Happy new year friends! I haven't been posting a lot lately due to tons of traveling, being super sick and holiday craziness but I am back in action with the macro experiment and excited to get more V-Logs, songs, and other fun stuff up here in the next week or so!

I've been getting a few people recently asking me about the "status" of the experiment and want to make sure I'm clear about it. I'll be doing a video log about it soon too, but I am no longer doing a slow reverse diet. My initial purpose of the macro experiment was to document my reverse diet to see if it worked ...and it did! I increased my calories by more than 700 in 3 months without any weight/fat gain. All of my stats, results, and even a DIY "how-to" guide is up in the Metab Rehab section so that you can do it too! I will continue to update the blog with helpful information and fun stuff all about macros, of course.

Right now, my macros are staying pretty static as I am doing a lean bulk with the guidance of my coach Jose (Alpha Training Protocols). My goals now are to gain muscle and increase strength. Having a coach has been awesome and has helped me get over my fear of weight gain and the scale going up which an inevitable side effect of gaining significant muscle mass. :)

I've got another flight to catch in a bit so I'm going to end this post… for now! Stay tuned for another V-Log coming soon! Much love!

- C

Hi friends! Long time no talk. I've had a lot of thoughts hanging out in my brain since my last post. I am doing my first ever lean bulk and it has been very hard, especially as someone who used to starve herself any time the scale moved up a half pound. But I have come to terms with the FACT that in order to gain significant muscle mass, the scale will go up inevitably. 

I also started taking 5g/day of creatine monohydrate about 2 weeks ago. For all of my non-fitness friends who read this, I feel the need to throw out this disclaimer: creatine is NOT a steroid or anything like it. It is the safest, most cost-effective supplement in terms of naturally gaining muscle mass and strength. I definitely recommend taking it if you are wanting to maximize your performance/training. Women usually avoid taking creatine (and I have for the longest time) because it causes water weight gain as creatine saturates the muscles.

SPEAKING OF WEIGHT GAIN! As I have mentioned before, I am weighing myself a LOT less frequently now and trying to rely on progress pictures and of course, my coach's expertise. I did, however, weigh myself a week ago and was at an all time HIGH--118 (up 2 pounds from the last time). I have not seen the scale say "118" since my college days and I hated how I looked then. It was freaky at first seeing that number and I am sure that some of it is due to the creatine… But the weirdest and coolest thing is I'm actually loving the way my body looks. Something is clicking for the first time. It's a mental, physical, and spiritual transformation. 

I can't fit into my size 0 skinny jeans. And I don't think I want to ever again. :)

- C

[Click here to see Reverse Diet progress graph]

In 3 months (6/11/14-9/10/14), I was able to increase my calories from 947 to 1650 (700+) without gaining weight or body fat. Here is my final reverse diet data graphed out. As you can see, as my calories increase at a slow and steady rate, body fat and weight remain constant.

I realize there are different beliefs/opinions about the "optimal" speed of reverse dieting. It's actually quite the hot topic right now. My personal belief is this: Everyone is unique with individual goals and physical/psychological states. Therefore, "optimal" approaches to meet goals will vary. For instance, I had been in a severe caloric deficit for 6 years straight so my goal in reverse dieting was mainly to be able to eat more without gaining excess body fat. I had some major physical and psychological issues. Of course, a seasoned bodybuilder may have different goals or at least a different prioritization of goals than me. 

The fact of the matter is there is currently (as of 12/3/2014) no peer-reviewed research on reverse dieting. That was my entire premise of this experiment. Not that this compares AT ALL to peer-reviewed research, but I am so passionate about helping others with similar issues and fears as I once had. I believe this experiment will achieve that goal. :) I plan on discussing this speed of reverse dieting issue in a later post, but for right now I just wanted to update the graph.

I also did some major updates to the "about" and "metab rehab" sections of the blog. Feel free to check it out. My goals have changed somewhat and I am now focusing on gaining strength and building up muscle. Therefore, my stats updates on the blog are going to be a little different from now on because I don't necessarily consider this reverse dieting anymore. It's more just straight up lean gaining and adjusting macros based on that--a task I am entrusting to my amazing coach Jose at Alpha Training Protocols. I will continue to check in with these stats but I do want to rely less on the scale and more on progress photos, so I will be weighing myself less frequently. It has been amazing for me mentally so far. :)

Hope you have an awesome week my friends!

