I woke up at 2am this morning… determined, and wide awake. 😛
I decided to do a little experiment.
First, I’m going back to a 3IMAX low carb way of eating for the next full week.
3IMAX means: 3 Ingredients Max
It’s a means of eating super simple, with no more than 3 foods or ingredients per plate/meal.
Not only is this the best way to cure cravings, but it’s also an awesome stall-buster. Many of us experienced a breakthrough in stalls, and great weight loss during the two weeks we did this together! You can see my 3IMAX journals here for details.
THIS STARTS TODAY! Feel free to join me. 🙂 Whether you did the 3IMAX challenge with us recently and want to do it again, or if you want to give it a try for the first time – I would love for you to join in! You can follow along here to see my “3 food meals” through the entire week.
The countdown is on: 17 days until my next trip!
I have two full weeks (17 days) until I head to Vancouver for a week. I’ll be in the White Rock Beach area most of that time (August 25-28) if you want to get together for a low carb meal.
Low Carb Meetup at White Rock BeachWhite Rock, BC, Canada (outside of Vancouver)I'll be in White Rock August…
Posted by Low Carb Traveler (Lynn) on Saturday, August 8, 2015
While I don’t have any weight loss goals for this trip specifically, it IS a set amount of time (two full weeks) that I know I’ll be home and can commit to a very specific way of eating – along with other challenges and commitments (more on that in a sec).
As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve really been struggling lately. It’s more a mindset issue than anything, but I’ve had enough – that sh*t stops NOW.
You know how it goes… you know full well what your goals are, that you want to be your healthiest/happiest self. But you make an allowance. Or two. Or you skip your workout. And before you know it you’re half-@ssing it and just sort of coasting.
It’s a slippery slope, those “allowances”. It’s easy to rationalize certain things, like in my case: the Atkins Bars. They’re low carb, after all! But for me personally they are a “crutch food” and lead me right into bad eating habits.
Confession…
I’ve gained 6.6 pounds since we did the 2-week 3IMAX Challenge. How the hell did THAT happen?! you ask… Well, it was easy. 😐 I gain weight easily (like crazy actually), which is why I have to eat super low carb just to maintain – much less lose weight slowly. That’s because I’m closer to my goal weight, older, and post-hysterectomy.
Update (lol): I am only up FIVE pounds, not 6.6 🙂 I weighed at 2am (when I woke up super early) and got a totally inaccurate weigh. *whew* haha. You should only weigh first thing in the morning right after you pee, as your weight fluctuates a lot through the day. And if you didn’t finish sleeping (like me), your weight won’t be accurate either. lol. So I’m up 5 pounds -only. (That number – 6.6 – kinda freaked me out! 😛 ha)
People with more weight to lose will lose weight more quickly. People who are making a bigger change in their diet will lose weight more quickly too – like those that have to give up soda or sweet tea, or are just now giving up bread and potatoes for example.
I’ve been eating “low carb” (by normal standards, even on my worst days) for about 4 1/2 years. So even when I go “super low carb” I’m still not making as drastic a food or lifestyle change as others might be that are just starting out.
Anyway, the few pounds I gained recently was the result of a few off-plan foods here and there, over-eating on low carb foods (especially bars!), etc. A slippery slope indeed. Especially for someone like me that gains weight just thinking about it. 😛
My Personal 2-Week Challenge
I’m so sick of losing the same damn 10 pounds over and over again. I truly am. When people ask me how much weight I’ve lost, I always wonder if I get to count those – the 10 pounds multiplied by the number of times I’ve lost them. LOL. *sigh* I’m over it, and the self-sabotage that causes it. DONE.
For the next week, now through August 16th (9 days), I’ll eat by the 3IMAX rule.
The following week, August 17th-23rd (for 7 days) I am going to eat “zero carb” – or as close to that as I can possibly get. Yes, that second week will be mostly meat & eggs, but I’ll still stay within my usual macro ratios.
I’m also challenging myself to exercise every single day for the next 17 days.
Whether I do a full cardio workout, or a short workout of just a few minutes, I’m challenging myself to do something… every single day for 17 straight days.
I plan to mix it up, just to keep it fun, and I’ll include my workout notes in my Food Journals here over the next 17 days.
It’s time to get serious.
It’s time to stop coasting, and letting things slide here and there.
It’s time to FINALLY reach my goals.
