I exercise at Curves faithfully 3x a week. That's all.

I eat absolutely NO frankenfoods on Carb Down. I may have an occasional treat on carb up.

I have a protein shake almost every day, up or down. Do they help? I don't know. But, they are very filling and low in calories. I had read that protein helps speed your metabolism, that's why I use them. I buy the low carb kind and mix with ice cubes/water/lite coconut milk on carb down, and mix with frozen fruit and water on carb up.

nepeta: You could answer these questions too, and anyone else who is doing this successfully.