Much love,
- C

PS: Macro tip of the day -- some days it's fun to save room for an epic carb/fat treat like this creation I made last night. <3

That was definitely a post I needed to see because I was 100 lbs and a size 0. Although I can still fit into my size 0 jeans, I'm not sure how long I will be able to and I am 100% fine with that. I am stoked to keep gaining muscle and become stronger every day. This photo is one I took yesterday morning at my lovely 4AM gym sesh (FYI: I do not CHOOSE to go to the gym at 4AM, it's the only time I can fit it in my schedule). Yes, I have gained a few pounds but I am eating more, looking better, and feeling better… and my quality of life has increased exponentially! I'll take it all thank you! 

As far as my reverse diet goes, I am going to start slowing down a bit for now as I approach where I left off before the mini cut. I will keep adding though, of course. Also, my coach (Alpha Training Protocols) is having me get into more of a powerlifting split in the gym which I am pretty excited about. Can't wait to see more progress!

STATS:
REVERSE DIET 2: 
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
11.5.14              115                      16.0               120                     170             42           1,538 (+58)
10.29.14            114                      15.2               120                     160             40           1,480 (+85)
10.22.14            114                      15.5               120                     150             35           1,395 (+95)

MINI-CUT 1:
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
10.15.14          112.5                     15.5               120                      140            29           1,300 (-0)
10.8.14            111.5                     15.2               120                      140             29          1,300 (-0)
10.1.14            113.5                     15                  120                      140             29          1,300 (-0)
9.24.14            115                        16.0               120                      140             29          1,300 (-350)

REVERSE DIET 1: 
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
9.17.14            113                       15.4                117                     201             42            1,650 (+0)
9.10.14            111.5                    16.2                117                     201             42            1,650 (+58)
9.3.14              111                        16.8               117                     191              40           1,592 (+58)
8.27.14            111.5                    16.4                117                     181              38           1,534 (+58)
8.20.14            111.5                    15.7                117                     171              36           1,476 (+58)**
8.13.14            110                        16.0               117                     161              34           1,418 (+58)
8.6.14              110                        15.7               117                     151              32           1,360 (+58) 
7.30.14            109.5                    15.5                117                     141              30           1,302 (+58)
7.23.14            110.5                    15.7                117                     131              28           1, 244 (+18)
7.16.14            109                        15.0               117                     131              26           1,226 (+58)
7.9.14              109                        14.9               117                     121              24           1,168 (+49)
7.2.14              110                        15.6               117                     111              23           1,119 (+49)
6.25.14            110.5                     15.4               117                     101              22           1,070 (+40)
6.18.14            110                        16.1               117                      91               22           1,030 (+43)
6.11.14            112.5                     16.8               117                      81               20           987 (+40)*
START                                                                   117                      77               19            947

Sheeeeeeesh, where to begin. As you know, I like to keep it 100% real so I will just tell you like it is.

This blog post is called lessons learned because I'd rather you learn from my experience than suffer through it yourself. So lemme spare you some gray hairs and tears, aight?! :)

REVERSE DIET & CUTTING LESSONS:
1) Don't do a mini-cut right after you get your period for the first time in a year. Chances are, weight gain is water retention due to crazy hormone changes. Being a girl just straight up sucks sometimes.
2) Don't do a mini-cut during the most stressful time of your life. Because cortisol. 
3) Don't do a mini-cut when you are only getting 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Because cortisol.
4) The scale is not the best measurement tool so chill out and don't put your faith in it.

As you can see, I have not changed my macros at ALL. I have been on POINT with hitting my exact macros every day and have not had one "cheat day" because I don't do those. Yet my weight has increased. Interestingly enough, exactly one month ago to this day my weight had increased about 2 lbs (and then went back down a week later…) because my period happened for the first time in a year. I expect that to happen again soon, probably this week. Sorry for any dudes who read my blog but it is what it is. I'm a girl. :)

LIFE LESSONS:
I'm not going number these, but this week I learned a lot about myself. I am a perfectionist in most areas of my life and that characteristic can really mess me up when I am stretched too thin. I am not the kind of person who half-a$$es anything. When I commit to something, I give it my all and that is difficult when there is a lack of time. To me, that means I have to compensate by overkilling everything. I have felt so much pressure lately in ALL ares of my life (personal, school, work). On top of that, I felt like my mini-cut was essentially a waste of time (and precious carbs that I could have eaten dangit!!) that I will be totally honest -- there came a point where I Just had to sit down and cry for like an hour straight. I had to just let it out and it felt freaking amazing.