Here’s what I had for breakfast this morning – 1/2 cup pecans, 1/4 cup Daisy Brand cottage cheese, and 2 (very small) strawberries. 5 net carbs:
Want to join me? I hope you do! It’s a lot more fun to do these mini-challenges together. Figure out your own personal challenge, if you want to do something different than I outlined for myself, and share your plans in a comment here. I will update, you can comment, and we can work together as “low carb accountability partners” toward our goals. 🙂
Best,
Lynn Terry, aka @LowCarbTraveler
I’m really excited for this mini chsllenge. Thanks for being there for all of us! Have a great day!!!!
I am in too….just being playing around with this low carb lifestyle. …plan to make it simple. …I love the idea of a short mini challenge.
Im in please , I seem to be having trouble putting things together , I do ok on the 3 foods on your plate and 20 or less net carbs a day but I dont think im getting enough fat? thank you for any suggestions?
Hi Cheryl,
The fat, and macros across the board, are very important. On a low carb diet, you get your energy from healthy fats instead of carbs/sugar. On macros, see: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/7006/macronutrients/
Eat chicken wings & thighs instead of chicken breast. Salmon is the best fish choice (rich in healthy fats) – where tilapia and whitefish is all protein/no fat. Ribeye is better than sirlion. Avocado and pecans are both a great source of healthy fats.
I also like cucumber salad – just cubed, salted and mixed with mayo. A great side dish with the mayo for fat. You can even add crumbled feta cheese to it, which is really good!
The more you track, the more you’ll see the differences in foods and can tweak as you go. π
I’m in.. I need to get it together.. Your article hit close to home.. I keep losing that same 10 over and over.. I keep making allowances, I don’t have far to go for goal weight but the smaller you are the harder it is to get there.. ( I stopped weighing myself because it just pissed me off). Ok.. I’m off to make sausage patties and cucumber slices for breakfast…
Hi Veda π That last 10 pounds IS the most challenging. That’s where going “3IMAX” and then trying a zero carb week could really be helpful. *cheers*
Lynn,
Thanks for the accountability. I will join you.
Blessings,
Kelly in Niceville Florida
I’m all in. I love the concept. Often, I get frustrated in all the choices and end up eating the wrong thing. Beginning today. Thanks for posting this challenge!
Hi Janelaine – I find it best to stick to “meat & greens + healthy fats” and just keep it that simple. Complicated / fancy recipes just make it hard to track, and allow for A LOT of carb creep if you’re not careful. π
I’m in I started about 2 weeks ago and only lost 3 pounds was getting discouraged. I think the 3 item rule will help … So today I’m give it a go plus working out everyday ….# lets go
Hi Latoya,
It’s common to experience a brief hold – or even slight fluctuations – during Week Two (after the initial weight loss). This is totally normal, it’s just your body adjusting. Losing 3 pounds in a week or two is GREAT!
I definitely want to start with you today. I can’t lose my first ten lbs. I started in Jan and loss 15lbs by July. I was so frustrated watching everyone lose more weight. I had started at 208 and had gotten down to 193. I gained it all back and just have not be able to get back on track. Yesterday I started at 202.2. A constant, I’m starting again today! So sick of this. I plan to see all of my family at Thanksgiving and I would love to have 20-25lbs off of me before I arrive.
That’s great motivation, Bell! π
I think you’ll find the 3IMAX rule to be VERY effective in losing weight faster as it eliminates a lot of extras and “carb creep” too.
Also see: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/7006/macronutrients/
And: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/7046/low-carb-healthy-swaps/
Those two provide a lot of good information on how you should be tracking, and more importantly – WHAT you should be tracking (and what to ignore). π *cheers*
i am in! I need all the help I can get to finally start and stick with it! hELP!
I’m in again!
need to get back on track and stay there. on Tuesday will be my 60th birthday. and wanted to be at goal by then. not going to make it but need to get back on the band wagon.
An early Happy Birthday to you, Cathy! π
*cheers*
I have about 5 lbs since APRIL!!! I have lost a lot of inches. I retain a lot of fluid also. I meds for that each and every day!!! I WANT TO SEE THE NUMBERS GO DOWNNNNNNNNNNN!!!! I will do this !!! I WILL DO THIS!!! ANY ADVICE TERRY?
Did you see the two links I shared above?
http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/7006/macronutrients/
And: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/7046/low-carb-healthy-swaps/
My advice: only eat real food, nothing processed, track super close – and stick to 20 net carbs max, and 70% healthy fat minimum. π
You are so REAL. Love this post!
