Why I switched to low carb
 

For 10 weeks I did a Low Fat/High Carb diet. I started running and worked my way up to about 3.5 miles 4-5 times a week. A stress fracture has caused me to stop running for now but when you see the stats below you will know why I was so frustrated.

During that 10 weeks I lost less than 2 pounds. So I switched to Low Carb in the beginning of August. Here are some weight loss stats from other runners on a Low Fat/High Carb diet

These numbers reflect runners that are trying to lose weight.
03.31.08 - 137
04.07.08 - 137.2
04.14.08 - 137
04.21.08 - 137.2
04.28.08 - 136.8
05.05.08 - 136.4
05.12.08 - 136.4
05.19.08 - 135.5
05.26.08 - 135.0
06.02.08 - 135.2
06.09.08 - 135.2
06.16.08 - 134.8
06.23.08 - 134.4
06.30.08 - 133.7
07.07.08 - 134.5
08.04.08 - 134.2.
08.11.08 - 133.4.
It took this person 5 months to lose 4 pounds. Is it any wonder people give up? I noticed that this is one of the more successful runners as far as weight loss went.

Here is another example, note the weekly mileage ran:
5/12/08 - 196.4 (-2.5) 27.2 miles
5/19/08 - 195.7 (-0.7) 16.0 miles
5/26/08 - 195.7 (no change) 27.4 miles
6/2/08 - 196.1 (+0.4) 24.2 miles
6/9/08 - 196.0 (-0.1) 26.1 miles
6/16/08 - 196.5 (+0.5) 24.2 miles
6/23/08 - 196.5 (no change) 30.3 miles
6/30/08 - 196.8 (+0.3) 30.1 miles
7/7/08 - 196.0 (-0.8) 27.4 miles
7/14/08 - 196.6 (+0.6) 28.5 miles
7/21/08 - 196.2 (-0.4) 34.5 miles
7/28/08 - 196.2 (no change) 28.5 miles
8/4/08 - ?????? (vacation) 21.3 miles (no long run)
8/11/08 - 196.5 (+0.3) 33.1 miles
See how many miles this guy runs a week? Basically no weight loss over a 3 month period.

Okay this is my last example. This person is only trying to lose those last couple of pounds:
5/26: 124.2 lbs (35 miles)
6/2: 124.2 lbs (65 miles)
6/9: 122.8 (69 miles) -1.6 lbs
6/16: 122.8 (61 miles)
6/23: 123.0 (87.1 miles)
6/30: 124.0 (67.7 miles) +1
7/7: 123.6 (45 miles) -0.4
7/14: 122.8 (55 miles) -0.8
7/21: 123.4 (58 miles) +0.6
7/28: ???? (35 miles)
8/4: 126 (21 miles)
If I ran 50-60 miles a week and I didn’t lose weight I’d be sunk so far into depression that I’d never get out. This person has gained weight!

Anyone that has ever tried to embark on a running program knows how hard it can be. I ran, I cried, I forced myself to continue and for what?! A measly 2 pound weight loss and a fractured leg! :nono:

Okay that's just my 2 cents. I'm goin' Low Carb!

I think you have a point here. I'm not so shure excercise is needed to loose weight. I also believe low carb is the way to go.

When I was low calorie, low fat, I excercised alot. 60 min cardion every AM, 30 min cardio every afternoon, and about 40 min strength every day. I lost on average 1.5 lbs per week. Getting past the cravings were a killer. I was hungry alot, depression was something else.

I've been thinking about starting to excercise again. Will it help with weight loss? Not so shure.

Jacki :wave:

Well I don't know how much it will help weight loss but it will help with depression and make you feel better overall.

I still exercise pretty much daily just at a lower intensity than I was doing when I was running.

I think everyone should exercise. It doesn't have to be traditional you can exercise by dancing around the house, doing some gardening, or just playing with the kids.

I think exercise has many benefits. For some people it even helps with weight loss. I just want everyone to understand that it makes some people GAIN weight, too, even without changing their diet. I am one of those people.

Now, if I were on a high carb/low fat diet and exercised (I have done this), I would be aggressive, bad-tempered, hungry all the time, AND gain weight.

More power to those for whom it works! :lol: Just believe the rest of us when we say it doesn't for us!

Welcome to the Low Carb WOE!

Been there - done that - got the T-shirt!

Me three! And not only do I have the T shirt, I have the commemorative, collector's edition glass set with the--> :P logos

I want the T-shirt too! :lol: I do walk with the hubby and kids for fun. We just got back from a bike ride. I am always on the go doing house work and things for kids and hubby. I don't call that excercise. That is just activity that I like. I don't like excercise!

Maybe I should make a T-shirt because I don’t have one. What should it say?

Low Fat/High Carb/Get Fat
Eat/Run/And Get Fat
Fat’s where it’s at! (meaning the food)
Eat Fat/Get Thin
Little Carb/Little Butt
Got Fat? :lol: that is terrible. Maybe with a picture of an avocado. :yum:

Like that :thup: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I am voting for this one too. As for the sentiment that lowfat/high carb/exercise= weight gain I am the poster girl for that. I gained between 80 and 100lbs with that life style. I worked very hard, ate very lowfat. Granted I did eat a lot, but I was starving most the time. I went to bed hungry more times than I can count. I got dizzy spells and just rode them out. I had some very embarrassing well I will just call them intestinal issues. I lost a lot of weight over the years and when I gained it back it was a lot faster than my calorie input would indicate.

Just a word of warning: I run and I gain weight even eating low carb. I accept that I have to wait until rest periods to lose weight. Running should be done out of enjoyment - never for weight loss. Although I do know some people it works for, I just don't belong to that group. I may concede that it speeds up metabolism after this summer. I started running last year and gained 13 pounds. When I stopped, though, I lost 48 pounds in 14 weeks. If it happens again this year, I'll believe in the speedier metabolism theory. I'm training for a race in May and then I'll rest for two months during which time I expect to lose again.

Fat’s where it’s at! (meaning the food)


This one has my vote! :lol:

Hi again.

I been there done that and all I got was an extra 120lbs.