reformatting the graphs

The graph I have been updating (using Excel) since the beginning at the end of March now contains too much data. The trend is not helpful after holiday; and the resulting big spikes. The trend lines should show me if things are going well or badly.

I have created a new set of 3 charts for the period since a week after my hols and running to the beginning of October. I left a week after the hols, because of the big drop during the first week back on the diet after my hols.

It all looks lovely, with the trend lines pointing down. The exception is the lean mass trend line, which shows an upward trend. This is good news. Rugby has just restarted and I am hoping that the loss of over 10kg has not left me weak as a kitten!

The new graphs then...

fat & % fat

mass & lean mass

post-holiday recovery

For 2 weeks of holiday, just over 2 weeks diet is required to get back on track, it seems. I was concerned that this would not work a second time. I thought maybe my body would have adapted to this strange diet and cope accordingly.
As it happened, the pattern was the same as the first time, with dramatic initial weight loss; then a bit of yo-yoing, with a clear downward trend for fat (most importantly) and weight.
The indivdidual fat & mass charts are in the links at the top of the page.
My new (Salter, since 9 Aug) scales weigh about half a kilo heavier than the Tanita scale, which is the truth if compared to the balance-scale at the gym.. The Salter scale is totally consistent over a series of weighings. I still use the Tanita scale for the fat measuring for which it is consistent to 0.2% over a series of weighings. For mass it is wildly inconsistent, as it is very sensitive to where you stand on the scale (or even if you lean!). 

Apr-Aug 2011

Slow Carb and bad breath : ketosis

Bad breath is a real down-side of this diet (though if you have it, it means that the diet is working!); and the cause of this is something called ketosis. Wether this is a health problem is an interesting question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketosis

After the holiday

Two holidays in 4 weeks. That makes me a luck boy! However, my diet went completely away from slow carb and there is a clear impact on my weight.

The first trip was 5 days in the moutains doing some mountain biking with friends in France. This involves a lot of energy expenditure during the day ... and a lot of beer in the evening. Because it is quite taxing, lunch tended to be as many calories as possible: pizza, tartiflette, pasta, chips etc..

The second trip was two weeks in Spain with the family. This is involves very little energy expenditure, lying on my lounger reading my book... I suppose there is some 'cold exposure' in the pool and sea! Food-wise it was in no way slow carb.

The result was that I gained almost 3kg during this period. The plan now is for two weeks of strict slow-carb to see how fast the weight can be lost again...