why do I keep adding weight?

[fitmama]

I am so frustrated

I started dieting a little to late ( january first )and have only 11 weeks (I use to diet 15 weeks) left to lose 12-14 pounds!
That never has been a problem and I have always been losing 1 1/2 - 2 pounds per week..... BUT NOW... I add weight? why is that?
I know I am very VERY carb sensitive... but I decided to try the diet seen here... you know the 5 day carb cycling!
day 1 : 150gr carbs
day 2 : 125gr carbs
day 3 : 75 gr
day 4 : 50 gr
day 5 :100gr
Maybe this is to much carbs? I do weight 132 pounds now and am 5"2
The cardio and trainig is like I´ve always done for contest prep.... so I know it aint that!
As for the diet I used to do a 3 day carb cycle and was it was devided like this
Day1 : no carbs
Day 2: low carbs ( 1 gr per pound of bw )
Day 3: High carbs
Can you maybe give me an Idea?

thanks so much

Oh yes.........1 more thing

I train late at night or from 7pm - 8:30 pm and never ate carbs after.... because I found it to late.... I usally go to sleep between 10 and 11 pm
But I was told to always eat carbs after a training....
so I did.... can that be the reason? since I´m so carb sensitive?

aaaaaaaaarg I don´t know.... The only thing I know is that I don´t have time for ANY mistakes... my first show this year is March the 27.

Thank you all so much

Fitmama

[PassionateBB]

Fitmama, the first thing I thought of was, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." I think with the smaller time frame you're working in it's not the best time to try something new, as you don't have the leisure of time to experiment and see how your body reacts.

If I were you I'd go back to what worked for you previously. Then in an off-season, experiment with the different carb cycling.

[Tim Wescott]

Good advice Peggy............with only 12 weeks,starting something new might not be a good idea,simply because you don`t know how your body will react to it.

Also,Anna Belle,make sure you are in a calorie deficit,if not, you simply won`t lose weight no matter what.

Since you have done some carb-cycling in the past,maybe you just need to adjust it a little:

day 1 : 125 gr carbs
day 2 : 75 gr carbs
day 3 : 50 gr carbs
day 4 : 50 gr carbs
day 5 :100 gr carbs

You must always adjust according to your results, or your lack of results.

Make sure also, that you are getting enough water,and if need be,try zero carbs for 3 days only, before resuming your carb- cycle.

Post-Workout carbs are still advisable no matter what time of day you train........just do not exceed your carb limit for the day, and you should be alright.

Post-Workout is the definate best time for carbs, as they are optimally utilized by the body for repair and replenishment.

Keep us posted with your thoughts and progress.

Good luck!!

[fitmama]

PassionateBB said:

Fitmama, the first thing I thought of was, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." I think with the smaller time frame you're working in it's not the best time to try something new, as you don't have the leisure of time to experiment and see how your body reacts.

If I were you I'd go back to what worked for you previously. Then in an off-season, experiment with the different carb cycling.

You are so right PassionateBB... thats how I ususally think to... But the reason why I wanted to change my diet is that with the old diet I was suppose to eat a piece of fruit with every carb meal.... for me fruits are trigger food.... My sweet tooth screamed the rest of the day... and I always had a hard time controlling it.
So........... now... I really don´t know!
Thank you though for your advise.... maybe I should wait to change my diet for a better time.
Tim..... I am gonna try 5 days more on the new plan you gave here.... but I must admit that I am not sure about the post meal... ( I know I´m difficult ) You say... that it is the total carbs you eat over the day that counts.... but as we know carbs are fuel ... and I go to sleep within two hours after my workout!!!!

thank you both for caring

Fitmama

[Tim Wescott]

Anna Belle,I can understand your concern,especially at pre-contest,but the carbs you ingest post-workout,will be used for replenishment and repair,and any excess will be stored as glycogen in your liver..........I think since your carbs are so low that there shouldn`t be a worry.

I do however, beleive in doing what I feel is "psychologically comfortable"........in other words,if I feel better doing something,or not doing it,in spite of whether I really should or not,then I go by how I feel.

You certainly don`t need the excess stress when dieting,so listen to your body, and adjust things as you feel necessary.

Good luck,we`re behind you,and stay focused!! :Rocker Dude:

[AdrenalineRush]

do you take weekly assessment photos, is it possible you are just holding water, intestinal bloat from vegetbales? how long have u gained weight for. your diet looks fine to me with Tim's adjustments which should help....personally ive always liked the beverly diets of low carbs 3 days big carb up meal on the 4th and 7th night, something to really look forward to.... best of luck, stay strong!!

[Intensity]

I know it's not usual, but just in case: Is that posible that by being more strick with your diet, you also add protein to your daily intake? And if it's the case, maybe you add some muscle to your frame in the last weeks! (It's not always fat!!) Every time that i'm dieting for a contest (this years include) i add 2 or 3 pounds in the first 2 weeks of the diet! I think that it's because i'm more serious about every meal and timing! I know i know... we need to be serious all years long... but let be real, we tend to have more exceptions in off-season versus pre-contest...

PS: I'm also sold to the importance of post workout carbs... even more in pre-contest diet!

Good luck!

Mo

[Tim Wescott]

That`s a very good point Mo,at times you will weigh more simply because your body composition has changed......not necessarily from getting fatter,but from losing fat, and adding a bit of muscle............water retention also plays a role.

I also thing in Anna Belle`s case,though she doesn`t have a lot of time to get contest ready,when trying a new dietary tactic, it sometimes takes a while for the body to adjust or kick in.........or as I said in my previous post,she might need to simply adjust macros........lot`s of variables to consider in this scenario.

[PassionateBB]

But the reason why I wanted to change my diet is that with the old diet I was suppose to eat a piece of fruit with every carb meal.... for me fruits are trigger food.... My sweet tooth screamed the rest of the day... and I always had a hard time controlling it.

Fitmama, the only fruit I've eaten contest dieting are strawberries. But fruit does the same thing for me, triggers a sugar craving. So generally I cut it out pretty early in my diet.

[fitmama]

You are propably right!!!!

I´m sticking with the post carbs.... but did take again the same aproach to my diet as I used to .... but took the fruits OUT!!!!!

I keep you posted .... thank you for everything
and please............. keep your ideas coming

Anna Belle

[naturalguy]

Don't skimp on the post workout carbs. If you are training hard, you need them.

If fruit causes you a problem, eliminate it. I like to keep things simple. During precontest, I stick to basic carbs, oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice, veggies and post workout only simple carbs.

As far as the carb cycle, just adjust the amounts down slightly or go back to your old diet if it worked.

Lastly forget the scale (I know easier said than done) but it can play tricks on your mind. You may be holding water which shows up as weight on the scale and then you will make a drastic change in your diet when you didn't have to.