I started Chose to Loose last Friday. I was doing low carb (Atkins) for 50 days but was not loosing as much and decided to try Carb cycling.
I gained 3 pounds since and I'm very worry about it. I also feel lack of energy, I had more energy with low carb. Sunday was my fun day- I did not go overboard but did not feel good about it.
I'm not sure if I'm doing this right (yes, I read the book). Today was low carb day: High protein, carbs and veggie for breakfast? I'm to do this every day?
For lunch I had protein (Chicken breast) with low carb tortilla - Was I suppose to have another carb?
For dinner chicken and broccoli with cheese (was cheese OK?)
I had a protein shake for snack. I'm sorry if I seem stupid, I'm just confuse with Atkins and this carb cycling. Any advice?

Mav: I just took a quick look at your diary for today. Just looking at the diary I couldn't tell if you were on a HC or a LC day. This is a "problem." :laugh: Bare with me... I'm going to look at your diary with "diet prision" and "diet framework" glasses... so don't be mad at me right off the bat.

So, there are two ways of looking at it... first off would be the "diet prison" suggestions.

Breakfast, should have been High Carb. This means a portion of protein (2 large eggs is a good size), and a slice of whole grain bread is ideal. Adding veggies is optional... and if you feel like you need the extra bulk I would do so. Technically your creamer would be considered a "fat" and is "not allowed" with breakfast.

Morning snack. should be LC: The protein shake looks good. You are missing veggies, and a healthy fat

Lunch: Should be LC: this means no tortilla "low carb or otherwise". Quantities of chicken and sour cream look good. You are really short on the veggies.

afternoon snack should be LC: looks good... but you are missing protein. On future days that are similar, I'd choose a protein that is lowfat here.

Dinner should be LC too. Chris would probably not be thrilled about the cheese whiz... and you are low on veggies.



Boy, that sucked. I hate being the bearer of bad news. So, my Diet Framework glasses are on now.

Overall, you did really good today... especially for just switching from Atkins to CTL. I am proud of you!!! Overall your diary for today looks really really good. I'd just make some tweaks.

Breakfast is all about being high carb and protein every morning. Some people find that eggs and fruit or bread seals the deal here. Others (like me) have a protein shake with fruit every morning. Veggies at breakfast are purely optional.. have them if you feel you need the extra staying power... or skip them if you don't.

The rest of today should have been Low Carb. This means a "palm of protein", two fistfulls of veggies, and 1 thumb of fat. No carbs at all. The fat content for your day was a little on the high side, which I don't see as a problem, assuming you are able to go low fat tomorrow. The bigger concern would be that you are really low on veggies today. Low carb days are the day to get in your veggies, as you might not have the room to eat them all including the carbs on High Carb days.

It looks like to me that you stoped at about "1200 calories" because that is what Chris says to do in the book. In my experience, it is really really hard to get all my veggies in for the day on 1200 cal days, and the protein and fat that I should. This is when I realized Chris says something really cool on page 171 of the book:

"Vegetables [are] unlimited (except for root and starchy veggies in the carbohydrate category - they count as carbs)"

I take this to mean Chris is telling us that we need to eat the two fists of veggies (or more) if at all possible at each meal (after breakfast).... and that we can do that even if our calorie count for the day hit the "1200" number before we got in all our veggies.


So, my takeaway is this: Up the veggies, and make sure you get protein at every meal. Be mindful of your fat & carb portions at the appropriate meals and you will be golden!
-sarah