Here are my results again:
Before:
LBM: 106
FM: 38
BF: 26.5%
After:
LBM: 105
FM: 33
BF: 24.5%
Change:
LBM: -1
FM: -5
BF: -2.0%Last year at this time, my brother who is lovingly referred to Doogie in the crossfit world, and I did our first month of paleo and during 4 weeks I had 5 lbs of fat loss and 3% body fat loss and to be honest I was at the exact same place at the beginning of this challenge as I was last year when I began, so with an extra two weeks of eating straight I assumed my fat loss would be at least 3.5-4%.
So, why the big difference, what did I do differently this time that I didn't do last time.
This year, I added a lot of sweet potatoes into my diet because I have a huge addiction, just like Lindsay Lohan and cocaine, to sugar. I would eat these 3-4 times a week because it curbed my cravings. Not sure if this was a cause but I didn't eat any sweet potatoes last year during my challenge. I also have an issue with overeating and during these past 6 weeks I was constantly snacking on something because I was afraid if I felt hungry I would cheat.
What are my goals going forward?
I would like to get back down to 20% body fat by April. It's definitely reasonable as I did this last year and then ate it all back during the summer.
How am I going to proceed?
I read the book, Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar and Survival by TS Wiley and Bent Formby, recommended through Robb Wolf and one of their chapters is about eating dinner by 6:30 pm so your system as enough time to digest as well your sleep is a lot better. I've never had an issue with sleeping as I can probably sleep 12 hours tonight easily, but they talk about the connection between digestion/sleep/health. The problem with this is my current schedule. I work until at least 5:30 most days, crossfit at 6:30, then go home and make/eat dinner and get myself together for the next day. If I had to eat dinner by 6:30, I would have to shift my schedule around. I need to do some more research in regards to this or would like to know anyone's thoughts in regards to this.
I am going to try and eat three meals a day and slowly ween myself off of snacking. I'm following my brothers lead on this one hoping that because this works for him, it works for me.
For anyone who has followed this blog, feel free to point out anything else that you think might help for me. Sometimes I think too much about things and I think in the long run it sort of sabotages whatever it is I'm focusing on.
Also, I ate some Reese's peanut butter cups yesterday, some Andy's frozen custard with caramel sauce and some dark chocolate I was making for the Crossfit 847 grand opening this weekend and I was sick as a dog last night. I couldn't even eat dinner, my stomach was so upset. So I'm not too eager to cheat at this moment.
Ash, sweet potatoes carry a lot of calories. I only ate them once or twice a week. I would eat them mostly after a very tough workout.
ReplyDeleteI have been tinkering with eating dinner early as well. When I don't have oly at night I would eat at 615/630. I noticed that it is easier to sleep when I eat earlier in the evening rather than later in the evening.
I heard Joel (DT) is secretly turning in his garage workout platform into a tap dance area!
ReplyDeleteAlso - don't forget about the effect stress has on fat burning. I know your job has been stressful lately and this could be a big part of what happened here.
ReplyDeleteAs for snacking, I think there is a fine line. Every day I left for work with the same amount of food. I either ate it in one go or I would portion it out over the day (depending on what it was and how I felt that day). I did not have unlimited amounts of food near me during the day (like a jar of nuts) and was conscious of portion control (as for nuts I wouldn't have more than 7 a day. Tops.) If I used part of my meal as a snack it was usually a paleo treat (banana walnut muffin or macaroon) and I usually had it in the mid afternoon. This got me over the hunger hump before dinner. I will say this though - I often went into WODs hungry as I didn't want to overeat and wanted to wait until dinner to eat to ensure I was eating properly. Again - more portion control - though it probably also accounts for why I lost some lean muscle mass.
And as for sweet potatos I think you are right on. I've read that sweet potatos aren't even technically paleo unless you crossfit. Given that it is probably a good idea to limit them.
Ashley, read the PDF book I sent you.
ReplyDeleteDoogie, rumor confirmed.
Burbs, I plan on reading the PDF next week. Thanks for that. Yaz, I'm such an over eater and I think that has a lot to do with not losing as much. Thanks for the advice all and damn those sweet taters, I love them.
ReplyDeleteGotta dance.....
Burbs, I took tap for 16 years, I am more than happy to come over and show you some technique for the meet in December.
Ashley, let me just say that losing 5 whole pounds of fat is a great accomplishment! That's 13% of all the fat on your body. As Yaz says, just think of 5 lbs of pure fat sitting on your counter. It's now off your body. Nothing to be sad about! Congrats on a great success in the challenge. Don't be discouraged...you've accomplished a lot!
ReplyDelete