..Yes..it actually Does work!!...

[swinglow]

I'm glad to hear the program is working for you! That new muscle is boosting your metabolism so you burn more calories, even at rest. Fantastic!! Here's the breathing.

YouTube - Best workout video ever

[Zer]

Check out Mark's Exercise Encyclopedia at "Doing Atkins" and then taking the weekends off. How common is this?

[swinglow]

I LOVE the Anabolic Diet! I don't refeed a full weekend, though. I refeed for one day only. I'd have to disagree with staying away from it just because you're not a lifter, however. Even when your body is a master fat burner, like ourselves, our bodies will use glycogen for some things if it's available. With a single day or half day refeed, you will be repleted of glycogen in a weeks time.

I love it because cravings are a thing of the past. I believe people have cravings when the "slip" on Atkins because they eat just enough carbohydrates to tease their bodies with a glycogen pump. If they fully filled their glycogen stores, they'd see that they'd actually CRAVE protein/fats the following day. A lot of people are surprised this happens on the bodybuilding boards.

I highly recommend the AD by Dr. Di Pasquale. And even though the scale is kind of funky, weekly lows from one week to the next continue to go down. You can really see your progress here. Also, muscle is better maintained and even built on the AD. And inches do not surge with the glycogen pump. In fact, my inches are almost always down the day after my carb up. Dr D says that our bodies go into incredibly efficient fat burning for the two to three day following the carb up.

My goal is to eat between 300 and 400 grams of carbs on my carb up and around 3,000 calories. Yep.. and I continue to lose weight from week to week.

Originally Posted by Zer

Check out Mark's Exercise Encyclopedia at "Doing Atkins" and then taking the weekends off. How common is this?

[ScrtGrl]

Swinglow, thank you so much for posting the video! I will definitely check it out tonight.

[ScrtGrl]

LOL! Just watched the video! I don't even know how I would incorporate that into the 7 minutes SS. I think my roommates would run out screaming in fear! How does everyone use that while working out?

[slendercate]

Hi, ya'll,

Back to Body Flex incorporated with the Body Flex plus.

I have been "mia" too long.

When I was regularly doing bf, I was losing inches galore.

Since I am recovering from a cold, I will start again today.

Will try to post more often.

Love the read all the post. I can always learn something new.

[smilingirisheyes]

Originally Posted by slendercate

Hi, ya'll,

Back to Body Flex incorporated with the Body Flex plus.

I have been "mia" too long.

When I was regularly doing bf, I was losing inches galore.

Since I am recovering from a cold, I will start again today.

Will try to post more often.

Love the read all the post. I can always learn something new.

Hi Slendercate and lots of luck this time around with BF!! Could you please share how many times a day you did BF and how long it took for you to lose actual sizes in clothing? Thanks so much I'm about on week 3 coming up of BF/LL in the a.m. and Shapely Secrets in the evening.

Lisa

[slendercate]

Lisa,

It took me three weeks to lose a pant size doing BF daily.
I tend to "hoard" fat around my waist, so though my hips are decreasing, my stubborn waist is very slow to go.

I haven't seen shapely secrets, but will look for it. I admire you for exercisng twice a day! I could only make it once a day, in the am before work.


Good luck!

[girl81]

Originally Posted by slendercate

Hi, ya'll,

Back to Body Flex incorporated with the Body Flex plus.

I have been "mia" too long.

When I was regularly doing bf, I was losing inches galore.

Since I am recovering from a cold, I will start again today.

Will try to post more often.

Love the read all the post. I can always learn something new.

I love bodyflex, but what is bodyflex plus?

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by swinglow

I love it because cravings are a thing of the past. I believe people have cravings when the "slip" on Atkins because they eat just enough carbohydrates to tease their bodies with a glycogen pump.

Hi - this is really interesting. What, exactly, do you mean by this? Thanks!

[swinglow]

Originally Posted by hummingbird11

Hi - this is really interesting. What, exactly, do you mean by this? Thanks!

Hey there, Hummingbird!

Our bodies transform carbohydrates into glycogen and then stores it in our muscles. Once our glycogen stores are full our bodies transform the the carbs into fat and stores it in fat cells. When we follow Atkins, our bodies switch to fat burning metabolism once our glycogen stores are depleted and our bodies realize it's not gonna get enough carbohydrates coming in to remain in sugar burning. Well.... and here's where it gets interesting, once in fat burning with depleted glycogen stores we'd have to refill those stores before our bodies would store any carbohydrates as fat. In fact, during the first 24 hours of a carb up like you'd have on the AD your body continues to primarily burn fat as energy (because it's in abundance) and squirrels those carbohydrates away into muscle stores as glycogen. Once they're full, it takes nearly a week for them to fully deplete again. And all the while, carbohydrate cravings are a thing of the past. Because your body is in complete balance. Burning fat for energy with available glucose for whenever your body decides to dip into those stores.

