Of all the options out there, many people have asked why I chose a low carb diet plan. It’s simple: I chose a low carb diet because it fits into my lifestyle.
The hardest thing about any diet is the major lifestyle change that it requires. I had tried other things in the past: exercising, eating better, eating less, etc. All with no success. In fact, I just kept gaining.
I travel a lot. And when I’m home, I eat out almost daily. Given both of those facts it would be hard to maintain many diet plans – but not the low carb diet plan.
See the Arby’s picture? That was my lunch yesterday. I’m home for a few weeks before my next big trip, but things are busy. I had errands and appointments, plus a big work project to work on in my home office. So I grabbed lunch while I was out (which is typical for me). I ordered two sandwiches and a diet coke (no sides): a reuben and the new angus three cheese melt w/bacon. I just removed the buns and ate them both…
The only real difference is that I ordered two sandwiches – instead of a sandwich and fries, plus a dessert. In the past I probably would have ordered loaded potato bites with ranch dip and a cherry turnover to go with my sandwich.
So I haven’t changed my lifestyle at all, or even where I eat. Just what I eat – and even that was just a slight adjustment.
That was the major perk. And then there was the fact that I knew it works. I have friends who’d had great (fast!) success with a low carb diet, and I was desperately looking for a solution that would actually work for me.
A Low Carb Diet Plan is SIMPLE
I didn’t join a club, buy a book, or order a program. I don’t necessarily “eat healthy”, I haven’t exercised at all and I don’t drink gallons of water.
In fact, I have made very few changes to my lifestyle at all – and yet I’ve lost right at 20 pounds in a very short time just eating low carb.
My daughter and I were out the other morning and decided to stop by McDonald’s for breakfast. I had 2 Sausage Egg & Cheese McMuffins (without the McMuffins) with a large iced coffee (full cream, sugar free vanilla syrup).
I love to eat. Anyone who knows me, knows that well. The idea of choosing a diet that makes me feel “punished” would just never work.
The great thing about a low carb diet is that you can eat as much as you want – the quantity of food is not an issue. It’s just *what* you eat. I love that, because sometimes I really enjoy curling up with some good comfort foods in front of a movie. Or going out with friends and indulging on fabulous dishes.
How Did I Get Started?
I started by simply cutting my net carb intake down to 20 net carbs a day. That’s it. No major math, no boxed meals, no big expense. I just started counting carbs.
In as little as 2 MONTHS, I was able to get into my favorite comfy jeans – which I hadn’t been able to get over my hips in more than 2 YEARS. Yay!!
It was really simple. Like I said, I started taking note and making sure I ate less than 20 net carbs per day. At first I kept a notebook and just jotted down what I ate, and the net carb count.
This is easy with packaged foods that have a label, or with fast foods & restaurants because you can look up their nutrition facts online. Also see How to Figure Out Net Carbs for other resources I use.
On almost any low carb diet plan, you eventually increase the number of good carbs you’re eating. But I’ve been so happy with my choice of foods, and my continual weight loss, that I’ve stuck with my 20/day.
So that’s why I chose a low carb diet – because it’s EASY, and because I didn’t have to change my lifestyle (or starve myself to death). Change is hard. Easy is good!
Thanks for answering my question Lynn!
It sounds like a really smart way to go for you. I too have ‘comfy’ jeans sitting in my closet and unfortunately I haven’t been able to wear them for about four years (I’m so stubborn I won’t throw them out, lol).
I tried a little while ago by focusing on exercise but honestly I just HATE exercising. I get on spurts with hoopdancing (linked to it in my sig) but that is more of a fun challenge than exercise because I try to learn tricks that I think will be cool to show people, ha.
Anyway, it’s great to hear why you picked the low carb eating and I’m so glad it’s working for you. I don’t know if I’ll be counting carbs just yet but I am definitely trying to keep the carbs to a minimum.
Thanks for asking π I had tried exercise too but was still gaining. This has been easy for me because I can still eat out as much as I want – which is handy with all my traveling, and otherwise busy lifestyle as a business owner & single mother.
