A curious thing happened on the way to weigh-in today: no change in overall weight since Day One. The two pounds that had gone off last weekend had come back this weekend. I think at this point, if I were a normal dieter trying to do low-carb, I'd think "Well, this has been a bust" and just start eating cookies. I mean, what's the point of doing a macro-nutrient restrictive diet if it isn't changing you? But since I've been taking a lot of measurements (ever the scientist), I know something is really going on here.
First, anecdotal: I still can't sleep. I lie in bed late at night, tossing and turning, and a quick check of the ketostix tells me: ketosis. I've also been taking a potassium supplement (along with my multi-vitamin) yet I can still feel the tightness in my calves. Meanwhile, a pair of pants I've worn these past two weeks are feeling noticeably looser. So I know, all the classic signs are there (as well as a dark pink color on the stick) to indicate that changes are occurring and fat is likely being burned. So why no change in weight?
Changes over the past two weeks:
And to be honest at this rate I don't really want to start any running program for a few more weeks so I can watch this trend a little longer. I certainly have felt energetic lately so it's not a lack of energy or enthusiasm; I haven't felt winded or lethargic. Instead, I'm interested from a scientific standpoint to know what's going on. I knew already coming into this that my weight doesn't change too much on running alone. And while I know it's only been two weeks, early indications are that my weight doesn't change too much on dieting alone. I am becoming more tone but it appears that with a low-carb diet (and theoretically a low insulin one) my body can finally get around to making lean rather than storing fatty acids away. Following that line of thinking, it would mean that a proper diet/exercise regimen for me might require some small amount of exercise coupled with a proper diet but this diet would have to be one that doesn't rob lean/muscle mass in exchange for quick, short-term weight loss.
One downside to not exercising for a few more weeks is the slumbering effects of a good run. Nothing puts me down like a long run so it would be nice to get a little sleep for once. Hence, I find myself stuck in a battle between my mind's desire to do research and my body's desire to pass out. But that war has been going on for ages.
First, anecdotal: I still can't sleep. I lie in bed late at night, tossing and turning, and a quick check of the ketostix tells me: ketosis. I've also been taking a potassium supplement (along with my multi-vitamin) yet I can still feel the tightness in my calves. Meanwhile, a pair of pants I've worn these past two weeks are feeling noticeably looser. So I know, all the classic signs are there (as well as a dark pink color on the stick) to indicate that changes are occurring and fat is likely being burned. So why no change in weight?
Changes over the past two weeks:
- Waist has gone down by 3/4s of an inch
- Hips have gone down by nearly two inches
- Body fat percentage has gone down 1 1/4 percent
- Total fat loss over 3 pounds (so far, so good...)
- Non-fat or lean or muscle gain -> over 3 pounds.
And to be honest at this rate I don't really want to start any running program for a few more weeks so I can watch this trend a little longer. I certainly have felt energetic lately so it's not a lack of energy or enthusiasm; I haven't felt winded or lethargic. Instead, I'm interested from a scientific standpoint to know what's going on. I knew already coming into this that my weight doesn't change too much on running alone. And while I know it's only been two weeks, early indications are that my weight doesn't change too much on dieting alone. I am becoming more tone but it appears that with a low-carb diet (and theoretically a low insulin one) my body can finally get around to making lean rather than storing fatty acids away. Following that line of thinking, it would mean that a proper diet/exercise regimen for me might require some small amount of exercise coupled with a proper diet but this diet would have to be one that doesn't rob lean/muscle mass in exchange for quick, short-term weight loss.
One downside to not exercising for a few more weeks is the slumbering effects of a good run. Nothing puts me down like a long run so it would be nice to get a little sleep for once. Hence, I find myself stuck in a battle between my mind's desire to do research and my body's desire to pass out. But that war has been going on for ages.
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