For a better understanding I recommend reading The Anabolic Diet It's a Lifestyle by Jen Heath. Good stuff!

Incidentally, and I can't believe I'm doing this, but below are pictures of my results after following the AD for six weeks. I eat 30 grams or less carbs 6 days per week and one day of 300 to 400 grams carbs spread over 6 meals. Scalewise I've only lost 11 pounds between the two photos. I'm sure I lost more fat than that, however, and was able to build some muscle at the same time. The first photo was taken 3/12/08 and the second was taken yesterday morning.

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by swinglow

Hey there, Hummingbird!

Our bodies transform carbohydrates into glycogen and then stores it in our muscles. Once our glycogen stores are full our bodies transform the carbs into fat and stores it in fat cells. When we follow Atkins, our bodies switch to fat burning metabolism once our glycogen stores are depleted and our bodies realize it's not gonna get enough carbohydrates coming in to remain in sugar burning. Well.... and here's where it gets interesting, once in fat burning with depleted glycogen stores we'd have to refill those stores before our bodies would store any carbohydrates as fat. In fact, during the first 24 hours of a carb up like you'd have on the AD your body continues to primarily burn fat as energy (because it's in abundance) and squirrels those carbohydrates away into muscle stores as glycogen. Once they're full, it takes nearly a week for them to fully deplete again. And all the while, carbohydrate cravings are a thing of the past. Because your body is in complete balance. Burning fat for energy with available glucose for whenever your body decides to dip into those stores.

For a better understanding I recommend reading The Anabolic Diet It's a Lifestyle by Jen Heath. Good stuff!

Incidentally, and I can't believe I'm doing this, but below are pictures of my results after following the AD for six weeks. I eat 30 grams or less carbs 6 days per week and one day of 300 to 400 grams carbs spread over 6 meals. Scale wise I've only lost 11 pounds between the two photos. I'm sure I lost more fat than that, however, and was able to build some muscle at the same time. The first photo was taken 3/12/08 and the second was taken yesterday morning.

WOW - THANKS for the great info! So is this considered "carb cycling"? If so, how does The Anabolic Diet differ from BFFM? (which I'm also just beginning to learn about) I'm so intrigued but also a little confused with all of the various WOE I keep stumbling across! I am new to Atkins, since 3/24 I've lost 12 lbs. But I like the idea of a re-feed/carb-up day to keep the metabolism hot AND to get rid of carb cravings - that sounds great!

You look fantastic and it's OBVIOUS that you have lost LOTS of INCHES!!
XO,
HB

[ADLMA]

Swinglow - would you mind posting a typical menu? I know that is a lot to ask, but I am sooooo curious. You look HOT, but I am sure BF is telling you that a good plenty! Wow, just amazing! I know you are feeling proud, as well you should!!

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by ADLMA

Swinglow - would you mind posting a typical menu? I know that is a lot to ask, but I am sooooo curious. You look HOT, but I am sure BF is telling you that a good plenty! Wow, just amazing! I know you are feeling proud, as well you should!!

Yeah, that would be super awesome if you wouldn't mind? Or tell us where we could take a quick peek at a typical weekly menu (including low-carb and up-carb days) ?? Thanks!

XO,
HB

[swinglow]

Thanks so much, Hummingbird. Thank you, ADLMA! Yes, I'm very happy with my results. I actually had no idea how big I'd gotten until I took that photo. But I'm very pleased with the results I've been blessed with and I love this program. I truly feel that I'll be eating some version of carb cycling for the rest of my life. It's truly painless!

To answer your question, Humming, yes, the AD is carb cycling. I'm not very familiar with BFFM and I encourage anyone to jump right in and correct me; but it's my understanding that BFFM is closer to The Zone in nature. With 50 percent of your calories coming from carbs, 30 percent coming from protein and 20 percent coming from fat... something around those numbers.

The Anabolic diet is completely different in that it is a high fat program, moderate protein and low carb 5 to 6 days per week (depending on your objectives). The percentages are closer to 65 percent FAT! 30 percent protein and 5 percent carbs during these days. On the carb up day, the percentages are around 70 percent carbs, 15 percent fat and 15 percent protein.