I’m not sure how or why it works so well, but limiting your carbs to 20 or less takes the weight off FAST. I lost 8 pounds in the first 10 days! π
I have been doing “low” carb since Nov 1, following The Paleo Solution (http://robbwolf.com). It is completely grain-free and it is good for people like myself that have autoimmune problems. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE! I no longer feel sluggish, my tummy is always happy, my skin is clear, and I am 30 lbs lighter. I am about half way to my goal weight and am now starting to add exercise in, and I can, because I have more energy. Low carb and lots of good fats has been amazing for me as well π
Congratulations, Christie! I was curious about the paleo method after reading about it on Twitter. Thanks for the link – I’ll check that out. I assume it’s very similar to Atkins or other low carb diets?
Those are the same things I am feeling – more energy, clear skin, feeling like moving! etc π Love it!!
Wow Christie I didn’t know that – good for you!
You ladies sure are making it sound good. Tonight instead of my usually tea (with a teaspoon and a half of sugar and a bunch of milk) I had a lipton mandarin orange green tea (0g net carbs)..
When I followed the Biggest Loser book for 30 days I lost about 15 pounds quick, too and I think a lot of the menu items were low carb, at least from looking at your list it looks like it.
Cool – I’ll have to check out the book. I’ve never followed the show.
I discovered that I like “vanilla splenda” in iced tea – very good! The flavored sugar free syrups would probably be good too. I’ve cut out milk & sugar altogether.
Hi Christine, Congrats on your success! Interestingly, a friend of mine with fibromyalgia discovered that cutting out breads helped resolve her symptoms after doing the HcG diet. Now she sticks to a gluten-free diet and feels great.
Your reasons for not being able to stick to a diet fit me to a tee!!! I too love food, hate exercise, and I’m too busy with my home business and kids and i’m a single mom two weeks a month because of hubby’s shift work, lol!
I’m totally up for trying this, so thank YOU so much for sharing your story and success here. I added your blog to my faves π
Melissa
Great to see you here, Melissa!! This has been SUCH a good fit for me, especially with traveling & eating out so much (and being such a creature of habit – lol – change is *hard*).
I saw you mention on Twitter that you were eating low-carb popcorn. What kind was it?? I don’t really like popcorn but I’m just curious. π
LOL – just checked the label again, and it turns out I was reading the french side of the label and didn’t realize that “Glucides” is carbs in French – oops and crap π
LOL! I just had my first trip to Canada a few weeks ago and your labels really threw me off at first π
LMAO! I’ve lived here all my life and I still get messed up sometimes – as you’ve noticed π
It is SO GOOD to find sites like yours and realize that slowly but surely the word is getting out that the low calorie, low fat thing just does not work for a lot of us.
And regarding exercise, I did a weight machines routine for almost a year a while ago and while I didn’t lose any weight, I was SMALLER and everyone noticed.
Thanks Meredith – I wish I had started this a long time ago! I am at a point where I want to start toning up now that I’ve lost 20 pounds – but now exercise is a means of toning up in my mind, not a means of losing weight (or an excuse to let myself eat junk again). Big difference in mindset.
If you don’t mind me asking, why did you stop the weight machines?
Reserch actually shows that exercise isn’t very effective in achieving short-term weight loss results, but it’s VERY important for long-term weight loss success. So it’s no wonder if exercise didn’t bring you the results you expected.
This is still a little bit of a mystery to me, but I’m in the process of finding an answer to the exercise mystery. π
It also depends how you measure your weight loss; if you just follow numbers on the scale, you’ll be disappointed. I like using my old clothes as a measure of fat loss.
To start, my goal is to lose pounds – so that’s what I’m focusing on. I feel great when I do exercise, and I am ready to start toning, so I’ll be adding that in next.
I’ve read somewhere that exercise can actually slow weight loss on a low carb diet, so I am going to do some research on that. I want to make the right choice between simple toning exercising or cardio…
Your statement “I lost 8 pounds in the first 10 days!” is super-motivating! I almost don’t believe it, but am willing to transform myself into a believer.
Let us know if you find that research showing that exercise might slow weight loss on a low-carb diet (and slow by how much)? I try to exercise 3-4 times a week, since I heard that muscles burn more calories than fat even if you’re sitting in front of a computer all day, as I do.
Also, if you could do a future post on what people do about breakfast on a low-carb diet, that would be great. I’ve been eating a morning bowl of whole grain cereal (1% milk) or a wheat English muffin with jam for years now and want something as easy as that to replace it, since I gather cereal is high carb. Making an egg and a slice of bacon every day just sounds unhealthy (and messy with the pans), but I’m willing to do it, if that’s what works. But any alternatives?
