Body Adapting to Low Carb

On the advice of my doctor, I started LC about four years ago
successfully losing from 209 to 174 in six months. It is the only "diet"
or technique that has allowed me to lose weight. Things have gone well,
until recently.

After I lost the weight, I stayed on less than 50 carbs per day. My wife
(who also lost weight on the plan) will tell you that I almost always
stayed below that amount. In fact, they convinced me to increase my carb
intake slightly in the possibility that there are yet unidentified
adverse effects of perpetual LC eating.

Then my belt started shrinking. Knowing how LC works and understanding
the human body at least to some degree, I went back to rabid LC. Today I
am particularly bummed because I had to let my belt out a notch.

The system is clear to me: Too many carbs, too many calories, or not
enough exercise will cause a weight gain. Obviously I am eating too many
carbs or too many calories as my exercise level (zero) has not changed.

My question is, does the human body adapt to a lower level of carb
intake such that it takes fewer carbs to gain weight? The body clearly
adjusts to other external influences. Does the metabolism adjust to very
low carb consumption?

I still do not eat bread, sugar, trench fries, or any of the other
garbage carbs. It's really disheartening because I gained all the weight
before eating this stuff (which I love), and now I am gaining weight
WITHOUT eating this stuff! As we age, our metabolism certainly changes,
but how do those changes affect LC, or how does LC affect those changes?

Quit being so lazy and start doing some exercise.


"mcp6453" wrote in message
. ..
On the advice of my doctor, I started LC about four years ago successfully
losing from 209 to 174 in six months. It is the only "diet" or technique
that has allowed me to lose weight. Things have gone well, until recently.

After I lost the weight, I stayed on less than 50 carbs per day. My wife
(who also lost weight on the plan) will tell you that I almost always
stayed below that amount. In fact, they convinced me to increase my carb
intake slightly in the possibility that there are yet unidentified adverse
effects of perpetual LC eating.

Then my belt started shrinking. Knowing how LC works and understanding the
human body at least to some degree, I went back to rabid LC. Today I am
particularly bummed because I had to let my belt out a notch.

The system is clear to me: Too many carbs, too many calories, or not
enough exercise will cause a weight gain. Obviously I am eating too many
carbs or too many calories as my exercise level (zero) has not changed.

My question is, does the human body adapt to a lower level of carb intake
such that it takes fewer carbs to gain weight? The body clearly adjusts to
other external influences. Does the metabolism adjust to very low carb
consumption?

I still do not eat bread, sugar, trench fries, or any of the other garbage
carbs. It's really disheartening because I gained all the weight before
eating this stuff (which I love), and now I am gaining weight WITHOUT
eating this stuff! As we age, our metabolism certainly changes, but how do
those changes affect LC, or how does LC affect those changes?

jcderkoeing wrote in message ...

Quit being so lazy and start doing some exercise.

How about you quit being so lazy in your postings, find some new
material, and actually excercise your brain? Does the "j" stand for
"johhnie one note?"

Cheri

jcderkoeing wrote:
Quit being so lazy and start doing some exercise.


"mcp6453" wrote in message
. ..

On the advice of my doctor, I started LC about four years ago successfully
losing from 209 to 174 in six months. It is the only "diet" or technique
that has allowed me to lose weight. Things have gone well, until recently.

After I lost the weight, I stayed on less than 50 carbs per day. My wife
(who also lost weight on the plan) will tell you that I almost always
stayed below that amount. In fact, they convinced me to increase my carb
intake slightly in the possibility that there are yet unidentified adverse
effects of perpetual LC eating.

Then my belt started shrinking. Knowing how LC works and understanding the
human body at least to some degree, I went back to rabid LC. Today I am
particularly bummed because I had to let my belt out a notch.

The system is clear to me: Too many carbs, too many calories, or not
enough exercise will cause a weight gain. Obviously I am eating too many
carbs or too many calories as my exercise level (zero) has not changed.

My question is, does the human body adapt to a lower level of carb intake
such that it takes fewer carbs to gain weight? The body clearly adjusts to
other external influences. Does the metabolism adjust to very low carb
consumption?

