I made a silly decision to start my slow carb diet the week of Pride. But I was tired of putting it off for this reason or that. Family in town, traveling, still having to live in hotels, etc etc.
I knew that this wasn’t going to end any time soon and that putting off this experiment would do me no good. Even if it meant I couldn’t enjoy the food and drinks of Sunday’s Pride Parade here in San Francisco.
This morning I woke up, went downstairs and did my weigh-in. Down twelve pound! Almost too good to be true so I did a scale reset and tried again. Twelve pounds, right there. Wow. Here’s how I did it.
Last week, I went to the grocery store and purchased a weeks worth of food, slow carb food. If you don’t know, here is how the diet works.
There are three things you have to eat at every meal. You can mix this up a bit with spices and different ingredients here and there. I recommend you buy the book. You do this for every meal, six days a week. On your seventh day, your cheat day, you eat whatever you want and as much of it as you want (don’t go too crazy).
- A serving of beans (canned beans of various varieties)
- A serving of vegetables
- A serving of a protein (eggs, fish, chicken, etc)
Things you don’t eat?
- As with most carb-conscious diets, stay away from white foods (with an exclusion or two). Not even whole grains like wheat or brown rice.
- Stay away from any milk product (soy milk, almond milk, etc included)
- Absolutely no fruit.
This is the gist of my grocery list.
- 2 cans organic black beans
- 2 cans organic pinto beans
- 2 cans organic kidney beans
- 1 can organic garbanzo beans
- 1 stick of butter (allowed in small amounts, I use Plugrá butter)
- organic salsa
- organic, free-range eggs
- 1 carton of egg beaters
- 2 heads of broccoli
- 2 bunches of asparagus
- 1 bag of spinach
- 1 large onion
- 1 carton of mushrooms
- 2 organic avocados
- 6 frozen salmon filets
- 6 cans of tuna
- vegan cheese
- spices
The total is (rough estimate) around $53 which breaks down to $9.33 a day or $3.11 per meal ! That is incredibly cheap, especially since before this diet I was known to hit up sushi joints for dinner on a much-too-regular basis.
On Saturday I was supposed to go crazy, eat whatever I want, drink whatever I want, get rid of all the urges through the week and also spin my metabolism a bit. Unfortunately I failed! Well sort of. I sure didn’t eat the ice cream or donuts or any other luxuriously delicious foods I had been craving for the week. I did have some potatoes at breakfast, an English muffin and liquor. Other than that, I kept the diet.
In the end, after just over a week, I am down twelve pounds. Now, I definitely don’t see this happening every week, I’d be a stick within months. However, if I can maintain a downward trend of around six pounds a week, I’ll be more than happy, and I’ll settle for three.
So for the next few months, I’ll be sticking to the diet just to see where it goes. Here’s hoping it continues until I’m back to where I was a few years ago, or even better. Once we get our house back together, my personal training sessions will pick back up, speeding this up a bit even more, though weight loss will slow as muscle builds up.
@justex07 Thanks 🙂 OMG that diet sounds horrible! I don’t think I can give up rice. I’m a Mexican and we eat rice with everything O_O
@justex07 Thanks 🙂 OMG that diet sounds horrible! I don’t think I can give up rice. I’m a Mexican and we eat rice with everything O_O
@semiamerican haha, well you’d be surprised how easy it can be. I LIVE for bread and cheese, both of which aren’t allowed. 😀
@semiamerican haha, well you’d be surprised how easy it can be. I LIVE for bread and cheese, both of which aren’t allowed. 😀
@semiamerican one day a week though, all the rice you want 😛
@semiamerican one day a week though, all the rice you want 😛
@justex07 But doesn’t it get boring eating the same thing over and over? And what happens when u stop dieting dont you gain the weight back?
@justex07 But doesn’t it get boring eating the same thing over and over? And what happens when u stop dieting dont you gain the weight back?
@semiamerican taking storm in US this diet plan http://www.burna.in/tuea
@semiamerican taking storm in US this diet plan http://www.burna.in/tuea
@semiamerican not really, but I can be a really determined, and creative, person.
