I don't know about anyone else, but I pretty much had to wing this time around on my own. I have posted on the board and few times with no responses. Seems people either don't know or don't want to share. I don't know and really got fed up with the lack of actual responses or lack there of on this site. I jumped to another site and truly enjoy the site and all the advise however they are not fond of Atkins. LOL. So. With that said here is where I am at.

Today I weighed in at 229.8. Not great for a month but let me be honest. I haven't actually totally low carbed. I have had days that I went all "girl on carbs" and just fed my emotions. I have had days that I did try to stay low carb. My focus has kind of switched to finding what is going to work for me with my weight training and nutrition and my overall well being.

So. I switched to a diet that runs 1200-1750 calories a day. I set my macros with low carb counts coming in around 30-50 a day, a higher protein and fat content. I lift 3-4 times a week, as well as do bodyweight stuff. I follow Strong Lifts and add in accessory work, and yes I drink protein shakes made with whey isolate very frequently. Usually 1-2 times a day.

I had to really sit down and look at the fact that I keep failing on Atkins over the years. It is a great program. It has provided me huge rewards such as 3 successful pregnancies while suffering from PCOS. It does what it is supposed to, and I really wish I could commit for life, but I can't. Not in the way I wanted to anyways. I always want a quick fix with minimal effort and that is obvious not what my body thinks should happen. LOL.

So. I am not thrilled that I am only down a couple pounds in a months time, BUT I am thrilled that due to what I have put in place I am in complete control over things. Meaning although I didn't lose any substantial weight, I didn't gain anything while feeding my emotions. Is this healthy? No, not at all, realistically am I going to go all crazy at least once a month, feeling deprived and eat everything high carb I can get my hands on? Absolutely. I will. I always do. Usually at this point of going carb crazy, I add on 5-8 lbs and say screw it. Not this time. I am slowly retraining my body to be more healthy, more fit, and I am finding my indulgences in my protein shakes and although some that I make are more like 15 carbs in one shake, that is a heck of a lot better than 100 carbs in a can of coca cola and a chocolate bar.

Long story short. I don't think the Whey isolate in itself should throw you out IF your other carbs are very low for the day. One of the claims of isolate is that it is extremely fast acting on insulin levels so it may be possible that your body doesn't process it well and it may seem to put you over on carb count if you are sensitive to insulin spikes. I myself am very sensitive but so far, it seems to be slowly acceptable to my body to still see progress while using isolate.