As I sit here eating my 28th slow carb breakfast, I’m thinking about all the ups and downs I’ve had during the last month. Weight is a terribly powerful number. Last week I had a high-carb dinner mid-week so I decided to skip my cheat day over the weekend. I thought that this would result in bigger numbers on the scale by the end of the week. By Wednesday this week I was back in the neighborhood of 131 after putting on a couple pounds thanks to that high-carb meal. This was encouraging and I was sure that by Friday, my official weigh-in day, I would be below 131. Unfortunately despite being steadfast with my diet, on Thursday the number on the scale started to creep up. I thought maybe it was just a bad day or that I needed some more fiber so I decided to use Saturday’s weight as my official weigh-in. Imagine my surprise when on Saturday I weighed almost my pre-Four Hour Body weight meaning I’m only down .4 pounds for the entire 4 weeks. Color me unimpressed.
Since Saturday was my cheat day I decided to go ahead and do it right since it apparently doesn’t matter if you skip one. I started the day with my 30 grams of protein. Then I had a large white chocolate frappuccino with whipped cream and a custard filled donut. Then a friend and I went to the Los Angeles Fitness Expo to get some inspiration and check out the latest products. I picked up some Athletic Greens at one of the booths since I haven’t been using that product to date. Afterwards we went to LA Market for a burger, fries and a glass of wine. For dinner I had 3 mini street tacos, some beans and rice and a few corn chips with 3 vodka cranberries. Then I had 2 pieces of cake for dessert. So while it was a good cheat day, I definitely didn’t go “whole hog” and eat until I felt like I was going to explode.
Sunday I was back to slow carb eating. I knew today I would have some extra pounds from cheat day but I was not expecting to see 136 on the scale. I get really uncomfortable when my weight goes above 135 because I worked so hard to get below it. I was going to take pictures on Saturday so I could see if there was a positive visual change despite the increase in weight for no discernable reason. But, I felt so fat from the extra pounds that I had no interest in putting on a bikini and posing for the camera.
I can’t figure out where I could be going wrong since I don’t use any sweeteners or any of the other things that it seems may trip people up.
Tim has been very vocal about the 4-6 week window for weight loss.
For people over 40 and women (especially after two kids), it’s quite common that the most dramatic fat-loss and weight change comes after 4-6 weeks on the diet. I have no explanation for this. – Tim Ferriss
I’m at the end of four weeks and have 2.5 until I wanted to see visible changes so I can feel more comfortable in a bikini on the beach. So, the things I am changing this week to try to see results are:
-I’m adding a fiber supplement (the flavorless stuff that dissolves in water & has no sugar like the chewable ones do)
-I’m drinking Yerba Mate once per day
-I’m taking Athletic Greens in the morning on an empty stomach before my 30 grams of protein
-I’m having cinnamon twice a day with hot tea (I don’t drink coffee)
Finger crossed.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Can I also suggest that you not take your cheat days as “eat all you want” days. I noticed Tim says basically to shovel it in in his book, however for most women, that doesn’t work. Our bodies and hormones are different than men (his book is highly male-centric, but that’s expect). The “cheat day” can really screw you up, especially if you stuff yourself and it makes sense. An extra 2,000 calories (or more from the sounds of it) a week can actually cause weight gain, instead of loss..,it doesn’t matter if it’s just “one day.” The physiology behind “tricking your body” out of starvation mode is debatable, but even if it was 100% accepted, you wouldn’t have to eat thousands of calories over your normal intake to do it.
What you’re really trying to do is have an overall calorie/carb deficit for the entire week, but weighting that deficit so your body doesn’t think it’s starving. I think in reality the biggest benefit of the cheat day is mental (you get to eat something you’re craving at the end of the week, so it’s easier to pass on the doughnut someone offers you).
That being said, try doing just a “cheat” meal or at least slacking back on your cheat day. I know Tim says week 4 is when you see the results, but if it doesn’t pan out, at least consider what I’m saying! It’s not been my experience and I’ve been promoting this type diet, minus stuffing on your cheat day, since before Tim. I normally say one day a week you can have one “normal sized serving” of something you wanted throughout the week (a slice of cake, not a whole cake, etc). . . which Tim does not promote. Again, women’s hormones are different than men.
I find some of Tim’s stories hard to swallow, and if you do research outside of his site, he tells the truth but it’s often not the “whole” truth. I find it hard to believe that if he constantly ate like he did in the book, even as a man, he wouldn’t gain weight. Anyone eating that much every week will. I doubt he stuff himself full like he does in the book on a weekly basis. Every now and then a super cheat day doesn’t hurt…or even a week. For example, when I go on a non-business vacation, everything goes
Every week? No way. If that worked, binge eaters would all be skinny!
Your body is still calories in < calories out to lose weight. We can argue all day whether or not a calorie is a calorie, but in the end, everyone agrees that a calorie not utilized is still a calorie that will be converted to fat.
Hi Amanda – Thanks for your feedback. But, as I mentioned, I’ve skipped cheat days entirely. I’ve also only done one cheat item or one cheat meal. And there was never any change in the effect on my body in the end.
i have had the same dismal results. I am almost fifty, I am about 5_1& weigh 130,,,i was really strict with the plan and even have ben taking all the supplements recommended PACGG along with multiple vitamins,Bs and such. I have the I’ve packs on my back most nights, all of this with little results.I am very disappointed. Oh I also bought a kettleball!…i am convinced this is NOT a plan for women that are perimenopausal. I feel suck at this weight no matter what I do.
Ya know a healthy diet including lean proteins fruits and veggies and complex carbs along with a steady workout routine really works. Stop the fad diet yoyo! Our bodies are not built to be deprived of carbs…its very unhealthy. You dont need to trick your body you need to stop fooling yourselves. Try something like P90X…it comes with diet and exercise guides that really help, but like anything you have to stick to it and commit to succeding. Good luck!
Actually our bodies have absolutely no biological need for carbohydrates of any kind. We make all the glucose we need from other foods we eat. The excessive carbohydrate consumption in the “western diet” causes the majority of the medical problems people are plagued by today.