@semiamerican not really, but I can be a really determined, and creative, person.
@semiamerican as far as gaining the weight back you can’t just go back to being totally unhealthy, this is meant to jumpstart your lifestyle
@semiamerican as far as gaining the weight back you can’t just go back to being totally unhealthy, this is meant to jumpstart your lifestyle
@semiamerican the idea is you lose the weight and begin a light (4 hour a week) exercise regimen to keep it off, build muscle.
@semiamerican the idea is you lose the weight and begin a light (4 hour a week) exercise regimen to keep it off, build muscle.
@justex07 So weight lifting and things like that? Hmm. We’ll if it worked for u, I’ll check the book out!
@justex07 So weight lifting and things like that? Hmm. We’ll if it worked for u, I’ll check the book out!
@semiamerican If you use the link in my blog post, I get a tiny tiny tiny present from Amazon 😛
@semiamerican If you use the link in my blog post, I get a tiny tiny tiny present from Amazon 😛
@justex07 You know, I’ve signed up for things and clicked links for you so you can get free stuff. When am I getting a part of that cut? lol
@justex07 You know, I’ve signed up for things and clicked links for you so you can get free stuff. When am I getting a part of that cut? lol
@justex07 This sounds super tasty actually! I think I’m gonna give it a try.
@justex07 This sounds super tasty actually! I think I’m gonna give it a try.
@TUSK81 I’m posting my breakfast bowl recipe later today 😀
@TUSK81 I’m posting my breakfast bowl recipe later today 😀
@justex07 I’ve been reading that book, glad to hear you’re having success! I dunno if I can do all the sacrifices…
@justex07 I’ve been reading that book, glad to hear you’re having success! I dunno if I can do all the sacrifices…
@JessicaThinkies for me it is very much worth it. Exercising builds muscle for me but losing fat has always been hard.
@JessicaThinkies for me it is very much worth it. Exercising builds muscle for me but losing fat has always been hard.
@justex07 yeah, especially in those few areas that seem to be immune from exercise. I’m starting with a food journal and going slow.
@justex07 yeah, especially in those few areas that seem to be immune from exercise. I’m starting with a food journal and going slow.
@JessicaThinkies That’s also in the book, he recommends making the journal public. Have you thought about @DailyBurn? Helps me #4hb
@JessicaThinkies That’s also in the book, he recommends making the journal public. Have you thought about @DailyBurn? Helps me #4hb
@justex07 I currently use myfitnessbuddy, because it’s both mobile and on the web. I don’t know if it’s public, but its working.
@justex07 I currently use myfitnessbuddy, because it’s both mobile and on the web. I don’t know if it’s public, but its working.
@justex07 sounds amazing, but all those beans! Could be a problem lol. How old are you? You young boys lose weight like it’s nothing…
@justex07 sounds amazing, but all those beans! Could be a problem lol. How old are you? You young boys lose weight like it’s nothing…
@CarlNYC he actually brings that up in the book. I for one have no problems, even with lentils. Your body adjusts to the diet quickly. #4hb
@CarlNYC he actually brings that up in the book. I for one have no problems, even with lentils. Your body adjusts to the diet quickly. #4hb
@CarlNYC I gain muscle quickly & easily (I doubled my max weight lifted in one month and cut my mile time in half). Weight tho? no. #4HB
@CarlNYC I gain muscle quickly & easily (I doubled my max weight lifted in one month and cut my mile time in half). Weight tho? no. #4HB
@justex07 interesting. Thanks!
@justex07 interesting. Thanks!
lushuslulu On Saturdays I can drink as much wine as I like 😀
lushuslulu On Saturdays I can drink as much wine as I like 😀
@justex07 Losing 12 lbs and drinking a gang o’ wine is a Huge temptation.
@justex07 Losing 12 lbs and drinking a gang o’ wine is a Huge temptation.
@lushuslulu haha, a couple of glasses a night is actually more than I usually drink. It’s helping me try more of my wines to boot! #4hb
@lushuslulu haha, a couple of glasses a night is actually more than I usually drink. It’s helping me try more of my wines to boot! #4hb
I just bought it. I’ll let you know what happens.
