Saturday, February 16, 2013

Update on Carb Cycling

So my friend calls me yesterday and says she saw my blog and says to me that I should probably carb cycle. 

I probably agree with her, but I'm fighting having to change up my routine. These changes cause me anxiety and frustration at having to reevaluate my nutrition program. 

Just like anybody who has to go through a change where one does not know exactly what the outcome will be is hard to do. 

Yesterday, I was reading more about carb cycling. One article pointed out that it's a good idea to drop the cardio and strictly do weight training. Since the body has to restrict carbs one out of three days, we don't want the body getting out of control hungry, and the weight training is sufficient as a "cardio" machine used to burn fat. Am I going to drop the cardio? NO WAY:)

Further information on carb cycling explains that the carbs will be high one day, fat almost nothing, and protein grams proportionate to body weight. That day, the body may feel like one has over eaten, but the type of carbs you are allowed to eat is not open ended. The body may gain weight, but after a time on the cycling, the body can drop significant weight leading up to a competition. 

I'm going to pull a mock nutrition plan together tonight or tomorrow and see if I'm willing to try this new method. 

I'm fighting it from within, but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to entertain the possibility or even try it. It could very well prove to be exciting and rewarding. 

RsmKettleGirl@gmail.com





Wednesday, February 13, 2013

I'm Back from I don't know where



Sorry,
I took a hiatus. I didn't mean to be gone so long. I am still on track for my competition, but I just got so busy, and then didn't feel like blogging. 

Okay,
So this is what has been going on....

I ended up talking to our health insurance / husband's company's work fitness coach a few weeks ago. He wanted to check in with me to find out how my fitness goals were progressing. 

Long story short...he said that I might think about cycling my carbs. What? you say....

He explained this process of where you have a high and low and medium day of carbs, but along with that you do some other things to your fat and protein intake. 

On the high day of carbs, you would limit drastically your fat intake. On medium days of carbs you would balance out your carbs and fat and protein....kind of like what I have been doing the whole time.

On the low days of carbs, I would increase my protein and fat, and drastically limit my carbs. 

So why do this?
Well, he explained that you can pull your body out of a rut. It's kind of like interval training for the physical body. Carb cycling is for jump starting your metabolism so that you can continue to lose weight. 

He said he does this a few months out from a competition. He happened to be a fitness coach who also does body building. 

So, at the end of the conversation, I was exhausted, and just ended up sticking to eating my bars for two meals and my eggs and all the other things I  have mentioned in the past. 

Also, I felt a little scared to try something new after he told me that I might put on a few pounds, only to drop them later. He said this process really helps to see the muscles show through.

Am I going to do this? I don't know. The funny thing is that I decided to take two evenings off of my nutrition program and eat whatever. It felt so good. Then, I got right back on my program. Not easy! But I did it. 

...and guess what? 
I dropped a few pounds over that week...so now my size 2 jeans fit (ha!)

I haven't done the carb cycling since...and he's supposed to check in with me in a month. HMMMM...we'll see if I do it. 

FYI: I'm totally crazy about kettle bell workouts vs. weight lifting. It's so much easier on the joints. Invest in a good one and get it from Paul Daniels at thebodywarehouse.com
They are the right kettle bells to get, when there are so many inferior ones on the market. 

I'm also getting ready for another ski trip. I thought I was done for the season, but I just have to get away again. It's just so wonderful to have some quiet, peaceful, and selfish time in nature being a little dare devil down the mountain. 

RsmKettleGirl@gmail.com

Monday, February 4, 2013

Quick Vegetables

Our national diet is sorely lacking in eating vegetables. We are  fast paced and impatient and expect quick eats, and unfortunately vegetables takes a back seat to all other food groups for ourselves and our children. Yet, veggies should be a number one staple in our diet. 

While at Costco, my husband, who frequents the place on his way home from work, saw these frozen bags of veggies.







There are several reasons why I like these bags of vegetables rather than the ones in the supermarkets. I like that they are organic, and don't cost too much. The size is great, because I take it as an opportunity to make more veggies per meal. Whether I buy fresh or frozen I usually don't buy large quantities of vegetables, so these large bags have convinced me to make more vegetables daily. They are fast and easy to cook and everybody seems to like them. 

With the stir fry vegetables, I add a little of this chinese sauce for taste toward the end of cooking. The kids love it. I bought it at Vons grocery store.




This is what it looks like after I stir fry the veggies:




Add your favorite meat on the side for a great dish


These are chicken apple sausages BBQ'd. The kids like a little mustard to dip them in. These sausages are 130 calories per link and have 13 g of fat . It's not bad considering that the vegetables with the sauce will not put the fat or calories above your limit.

Dinner doesn't have to be extravagant. Eat like a pauper at night and save yourself some grief over having to stay in the kitchen for more than 30 minutes. But don't sacrifice a quick and easy and inexpensive meal for a drive thru fast fat food place. It's not worth it around your waist or wallet. 


This is another example of how I make a quick, low fat meal for myself. BBQ'd chicken breast with stir fry vegetables and Culinary Circle sauce. 

RsmKettleGirl@gmail.com