Thursday, October 2, 2008 - Cycle 2 - day 1

I finished out cycle 1 with an 8.6 pound weight loss. I can't believe I stayed with this Crack the Fat Loss Code program for an entire week. Cycle 2 looks like it will be challenging, but I am just going to do my best to muddle through. I'm very tempted to just keep on doing what I've been doing, but I would really like to see this 8 week program through. I have a couple of forum threads for support. This morning I am eating oatmeal. One of my favorite breakfasts is oatmeal with peanut butter.

Here is a posting from lowcarb friends explaining Cycle 2.

Cycle 2: Macro-Patterning Cycle – WEEKS 2-4

Now you’ll move into what is called the Macro-Patterning Cycle. This is where you begin to slowly re-introduce carbs into your life, teaching the body to burn fat while slowing down the adaptive response. During week 2, you will begin to bring most of the foods that you consume regularly back into your daily meals. You will see less rigidity in the meal plans—and more substitutions. For best results, it is recommended that you continue to abstain from alcohol on carb-up days during Week 2. During Week 3, you will have two carb-up days, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. After this week is the best time to add in sweets and alcohol on your carb-up days.

*There are 3 kinds of days in Cycle 2.

Baseline Days
This is where you are teaching your body to adapt. You will be taking in the basic nutrients your body needs through proteins, you’ll take in good fats, but you’ll be adding in one starchy food at two different meals in your day, so long as you eat them before 3:00 p.m.

Carb-Down Days
These are days where you will have a more minimal starch intake to force your body to use fat as an energy source. One these days you will still get your fats from good fat sources, and you will consume one starch before 3:00 p.m.

Carb-Up Days
This is where you will increase your starches to stoke the metabolic rate and give the body what it needs for repair and growth. Your last 2 meals on this day will be primarily carbs! Yes, you can splurge on those usual forbidden foods – bread, desserts, pizza and even alcohol. We call these days Food Passes and you have two of them a week, typically on Wednesdays and Sundays, but the beauty of this plan is that you can adjust these Carb Up Days as needed for special occasions, making it very convenient and totally interchangeable.

Daily stats:
Type: walk/jog
Route: Wilberding's and back
Time: 25 minutes
Average heart rate: 126
Maximum heart rate; 149
Down 8.6 from last Thursday (whoo hoo!)

I am totally amazed at how much more energized my walk/jogs are just by having a protein shake before going out. I was out early this morning because I have a meeting. The sun was just coming up. Gorgeous. My route is a little different now due to bow hunting season which began yesterday. I don't know if anyone hunts up by the deadend, but if they do, I don't want to mess things up for them. I will be staying off the deadend route until the end of firearm deer season.

Word of the day:
Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Gospel
Mt 18:1-5, 10
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

Thoughts from the cornfield:
There is no more trusting soul on the face of the earth than a child. They trust implicitly. They live authentically, without prejudice or hatred. They come into the world totally innocent and without guile. Soon enough though, they are taught the things of this world. But Jesus makes it clear that the "teachers" are going to bear more spiritual responsibility for what they teach. Children watch what we do and listen to what we say - more so than our adult friends. And they soak it up and they don't question.