Adding Carbs Back = Weight Gain :(

by Tammy
(Maryland )

Visitor Question:

I was following a 1200 calorie very low carb diet to treat IR and PCOS. I am 50 years old, exercise 5 days a week - HIIT, and eat clean. My nutritionist and trainer both said I needed to increase calories to about 1500 per day and must add good carbs back in my meal plan to lose body fat....I am about 30 pounds overweight. I gained 4 pounds in the first week and my trainer feels it is my body holding onto the new calories and my metabolism will kick in soon when it realizes I am no longer restricting calories.....any thoughts based on your experiences. Thanks for the fantastic food list!!!

Lifetime Fat Loss:

Hi Tammy,

You are very welcome!

Your nutritionist and trainer are so right! You need to be eating "good" carbs, the low glycemic ones and you need to be eating at least 1500 calories a day. Be patient with yourself because at the age of 50 it will take longer to turn things around but it can be done!

It's highly likely that the low carb diet you were on would cause your body to accelerate fat storage when you started eating carbs again. It's also true that when you eat too little your body interprets that as starvation and will hold onto fat. So it makes sense that initially you could gain some weight. However, if you stick with the low glycemic eating plan AND get enough calories and good fats as well as the low glycemic carbs, your body will in time recalibrate as your trainer suggested.

Because your metabolism has really gotten out of whack with the insulin resistance and the PCOS, it will really help you to take extra steps to get your hormones balanced again and your metabolism kicked in. I recommend a natural, plant phytosterol product which you can read about at hormones and weight loss. Or you can just call to order toll free at 855-485-5373. It's hard to get enough phytosterols in our diets and this product is very effective in helping your body to balance your metabolism and start working WITH you biochemically instead of against you!

Paying attention to eating only low glycemic foods is essential. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you are eating. Try to be patient with your new healthy plan. It took a while to develop insulin resistance and PCOS and it will take a while to get your body back on track.

In fact, if you truly have insulin resistence you need to read my insulin resistance diet plan because this is a condition that takes serious effort to reverse. Good luck with your new healthy plan and keep us posted about your progress!

Jan