In the Beginning

Well, I really should have started this blog months ago. I started dieting using a high protein, low carb scheme in January. From January to April I went from a weight of 262 lbs (first thing in the morning before eating and drinking) to 238 lbs. That's not fantastic weight loss, but it represents a loss of weight while maintaining or increasing my strength on all my lifts. This is the first time I have lost weight without losing strength at the same time.

So, the bulk of the weight loss is already finished. However, I still want to lose about 15 lbs and gain some strength. I will be posting my lifts, weight, and diet information at least once a week.

This diet is a variant of the atkins diet. The difference is that several days a week I do a carb load where I eat primarily carbs in order to maintain higher carbohydrate levels in my system. This idea comes from a book called "The anabolic diet." The book claims that the insulin surges that result from the carb load period cause muscle tissue synthesis. Whether this is true or true to a significant degree, I am not sure. What I do know is that it makes it a lot easier to eat only meats the other 5 or 6 days a week. And, I do feel like it helps maintain muscle.

As of tonight, I have just come off the carb load. I weighed 245 this morning.

I will post some pictures, probably just me in clothes, so they may not be telling, but considering who will be reading this post, I don't think I look good enough to be showing off my naked torso to F&F.

I will get into more detail later, but for now I'll give the basics of the diet.

From Sunday to Thursday or Friday I eat a high protein/fat diet. I will eat 6 scrambled eggs and 6 strips of bacon for breakfast, have a chicken breast for lunch and a steak or piece of pork for dinner. In between main meals, I drink protein drinks in between meals and have cheese/vegetables as snacks. That makes for about 22-2400 calories a day. It's about 1100 calories from protein and the same amount from fat.

22-2400 calories a day for me is about a little over 1000 calorie a day deficit. I guesstimate the I burn 3500 calories a day assuming that I work out 3-6 times a week. In order to lose 2 lbs of fat a week I need to burn an extra 7000 calories a week. So, on my carb load days, I eat 4-5000 calories a day. This takes my daily average up to 25-2800 calories a day per week.

My off day consists of eating whatever I want. I drink pop, eat pizza, rolls, candy, fruit, whatever I feel like eating. I have no doubt that eating healthier carbs would be better for me and make the dieting more effective, but I need a break from the discipline. I feel like after a week of eating perfect, and I am pretty disciplined during those 5-6 days, I can afford a break.

Stay tuned, more to come.