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#1 |
Junior LCF Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
Gallery: Mel K
Stats: 170/160/135
WOE: Low-Carb
Start Date: January 22, 2013
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How do I know I'm losing fat??
I've been eating low carb for 6 weeks now. I haven't been perfect at all, but over the course of 6 weeks I have lost 15 lbs. over the past two days I have lost 2 lbs! I know that our weight fluctuates quite a bit over time and I probably didn't really lose 2 lbs in 2 days. But this got me thinking...how do I know I'm losing fat and not muscle? I know I've lost something because I've gone down a size in pants. But I don't have much muscle to begin with and I would hate to think that I'm losing what little I have! Thoughts?
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#2 |
Chatty Cathy
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 14,146
Gallery: clackley
WOE: N.K.=vlc/moderate protein/high fat
Start Date: Restart Oct 18 2009
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Hi Mel! The best way to prevent muscle loss is to eat sufficient protein. You most likely are already because of the nature of your diet. A lot of low calorie/low fat diets are low in protein and that is why they lose muscle.
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Cathy Original start - Feb. 2000 180/125 "The energy content of food (calories) matters, but it is less important than the metabolic effect of food on our body." Dr. P. Attia “Eat animals. Mostly fat. Enjoy! "I resist insulin" Hyperlipid We are butter together! |
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#3 |
Senior LCF Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 820
Gallery: SweetMe678
Stats: 377/356/135
WOE: HFLC/fasting
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![]() Yep it's hard to loose protein of your consuming enough. On Atkins your body is burning fat for fuel, so you shouldn't be breaking down your lean muscle mass for energy. Last edited by SweetMe678; 03-06-2013 at 05:59 AM.. Reason: forgot something |
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#4 |
Major LCF Poster!
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,871
Gallery: Mistizoom
Stats: 300/230/190 initial goal
WOE: attemping the Perfect Health Diet
Start Date: low carb - 11/2012, PHD - 2/2017
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I agree, if you are in ketosis, eating sufficient (not too much, not too little) protein for your lean body mass, eating low carb, and not eating excess calories your body is using its own fat to make up the calorie deficit. So part of your daily "calories" is actually coming from your own body fat! Some exercise (especially resistance-type exercise such a strength training/weight lifting) will help ensure your muscles stay in good condition. I need to do some of that myself!
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#5 |
Junior LCF Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 30
Gallery: Mel K
Stats: 170/160/135
WOE: Low-Carb
Start Date: January 22, 2013
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Thanks so much! I guess I don't know for sure if I'm in ketosis. I don't particularly want to spend the money on the sticks to test. How else would I know?
And yes, I agree that I need to add in exercise. I keep saying I'm going to start...but it just doesn't happen. ![]() |
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#6 |
Major LCF Poster!
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Here!!
Posts: 2,284
Gallery: wastednuffime
Stats: 340+++ / 178 / HAPPY
WOE: Plant Based LF!!
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Don't meant to thread-jack, but... Yanno what,...
The whole entire time that I was in the losing phase of my weight loss, not once was I ever in ketosis. Nope, even thought it was the sticks, so went and brought some more / different brand and still nothing...And I know others here for whom the same is true too.. ![]() Anyway, that aside,...I say, eat moderately and definitely exercise, especially weight bearing routines.. |
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#7 |
Blabbermouth!!!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Boston, then OH, then NYC, now SoCal. Whew!
Posts: 3,249
Gallery: Ntombi
Stats: Restart: 360/284.4/190
WOE: Atkins for weight loss, NK for maintenance.
Start Date: Restarted: 1-3-13 Original: 8-23-02
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You know people in ketosis don't always excrete ketones in their urine, some people never do, so if that was your only measurement tool, you can't say you were never in ketosis.
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#8 | |
Major LCF Poster!
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Here!!
Posts: 2,284
Gallery: wastednuffime
Stats: 340+++ / 178 / HAPPY
WOE: Plant Based LF!!
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Quote:
Stand corrected!!... ![]() Lets just say that my sticks never turned colors... Thankfully I was not using that as my only measurement, or I might have given up long ago.. |
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