I saw Xena2005's Atkins BFL question but didn't want to hijack her thread. My question is the opposite of hers. I've been Atkins for 17 months and lost a total of 136 pounds. I've been cardio the whole time and started lifting in July of 03. I had to quit the lifting in Sept because of one of my kid's illness. I was pleased I lost 10 pounds during that month, but shocked by the body fat increase during that one month hiatus from the gym. I've been back in the gym lifting 3x for the past 3 weeks. My critical carb limit for losing on Atkins is over 70 net carbs but I've always kept it at 40-45 for weight loss speed, so I don't think needing more carbs will be a problem. And I already eat 5 times a day on my Atkins WOE so that won't be a problem.
I've done lots of research on the BFL eating plan and found that Bill Phillips in a series of articles in Muscle Media said he had altered his personal BFL eating plan to follow the ABCDE developers program of calorie/protein cycling for better muscle quality growth and was feeling stronger then ever. That was in 2001 and I haven't been able to find any updates to the BFL eating plans to reflect this nor any more articles in his mag as to if he continued on this. Does any one here have any info on this? I can fit the cal cycling in my Atkins very easily by using the AMR and BMR cal limits, but the protein cycling thing would be a real stretch moving me from OWL to maintenance in terms of the cal ratios. As a carboholic I need the appetite and craving control the Atkins deep ketosis gives me. Do ya'll get the craving and appetite suppression on your BFL eating plan or do you have to control it yourself with will power? How do you control yourself on that cheat day? I don't think I could do that and return to plan the next day.
I added the BFL pyramid intensity to my HIIT workouts a week ago and love the after workout feeling. I sort of did it to my weight lifting last night upping the weights 10 pounds for the 2nd set of all reps. I think I'm ready to fully embrace the BFL workout style. The not eating for fat burning isn't a problem since I was already doing that.
Oh yeah I bought the book and have already read it several times checking it out against my Atkins program. It has a 1999 copyright date is there a newer one?
I don't know if it will matter but I have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism too so the added protein maybe a problem there too, but my doctor said it was a life style decision and he would adjust my meds to fit my lifestyle.
Okay all you BFLers please let me know if A) I can do BFL workouts grow muscle and stay Atkins and B) do y'all know anything about the Cal/protein cycling
part of the BFL WOE. Thanks I promise I won't argue Atkins is better
Thanks