I’m back again! I did the diet in 2023, again in 2024, and then bulked for four months from October through February. I like the muscle I gained, and now it’s time to trim the fat that came with it. I’m currently the heaviest I’ve been, sitting just shy of 170. I’ll start the diet on Saturday.
Starting pictures. I’m glad to see my starting point looks a little better each year!
Day 1
Weight: 167.8
I wonder if I’ve lost a bit of weight already since I stopped bulking. I haven’t weighed myself in a while but I was consistently 169-170 a month or so ago.
I had a decent climbing day today. I’ve taken a bit of a deload week with climbing, keeping frequency and max intensity the same but reducing volume. Next week will be back to normal volume. I’ve been getting better at climbing lately, which is exciting to happen at the twelve-year mark! Improvements aren’t easily won at this point.
It’s also cool to see that at my heaviest, I’m still getting better. I don’t think the bulk negatively affected my performance. Logically, there must be some decline in finger strength to weight ratio, that I probably could have measured had I done before and after tests on a hangboard, but I’m not concerned, and for sure the increase in overall strength has helped climbing. The bulk also helped jiu jitsu a ton! It feels like I’m armored now.
Leftover homemade grilled kebobs for dinner. MD pudding and a Spindrift for dessert.
Day 2
Weight: 165.4 (daily change: -2.4)
Total weight loss: -2.4
I’m surprised how much my weight dropped in a day. I’m trying not to overthink it. This morning I meal prepped for the next few days. Chicken, rice, and vegetables. I also did jiu jitsu, which has been going well lately.
So far, so good.
Day 3
Weight: 164.2 (daily change: -1.2)
Total weight loss: 3.6
I had to go back and check my previous logs, and it turns out I do usually lose this much weight this quickly. It always seems the first three pounds just vanishes, but comes back quickly after I stop. My waist is a couple inches smaller (I had to tighten my climbing harness further than normal). I’m not sure if that’s water or inflammation or what.
Today was a boring day at work, and boredom doesn’t mix well with hunger. There were difficult moments today. I’m having to remind myself that when things are hard, it means they’re working. I had to channel my inner Jocko today and say “Good.”
I totally crushed climbing this afternoon, which was awesome. I put down two 13a’s I’d tried a couple times prior. Life feels better after dinner too. More suffering to come tomorrow.
Day 4
Weight: 164.6 (daily change: +.4)
Total weight loss: 3.2
Today went better. The day just went by faster in general which was nice, and I didn’t feel as hungry.
Tuesday night is advanced jiu jitsu class, which is 20-30 minutes of drilling followed by 40-50 minutes of sparring. Tonight’s class was like a war. I had a lot of good scraps. It was an exceptionally physical class.
I normally sweat a lot at jiu jitsu, but tonight I was making puddles on the mat. I get home pretty late, and it’s a race to rehydrate before bed, while also trying not to overdo it and thereby ruin my sleep by having to get up to pee multiple times. I tend to wake up lighter on Wednesdays.
My current training schedule…
Monday: climb (always indoors)
Tuesday: advanced jiu jitsu
Wednesday: lift
Thursday: climb (usually indoors)
Friday: rest
Saturday: climb (outdoors, weather permitting)
Sunday: basic jiu jitsu followed by open mat (one hour of sparring)
Day 5
Weight: 165.2 (daily change: +.6)
Total weight loss: 2.6
My lifting session went well this morning. Squats, pull ups, GHRs, incline dumbbell presses, and calves. The hunger was tolerable.
I do notice that by the late afternoon, I’m not thinking as sharply. It just seems to happen every time I do this. Again, I just remind myself that everything is working. I know I will lose fat soon.
Day 6
Weight: 165.0 (daily change: -.2)
Total weight loss: 2.8
Today was a very low-energy day. I hope it means things are working! Climbing was good. I ate the last of my chicken, rice and vegetables for dinner. Tomorrow’s Friday, so I’ll come up with something different to eat for the weekend before it’s back to prepping that same food for next week.
Day 7
Weight: 164.6 (daily change: -.4)
Total weight loss: 3.2
Today was a work day and a rest day. Fairly low energy again. Salmon and rice for dinner was great.
