Really upped the carbs and still losing

[loonatika]

I've been experimenting with myself lately, trying to find my CCLM as I think I'm about 5-10lb away from goal.

Basically been trying to up the carbs enough to find out when I gain. Yet despite getting through up to 100g/day some days I'm still losing quite rapidly. I just don't understand it. I have been a lot more active, adding in 3 hours cleaning per day with my new job as well as the 30 mins HIIT 6x a week and weight lifting 3x a week, but I still didn't expect a CCLM this high.

Cravings have been great, I really haven't noticed any differences at all in that way. My main concern has been IBS symptoms, and so far adding in whole grains hasn't affected that area either.

What's next? I've added in whole grains, yoghurt, berries, legumes, dairy and even peas into a day and still lost. Should I try some sweet potatoes as well to find the level or just make the most of it?

If you want to shoot me for this high CCLM, please do, it is surprising the heck out of me as I expected mine to be really low due to so many years of inactivity.

[theredhead]

I'm happy for you! But I'm a bit jealous too! It seems like anything I eat, I gain. But I am happy for you. Really! Really!

[iyamamaschke]

It doesn't surprise me with your activity and such your probably have a fair bit of muscle mass and it seems to me that when you have a higher muscle mass you can get away with eating more carbs as your muscles use them for fuel. I too have a High CCL I have gone up to 100 and still been in Ketosis weird I wanted to see where mine is. I think it's cause I exercise and burn off a lot of the fuel I put into my body.

Sarah

[brats4]

I recommend Strawberry Shortcake and Eclairs. Just kidding! Repeat after me...shut up jealous pregnant lady...so she looks good in a bikini.

[Elleth Faewen]

Re: Really upped the carbs and still losing

What's next? I've added in whole grains, yoghurt, berries, legumes, dairy and even peas into a day and still lost. Should I try some sweet potatoes as well to find the level or just make the most of it?

Do you want sweet potatoes as part of your diet when you go to maintenance? If so, then definately add them. If not, then don't worry about it. The main goal here is to prepare yourself for lifetime maintenance. Are there any other foods that you have not tried that you really want to?

If you want to shoot me for this high CCLM, please do, it is surprising the heck out of me as I expected mine to be really low due to so many years of inactivity.

Here ya go! :guns :guns :guns :guns

LOL!!

My CCLL runs 65-70 carbs. We are the same height, but I haven't built the muscles that you have. Congrats on achieving a high CCLL! :icondance :joy :icondance

[not2late]

You know, loona's "problem" is interesting.... ensive

I wonder if your CCLL can change while going through OWL due to increasing your muscle mass as you go through it. That'll change your CCML too if you think about it....

[Isabeau]

That is an interesting thought...and it makes sense.

[sadie147]

Have you tried watching your calories in Fitday and upping them a bit? i've found that now i'm maintaining, and since i've added back higher carb veggies, my calorie levels have actually dropped, I'm actually 2 lbs below goal now due to this. I went from about 1600-1800 cals a day when my %'s were more along the 65-30-5 to 1200-1400 when i upped my carbs to 10/15%. I guess the higher protein foods were keeping my cals up..the higher carb veggies i'm eating have brought the cals down. I can also take my carbs easily up to 100-120 a day as well (though i normally don't..just because i'm really enjoying the foods i'm eating and my daily diet has me hitting 45-50 usually). A calorie is a calorie regardless of the woe and if you're at a deficit, you'll keep losing...

[loonatika]

Sadie, yep my cals have definately dropped down. I've been using yoghurt instead of of cream, haven't had nuts and so on. So that may be the thing to look at next.

Megs, I'm sure it must change. We know physical activity plays a part as well, 3 months ago the scale wouldn't drop if I was above about 50g/day, so either the muscle mass or increased activity may be the key.

PMS isn't helping now, had work at the service station last night and it was so quiet. After I'd done all the restocking I was just bored crapless. The chocolate bars seriously called out my name, after looking at their little labels and discovering 60g/100g sugar I managed to resist. I wasn't even hungry as I'd had dinner an hour before, it was just boredom and opportunity. Gonna take something sweet and legal to work next time.

[2big4mysize]

the added exercise is what is doing it. Dr Atkins talked about it in the foot note of the chartd on CCLL andin the exercise and the pklateau chapter. I was over 100 and doing fine before my knee surgeries last spring then I had to cut back to below 50 cause I wasn't allowed to do any lowerbody exercising.

the added muscle will need about 25 cals more a day per pound just being a part of your body but itis the exercise that allows you to burn more carbs as a part of your Atkins.

I added legumes for extra carbs beans in my chilli, beans in my soup and caseroles. Winter suqash if you have it would be a better carb choice to test first, but sweetpototoes are an excellent nutritional bargin and are on Dr Atkins bang for your bucks list of veggies.

Happy low carbing.

[loonatika]

Thanks 2big - out of season veges are just a nightmare to get in this town, so I really need to get my butt to the city and do some stocking up.

I'm glad to see exercise is paying off. It's also good to know that if for some reason I do get less active, I'll have to lower the carbs to counteract that.

[floydgirl]

What a great problem to have! I'm jealous. Congratulations on your success. You go girl! I've been stuck at the same weight now for 2 months!

[shadewolf]

Yay Loona! 100 grams seems like so much! :joy I'm thinking about moving into OWL now, but haven't quite decided yet. I've missed 2 days of exercise over the last 2 since I couldn't get out of work ontime and missed my classes :-( I think i'm going to drop another 10 pounds or so and see how I feel at that point. I'm trying to adjust to this new work schedule of 10+ hour shifts 4 times a week, and I haven't settled in with it yet. I do know that I've been a couple grams over 20 for the past few days on and off, due to a little inadvertent miscounting when i was tired, but I still lost some poundage. i also weathered the faamily funeral last thursday and my parents being in town for 4 days. they mostly took us out to eat rather than staying home and cooking (the food was much better at home!) I made a really nice induction friendly breakfast and then a really nice dinner, but for the rest it was all restaurant stuff. I didn't do too badly and came away with no bloating or cravings eventhough the carb count was a little on the too-much side.

[loonatika]

If you have survived all that, then OWL should be a breeze Don't stress about being over the 20g, doing an extended induction does give you some leeway with the carb count.

OWL may give you more options for your meals at work too, yoghurt and berries and so on for lunch too. But just wait until you feel you are ready. It is something that you have to do on your own time. I'm still jealous because you have a horse

Stood on the scale and nearly had a fit yesterday, I was up 4lb, then tom came later on that morning. Never been so glad to have a tom in my life

[2big4mysize]

well changing your workout can also cause you to need to adjust your carbs downward too when you are an OWLer..
I've been off the treadmill now and in the pool and even though it feels like more work my body says it aint and the scales agree so the carbs are cutting back untl I get back on the treadmill or become more proficient in the pool.