I Went Down To The Crossroads- Phase 3 - Weigh In

 Not that one!

 Or that one either.

 Ok, maybe that one.

Long time no see. Sorry I've been away. Things have been crazy with work, life and school. Meaning every time I've wanted to sit down and write out a post something happened. Over all the diet has been fine. I feel like we've been doing well on Phase 3 but I guess but I'm starting to get a little worried that I may have hit a road block. We are starting back on Phase 1 as the book recommends Monday so I felt like today would be a good day to weigh in. Sadly I have to report that I've lost an entire 4 tenths of a pound. Yes, down an entire 0.4 lbs. Which means my Day 15 weight towards the end of Phase 2 was 238.8 and my weight at the end of Phase 3 is 238.4. Ouch. So... final numbers of Phase 1, 2 and 3.

Starting weight: 254.4    (6 lbs off my heaviest of 260)

Lost in Phase 1: 13.8
Lost in Phase 2: 1.8
Lost in Phase 3: 0.4

Grand Total: 16lbs in 51 Days

For an average of about 2.2 lbs per week and a surprising noticeable drop off between the 3 Phases. Nearly a stalemate on the last two.

So... what does this mean. Here are a few thoughts.

1. I did not exercise in Phase 1 or Phase 2. Thus I was willing to accept the low amount of weight loss in Phase 2. Phase 1 was a cleanse with a lot of water weight lost.

2. I did exercise everyday on Phase 3 except one. Both Lucy and I have been doing the P90x videos. So such a small amount of loss is concerning. We've rarely made it though an entire hour workout, but they are pretty intense and I believe you have to work up to it.

3. P90x includes a lot of muscle training, muscle weighs more than fat, leaving the possibility that the number of the scale could be deceiving. You can lose fat over all, but either gain or not lose weight on the scale. The question is did I do enough weight training in Phase 3 to distort the numbers that dramatically?

4. I've often heard that don't worry so much about the scale, you'll know if your losing fat and getting into shape based on how your clothes fit and how you feel overall. So good news is I do feel my clothes fit a little better and I do feel better. Lucy bought some jeans the other day and dropped a few sizes, but she has not weighed. I actually convinced her to weigh next Friday because her schedule has been off this past week.

5. In the past on a diet such as Weight Watchers, I was aware of what I was eating, but this time I've been very aware of what I'm eating in regards to other items and the time in which I'm eating it. So we stick to the no fruit after 2 and have only had carbs for dinner a few times. And a very low amount of carbs at that.

6. 

7. Work has been a bear lately, leaving to skipped and delayed meals, as well as a much lower water intake throughout the day.

8. Green tea has all but disappeared from the diet. We did very good having a cup with each meal during Phase 1 but it just faded away in 2 & 3.

So, with that info I'm unwilling to say that The 17 Day Diet is a bust. There were obviously things we did not follow as well as we could have and these are not the fault of the diet. But I will say that the lack of weight loss over the last two phases with the restricted diet alone should cause concern. And the extreme lack of loss in Phase 3 with daily exercise and the restricted diet combined leave me perplexed. Especially when I've seen a better per week average weight loss on a diet such as WW with a much more open menu. Now, the book states that you do Phases 1, 2 and 3. Then if you haven't lost what you wish, do all three Phases in order again. But, my issue with this is if the majority of loss on average seems to occur in Phase 1 only, then am I not just on a low carb diet for 17 days followed by 34 days of watching my diet until I can do another 17 days of low carb? I'm unconvinced that the metabolic confusion works at all.

As of now Lucy and I plan on returning to Phase 1 Monday. With the added exercise from P90x I'm not sure if Phase 1 will provide enough carbs to keep up that level of workout, but we'll just play that by ear. The other option, try something else I guess. I will say that I am unwilling to continue on a diet that is pretty darn restrictive and not get any results. Especially when I can get the same or better results on something less restrictive.


Looking forward to everyone's feedback. Might have reached a crossroads here.