When Should You Do A Fuel Cycle?
by Meggan Larson
There is a lot of confusion surrounding when someone should do a fuel cycle and it’s time some of that gets cleared up. Sure it can be frustrating to think we’re stalling when we’ve been at the same weight for a couple of weeks but that’s not really a stall. That’s the normal ebb and flow of weight loss. I’m as eager as the next person to quickly drop 10lbs but it’s important not to rush things ~ especially if you’re getting some results. Even half a pound per week will add up to 26lbs in a year! It can be really tempting to jump into a fuel cycle when you see a slight stall but when IS a good time to do one?
The answer is…
It depends! The Trim Healthy Mama plan book does a beautiful job of going into detail about when and how to do a fuel cycle (pages 214-230) and even goes through many health conditions we may want to get tested for if we are not achieving the results we are wanting to. From hypothyroidism to a leaky gut, there could be many reasons why your weight loss is happening at a snail’s pace. It’s important not to run to a fuel cycle the second you see your weight loss slow down, however, there is definitely a time and place for one. If you’ve been on plan for a long time it’s possible that your body has gotten used to you switching between S and E meals. Doing a fuel cycle will rev back up your metabolism and shake things up for your body which can be a really good thing. The book also suggests using collagen and gelatin as protein sources a little more often as it may be just what your body needs. We can often get into a rut and not even realize it. We have our normal go-to’s that we stick to and suddenly we can’t remember the last time you had that recipe you used to adore when you first started on
We have our normal go-to’s that we stick to and suddenly we can’t remember the last time you had that recipe you used to adore when you first started on plan. A fuel cycle is a great way to remind yourself of recipes you used to love and also of what really constitutes a proper deep S or simple E meal. It can get us out of our ruts and expand our menu list moving forward. The rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t do a fuel cycle if you’re pregnant or nursing or just getting started on plan. But if you’ve been on plan for a while (several months) and you’re experiencing a stall then it may be a good idea to do one. Just make sure you read the part of the book that goes into detail about a fuel cycle as a reminder and to make sure you’re doing it correctly. There is also a very helpful Facebook group that helps you through your fuel cycle so check that out too!
~ Meggan 🙂
ps…As always I’d love to hear from you so if you have any questions or comments please comment below or email me at Meggan@thelaundrymoms.com
Meggan Larson is a wife, mom of three, and challenge overcomer! Being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and undergoing aggressive chemotherapy when her second born child was only three months old, gave Meggan an expected twist to her life. Dealing with pregnancy weight gain and the debilitating effects of chemotherapy, Meggan’s weight soared to over 228 pounds. Feeling humiliated with no desire to socialize, Meggan was desperate for a change. Shortly after losing 20 pounds with the Trim Healthy Mama program, Meggan found out she was pregnant with baby number three, which ended in an emergency C-section and unexpected hysterectomy. Despite the challenges she faced, Meggan has just celebrated her one year “trimiversary”, and her success of releasing just over 60 pounds! Meggan is confident that her success on plan is “doable” for anyone looking to gain back their health and wanting to live a trim and healthy lifestyle!