I still do not eat bread, sugar, trench fries, or any of the other garbage
carbs. It's really disheartening because I gained all the weight before
eating this stuff (which I love), and now I am gaining weight WITHOUT
eating this stuff! As we age, our metabolism certainly changes, but how do
those changes affect LC, or how does LC affect those changes?

Some things never change.

Are you trying to say that exercise wouldn't help the situation?

Some things in the universe are constant.

But then again, since you struggle with even the task of writing "johnnie",
(the diminutive form of the English name "John"), I suppose that expecting
you to understand this premise is asking way too much of your cognitive
abilities.


"Cheri" gserviceatinreachdotcom wrote in message
. ..

jcderkoeing wrote in message ...

Quit being so lazy and start doing some exercise.

How about you quit being so lazy in your postings, find some new
material, and actually excercise your brain? Does the "j" stand for
"johhnie one note?"

Cheri

Cheri wrote:
jcderkoeing wrote in message ...

Quit being so lazy and start doing some exercise.

How about you quit being so lazy in your postings, find some new
material, and actually excercise your brain? Does the "j" stand for
"johhnie one note?"

Pah! he is in my killfile. I really don't know why anyone listens to him!
He never has anything to say that could possibly be helpful or supportive.
He is a total arse and delights in being nasty. He is,as you point out, a
one trick pony!!!

"mcp6453" wrote in message
. ..
On the advice of my doctor, I started LC about four years ago successfully
losing from 209 to 174 in six months. It is the only "diet" or technique
that has allowed me to lose weight. Things have gone well, until recently.

After I lost the weight, I stayed on less than 50 carbs per day. My wife
(who also lost weight on the plan) will tell you that I almost always
stayed below that amount. In fact, they convinced me to increase my carb
intake slightly in the possibility that there are yet unidentified adverse
effects of perpetual LC eating.

Then my belt started shrinking. Knowing how LC works and understanding the
human body at least to some degree, I went back to rabid LC. Today I am
particularly bummed because I had to let my belt out a notch.

The system is clear to me: Too many carbs, too many calories, or not
enough exercise will cause a weight gain. Obviously I am eating too many
carbs or too many calories as my exercise level (zero) has not changed.

My question is, does the human body adapt to a lower level of carb intake
such that it takes fewer carbs to gain weight? The body clearly adjusts to
other external influences. Does the metabolism adjust to very low carb
consumption?

I still do not eat bread, sugar, trench fries, or any of the other garbage
carbs. It's really disheartening because I gained all the weight before
eating this stuff (which I love), and now I am gaining weight WITHOUT
eating this stuff! As we age, our metabolism certainly changes, but how do
those changes affect LC, or how does LC affect those changes?

Those are some really great questions.

My personal experience is that when I lose weight I have to continue to eat
less in order to continue to lose and that can be pretty hard. Like you say,
its not just carbs, its a combination of things. One thing for sure, though,
is that you either need to eat less food or burn more calories.

I don't know why you get zero exercise, but if its not due to handicap, you
ought to try to do at least a little. There's nothing wrong with walking to
the corner and back, each night, for a week. The next week, walk around the
block. You might find that you like walking so give it a shot. Hey, in the
next six months, if you work up to 30 minutes of walking a day, five days a
week, I'm willing to bet it will make a hell of a difference in your life.

You have to think about aging, too, unfortunately. If you don't use those
limbs now and keep them at least moving and working, you might lose the
ability to walk when you are elderly. I saw that happen to my day. Let my
dad, dearly departed, be a lesson to you: get off your arse and walk while
you still can so that twenty+ years from you won't be in a nursing home
wheelchair.

Regarding the upping of your carbs, I find it pretty hard to eat more than
thirty carbs a day unless I start to eat nuts or cheese (which I now limit
to once or twice a week). Also, if part of your fifty carbs is based on
high-carb fruit (bananas, apples, etc.), cut back on those. Stick with
low-carb fruits, veggies, melons, berries, etc. That stuff is all low-carb,
low calorie and very satisfying.

Mike

I don't know why you get zero exercise, but if its not due to handicap, you
ought to try to do at least a little. There's nothing wrong with walking to
the corner and back, each night, for a week. The next week, walk around the
block. You might find that you like walking so give it a shot. Hey, in the
next six months, if you work up to 30 minutes of walking a day, five days a
week, I'm willing to bet it will make a hell of a difference in your life.


