Amanda76’s BodyBlog

IN A NUTSHELL:

Anabolic Diet: Things are finally looking up.  I have decided to continue with AD through September.  I can’t remember whether I’ve posted that some people reported not feeling good on AD until between weeks 5 and 8 and that I read somewhere that Dr. Pasquale said it can take some people up to 4 months to truly see the benefits of AD.  I DO seem to be one of the people who respond slowly to it.  I’m really happy I read other people’s accounts of not getting “instant gratification” before I gave up.   

Still eating around 1,500 on low carb days and 1,800+ on carb ups.  

I have had some issues that I guess are hormonal.  Let’s just say if I had a significant other, this diet would be OVER.  LOL  TOM was a little different, too, but overall it was in a good way (just didn’t know what to expect with it).  If you’re female and want further details about that, just pm me.  LOL   

Hunger: None on low carb days.  My appetite is definitely stimulated during carb-ups though.  Carbs used to not have that effect so I’m not sure what to think about that.

Cravings: None.

Energy: Normal.

Mood: Normal.

Mental Clarity: Normal.

Physical Appearance: I’ve been getting lots of compliments from people at the gym, so that’s good.  I’m definitely not flattening out as much as I was and my body really appears to be tightening up even though there has been no real change in my measurements.  I still get a little smaller as the week goes on, but not like I was.  I had been Weighing in at 124 after my carb ups and would weigh 120 the morning of my carb up.  This last week, I only lost 2 lbs over the course of the week (that I gained back after carbing up), so I think that’s also a sign that my body is getting better at rationing glycogen or something.   

Workouts: Workouts have been going SO much more smoothly.  Still not as strong as I was before AD and I’m still having some endurance issues but they’re pretty slight.  And I have felt good enough to add a 5th day back into my routine.  I think there is a chance that strength might be able to come up over the next few weeks.  We shall see. 

Amanda76, Age 31, Height 5″4″
(measurments taken morning after carb ups on empty stomach)
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Just a quick update on how things are going.  No major epiphanies just yet.  :-p

IN A NUTSHELL:

Anabolic Diet: Have been eating around 1,500 on low carb days and 1,800+ on carb ups.  It’s definitely getting easier but I don’t enjoy what I eat most days as much as I used to.  I’ve shifted my carb ups to Friday and Saturday instead of Thursday and Friday because I have a lot of family celebration type stuff coming up and it will be easier to deal with celebrating if I can eat carbs on the weekend.  Don’t want to miss any vino!  LOL

Hunger: It’s getting easier to eat.  I have more of an appetite on carb up days than non-carb up days.

Cravings: None.

Energy: Normal.

Mood: Normal.

Mental Clarity: Normal.

Physical Appearance:  Everything seems to have tightened back up to what I consider to be normal, including my legs and glutes!  Either that or I forgot what I used to look like.  LOL  It also seems like I’m not flattening out as bad as I get further away from my carb ups.  I’ll let you know if I get any more horrified looks or comments about looking small or “not like me.” 

Measurements have remained about the same as they were a couple of weeks ago.  I did weigh in at a lot less than usual a few times, but I’m having some issues that will keep me from getting accurate readings this week so I’ll wait for measurements. 

Workouts:  It’s VERY important that I get my workouts in starting the day of my first carb-up.  I guess because I work out at night, that gives me plenty of time to store up carbs throughout the day and have good energy that night.  I feel best on my 2nd carb up day, but there’s not too much difference between my workouts until I get to the 2nd day after my carb up.  I can go about my daily routine as normal, but my workouts tend to fall apart as I move further from my carb-up.  Overall, I’m still weaker and have less endurance than I had before starting AD, but my workouts have started to become a lot less aggravating in ways I’m not sure how to explain so I’m hopeful that things might start to turn around.