I’ve lost 100lbs!

(Natasha) #1

Well! The title says it all really - 100lbs down in just over a year!

I have a question about body composition that I’m hoping someone can help me out with. My current weight is one I have been at several times before in my life - thankfully I had saved all my old smaller clothes so recently I’ve been shopping in my attic. There are clothes I am wearing now, and I comfortably fit into, that were ridiculously tight when I was this weight before. I can’t work it out!

So what’s the deal? I know that fat doesn’t ‘turn’ into muscle… and I don’t work out or exercise in any specific, targeted way, just general activity and trying to be a bit more intentional about walking instead of using the car. I’ve heard people talk about this kind of thing (being smaller at the same weight… losing inches, not lbs etc) before but can anyone attempt to explain the mechanics/science of it?

Keto-on, my friends!

(Eric - The patient needs to be patient!) #2

I can’t explain the science but I have seen accounts of carnivores getting ripped (muscle) without working out. I have moved to a higher percentage of protein in my diet and I’m building more lean muscle mass with the same amount of workout.

It is likely that with keto out balance of macro and micro nutrients favors more lean muscle mass.

Congratulations on 100lbs in a year. That is awesome.

(Jane) #3

I’m still shrinking a bit staying at the same weight.

Congrats on the 100 lbs - that is awesome!

I don’t know the science - just guessing but I would say less water retention from less inflammation. Keto seems to reduce it and allow your body to do some internal healing.

(Marianne) #4

I don’t know anything about body recomposition, however, I’ve seen it in action. I have lost 50 lbs. but this time with keto, it has come off in different places.

Congratulations on your success!

(Susan) #5

Congratulations Natasha on 100 pound weight loss!! That is fantastic, I am so happy for you.

I don’t know about the clothing part; as I have only lost 51 pounds so far and still have over another 100+ to go, but that is lovely that you are able to wear all your old clothes now!

(Simon Hinton) #6

great news, congratulations. Not sure the reason why, but I have started listing to the Keto dudes podcast from the beginning and Richard mention for quite a while he was around the same weight, but lost something like ten inches around the waist, so is possibly a feature of this way of life. May also have something to do with less bloating and inflammation associated with this WOE.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #7

Congrats! Maybe when we feed our bodies what they need to build muscle (easily) and bone (instead of losing it) we’re increasing our weight but still losing fat. I’ve been at the same weight for over 6 months, but still this chest continues it’s goal of “flap jacks”. I’m glad you are enjoying the new wardrobe!

(Tracy Dennis) #8

I shared this on a different forum topic page, but will share it here again, as I find it interesting:) Congrats to all of you big body size losers…both lbs and inches!! People often complain of the yo yo affect on the scale, and when I was doing this, I did some further research. I think we all know that our bodies make every ditch effort to keep our fat cells, as they are their “save for a rainy day” idea! That is why when we wake up feeling like today is the day where the scale will move, also becomes the toughest day to get through without cheating, as our bodies do their absolute utmost to make us keep the fat cells. What I learned new in my research is that the scale will sometimes rise when you think it should be going down because fat cells will dissolve fat and then fill with water. I think this is the fat cells crying out “Are you for real? We are giving you a few more days to give us back the carbs, before we will leave our comfortable little home on your body!!” Then if you can remain faithful to keto…one day…boom…the water also leaves and “swoosh”…the scale goes down. I have also found that more bathroom breaks are required on these special down days:) Love it when it happens:)

('Jackie P') #9

Six months ago I couldn’t get into a smaller uniform (nurses) they are very unstretchy (is that a word)? It was a goal to get slim enough to wear it. During that time I have lost very little weight but wear that uniform comfortably.
Sometimes I feel like I have an alien living inside me. One day it likes to sit on my hips, the next day on my stomach, above or below my navel depending on it’s mood! I’m determined to step up my efforts and kill that alien off!:grin:

(Bunny) #10

Insulin works better at the level of individual skeletal muscle volume which you apparently increased through diet alone?

