My Carb Cycling Diet Plan – thoughts on cycling in and out of Keto for long term weight loss plus video sharing my carb cycling diet plan.
Carb Cycling
While researching different low carb, keto diets and strategies recently I came across the concept of Carb Cycling. I discovered that there may be many definitions for carb cycling and ways to incorporate it into your diet.
For me it is going to mean cycling between the low carb, high fat ketogenic diet and a diet with no restrictions, only eating intuitively.
My Keto History
I’ve been on the Keto Diet for over 7 months now and have lost 16kg/35lbs. Much of that weight loss happened in short bursts – with long periods of plateaus in-between.
When looking at my stats, 6 weeks seems to be the “sweet spot” where I lose weight consistently and feel awesome.
Here’s a look at my weight loss journey to date:
Taking A Keto Break
While on holiday recently I took a break from Keto. On returning home the break continued. Yet, my weight loss has not stopped or stalled. In fact I’ve lost weight since being back while being mostly low carb, but including higher carb items in my diet.
I’ve been umming and arring about what my diet should look like in the long term and I think that I’ve come up with a solution. At least a solution that will see me through until the end of 2017, at which time I will re-assess and decide what to do from there.
Carb Cycling Plan
The plan is to cycle in and out of Keto every 6 weeks. Some carb cycling followers have a “carb meal” or a “carb day”. I’d prefer not to confuse my body on a daily or weekly basis but give it a good solid 6 weeks in Ketosis.
I’ve popped the dates in my diary for the rest of the year to help me stay on track. On the 1st May I will be getting back to strict Keto for the following 6 weeks. That brings us to mid June which is the start of what I like to call “Birthday Season”. When both my boys and I have our Birthdays.
I will enjoy birthday food and a Keto break before going back to strict Keto. Then, I have other occasions through the rest of the year and will also be going on an end of year trip with my family. During those times I will be taking a break from Keto, trying to tie them in with my weeks off in my diary.
I believe that having a plan and dates in my diary will help me stay accountable and get straight back to strict Keto when I know I have a set date.
More Carbs = Weight Gain?
The fear with increasing carbs is gaining back the weight lost. The reality is, that if I were to go back to my pre keto carbfest ways of eating then maybe that would be a possibility.
To me, carb cycling is not about a massive carb fest, it’s about eating a “normal” amount of carbs. That usually means a wider variety of fruit and vegetables, maybe chocolate and sweets as well as not thinking about carbs in meals while out and about. I’ve been having super low carb breakfasts and then letting whatever happens the rest of the day happen.
Intuitive Eating
Prior to my keto days, I was incredibly interested in the intuitive eating concept. (This book helped me heaps!)
There’s zero guilt about eating non-keto foods, I enjoy every bite and move on.
My non-keto times will be more along the lines of 80/20 keto. Where about 20% of the food I consume will be non-keto friendly. This seems to result in weight loss or the scale not moving, which I’m ok with if I’m consistently losing during the strict keto phase.
For me, this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. I want to enjoy the process and don’t really mind how long it takes me to get to “goal weight”.
Why Not Just Stick To Keto Long Term?
Good question! I’ve said all along that I want this diet to be sustainable long term. Many people keep to Keto long term successfully and it’s definitely possible. I just feel that 6 weeks of strict keto is enough at a time for me. I get to enjoy the benefits and that I know I’ll be back in Ketosis before long.
This is my own personal plan. As I’m sharing my weight loss journey on my blog (and YouTube channel), I feel obliged to share changes to my diet. Know that no two people are alike. What works for me might not work for you. Please seek the support of a qualified health professional to help you find what works best for you and your body.
What Do I Hope To Achieve?
Well, weight loss! I’m going to monitor my weight throughout, especially during the non-keto phases. Since I’ve been experimenting with higher carbs and experienced weight loss, it will be interesting to see what happens with regular dips in and out of Keto.
Of course if my weight starts to consistently creep up during the Non-Keto phase, then I will address my carb intake accordingly.
Thanks for sharing my Keto journey with me. I look forward to see where this experiment leads…
Carb Cycling Diet Plan Video
Here’s the video where I talk you through my plans. Hit play below or click here to watch on YouTube.
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Disclaimer – this post is meant for informational post only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your health professional before making any dietary changes.
Disclosure – this post contains affiliate links.