Even though this blog is primarily about physical changes--reverse dieting, building muscle, optimizing body composition, etc.--this whole experience is changing me from the outside in. This week, during that "good cry" sesh, I had a defining moment. I'm legitimately done with letting the scale dictate my level of happiness. The logic finally trumped the crazy. It was a huge breakthrough for me. I was seriously contemplating quitting the scale altogether and not weighing myself anymore, but I decided that I need to continue for the sake of the macro experiment so I can keep up with this data for you guys. I also know that in order to gain legit muscle, I will probably see the scale weight increase and that is not a bad thing. I am going to focus now on increasing my strength and increasing my macros relative to that. I want to build some solid muscle and then do a real cut. And perfect timing 'cause guess what?!

I have never had a coach before… until now!
I am so excited to officially be with team Alpha Training Protocols. I have followed them since the beginning of the macro experiment… and I remember when I first found them on IG thinking "holy crap this is THE gold mine of IIFYM!!" I respect these guys so much. Excited, honored, grateful, STOKED to say the least. They are the perfect combo of solid evidence-based coaching and GOOD PEOPLE (crazy nice, ethical, hilarious...) So... huge shout out to Alpha Training Protocols. You should follow them on FB and IG if you don't already. <3 

STATS:
REVERSE DIET 2: 
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
9.22.14            114                        15.5               120                     150             35           1,395 (+95)

MINI-CUT 1:
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
10.15.14          112.5                     15.5               120                      140            29           1,300 (-0)
10.8.14            111.5                     15.2               120                      140             29          1,300 (-0)
10.1.14            113.5                     15                  120                      140             29          1,300 (-0)
9.24.14            115                        16.0               120                      140             29          1,300 (-350)

REVERSE DIET 1: 
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
9.17.14            113                       15.4                117                     201             42            1,650 (+0)
9.10.14            111.5                    16.2                117                     201             42            1,650 (+58)
9.3.14              111                        16.8               117                     191              40           1,592 (+58)
8.27.14            111.5                    16.4                117                     181              38           1,534 (+58)
8.20.14            111.5                    15.7                117                     171              36           1,476 (+58)**
8.13.14            110                        16.0               117                     161              34           1,418 (+58)
8.6.14              110                        15.7               117                     151              32           1,360 (+58) 
7.30.14            109.5                    15.5                117                     141              30           1,302 (+58)
7.23.14            110.5                    15.7                117                     131              28           1, 244 (+18)
7.16.14            109                        15.0               117                     131              26           1,226 (+58)
7.9.14              109                        14.9               117                     121              24           1,168 (+49)
7.2.14              110                        15.6               117                     111              23           1,119 (+49)
6.25.14            110.5                     15.4               117                     101              22           1,070 (+40)
6.18.14            110                        16.1               117                      91               22           1,030 (+43)
6.11.14            112.5                     16.8               117                      81               20           987 (+40)*
START                                                                   117                      77               19            947

Much <3,
- C

Meh.

MINI-CUT 1:
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
10.15.14          112.5                     15.5               120                      140            29           1,300 (-0)
10.8.14            111.5                     15.2               120                      140             29          1,300 (-0)
10.1.14            113.5                     15                  120                      140             29          1,300 (-0)
9.24.14            115                        16.0               120                      140             29          1,300 (-350)

REVERSE DIET 1: 
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
9.17.14            113                       15.4                117                     201             42            1,650 (+0)
9.10.14            111.5                    16.2                117                     201             42            1,650 (+58)
9.3.14              111                        16.8               117                     191              40           1,592 (+58)
8.27.14            111.5                    16.4                117                     181              38           1,534 (+58)
8.20.14            111.5                    15.7                117                     171              36           1,476 (+58)**
8.13.14            110                        16.0               117                     161              34           1,418 (+58)
8.6.14              110                        15.7               117                     151              32           1,360 (+58) 
7.30.14            109.5                    15.5                117                     141              30           1,302 (+58)
7.23.14            110.5                    15.7                117                     131              28           1, 244 (+18)
7.16.14            109                        15.0               117                     131              26           1,226 (+58)
7.9.14              109                        14.9               117                     121              24           1,168 (+49)
7.2.14              110                        15.6               117                     111              23           1,119 (+49)
6.25.14            110.5                     15.4               117                     101              22           1,070 (+40)
6.18.14            110                        16.1               117                      91               22           1,030 (+43)
6.11.14            112.5                     16.8               117                      81               20           987 (+40)*
START                                                                   117                      77               19            947