Thank you, Dionne π
After 5 months I am finally losing consistently but slowly. I know this will help. I am also older (59) and post hysterectomy.
I’m in! I want to know how you do zero carb!
Zero Carb is basically meat & eggs. It’ll be a first for me, so it should be a fun experiment. π The reason? Week Two is usually when my scales “hold” or I even see slight fluctuations in weight. I already know how much weight I can lose in 15 days of “3IMAX” – so this is a fun new test to see if I can break that record with a Zero Carb week behind it. π
Count me in. I also keep going around and around in the same cycle as you. I have a long way to go and I want to be very successful in my weightloss journey .I am very new to this WOE I have a lot to learn. Thanks you Lynn for all the information you have shared with us.
Awesome, Yvonne! It’s time to get OFF the yo-yo roller coaster and focus on getting HEALTHY. It’s really great that we all have each other to do this together. That makes it a lot more fun! π *cheers*
Crap! I’ve already screwed up on the new challenge. LOL I had cream cheese pancakes for breakfast w/ bacon. Oh, well – I’ll start at lunch!! I have also recently challenged myself to “work out” every single day! I do weights with my husband three days a week (he’s my “trainer” and he’s enjoying it WAY too much!), but on those non-weight days I am going to walk, run, or even just to a 10 minute ab workout! There is no reason why I can’t devote 10-20 mins (or more) a day to my health (I spend more than that sitting on my @$$ scrolling through facebook!!!!
I am in the same boat as you. This is probably my fifteenth time trying to lose these 10 lbs. (I would like to lose 20 total, but that would put me at a weight I haven’t seen since my teenage years – and I just don’t know if that is realistic. At 10 pounds – I would finally be in the 140s!!!!) I lose a few pounds, get comfortable, celebrate, gain them back, repeat. So over it!!!
Thanks for the kick in the @$$! Needed it!
I am most comfortable in the 140’s too – I think. I haven’t seen them in years, lol. I think we’ll know our ideal weight when we see it. Or FEEL it. And for me that includes toning and increasing muscle mass while losing fat…
No worries on the breakfast! It was still low carb, and you can join right in with lunch. π Or ANYtime!
I’m in.
Count me in! I was much more successful when I did the last 3IMax challenge
I’m in. My bday is the 19th of Aug. I’m 7.8 pds away from my June 20th goal of 199 by my bday. Weight is coming off and inches are melting away. I’m already at 10 carbs per day I’m looking forward to the 0 carb wk. I saw the article on yesterday about the lady that just eat eggs, bacon and steak along with bacon grease. I’m impressed I think I can do it and plan on doing it. Change, change, change. Change is good. Lol. Let’s do this. .. Vicky
That was a really interesting article, Vicky. Here’s the before & after picture and link to her post: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153803490241996&set=o.226460087382594&type=1 for anyone that missed it.
That’s what inspired me to do a “zero carb” 2nd week. I love my green veggies, so I’ll be going back to 3IMAX after the experiment – but I mainly want to see if that will break the usual “2nd Week Stall”.
I am ready to start this Low carb WOE have been reading up some and this will be a geat challenge to get started.
I am in with you guys!!
HELP
What kind of help do you need?
If anyone has ANY questions, fire away! π
Just starting so excited
I am in! I keep losing the same 5 pounds but they are the first 5. I have tried all kinds of diets. This time i am following doctors advice and changing my way of life to a low carb lifestyle!
Would love to join you in this. For breakfast I had 1/4 cup pecans and a cinnamon quest bar. 4 carbs
That is one of my favorites. π But for this mini-challenge, you’ll want to ditch the bars. Just for the next 17 days – then you can use them again if you like. π
YES! Let’s do it! My birthday is 8/23 and that gives me two more weeks to have something big to celebrate! The Hubs and I have had a fabulous month, of course he has lost quicker than I have…great for his diabetes problems. He is so funny – sometimes I have to take his Wendy’s buns away from him, just so we eat the insides! lol Oh yeah…Lynn, if I find you I am going to wag my finger at you! We bought a box of Atkins bars and ate TWO each, yesterday!! ugh! So glad there is only one left!! Just joking about wagging fingers, but thanks for the encouraging posts and starting this Facebook page and website. Here’s to two more low carb weeks! Cheers!!
Wag away, Kathy! lol – I’m wagging one at myself. π
Those bars are just too easy to overeat. And for me they put me right back into bad eating habits – reaching & grabbing & no limits. Real Food just works best for me, both for mindset (mindful eating) AND weight loss.
