. Last weekend I had one real beer and some bread; Ketones were barely trace 24 hours later, but high 48 hours later.

Thanks again, just what I needed, and I never would have thought of this.

>First, I have to thank TJ for his advice on this,

No sweat bud! Glad I could help.

>I was 226 on 3/24, and I'm 218 today.

Sometimes the changes that occur during
weightloss aren't measurable via the scale.
Sometimes you'll see results, and other
times you'll just feel them.. (clothes fitting
more loosely, etc.)

>This is amazing considering I've worked in some
>real beer and some bread, twice! It was just as
>TJ predicted though--

Without getting too technical, suffice it to say
that it has to do with stimulating the thyroid.

After about 1-2 months of strict low-carb the
thyroid ceases to produce enough T3 and instead
makes more storage T4. (a starvation-like
response). In essence, your metabolic rate slows.

This can be defeated by consuming a minimum
of 50g of glucose periodically. This jumpstarts
a slow thryoid and prevents the plateau that
most who attempt a "strict Atkins" type approach
hit..

(the root cause can be found in the study of
paleo-biology and human evolution..)

>Thanks again, just what I needed, and I never would
>have thought of this

It seems counterintuitive yes.. But, then again, so
does eating more fat (less carbs) to lose bodyfat ;-)

Good job Bud!
:cool: TJ :cool:

Ok, so I've been doing the Atkins thing, and am down from 227 to 205. It's interesting that you mention the thyroid, because I was diagnosed as hypo-thyroid two years ago, and am on Synthroid. I've been dropping 2 lbs a week on average, and have not yet hit a plateau, but my wife HAS. I wonder if that's due to the fact that I'm on Thyroid and she's not?

Thoughts, TJ?

This is an important point. First month I lost all that weight, but didn't feel/fit any different really. Which was kind of a downer, and seemed very strange. I stopped losing weight then, but then my clothes started to fit much better and I started to feel all the physical (positive) changes. A couple days ago I noticed my pants, same size I've been wearing for years, are much looser than they ever were. I dug out an old size, and they fit. Woohoo!


I am still staying away from all simple sugars and all fruits. What do you think, does it make a difference? I have not touched any sugars since Jan 2. My only "cheat" items have been beer, bread, potato (small quantities), etc.

Also I'm pretty sure I'm going well over the 50g when I do. I mean 2-3 pints of good micro-brew stout must be way up there, I would think?

I've noticed the exact same response.

I kind of stalled at 25lbs, and was getting annoyed. I cheated a few times (bit of cheesecake here and there), then I had a few potato wedges one night, followed by a brownie a few nights later.

I'm not at >35lbs, and lowering pretty consistently again.

My pants are now almost 2 sizes smaller, and I feel a whole lot better. The Metamucil that I needed when I started the diet has become unnecessary, also.

Can any one of you guys put together a guideline for the diet again? A friend of mine wants to start this, but needs the basics to get going.

Thanks! :)

Ok wait a moment please. I have stalled myself. Was 205lbs when I started and now I am not moving at 188lbs. I have been around or below 20 grams of carbs a day.

If I get what you are saying is I should cheat (a little) but go right back to little carbs and I should start losing weight again. Yes?

Would like to lose a few more pounds.

Ken

Yep, and you probably won't hit a plateau either
Synthroid is essentially T3.

However, there are other factors that come into play
as well. Your best bet is, like Carlos, to allow yourself
to have one (mabey 2) "blowoff" meal on the weekend.
It will have a positive difference.

:cool: TJ :cool:

Don't forget about the fiber value of raw/mixed nuts. They
have an incredible ability to keep one "un-corked" ;-) ;-)

:cool: TJ :cool:

>A couple days ago I noticed my pants, same size I've
>been wearing for years, are much looser than they
>ever were. I dug out an old size, and they fit. Woohoo!

It's hell on the wardrobe at first (gotta keep droppin
sizes..) but then it levels off when you can yank out
the old stuff.. I've been in my high-school 32-33's for
the last decade now, ha ha..

>>This can be defeated by consuming a minimum
>>of 50g of glucose periodically.
>
>I am still staying away from all simple sugars and all fruits.
>What do you think, does it make a difference?

To be honest, it really depends on the person. It sounds
like you've found what works best for you. For me,
I "load" 2 different ways. I allow myself a blowoff
meal on sunday night with the family. Also, I power
down 1 cup of grape juice + 20 g. of egg protein after
each lifting session. The latter is an incredible way of
speeding recovery in the gym without a massive insulin
secretion (and hence fat storage activation).

Under that regime, I've dropped from 217 (powerlifting
weight) to 185 (competition motocross weight) without
losing ANY strength/power/stamina. In fact, I am now
experimenting on ways to cut weight even further while
increasing power.. (power/weight ratio is a big thing to
me ;-) )

>I have not touched any sugars since Jan 2. My only
>"cheat" items have been beer, bread, potato (small
>quantities), etc.

Sounds good to me. Those are all fairly complex, so
obviously the more complex carbs work better for you.
If it works, stick with it ;-)

>Also I'm pretty sure I'm going well over the 50g when
>I do. I mean 2-3 pints of good micro-brew stout must
>be way up there, I would think?

Yep, but the 50g is a minimum. I've toyed with these
numbers for a while and found that I could consume
quite a large amount of carbs once a week before
breaking/slowing any weight loss.

I can't reinforce the fact that everyone is different (to
some degree) though. If you've got a working plan, run
with it! ;-) ;-)

:cool: TJ :cool:

>Can any one of you guys put together a guideline for the diet again?
>A friend of mine wants to start this, but needs the basics to get going.

Here's a link to a website that archives a support list I
used to run, it's got alot of info on it (with my comments,
for what it's worth ;-) )

This specific link is a "how to do the diet" page..

http://www.cythrawl.org/ketosis/howto.shtml

:cool: TJ :cool:

>If I get what you are saying is I should cheat (a little) but go right back >to little carbs and I should start losing weight again. Yes?

Yep, that's what we're saying. Keep in mind, though,
that weight loss will naturally start slowing as you get
leaner (you have less to lose).

When you get under 20% body fat, weight loss drops
to less than 1 lb/week but never the less still happens
each week.

I'm under 15% (somewhere) right now and my
loss is about 1/2 lb/week.

:cool: TJ :cool:

Thank you TJ :grin:

Ken

>Ahh.. That explains it. I am pretty sure I am down to less
>than 20%. When I was at my fittest, I was at 5% body fat
>at 178, so I would guess that I am 20 lbs (10%) from that
>now. Time to start hitting the gym harder, me thinks!

In general, whether it's fat loss or muscle gain, when your
close to max limits it gets harder and harder to make
progress.

Just like "muscle memory", it's fairly easy to return to a
previous bodyfat level. Much harder to go lower.

When you get within about 18% bodyfat, you really do need
to hit the gym to make any further _significant_ progress
unless you've been below that in the past. (IE: you are
genetically pre-disposed to low bodyfat levels)

You guys are doing great! I have to congratulate you all!!

:cool: TJ :cool: