Remarkable

[Emre Yigit]

9 weeks gone by

182 pounds, down 34.

Last week I lost 3 pounds. I have no idea how this happened. It is true that in pre-maintenance, I have begun to stall some days, but this week one day I lost just over 1.5 pounds. All I did that day was delay having lunch until 5pm because there was a massive amount of work that needed to be done before an early-afternoon deadline. I ate the same stuff I am normally doing, and ate dinner at around 9pm, but despite the calorie intake, I lost massively. I guess that intense work concentration also burns calories, just like exercise!

Otherwise, ho-hum. Am getting a bit bored. Plus, I am now just 1 pound away from my second goal. As the end approaches, I must admit that my motivation is flagging. Especially as I am no longer overweight.

(My original goal, set when I was 216 pounds, was to come down to 198. After the third day on the diet, I revised that to 181 pounds. A couple of weeks ago, I revised that to 176 pounds.

My 176-pound new target was set by trawling various internet sites to see what my "ideal" weight would be.)

With so much less fat to burn, and since I am now probably out of ketosis (and getting 2000 calories a day), the weight loss should slow down. But I guess the exercise really does help. Dr Atkins was right when he said that exercise was not an option but a requirement in this diet.

[Emre Yigit]

10 weeks gone by

179 pounds, down 37.

The usual: swimming, walking, weight lifting. On holiday this week, so we shall see.

Best to all.

[imagood1]

Re: Remarkable

You are doing wonderfully!!!! Keep up the great work.

[Emre Yigit]

73 days gone by : Goal reached

Well, it's done. There are no "before and after" pictures, but the following should be enough.

Waist size: 43" (109cm) > 34.5" (88cm)
Weight: 215.6 pounds (97.8kg) > 176.2 pounds (79.9kg)
Body fat: c.63 pounds > c.27 pounds
Body lean mass: c.153 pounds > c.149 pounds
Body fat ratio: c.29% > c.15%
BMI: 28.5 > 23.2


My plans for the next three months are:

to maintain my weight at 175-177 pounds
to reduce my body fat by 4 pounds (generally around my waist)
to increase my muscle mass by 4 pounds (generally in my upper body)
(and hence reduce the body fat ratio to c.13%).

Thank you all so much for being so inspirational.
Above all, though, thank you to Donna - you know who you are - for getting me started on this program in the first place. I shan't be posting every week like I used to - unless there's a good reason - but I promise to write in every month at the least to give an update of how it's going. Now, if only I could find some information in the exercise forums about how to maintain some glycogen in my muscles without tipping over into fat...

[cafe_et_creme]

Re: Remarkable

Congrats! you have done so well, i found your journey to be very inspirational. Just goes to prove, if you stick to plan 100%, you will get results!
Thanks for sharing your journey.

[Emre Yigit]

Update: 2 weeks post-maintenance

Weight 79.7 kgs (175.7 lbs), fluctuating rather more than I had hoped, but the average has been 79.9 kgs (176.2 lbs).

I went to see another dietician today, and they were all terribly impressed by my overall level of apparent fitness, BMI, fat ratio, etc. Until I told them that it had come about due to Atkins, at which point they ordered a blood test! I think it's too soon to see what my cholesterol level is, but we shall see...

[Emre Yigit]

Blood test results

Everything hunky dory, except for a very strange cholesterol reading:

HDL..... 50 (fair)
LDL......234 (very very high)
3GL......62 (very very low)

My doctor was remarkably calm about this. She told me to eat less red meat, and add some oats or high-fibre foods, apples, walnuts, and to drink some red wine and to have my blood retested in 2-3 months.

Of course, I did not have my blood work done before Atkins, so I have no idea what the levels were before testing.

[Emre Yigit]

Blood test results part 2

After following most of my doctor's advice (and going really heavy on the oats and stuff), I just couldn't wait any longer and went to get new blood tests done. I know I shouldn't have, so soon, but Atkins has made me impatient of getting results.

Everything much better, thank God!

HDL..... 52 (fair)
LDL......144 (high)
3GL......45 (very very very very low)

My weight has come off a little. I am now 172 pounds, but the weight loss has stopped. I love Atkins. I also love oats. (Is loving both allowed? ). I love you all. And though my LDL is still high (and my overall cholesterol is 205), I feel I'm on track.

[liv]

Re: Remarkable

glad things are working out. You have a remarkable metabolism. I can only be super envious. But you're figuring out what works for you. I think if it works for you, you can love both Atkins and oats. They are not mutually exclusive. Thanks for the update.

[Emre Yigit]

Re: Remarkable

My weight maintenance and cholesterol concentration continue apace.

HDL..... 50 (fair)
LDL......134 (borderline high)
3GL......55 (very very very low)

My weight remains 172 pounds on average.

And though my LDL is still high (and my overall cholesterol is 195), I've been told not to worry. My current quack says that the main thing to watch for is not LDL, but its type, which, apparently, with a 3GL/HDL ratio of 1.1, would be good. So, apparently, I have the better type of of the bad cholesterol. Not to worry, therefore, but more tests needed... and I'm tired of them all. And they're more expensive. So I'll wait a while.

This is turning into a shaggy dog story, so I'll stop.

On the plus side, my cardio and weights continue apace. I am very very slowly conditioning my body after years of neglect. Not on Atkins by any stretch of the imagination - and missing some foods alas, but I am still on track some three-and-a-half months after the end of my diet proper.

And thank God for the exercise... it really munches up the calories.

Look forward to modelling swimwear next summer.

[RosieC]

Re: Remarkable

Congratulations on maintaining your weight and finding a maintenance plan that works for you! It's great that you still take the time to come back and post, it's such a motivator to see people maintaining. Thank you!

[chinadoll]

Re: Remarkable

Congratulations. It looks like your bloodwork is falling into line nicely. Your first tests were fairly early (timewise) into Atkins and there is sometimes a spike at that point but your numbers are improving and it looks like you are doing a good job of figuring out how to maintain your losses. Well done.

[Jenileigh]

Re: Remarkable

Wtg!

[Emre Yigit]

Re: Remarkable

First weighing of the New Year. 172 pounds, though I suspect I was probably about 170 going into the very long weekend. I must admit the surfeit of food, wine and chocolates was very good. Shall maintain at this level.

In December, I had my body fat checked. I am down to 13%. The target for the next 6 months is 11%.

Happy New Year!

[liv]

Re: Remarkable

Thanks for the update. Glad that you are doing so well
That is a pretty low body fat percentage. Are you doing a lot exercise too?
Happy new year!!!