Day 8
Weight: 163.4 (daily change: -1.2)
Total weight loss: 4.4
The drop has arrived! Based on previous rounds of this diet, it seems my weight holds in the same spot for a bit, then suddenly drops.
I climbed indoors today. The local weather still sucks. It went well though, so I’m happy! Pulled pork and rice for dinner.
Day 9
Weight: 163.2 (daily change: -.2)
Total weight loss: 4.6
This morning I did jiu jitsu class followed by open mat. I had to leave open mat early because I was getting mildly dizzy. This has never happened to me before. As I tend to do, I began to overthink things. Am I being too restrictive with my diet? Is my blood sugar tanking? Am I losing too much weight, too quickly? Do I need more salt in my diet? Do I need LESS salt? Is it something else entirely? Is doing this diet a bad idea, and I’m making myself waste away?
I still had a couple moments of dizziness this afternoon and evening, but even milder. I’ll keep an eye on it. I’m also going to have a small amount of carbs pre-training when training falls before meal time. We’ll see if that makes any difference.
I would say yes, alongside most likely potassium and magnesium. This diet is much lower carb than a traditional diet, and carbs are what hold onto electrolytes. In their absence, we need to overcompensate. I took to adding salt to all my Metabolic Drive shakes, which helps with this AND actually enhances the flavor in my experience.
Thanks for the tip! I’ve been adding extra electrolytes (one extra liquid iv per day plus salty no-calorie snacks like pickles) but perhaps I need to go even further. I’m another pound lighter today, so maybe I’m dropping too much water. Any advice on how much salt per shake to enhance the flavor?
I’ve literally never weighed, counted or measured anything in my life, haha. I shake the shaker. If it’s too salty, I’ll know: it will taste salty.
Day 10
Weight: 162.2 (daily change: -1)
Total weight loss: 5.6
It seems my dizziness issue is a mild case of vertigo. I was fine at work all day, but I got to the climbing gym and did a set of pullovers to start my warm-up, and the room spun when I tipped my head back. Climbing went fucking amazingly well though, despite the occasional disorientation, and I’m psyched. I onsighted a 12d for the first time (in case any climbers are reading and know what that means).
When I went home I tried a couple tests/exercises for vertigo. I’ve never tried them before so I can’t say for sure, but I feel like I definitely have left inner ear issues right now. The tests for my right ear were fine. For the left ear, dizziest I’ve ever felt. I’ll keep doing the exercises tomorrow. They’re supposed to help reset you.
Day 11
Weight: 163.2 (daily change: +1)
Total weight loss: 4.6
I narrowed it down that the vertigo issue is in my left ear. I don’t mind it so much now that I know what it is. At this point, I’m passing two of three of the common trigger tests, but one still gets me slightly dizzy. I’m supposed to do it daily to try to correct things.
My one trigger is turning my head to the left and dropping to my right side. Exactly what I do A LOT in jiu jitsu. 
Training still went well tonight, I’d just let someone get the better of me in order to move out of that position, whenever I found myself there.
Day 12
Weight: 162.6 (daily change: -.6)
Total weight loss: 5.2
I had a good lifting session this morning, then worked all day. All is well. Still working on the vertigo.
Day 13
I forgot to weigh in this morning. I was supposed to climb today, but I got some plantar warts treated and it left me unable to stand without excruciating pain. It’s odd because this was my fourth or fifth treatment, and it’s never been an issue before. So, today was an extra rest day.
Day 14
Weight: 161.6 (daily change: unknown)
Total weight loss: 6.2
Halfway through! There’s been a metabolic drive shortage lately, and I’m down to my last bag. I’m hoping I can procure another, otherwise this will only be a three-week diet.
Another rest day today, as all Fridays are. Tomorrow’s my first outdoor climbing day in over a month!
Day 15
Weight: 162.0 (daily change: +.4)
Total weight loss: 5.8
Climbing was awesome today, I’m so happy to be out again! I had a bit of vertigo while climbing, which made things more interesting but still totally fine overall. I also did a bunch of yard work. Spring has finally sprung and I’m enjoying it a lot. Beef and salad for dinner.
Day 16
Weight: 161.4 (daily change: -.6)
Total weight loss: 6.4
Jiu jitsu went well this morning. I’m still having mild vertigo but it’s fine. Chicken, rice and veggies for dinner later!
