Carbs Suck

     I only have a few more days of the carb cycling that I've been doing. Things have finally started to balance out this week, but the doesn't mean I enjoy this way of eating. I don't feel as bad on the carb days, but there is a noticeable difference. I have a bloated feeling after just about every meal. I retain much more water because of the carbs, so my weight is out of balance. Last weigh in had me up 4 pounds since I started, which more than likely is water weight, since my calipers are saying i'm staying solid at that 15% body fat mark. On my keto days, I feel phenomenal. I wake up with more energy (that could be the carbs burning off). I don't have the bloated feeling at all during the day, and I'm just more relaxed in general. I have noticed no differences what so ever in my workouts. Carb workout vs non carb workouts are the same. I was expecting a boost in my carb workouts, but it didn't happen. Here is the schedule I've been on. 2 days of carbs to load up, and then one keto day. I keep the carbs pretty clean, but have allowed a small amount of sugar, and some high glycemic fruit, (oranges). I did miss oranges. I have found that rice doesn't really affect me that much, and could be a nice occasionally addition to mealtime. The oranges will disappear though. They don't seem to cause any ill affect, it's just that their glycemic load is way to high for my needs. Maybe once a month, might be good, but no more than that.

     Here are the major things I've learned from all of this. I don't have to fear carbs. I didn't really, but I kept a very safe distance from them. I ate for a month, what would be called "off the keto rails" and it didn't really kill me. When I had a carb day, I was not fully satiated. I was eating every 2 to 3 hours, which kept that bloated feeling going most of the day. Keto days I had no problem, and even had to push myself to eat 3 times. I would mostly wait until later in the morning to eat, and then have dinner a few hours later, and was good for the whole day. On average, I would eat fewer calories on keto days, and feel much more satiated. I slept better on keto days, and rose earlier the next morning. Although workouts weren't affected, my overall energy level was higher on keto days. Once again this could have been the glucose burn off.

     I will weigh in tomorrow for my final weigh in of this cycle even though it's a couple days early. I will take pictures with Saturday or Sunday and have them for you on the Sunday post. My last mean on Sunday will set up me going back to my low fat Mediterranean keto way of eating, and will begin a 36 hour fast to kick it back in to gear. I'm sure that I won't know the full affect of carb cycling until a couple of weeks from now. This could boost fat loss into high gear when I go back to full keto. In that case it will be completely worth it. It will still be worth it on an experimental level, and in knowing what my body needs most. That really is the most important part of this.

     While in quarantine, I have been watching a ton of Netflix, and I finally sat down and began watching Queer Eye. I used to enjoy the original one, but it got kind of boring and formulaic, and one I found out that all the guys weren't gay, it really ruined it for me. This new series on Netflix, is different. They aren't just dressing up a straight guy so that he can win over his date, but they are actually changing lives, and they don't stick to just guys. I'm not sure how many episodes I've watched, but there have been both men, and women as well as gay people getting the make overs. They have a guy Koramo, who really delves into their psyche and helps them become the person they've always wanted to be. The make over the home they are in, or in 2 cases so far, a business. They teach them how to make healthier meals, how to dress, and then the best is the appearance make over. That is headed up by Johnathan Van Ness. He is hands down, the best part of the show. He is so unapologetically him, and that is such a spectacular thing. I'm not going to describe his appearance, although you've probably already seen him in commercials and other cameo appearances on shows. His appearance is what pulls you in, but it's his personality that really takes you to new depths. He is genuinely a kind person, and you can see it when he is with each person that they are making over. You have to imagine that he hasn't had the easiest of lives, and to stand above all that and have the positive outlook that he has is nothing short of amazing. I highly recommend giving this show a chance. They have two series on Netflix. Queer Eye More than a Makeover, and Queer Eye We're in Japan. I'm on about the 10th episode on Makeover, and I really enjoy watching it. You really begin feeling for each person that is getting the makeover, and you start rooting for their success and growth. My sister told me today, that she is going to send them to my house for me to get made over, and that would be a dream come true for me. I told her that if the Fab Five showed up at my house, I would have to tell them how much I love all of them, but that me and Johnathan were going to be really good friends. He just seems like the type of person that you really want as a friend. I'm lucky to have a few people like that in my life. I have room for one more for sure.

     Ok, one picture from the garden, and them I'm out of here. I finally got a ripe El Rito pepper today, and picked it. I also ate it and was shocked by it. It's supposed to be medium heat, which had me a bit worried since the last one I had that was supposed to be mild to medium heat, ended up being way hotter, and surprised me. This pepper is on the larger size as well, so I couldn't just cram the whole thing in my mouth, I had to do it in two bites, which just prolongs the pain. I bit into and there was no heat what so ever, but there was this wonderful cherry tartness to it. It was super sweet with that cherry flavor and it was really good. That was the bottom half, maybe all the heat was up in the placenta. It was, but the heat was so mild that a Poblano is hotter than it. I don't know if this is just a dude pod heat wise or they got the description way wrong. I have a few more ripening on the plant, so I can see if they are all like that. If they are all mild, then I'm going to try one of them in some vanilla ice cream. Keto ice cream that is. I think it would be really good in ice cream. That was the first thing I thought of when I ate it. It would be like having cherry vanilla ice cream, but with a mega dose of vitamin C and magnesium. That is a bonus to me. I can't wait to try it out. I guess I should get to the picture.

     Alright, I'm out. Peace in and goodnight.