Day #154 - Tuesday
Starting weight: 285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits): 1400 / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs: 1318 / 51.3
Yesterday’s exercise: none
Weight Yesterday:: 240.8 Today: 241.6
Change today:: +0.8 lbs. Loss-so-far: 43.6 lbs. bmi: 45.65
It’s cool that I have this blog because I can look back at my own history and hopefully learn from it. So today I scrolled back, all the way back to August, and read my own words describing all my good reasoning for cutting back on my caloric intake. I had read an article about how some low-carbers had experienced slower weight-loss or even prolongued stalls because of their low-carb-but-high-calorie intake. I recognized myself as one of those who had been indulging quite freely in cheeses and nuts, driving my calories higher and higher. I had this wondrous insight on August 25. I started counting calories the very next day.
So now I look back at the weeks before August 25. Was I stalled? Was I losing weight too slowly? In those early weeks, I wasn’t logging in my food every day - and I wasn’t paying any attention to my calories, whether they were high or low, I didn’t really notice. Well, this is my body - and it is unique - so today I took the time to go back and find those calorie numbers so I could see for myself how my caloric intake changed - and how my body responded.
Week of Loss/Gain Daily Calories Avg. Calories
7/21 -1.6 lbs. 1656,695,1198,917,1169 1127
7/28 -0.6 lbs. 765,785,1033,1091,1353,1585,1425 1148
8/4 -0.2 lbs. 1282,884,1155,1078,1055 1090
8/11 -3.8 lbs. 1175,1371,1286,1519,1464,1490,1565 1410
8/18 +1.0 lbs. 1390,1134,2037,1812,1498,661,1861 1341
Ok, so in the 5 weeks before August 25, I was averaging 1223 calories a day and my net loss averaged 1.04 lbs. per week. That felt too slow to me, so I made the decision to start paying attention to my calories. I set a limit and thought that I was lowering my intake. But look…
8/25 -0.4 lbs. 1417,1749,1057,1301,1151,851 1254
9/1 -2.4 lbs. 1212,1153,1255,1192,1486 1259
9/8 -1.2 lbs. 1050,1123,1637,1158,1706,1161,1418 1321
9/15 -1.8 lbs. 991,1313,1152,1103,1253,1309,884 1143
9/22 -1.8 lb. 1311,1381,1081,1399,1407,1800,1311 1384
9/29 -3.6 lbs. 1399,1216,1433,1241,1211,1702,1232 1347
10/6 -0.6 lbs. 1099,1357,1275,1255,1388,912,1377 1237
10/1 -1.0 lbs. 1342,1229,986,1455,1392,1288,1287 1282
10/20 -3.4 lbs. 1397,1389,1185,1105,1418,1291,1477 1323
10/27 +1.0 lbs. 1430,1364,1076,1353,1140,1128,1490 1283
11/3 -3.0 lbs. 1399,1382,1362,1265,1213,1359,1274 1322
11/10 +1.0 lbs. 1395,1407,1337,1255,1001,1252,1092 1248
11/17 -4.4 lbs. 1320,1550,975,1549,1239,1161,1208 1286
11/24 +0.4 lbs. 1074,1345,1134,TG,1534,1793,1148 1338*
12/1 -3.2 lbs. 1277,1229,1240,1135,1065,1362,1185 1213
12/8 +0.6 lbs. 1072,1087,1263,1158,1104,932,1463 1154
* Does not include Thanksgiving Day calories
In this 16-week period, I lost 23.8 lbs, for an average of 1.48 lbs. per week. Better than the 1.04 per week in that first five weeks - BUT… I didn’t lower my caloric intake as I thought! Actually, I raised it. From an average of 1223 per day to an average of 1274 per day. Not much of a change, but how surprising for me to find out now that instead of imposing a caloric limit back in August - I actually increased my daily calories!
So the question is now… If I increase it further, will I lose weight faster? Well, hell, it’s time to find out!!! I’m nervous about this step, but it’s a journey, right?!? What’s a journey without a few scary twists and turns?! We’ll call it an experiment and I’ll try it for a few weeks. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO….
Today I went back to the zig zag calculator that inkheartmeg has been using (which, ironically, I turned her on to!) and plugged in my info. Here’s how it came back:
Monday 1928
Tuesday 1928
Wednesday 2314
Thursday 1928
Friday 1928
Saturday 2121
Sunday 1928
Yikes! I’m not even sure I know how to eat 1928 calories a day anymore!!! And here’s the reallllllly interesting part: I want to stay low-carb. How am I gonna get my calories up that high and still stay below, say, 40-50 carbs per day?! Answer: Cheese and nuts! LOL. So tonight I made myself a yummy low-carb-high-calorie meal, the same exact meal that I was rejoicing about before I started limiting my calories:
Broccoli casserole, cheddar bay biscuits, and a nice salad. I’m hoping that with this kinda fuel I won’t be feeling so exhausted all the time!
I think I’m gonna like this experiment. =D
6833
I think you should definitely give this experiment a try, for at least a couple weeks. The holiday season is perfect for it. I know everyone is different, but I have lost fairly consistently since June and I’ve gotta say, I eat a ridiculous amount of food. My LOW days are 1500-1600 cal. I scroll back in my blog sometimes and there’s like 4 sets of entries I think where one says OMG I ATE LIKE A PIG and then 3 days later OMG I LOST 2 POUNDS!
I think one of people’s biggest problems is they don’t eat enough during diets. I intend to eat as much as possible while still losing weight. That way, when I reach my goal, I can probably still eat a lot. I like eating.
I think it’s a great idea to give this a try, track carefully, and allow several weeks to see.
Food is not the enemy.
I’ll keep following along
those biscuits look good
i think your experiment is a good idea. usually when people up their calories a little, they do lose weight. good luck.
I was talking about this with a friend last night. If I can continue to lose weight eating more, long may it continue. I’d rather not be one of those women who have lost a lot of weight who need to eat 1200 calories for the rest of my life. I’ll even take slower from time to time as long as I can keep my calories up. And honestly, I’ve pretty much maintained a 2lb/week loss, which is pretty good.
I am so excited.I wanted someone else to try this so I can also see how it goes. Thanks for taking the plunge! Your dinner looks yummy. I agree, this is a good time to try it out. But I will say this. The past week I have been eating more junk than I should, so be careful to stick with those ‘good’ fats and not junk food. It’s on my mind and I am trying to back off on it or not have it in the house if i can’t ‘behave’. I think I already notice the drag and lack of energy as a result of the junk foods. The exercise you are doing sounds really excellent and I do think that it does happen that fast because I also noticed it when I started. Keep up the great work, best of luck! I’ll be watching!!
I agree with everyone that it is worth a try and now is the perfect time for this.
I loike the photo’s that you posted. I soooooo agree with you on Vickie not winning. She played far too dirty and nasty of a game for my liking. I am excited that a new TBL will be starting soon. I like the motivation it gives me.
Take care and have a wonderful day.
Joy