Very nice words. If at all possible, there is a very simple way to give
your body more exercise. Use publix transportation. I heard a story
about a study where they compared the incidence of those who went by
trams, buses et.c. to their work and back compared to drivers. There was
a clear difference. The steps that you take going to and between
stations will get you a long way. It is at least a good way to start.

"mcp6453" wrote in message
. ..

[snip]

My question is, does the human body adapt to a lower level of carb intake
such that it takes fewer carbs to gain weight? The body clearly adjusts to
other external influences. Does the metabolism adjust to very low carb
consumption?

[snip]

IMHO:
Low carb makes many mysterious changes. However, in terms of your question,
a nice restrictive low carb diet leads to muscular glycogen depletion.
Glycogen is heavy. Thus, if one cheats, the first place for the sugars to
go is into the muscles and causes a rapid weight gain on the bathroom scale.

One should note that fat gains and losses take time.

mcp6453 wrote:

On the advice of my doctor, I started LC about four years ago

Good for your doctor to suggest low carb.

successfully losing from 209 to 174 in six months. It is the only "diet"
or technique that has allowed me to lose weight. Things have gone well,
until recently.

Good for you for losing well and for keeping it off for much longer
than average.

After I lost the weight, I stayed on less than 50 carbs per day. My wife
(who also lost weight on the plan) will tell you that I almost always
stayed below that amount.

Why so low in maintenance? Less isn't more.

In fact, they convinced me to increase my carb
intake slightly in the possibility that there are yet unidentified
adverse effects of perpetual LC eating.

Dumb advice. You lost better than ever before, kept it off better
than
ever before, so clearly that stuff can't be good for you. Classic
illogic!

Then my belt started shrinking. Knowing how LC works and understanding
the human body at least to some degree, I went back to rabid LC. Today I
am particularly bummed because I had to let my belt out a notch.

Yup. This is *the* major reason that less isn't more. Stay low
enough and eventually you need to go lower and lower in reaction
to anything. The original plan would have been to eat more like
80-100 during maintenance so you do have room to back down in
reaction. Not to worry, there's an approach to resolve this.

The system is clear to me: Too many carbs, too many calories, or not
enough exercise will cause a weight gain. Obviously I am eating too many
carbs or too many calories

Calories in equals calories out. *Both* are variables. In the
best circumstances the body adjusts the metabolism within a
wide range to avoid gaining or losing. In the worst circumstances
the body starts to store fat even without excess calories by
dropping metabolism. Of course you can always big hammer the
problem by eating under 1200 calories, but there are better ways.

as my exercise level (zero) has not changed.

Exercise is not optional. Definitely start doing something.
there is no downside to adding exercise to your process.

My question is, does the human body adapt to a lower level of carb
intake such that it takes fewer carbs to gain weight? The body clearly
adjusts to other external influences. Does the metabolism adjust to very
low carb consumption?

Yes. Do some googling for leptin reset. Leptin is a driver hormone
that is released by stored fat and by the liver. Lose down to a good
weight and the stored fat source drives up. The liver releases leptin
based somehwo on the highest daily carb intake in recent months.
This is why weekly cycling works - There's always a recent high carb
day. It also suggests that a day a month of reversed high carb low
fat will also work as a reset. That's what I suggest at this point.
Maybe even several days of low fat.

I still do not eat bread, sugar, trench fries, or any of the other
garbage carbs.

Right. Select the most boring source of carbs for any high carb
low fat reset. Like fruit? Then eat boring root veggies.

It's really disheartening because I gained all the weight
before eating this stuff (which I love), and now I am gaining weight
WITHOUT eating this stuff!

Too much of a good thing isn't automatically a good thing. On
the other hand, as you learned you could have stayed at 50
essentially forever without problems not knowing you'd adjusted.

As we age, our metabolism certainly changes,
but how do those changes affect LC, or how does LC affect those changes?

It isn't as simple as "if low is good, lower must be better". And as
you have learned it's possible to get yourself into a realm that works
but that is not stable. Try a leptin reset, then relose, then set
your
new maintenance higher than 50, then ignore future advice that what
works is bad for you.