I just bought it. I’ll let you know what happens.
@SamuelAveryHunt awesome! Lemme know what you think of it. It’s a bit of a long read but it was really interesting to me.
What peeked your interest in the book, seeing as you’re already fit?
@SamuelAveryHunt awesome! Lemme know what you think of it. It’s a bit of a long read but it was really interesting to me.
What peeked your interest in the book, seeing as you’re already fit?
@justex07 I haven’t yet but I’ll check it out. I had good results with 4HB but need something a bit more extreme at this point. 🙂
@justex07 I haven’t yet but I’ll check it out. I had good results with 4HB but need something a bit more extreme at this point. 🙂
@squeakytoy when I’m strict on #4HB, lose about 1lb a day but with my current living/travel situation, it’s hard.
@squeakytoy when I’m strict on #4HB, lose about 1lb a day but with my current living/travel situation, it’s hard.
@justex07 Also the 1lb per day is not sustainable. It slows down. 2-3 per week is generally where it levels off, unfortunately.
@justex07 Also the 1lb per day is not sustainable. It slows down. 2-3 per week is generally where it levels off, unfortunately.
@justex07 I’d love to know more about your living/travel situation since I just quit my job to go independent. We should connect!
@justex07 I’d love to know more about your living/travel situation since I just quit my job to go independent. We should connect!
@squeakytoy oh definitely. I bring that up in one of my posts. At some point you run out of weight to lose (hopefully!)
@squeakytoy oh definitely. I bring that up in one of my posts. At some point you run out of weight to lose (hopefully!)
@squeakytoy haha I did the same thing. Living situation is complicated, apart net and house are both under major renovation.
@squeakytoy haha I did the same thing. Living situation is complicated, apart net and house are both under major renovation.
@justex07 Would love to get some advice from you. 🙂 Are you going to be at the 7/20 tweetup?
@justex07 Would love to get some advice from you. 🙂 Are you going to be at the 7/20 tweetup?
@squeakytoy 7/20 tweetup? Not positive I know about it. I get back to SF on the 19th though…
@squeakytoy 7/20 tweetup? Not positive I know about it. I get back to SF on the 19th though…
@justex07 @Airrun has the details. I’ll send you the Facebook invite
@justex07 @Airrun has the details. I’ll send you the Facebook invite
@squeakytoy @airrun sweet
@squeakytoy @airrun sweet
12 pounds to lose! Kinda worries me too much on time, I love losing weight makes me feel lighter and healthier kinda growing jealous on how the way you can lose weight in a short period of time 🙂
12 pounds to lose! Kinda worries me too much on time, I love losing weight makes me feel lighter and healthier kinda growing jealous on how the way you can lose weight in a short period of time 🙂
@Toronto Personal Training Just takes some small effort 6 days a week 😀
@Toronto Personal Training Just takes some small effort 6 days a week 😀
@HenrikBrandin I did a follow-up post two months later http://t.co/Cb0EygFZ but in short it was great, hard to do long term though.
@HenrikBrandin I did a follow-up post two months later http://t.co/Cb0EygFZ but in short it was great, hard to do long term though.
@HenrikBrandin how did you stumble upon that post? 😀
@HenrikBrandin how did you stumble upon that post? 😀
@justex07 Stumbled through 4 Hour Body FB page and saw your link there.
@justex07 Stumbled through 4 Hour Body FB page and saw your link there.
@justex07 ok,thx for locating it. sure it is, but it’s a good pointer to wut wrx + ‘habitualizing’ important parts makes 4 a good base diet
@justex07 ok,thx for locating it. sure it is, but it’s a good pointer to wut wrx + ‘habitualizing’ important parts makes 4 a good base diet
@HenrikBrandin absolutely. I would love to start it up again, It’s the only thing that has ever worked for me.
@HenrikBrandin absolutely. I would love to start it up again, It’s the only thing that has ever worked for me.
@HenrikBrandin gotcha 😀
@HenrikBrandin gotcha 😀
@HenrikBrandin http://t.co/jTccsbbj