"When you've finished with the mop then you can stop
And look at what you've done
The plateau's clean, no dirt to be seen
And the work it was fun"
---Meat Puppets (thx guys!)

Isn't that the best...

Anyways, I had hit a plateau for the last month or so. No gain or loss, just pretty much in stasis. I was lifting regularly, I had a "clean" diet, I was doing cardio 4-5 times a week, but nothing was happening. I was getting terribly frustrated. I decided I would switch things up a bit and decided to do Atkins for about the next 3-4 weeks. I had done South Beach in the past with good results. SB helped me lose my first 30 lbs over the course of 2 1/2 months. But I wanted something different this time.

You know what? It really does work to switch things up. I have only been doing it for the last 5 days and already I have dropped 6 lbs. Not bad if you ask me. I know it is not water weight, because I have been drinking more water than before, maybe like 1L more per day. The first 2 or 3 days drove me friggin nuts though, but I am adjusting. God I can't wait to get off from work and go grill up the New York Strip steak I have waiting at home.

As an added bonus, my mom lives only 2 towns over so I called her up and asked if she would cook for me. If your parents are cool, I highly suggest doing the same. I brought my mom about 50 bucks worth of meat and she cooked it up for me. Now I just munch on grilled chicken and pot roast whenever I feel like it. Thanks ma!

So I guess what I am trying to say is that when you hit that plateau (and you will), just switch things up. I don't think any of my lean mass has been affected yet, and if it has it is only to a very minimal extent. All of my lifts have stayed the same... I even increased my squats by 20 lbs.

Any-who, just wanted to share a moderate success story with yall.

Have a great week everybody!!!

6 pounds of pure fat? I dunno. Also, i wouldn't advise being on atkins because with a simple 3-1 carb zigzag, you can get the benefits without starvation mode. Of course, if your not experiencing starvation mode, keep at it!

6 pounds of pure fat? I dunno. Also, i wouldn't advise being on atkins because with a simple 3-1 carb zigzag, you can get the benefits without starvation mode. Of course, if your not experiencing starvation mode, keep at it!
Now now... I never said it was "pure fat". I said I have not lost much muscle (as far as I can tell). I don't think it is mostly water weight either. I would guess *most* of it was fat. My pants fit easier, and I can feel a slight difference in my hips when I lay down. That is how I am judging it. I haven't dropped a whole pant size yet, but I can clearly feel my slacks being looser.

Not scientific, but good enough for me.

"When you've finished with the mop then you can stop
And look at what you've done
The plateau's clean, no dirt to be seen
And the work it was fun"
---Cobain

Isn't Nirvana the best...

Kurt Cobain didn't write that. Plateau is a Meat Puppets track from their second album, as are Oh, Me and Lake of Fire. Nirvana just covered those songs during their MTV Unplugged performance.

Anyway, good luck getting through your plateau :)

the meatpuppets were the shit. "backwater" is my favorite song of thiers.

Kurt Cobain didn't write that. Plateau is a Meat Puppets track from their second album, as are Oh, Me and Lake of Fire. Nirvana just covered those songs during their MTV Unplugged performance.

Anyway, good luck getting through your plateau :)

So that is why he says that thing about the Meat Puppets on the Unplugged CD. He is kinda mumbly so it was hard to remember exactly what he was saying on the CD. Much props to the Meat Puppets then... that is an awesome tune.