What the heck yo. I gained a pound this week. Whatevs. I've been feeling crazy bloated the past few days and I'm not sure why. I think this is going to be the last week of my "mini-cut." My purpose was to lose a few pounds and I did. 112.5 is exactly where I started the macro experiment, except I was about 17% body fat then. So I'm cool with it. I just hate this feeling of having reduced energy during my workouts and throughout the day. It especially sucks because my life has been about 100x more stressful than usual the past few weeks. I'm not trying to be negative, just gotta keep it real up in here and tell you like it is! ;)

I've also been thinking a lot… I need to chill out with the value I place in scale weight. Yes, it is a subjective standardized measurement. But that's all it is. Scale weight doesn't tell you your body fat%, water retention, and most importantly it does NOT indicate self-worth or how happy/sad you should feel during the day… it's lit-ch-rally just a stupid number that reflects one's mass x acceleration of gravity at that moment in time. I'm so sick of letting the scale weight of the day have an effect on my overall happiness. It sounds so dumb and ridiculous, but it's honestly hard for me to shake it. Just a part of my old eating disorder that still likes to hang out and mess with me.


So with this next reverse, I'm not going to flip my shiz every time I gain a pound. Hold me to it people, keep me accountable! :) I want to get stronger--mentally and physically. I'm super excited about some things coming up with the macro experiment so I will keep ya posted! <3

Hey guys! Just a quick update. I lost 1.5 lbs this week, which I think is an appropriate amount so I'll hang onto these macros until/unless my body adapts. I already want to go back into reverse mode because I got so used to eating so much food! I miss it already, haha!

I did make one interesting observation this week. This week I did my first HIIT session in over a month. I noticed that my heart rate elevated much higher and faster than it used to, it was pretty cool. Maybe my body is becoming more conditioned from all of the strength gains during the reverse and was kind of shocked by the random HIIT session so it was like "WTF I need to get this heart rate up!" That could be totally wrong but I like speculating just for fun. :)

Soooo I'm running into some technical difficulties with the VLog this morning. It's a Rude Magic cover called "FOOD" all about IIFYM/Flexible Dieting! So nerdy but I had fun with it. I will be posting that tomorrow along with a quick review of the Reverse Diet book. So check back for that tomorrow morning!

STATS:

MINI-CUT 1:
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
10.1.14            113.5                     15                  120                      140             29          1,300 (-350)
9.24.14            115                        16.0               120                      140             29          1,300 (-350)

REVERSE DIET 1: 
Date                 Weight (lb)           BF%              Protein (g)          Carbs         Fat          Total Cal
9.17.14            113                       15.4                117                     201             42            1,650 (+0)
9.10.14            111.5                    16.2                117                     201             42            1,650 (+58)
9.3.14              111                        16.8               117                     191              40           1,592 (+58)
8.27.14            111.5                    16.4                117                     181              38           1,534 (+58)
8.20.14            111.5                    15.7                117                     171              36           1,476 (+58)**
8.13.14            110                        16.0               117                     161              34           1,418 (+58)
8.6.14              110                        15.7               117                     151              32           1,360 (+58) 
7.30.14            109.5                    15.5                117                     141              30           1,302 (+58)
7.23.14            110.5                    15.7                117                     131              28           1, 244 (+18)
7.16.14            109                        15.0               117                     131              26           1,226 (+58)
7.9.14              109                        14.9               117                     121              24           1,168 (+49)
7.2.14              110                        15.6               117                     111              23           1,119 (+49)
6.25.14            110.5                     15.4               117                     101              22           1,070 (+40)
6.18.14            110                        16.1               117                      91               22           1,030 (+43)
6.11.14            112.5                     16.8               117                      81               20           987 (+40)*
START                                                                   117                      77               19            947

- C