No Carbs for a Week

Each time I have limited or done no carbs, I lose a ton of weight at first. Then after about two weeks, without changing what I eat, it all comes back and then some...

THIS!

you can still function, but your brain takes its energy soley from carbs in the glycogen that is stored in your liver. You body uses carbohydrates as the primary form of energy and stores some as glycogen in your muscles for use during 'fight or flight' or exercise. So by reducing your carbohydrates you are also going to deplete the stores of energy your body uses for exercise. yes you will lose weight, but no carbs is not a sustainable lifestyle change and will most likely result in over eating and weight gain long term.

I enjoy a low carb lifestyle for a multitude of reasons. However, I'd never cut out all carbs. If I were you, I'd just lower them. Think of it this way. That weigh in might look fantastic, but the moment you begin eating carbs again, the next weigh in will be horrible. Also keep in mind, if you're all bound up in the BM department, you could hold a few extra pounds and feel very bloated. I don't eat bread or pasta, but I make sure to eat veggies and beans, and they keep you regular. Eat cheese and meat all week and you're going to wish you didn't. I did that once and was in a world of hurt.

Your brain functions solely on carbs.

OK, while I'm a carb fan, I do know no/low carbers that still have a functioning brain....

LOL. I don't always feel that way. I'm T2 diabetic. For some reason, over the last year my blood sugar readings have gotten worse so I tried to low carb (20 grams a day). Since I'm a full time student that just didn't go over too well, my brain couldn't keep up with homework. Now that I'm on a higher low carb (50-75 grams a day) I find I usually am functioning ok.

In general, I would say a healthy diet would consist of minimal refined carbs but lots of healthy carbs. Healthy carbs come from veggies, fruits, and whole grains. I also think more protein and healthy fats are essential.

To 0 carb you would pretty much have to eat nothing but fat. Eggs and some meats have a very low number of carbs. Even lots of veggies have a carb or 2.

For me to manage 50-75 grams a day I eat 1 piece of whole grain bread, one very small piece of fruit and about 1/4 c of milk per day. The rest of my carbs come from non-starchy veggies, eggs, and about 15 almonds. I honestly don't think this is the most healthy way to eat but due to my T2 I don't get much of a choice. This may be the way I have to eat for the rest of my life even once I lose the weight I want to since my weight has never affected my blood sugar.

If I had no carbs I would not be able to go potty literally... Veggies and fruits are good so are whole grains and oats. If I had no carbs you would have better stay away from me because I would be crazy, cranky, insane and very moody!

Your brain needs glucose to survive and if you plan on strength train and actually build muscle carbs are needed unless you want to lift a five pound dumbbell all the time.

All things in moderation. I don't believe in low crabbing long term but a cycle way of eating is a better approach.

You'll drop water weight, that will come back as soon as you reintroduce carbs

Exactly...the main thing you're doing is depleting glycogen stores.

Exactly. No need to make yourself suffer through that to see a number on the scale that is NOT fat loss

I'm quite happy with my loss of 33lbs of glycogen stores in the last 4 months, doing low carb That said, the loss in the first 2 weeks is primarily water loss, which would be put back on when you start eating carbs again - you won't lose a lot of fat unless you continue on it for longer than the 2 weeks.

Well she did say she was doing it for a week not 4 months like you

For all you folks who say low carb is not a sustainable life change, there are plenty of us who have done exactly that for medical reasons. Of course, maybe my brain just isn't functioning right without carbs.

I do a lower carb lifestyle.. Not NO CARB. I like it and Im not "backed up". Meats, veggies, under 50 grams of carbs... Whatever works for you I say! No carb for long periods of time is unsustainable. But as a plateu breaker or a jump start to weight loss I see it as helpful....

I am actually doing this for the first time this week simply because I am trying to detox (10 day program) It's HARDDDDD but, since I've started I've only lost 2 lbs so Its a little disappointing... but a loss is a loss and I'll take it! Good Luck and let me know how it goes!

No carbs completely? that would mean no vegetables or fruits. You would eat nothing but protein for a week? I'm guessing you'd lose weight...but...I can't imagine eating nothing but meat/eggs/protein powder for a week. Just my personal bias...I like my veggies and fruits

I was thinking the same thing only meat and fat b/l/d for 7 days would get pretty old