Lean Skeletal Muscle to Adipose Tissue Ratio Morphology (body composition increase & decrease)?

image

”…It may sound strange, but it’s possible to get thinner without actually seeing a change in your weight. This happens when you lose body fat while gaining muscle. Your weight may stay the same, even as you lose inches, a sign that you’re moving in the right direction. …” …More

Can we please stop repeating the “You have to eat at a deficit to lose weight on KETO” lie?
(Chris) #11

I’ve been carnivore for the last eight months and this is indeed correct.

I’m 44m and have exercised pretty consistently since 16. Since going carnivore I’ve put on at least a kg of muscle and gained strength. At mid 40’s this was really unexpected.

BUT, there is an adaptation period that for me was really difficult to go through.

On the other side of that adaptation period is pretty great though - just miles of miles of beautiful, soft skinned, well muscled sexiness! :smile:

(Mike) #12

Congratulations on the weight loss. I think the reason is your body composition now. Muscle is more dense and therefore weighs more per same volume as fat. You probably have more muscle than before, so a much better body composition. Your weight is the same as before but your overall body volume is less. This is great news as muscle burns calories even when you are asleep purely by blood flowing through it. Keto is very sparing of muscle tissue compared to other diets. With most other diets you start burning up your muscle tissue first as your body doesn’t really know how to burn your body fat. Well done!

(Bob M) #13

I’ve seen multiple studies where people who ate higher protein experienced less muscle mass loss.

(Jennibc) #14

I have the opposite problem because of changing body composition. I cannot fit into clothes where I was this weight prior. When I was younger, I had a very tiny waist but a bigger bottom. Consequently, I have a lot of A-line skirts from the 80s that I am dying to get back into with 27 and 28 inch waists. While I can get them buttoned and zipped, they are too tight for me to wear without fear of buttons popping. I look better proportioned than I did when I was younger though. It doesn’t look like a I have giant rear end anymore. (So Sir Mix a Lot would no longer be interested) Maybe keto gets rid of problem areas?

#15

Hi Natasha,
Congratulations on the weight loss! Your question is a good one and it deserves a good answer. For the folks who comment on water retention and inflammation, I think those must contribute to how your clothes fit but I am going to propose another possibility (my guess).

Since Fat associated with body composition is subcutaneous or visceral, I think any loss of fat is a combination of these two types. This does not mean that as your overall fat decreases over time, you lose a proportional amount of each over time. Also, I think “body type” must play a role in how your clothes fit.

In the past two months through intermittent/24 hour fasting and eating properly, I reduced my weight to 146 Although I have gotten to 149 a couple of times during the past four years (I kept going back up), I thought I would never get below that. I think my muscle mass is not too different. Yes, I do run somewhat. The last several pounds appear to be primarily visceral fat, obviously that is great news.

What has surprised me is that below 150 lbs, my clothes fit about the same. This makes sense when I think about it because my bone structure (hips and so on) can only move so much.

I hope this helps you in some way. Thanks

(Kirk Wolak) #16

Sounds like Gut issues.
Try going carnivore for 28 days.
You might be having an issue with the fibers or other things!

(Natasha) #17

Thank you all for your words of encouragement! It really feels great to be at this point - It’s more than my old wardrobe I got back - it’s my quality of life too! There’s still a long way to go, I’d probably like to lose another 70lbs but I’ll see how I go - I’ll be happy with another 45!

Regarding some of the replies about reasons for being smaller at the same weight - is it possible that body recomposition happens without any real intentional exercise? I’d definitely understand that happening if i was working out or doing something to build muscle but I’m not really doing much. Does that muscle1ing process happen just during walking and normal day-to-day activity?

(Natasha) #18

:joy:

(Bunny) #19

…or you are developing more lean muscle tissue?

image

Both are obese? Body Composition in percents: water weight % losing weight % burning body fat % muscle volume increase% ???