I truly suck at low carb BUT I have not gave up. I have a family that loves me like I am. There is NO support just me at home or work. I am going to follow this and pray.
You have support here, Margo. π My handsome fellow says the same – he loves me just the way I am. And that’s an awesome thing! Something to be grateful for, definitely.
I live alone and work from home, so YOU are all MY support group – and you all have US for the same. π *cheers*
I’m definitely in! I’ve been coasting lately! Lose a pound…. Gain 1/2 lb! Not moving forward like I’d like! I’m all in!
I’m in!! Maybe this will keep me motivated π
Count me in!
I’m in! Thank you for this article, I can relate to this slippery slope your talking about. I’ve also been struggling with the same 2-4 lbs lost and gained back because I keep eating one little thing here or there that throws me off. I’m excited for this mini-challenge and I wish you all luck!
I’m in. Vacation has gotten the best of me and I need a restart!
Thanks for your honesty and for sharing your struggle, Lynn. It helps to know that even though you are leading this challenge you have the same foibles we all share. I’m in with you. I don’t know how much I’ll write during the 17 days but I’m in. My goal weight is 57 pounds away. I’ve been lchf for over a year now, but I lose extremely slowly and slip up every now and again. I have lost about 30 lbs this year so I’m happy about that. I also like eating low carb. This morning I had: Low carb rye bread, (ordered online) toasted = 1 net carb, with Cambazola cheese =0 carbs, and a slice of tomato on top= 2 carbs. I hadn’t read about the challenge yet so I had a chicken sausage with it which = 0 net carbs, so that’s actually 4 items. Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2 = 1 carb. A total of 4 carbs.
Also, I’ll be swimming later today of this, DAY ONE!
Swimming is GREAT exercise! I am going to water ski tomorrow – which I love. π I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do for exercise today, so stay tuned for the Day One journal!
I think we all struggle. We’re all human, we all got where we are (unhealthy) in one way or another – and those struggles remain, even after losing a significant amount of weight. That’s what I’m most ready to blast past: the mindset issues and old ways. I’m so ready for the NEW ME!
Oh, man, I cant even think about beverages in the 3imax, my coffee would be breakfast, lol!
I drink my coffee separate, Rebecca. I have water with meals. It took some “habit changing” but it helped me give up the diet coke (save half one here and there, mostly when I go out to eat).
On instagram I’m @steph911chick
My instagram is @lowcarbtraveler π
I am in sick of the same thing. I look at food and gain. Instead of being depressed about it I am going to keep pushing forward. Thanks l Lynn needed this today!!
I was feeling really down too, Janine. It seriously affects your mood. Setting up this challenge REALLY sparked my determination and motivation, and now I’m feeling ON TOP again. π I’m glad you’re joining in. It does wonders for the mood!
I’m in ! I have 12 # to lose to get to my goal of 120 #, the only thing I haven’t tried is 0 Carb, So that will start tomorrow. Over time I’ve lost 110 # and my body seems to want to hang on to every last ounce ! I’m 68 years old and had my 2nd heart attack last July 8th, all my important lab work is good, I’m off diabetic meds.
Wow Marla! Congrats for losing over 100 pounds and getting off your meds. π Awesome!
Did you see this photo & article on zero carb? Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153803490241996&set=o.226460087382594&type=1
I’m in too!!! I need to stop allowing a little bit here and a little bit there! I will stick to the 3IMAX for the whole time though! Thanks for doing this
Count me in.
I’m in, I lost 20 lbs (my goal was 30lbs) doing Keto and then a few months ago got off track and gained back 10lbs! :'(. I need a jump start and this sounds like it. I’m 71 yrs old, so it never ends LOL. I’d love to get in my 140’s again, I’m 5’6″ but right now I’m at 173 so I’d be really happy to be in the 150’s. And just a note that I’m sure everyone knows but I haven’t seen it mentioned … water! Don’t forget to drink lots of water.
Good Luck everyone.
Water is definitely good, Roye. π It’s important not to OVER drink, though – as there are serious health drawbacks to that. See: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/4884/how-much-water-should-i-drink/
Keep in mind you get a lot of water from certain foods as well. I have a list of foods high in water content at that link too. *cheers*
Im in. May 1st, hit lowest weight in ten years. I’ve been trying to get to next goal for 2 months! A little refocus might do it! And water.
Yes, I’m in!
I’m glad you all joined in! It just motivates me that much more. π Here’s to our success – and 17 awesome days of determination and great results!! *cheers*