I apologize to all for the thread jacking behavior but my menu is something like this:

sunday - friday:

breakfast: chocolate whey protein shake mixed with water and added cream
lunch: large salad topped with grilled chicken, ranch and salsa
snack: same as breakfast
dinner: linda sue's enchilada casserole served over cauliflower
bedtime snack: blue bunny sugar free fudge lite

I like a lot of salads and casseroles. They're easy for me to portion out without having to worry too much about calories. If I'm hungry, I eat! I often make pizza on friday nights using carb balance mission brand tortillas. They're so good that even my bf prefers it over ordering out!

saturday:

breakfast: either a waffle or pancakes with sugar free syrup served with one egg and a piece of bacon
snack: a lean cuisine panini
lunch: an amy's organic indian meal (the mahat paneer with brown rice is my favorite)
snack: a michelina's lite pasta dish
dinner: usually a dinner eaten out with the bf; something yummy followed by dessert
bedtime snack: usually, i'm stuffed and skip it..

There are really only a few key things to remember:

1) the low carb days are to be kept between 20 and 30 grams of carbohydrate.

2) fat is necessary on the low carb days

3) the carb up days are to be between 200 and 400 grams of carbohydrate.

4) calories are not much of an issue on carb days. I usually eat around 3000 calories on this day without any fear of gaining or hindering progress.

I highly recommend reading whatever you can find on the Anabolic Diet. I do have the free ebook that I downloaded from somewhere online and I am open to sharing with you, if you're interested. Just pm me with your address.

[hummingbird11]

Hi everyone, I too, apologize for the thread jacking behavior!

I got interested in this thread due to the Shapely Secrets discussion - but then I zero'd in on Zer's Post #632 and SwingLow's Post #633 - so it's my fault, sorry!

Thank you so much Swinglow - I will PM you right now!

XO,
HB

[ADLMA]

OK. I gotta ask forgiveness for the thread jacking too. I could not resist asking Swing more information. Look at her pics! Who can blame me?!

Swing - Thank you so much for posting your typical menu and the other information!

[swinglow]

Aww, the two of you are so very welcome! I'm glad I could be of help

[hummingbird11]

Originally Posted by swinglow

Aww, the two of you are so very welcome! I'm glad I could be of help

YOU ROCK!! YOU ARE A VERY GENEROUS SWEETHEART - THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!

[lemonmama]

Wow, I don't see how anyone could complain about highjacking! Swinglow--your results are amazing! Thanks for sharing the info.

[girl81]

Originally Posted by swinglow

3) the carb up days are to be between 200 and 400 grams of carbohydrate.

For best results, high carb days should be kept low fat.

This woe is also referred to as keto.

[swinglow]

Originally Posted by girl81

For best results, high carb days should be kept low fat.

This woe is also referred to as keto.

Yep! Pretty low fat and pretty low protein. There is some difference between the anabolic diet and the keto diets, though. Dr. Mauro is not a fan of the ketogenic state. He claims it's a catabolic/muscle wasting state.

[ADLMA]

Swing - Thank you for all the information. I plan to start Monday. I have bee looking all over the place, and I know I am overlooking it -- how much weight have you lost in what amount of time again? Also, again, I know this is a lot to ask, but what is your full plan -- supplements, workout, and such. Thank you big time in advance!

[swinglow]

Originally Posted by ADLMA

Swing - Thank you for all the information. I plan to start Monday. I have bee looking all over the place, and I know I am overlooking it -- how much weight have you lost in what amount of time again? Also, again, I know this is a lot to ask, but what is your full plan -- supplements, workout, and such. Thank you big time in advance!

Hey there, ADLMA, it's no problem, buddy. Scalewise, I've only lost 11 pounds in about 6 weeks. I thought I was losing SLOW and had to fight off the discourage bug, from time to time, until I saw those pictures! Those pictures showed me that way too much focus is placed on pounds. What's more, my waist has only gone down 2 inches! HA!! But where the smallest point on my waist is is much higher. It's so fascinating to watch my body transform!

My plan is very simple:

The Anabolic Diet, the Body for Life weight lifting portion (no cardio except for the bodyflex type breaths I take in between sets while lifting); Supplements are cla, gla, choline, l-carnitine, citrimax and guarana. I'll have to grab the bottles and send you the exact amounts but I based my choices and amounts on a sales add I saw for Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale's LipoFlush. I simply refused to pay his outrageous prices!

If I can remember, I take my supplements three times per day, except leave the guarana out at bed time.

See? Not so complicated, right? Great things just happen to our bodies if we can build muscle while losing bodyfat. I believe a cyclical diet is a great way to do both. Add in bodyflex and either SS and Callanetics and you've got a winning combination.