debrafrederick's Journal, 04 June 2016

I did a carb spike and managed to get up to 115 carbs, and so far, the results are kind of "meh". I got back into ketosis in less than 24 hours, saw no change, up or down, in the scales, and felt really no impact at all from it. I think you really have to go all out for the spike to have an effect. As in, 300+ carbs. Pasta, bread, cake, sugar, load them on. I was really sleepy after my sushi binge, and like you, really thirsty. Interesting, huh? 

You are playing into my theory on all of this. Experiment with what can work for you. You might find something that gives you energy, and is filling, and even though may have more calories, and not quite fit into your diet guidelines, that works for you. It is about fulfilment also. So one doesn't have to look at a luscious picture and cry. lol  

Yeah, the thirst didn't happen last week like this, I have knocked out 3 20 oz bottles of water in the past 2 hours and yeah, I am fighting sleep also. 

Warren, considering my carb sensitivity I may be opening a can of worms, but I figured it can't hurt to try, if nothing else, I will learn more about what I can't do and still lose weight. Since this is not a sustained carb intake I'm thinking the only damage I may get out of it is being kicked out of ketosis, but I am maintaining my 20:4 IF so that should be an easy restart. I should be fine as long as I don't go spiraling into a binge, funny thing about those, when you are conscious of the conditions and aware that there may be a fallout, you get all of your tools ready to nip it in the bud. Makes you more vigilant.  

I found some interesting benefits, hopefully, in my diet about specific foods, that normally I would never eat because of their high calories, such as avocados, almonds, pumpkin seeds, pistachios, and various other foods. I have been trying to figure out, which are most beneficial, but I believe filling foods, more important, than just calories in. I particularly feel, Phil found something with the avocados, a nutritious, high calorie, high fat food, that is very filling. Keep experimenting, it could payoff. 

Also if you are going to do fruit, do berries like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, that have fiber if eaten whole. 

99 Cent Store my favorite to save money. 

Will be interested to see how this carb spike works for you. Please let us know how it affects you in the coming days. Been thinking about doing one next week... but am a bit scared. I don't crave carbs or sweets, and am not sure I need a spike. Is it only for when you stall... or do people think you should do one weekly regardless? 

Morning after results: I was up and down all night getting rid of the water I drank and I am sure, the water I took in from the melon, I thought I would be puffy and swollen this morning but not at all, even my eyes are not extra puffy today. I was however a bit hungry when I got up. I started last week just having my coffee black with no sweetener, but this morning I added a squirt of stevia and some heavy whipping cream just to kill the growlies that were going on. It seemed to do the trick. My lack of negative response to a moderate carb spike is encouraging and I wonder if my three months of IF has repaired my insulin resistance to the point of normal? Fear is once again holding me back from doing a true no-holds barred carb spike, well, and the fact that I don't have any of the ingredients for that type of eating in the house, nor do I feel inclined to do the fast food angle. I made a special trip to the store to get the fruits and ice-cream yesterday. Next week I may bite the bullet and plan an eating out session at the Mexican Food Restaurant. The problem with that is that there is no way to avoid the wheat in that type of eating environment. My love/hate relationship with wheat is what brought on the weight gain at the beginning of the year, I indulged at Thanksgiving and Christmas and the binge spiraled out of control. Anyone have any thoughts on this issue? 

Laura, I'm not sure about the timing of the frequency, like everything else there seems to be some who advocate weekly, some bi-weekly and some who say leave it along all together :) that's why I am experimenting with myself, it's the only way I will know what I respond to and what my limits are. 

Debra, as soon as you started dropping weight the insulin resistance situation should have gotten better especially if you have lost belly fat. Have you had a problem with your blood sugars in the past or now?  

Debra you are doing good, remember you totally deny yourself or if you do sometimes it causes A relapse binge. Keep on your overall plan. Your progress is great !! 

Be careful of that Mexican food, as it tastes good, but the consequences of weight can be alarming. Stick to tacos, and forget the burritos. lol I know I got on a real posting binge with Phil about my most, most, most favorite Mexican fast food place here. It is "out of this world"! 

Anxious to hear about the carb binge. I have been doing my own due to a 2-lb fluctuation I have going on everyday. It needs to go back down and stay down! LOL! 

I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic in August of 2014 Engeland, my fasting glucose was starting to fluctuate, I also had high blood pressure, high cholesterol....all of the markers for metabolic syndrome and my doctor had pen in hand and was busily writing prescriptions for me and I told him not to bother, I knew what to do....drop the weight I just wasn't sure how so I went online and started reading, found FS in September after I had lost the first 10 pounds and the rest of the story is found here in my journals (aside from a 10 month break I took) I went back to the doctor, my A1C was normal, my cholesterol was still on the high side but it was falling, my blood pressure was fine, he asked what I had done, I told him...he told me that I was killing myself with the high fat low carb eating and he handed me a pamphlet about My Plate and told me that this was the way I should be eating. I left him there with the pamphlet and went and found another doctor...now here we are 91 pounds down and free from all that other jazz and no meds. 

Mexican can sometimes offer corn tortilla - but I find corn just as bad as wheat as far as GMO - fajitas mean no tortilla - just meats and veggies. 

Carb cycling is a great option - there are plenty of books out there about carb cycling if you care to look on Amazon. 

Thanks HCB, I've been doing some reading.....I'm doing what you would call dabbling my toes in the water to test the temperature before I take the whole plunge, just to see if I am right about my triggers. I am certain that my first 40 years of food choices has damaged my metabolism, I am certain that my set weight has advanced to above 200, I would like to dial it down a bit and I think the multi-pronged attack of LCHF, IF and Carb cycling might get me reset below 200. I will know more as time passes. 

I know - it is always a delicate balance and I constantly tweak myself to see what happens when I make nutrition changes. 

Making these changes while also beginning my toning and strengthening workouts might be too many changes at once, but I also need to address my activity level and since I feel like working out there is not sense in putting it off any longer. My only issue with this is.....if I go into a period of no weight loss, is it because my dietary changes have failed....or is it because my muscle building efforts have succeeded....that will be hard to determine.