I'm probably like so many who start on a new diet and/or exercise regime after New Years. For what it's worth mine is not a New Years Resolution. It is merely a new strategy in a long running struggle. Starting on Dec. 31st, I went back to an old friend: the Atkins Diet. This particular diet lives within a class of low carb, high protein (LCHP) diets.
The basic concept is that diet orthodoxy like calorie counting and avoiding fats miss something fundamental in our biology. That is our modern diet's impact on insulin level. And insulin's unique role in how we process / store energy from blood sugar. By dramatically restricting carbohydrate intake, blood sugar and insulin levels drop. The body shifts to burning "ketone bodies" which are sourced from fat.
I am by no means advocating for this type of diet. That's not my turf. There's reams of diet advice out there, you don't need any from me.
I can only report I had a huge success with this diet long ago. My weight can be described as stable for long periods punctuated by short periods of significant gain. I was on the wrong end of one of those significant gains when a coworker introduced me to the Atkins diet. We basically would compare notes the next few months as we both lost significant weight.
I'm not sure why but in the last ten plus years since then, I haven't gone back to Atkins as long periods of stability plus short periods of gain resulted in surprise, net gain! I've been floating near my absolute top limit for the last two years. I seem to be able to lose just enough with adjustments to diet and exercise. That gets me out of the danger zone but barely. Eventually the red lights start blinking again.
Since I started this new journey, I thought I would share it here. I am thinking a weekly report will do. Also, I have no record of my Atkins experience from long ago. This time, I'd like to keep a record. I will actually start with week two since I don't have data from week one. I'm thinking I'll focus on a diet or fitness topic each week.
For reference, I'm 5'9" and in my middle-late early 40s.
Week Summary
|
Total |
Week |
Start date |
12/31/2013 |
01/07/2014 |
Report date |
01/13/2013 |
01/13/2014 |
Days on |
14 |
7 |
Start weight |
183 lbs. |
178 lbs. |
Current weight |
176 lbs. |
176 lbs. |
Weight Lost |
7 lbs. |
2 lbs. |
Pounds per day Lost |
0.5 |
0.3 |
Daily Activity:
Date |
Weight |
Exercise |
01/07/2014 |
178 |
20 min swim |
01/09/2014 |
178 |
30 min Stair Climber |
01/12/2014 |
178 |
40 min Stair Climber |
01/13/2014 |
176 |
45 min swim |
Note: I don't have a scale at home so I only have data for days I go to the gym which has a scale.
Analysis
About as advertised. This was week two which doesn't show the first five pound drop. Supposedly that was "water weight" carried in the glycogen stored in muscles. I was supposed to plateau after that until the ketosis really started. The last day drop of two pounds might be that ketosis.
Other
I ordered a home blood glucose monitor which has the extra feature to measure ketones. More on this next week after it arrives.