I weighed in yesterday, and I was hoping to have lost at least one pound. I don’t set my expectations too high. But I know that since I’ve been fasting and eating carnivore, I should realistically be able to lose 1 pound per week.
I was shocked when I stepped on the scale. It was my biggest weekly loss ever. I weighed myself three times just to make sure I wasn’t imagining it.
I lost 4.8 lbs in a single week!
This brings my weight down to 172 lbs, which means I’ve lost a total of 60 lbs from my highest weight of 232.
What I Did Differently This Week
The only thing I did differently this week compared to previous weeks is more fasting. I completed one 38 hour fast and several 18 – 24 hour fasts. I really think this helped.
I also think this was probably a fluke and I just happened to lose a “woosh” of fat my body was holding onto for some reason. I don’t expect to see losses like this consistently. I’m happy to lose 1 – 2 pounds per week.
I’ve also really cut down on the dairy, eating only small amounts of cheese occasionally, and I only ate a snack of beef jerky once.
Otherwise, I’m eating primarily beef and butter with the occasional eggs or chicken wings thrown in. I really feel best eating only beef, so I try to stick to it as much as I can. Apparently, my body agrees with me.
Improvements This Week
Here are some physical and mental improvements I’ve noticed this week directly related to my weight loss and/or carnivore diet:
- My knees don’t hurt when I walk for long periods.
- I have incredible amounts of energy. I can film and edit a YouTube video, write a blog post, clean my house, cook food, and still have time for my hobbies every day. This felt impossible before when I had terrible fatigue all the time.
- My anxiety and depression are pretty much nonexistent, I’m regulating my emotions better, and I feel more confident in all areas of my life.
- My clothes are fitting more loosely – which is good, but also bad because I’m running out of clothes that fit!
I’m feeling so much better overall. Some of these improvements are due to being 60 lbs lighter, while some are due to improving my insulin sensitivity. Either way, I’m overjoyed with my progress so far.
It’s so encouraging to start seeing results – and better yet, to start feeling them. It makes me never want to stop. And honestly, I don’t see a way in hell I would ever go back to eating the way I was before. Not when I’m feeling this good now.
Challenges This Week
I really haven’t had many challenges this week. The only thing I’m struggling with is loose skin. I’m starting to notice it on my stomach, arms, and my neck of all places.
I think I’m prematurely getting the dreaded “turkey neck” aging women everywhere dread seeing in the mirror. I can only see it in certain light, though Andrew swears to me it’s not noticeable. (He loves me, so I don’t trust him to tell me the truth about my appearance.)
I knew this was going to happen. I know it’s going to get worse. But it still sucks to see it.
If I had to choose, though, I would definitely take the loose skin over the extra fat. And luckily, there is skin removal surgery to help. After I’m down to a healthy weight and have maintained it for at least six months, I’ll look into it.
Right now, I’m just focusing on getting the weight off. I’ll deal with the cosmetic stuff when that time comes. (I’ve already been dreaming about incorporating my surgery scars into some badass tattoos.)
Goals for Next Week
Next week, my goals are similar to previous week’s goals. Here’s my plan:
- Fast at least 18 hours a day.
- Complete one 36-hour fast.
- Limit coffee to 2 cups per day.
- Reach weekly goal weight of 171 lbs.
The last one is negotiable, of course. If I loose more, I certainly won’t complain. If I lose less, then it’s time to regroup and figure out why, then make changes. I evaluate my progress every week to see if I need to change up my routine.
For example, one week I thought I would try eating a couple spoonfuls of peanut butter. I did this for several days in a row, and my weight loss slowed down to almost nothing. I didn’t even lose a pound that week, plus it brought back carb cravings.
I knew I had to cut that out completely. It’s no longer an option for me. The next week, I continued losing more weight. I’m not afraid to experiment, but I’m also not afraid to cut things out that are not helping me reach my goals.
And I am going to reach my goals!
Nothing can stop me now. Once you have momentum, it’s so much easier to keep going and reach the finish line. I’m encouraged by my progress and happier than I’ve been in years. I can’t wait to see what the future holds…
I think the body can get used to losing weight as well as gaining weight. I’m so happy for you.
Thank you Ann!
So happy for you girl! You have put in the work! Your vlogs have helped me think about the actual addiction part of the scenerio, it makes it so much harder to eat healthfully with all of those crazy cravings. It makes me so sad for kids, because we get hooked so young and don’t understand. I’m on day two of no sugar in my coffee, just black(it’s disgusting,lol!) and I think my family might tell you I’m crankier than normal. I think sugar has to go completely, and I should cut down on bread too. I am so happy for you that you can feel the difference in your knees and the rest of your body! I need to lose 15 pounds and have needed to for a couple of years. I think I kind of believed that I wouldn’t ever actually do it, but you have given me hope!:) I just remember being able to run and run when I was younger, and now(at 29) things hurt that I don’t think should, and I want to be able to feel strong and pain free again. Bless you dear, you encourage so many people to know that they can do it too! I’m so happy for you and excited to watch your progress! 🙂
Thank you so much Elle! If I can do it, anyone can. Good luck to you!