I am cautiously optimistic that after 8 weeks, I might have fixed my "broken" metabolism that has, in the past, been slow to lose weight and very quick to gain it.
I honestly think the 5 mini meals a day has made a huge difference. Although I do miss the luxury of a huge tasty meal when I'm ravishingly hungry (in my head at least), it appears that I can have a reasonably chaotic free day and not gain kilos overnight. This week I have been firmly in the 62s everyday except Sunday after my free day and that was only a 0.5kg gain.
For those of us that have been trying to lose the last 5 kilos for a long time (years in my case), there is a constant fear that the low amount of food we eat when we are "dieting" is actually what my body thinks is maintenance. This is confirmed by the fact that when we relax and try to "maintain" all we end up doing is gaining weight.
I have to say that I have never felt so good. I am full of energy, I am working out like a demon and the amount of food I eat is astonishing. I know that 1200 calories doesn't seem that much, but I am actively losing weight, and I only eat this low 5 days out of 7. On the other two days I eat more - 1500 mid week and anything I want on Saturdays. The average is roughly 1350 a day. This means, I am now losing weight on 1350 calories which is, for me, a great improvement.
At long last I no longer graze all night when I get home from work. I am not standing in front of the fridge looking for something to eat. This is freedom. I actually don't feel hungry very often at all. I have my watch set to remind me to eat every three hours otherwise I would forget.
People at work think I'm weird though, as I eat 3 of my 5 meals a day there and it looks like I'm always snacking but I never eat a proper meal (like lunch). Having a 5pm feeding means I am happy with a small portion of whatever hubby has cooked (within reason - NOT the sausage rolls) and when he is at work or sleeping already (because he works shifts) I am happy with another scheduled snack.
There is a belief that it takes 4-6 weeks eating higher calories for your body to realise you are not starving anymore. Then it starts losing weight again.
It certainly feels like after 8 weeks, the furnace of my metabolism is fixed. You can only imagine how relieved I am.
FANTASTIC!!! I am working towards that feeling/result too mate... FINGERS crossed it works for me too.
ReplyDeleteNice work. :) Keep it up and you'll eventually be chowing through normal amounts of food with no problems.
ReplyDelete5 or 6 meals a day is normal - just remember that everyone else is the weirdo. :p
That is awesome,seems Im just maintaining at the moment and it is driving me insane, I am cutting right down just for this week and being absolutly srtict as to maybe jump start it again. And Im adding intesity in the workout department to hopefully shock the system.
ReplyDeleteEx
Great news Miss Katie, I have started BFL on Monday and I can honestly say I can not beleive how much food I do eat!! I havent felt hungry all week. Is still scary for me eating all the time.
ReplyDeleteCheryl :)
Interesting read! I know I've only been maintaining for months now - all of this makes perfect sense..
ReplyDeleteas always - thanks
The most amazing thing about raising calories (for me anyway) is that it seems as if, no matter how high I make my calories, I gain only a small bit of token weight then my metabolism quickly adapts tot hat new high intake. Of course this is only true in the context of low carb (I have a history of morbid obesity/hyperinsulinemia so your results may vary ;) ).
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was underweight and crazy I would maintain my weight on ... 1450 cals. Now, I can't eat that little or else I feel extremely hungry. And, every time I've increased cals, I gain a little bit of fat... then my body adapts and it stays there. I'm now at a maintenance level of around 1700-1800 cals, I weigh around 116-120 lbs at 5'5. I really don't know how high my metabolism can go, but I DO know I feel a thousand times better with my metabolism actually functioning somewhat normally.