(PS Can you add the plugin to your site that allows the comments poster to edit her comment after posting? I rely on that oneβthanks!)
I almost didn’t believe it either – LOL π My mother had used this method, and my best friend, and both had *great* results, which is why I chose to try it myself. It definitely works. There’s something scientific about it.
I will definitely research that. I am about to start toning myself, now that I’ve lost just over 20 pounds. I’d like to lose another 10, but I’d like what’s under there to look good. haha
Breakfast – sometimes I just make a couple fried eggs (easy). I’m not much of a breakfast eater by nature, so sometimes I just snack on pecans & string cheese – or a turkey & cheese rollup – and hold out till lunch. I’ve been known to grab a peanut butter Atkins bar when I’m on the go first thing in the morning too… Will be sure to post more options & ideas soon!
Yes, I agree with Satu:
“Reserch actually shows that exercise isnβt very effective in achieving short-term weight loss results, but itβs VERY important for long-term weight loss success.”
Our bodies are very good at doing whatever it takes to maintain weight. When we exercise it is all too easy to compensate, even over compensate for the calories burned in exercise by eating too much. I’ve found that to be true in my own experience. I had a period in my life when I was running 3 miles a day 4-6 days a week. In an entire month of exercise I lost maybe 1/2 pound and sometimes I gained weight.
However, my fitness was high and my body composition probably much better than when I am not exercising. Although I’m getting to be much older than I would like, I admit that fitting into those skinny jeans is just as important to me now in my late fifties as it was when I was younger. (Call me crazy or foolish if you’d like.)
Unfortunately just losing weight isn’t the whole story. It is possible to be a skinny “fat” person. I want to be at a healthy weight, look good, and be healthy also!
Successful weight loss losers registered with the National Weight Control Registry (individuals who have lost a minimum of 30 pounds and maintained the loss for at least one year) report doing a LOT of exercise.
“Iβve read somewhere that exercise can actually slow weight loss on a low carb diet.” -Lynn
I am not aware of any research suggesting that exercise slows down weight loss with a low carb diet. That’s an interesting question. I’ve never heard of appropriate exercise being bad for anyone in any way shape or form. Interesting.
I found it interesting too, and definitely aim to research it. Like you, I am interested in being a “healthy me”. Now that I have lost just over 20 pounds, I am anxious to start toning. So I am going to start by doing more toning than cardio, research a bit about it, and continue forward with my personal goals. Which are simple: to LOOK & FEEL MY BEST. π
So very very cool! I am glad I came across your site! Some points I completely agree with and knew about, but some stuff I had not thought about! Thanks!
If I can make the distinction here, that you speak of low carb as the reason you have lost weight Lynn and yes you can attribute it to reduced “Carbs”
What is the problem I have with your explanation and exhortation to low carb, is that there is a general rush to think carbs = sugar and when people are encouraged to eat more fruit, one of the most potent energy and weight loss management foods available, they get told… NO… fruit is full of sugar.
No matter what new idea or plan you come up with, weight management is about calories in. You are still getting excess calories with the FAT content you are consuming. Reading through your food choices it could be deduced you have achieved your weight loss through reduction of calories, by not consuming as much quantity, and yes the type of bread you are leaving out as a ” low carb” exercise is full of refined sugar, milk product and fat.
Apart from any other food choice issues that I would see from my perspective, I would encourage you to increase your intake of plant based calories, find some sort of exercise you find enjoyable,even if it is taking that horse you call a dog for a walk, drop the grains and dairy and think more LOW FAT and visit sweet juicy fruits as a calorie input.
LOL, Slim is quite the horse – even if he IS a runt for a Great Dane π
To be clear, my “explanation” is simply my own personal experience, and my own choice of a way to eat. As for fruit, I have never liked it so it’s never been a part of my diet. I’ve actually started eating strawberries, raspberries & blackberries since I started the low carb diet – which is more fruit than I’ve ever eaten. All of a sudden I like berries, so I eat them. π
I am still eating a lot. I do love to eat. And fortunately I don’t have to control portions or fat or calories on this diet – and have still lost a substantial amount of weight. There’s a science behind how low carb diets work.
I appreciate your perspective and your advice, but I’m quite happy with my WOE (way of eating) and especially happy with the results! π
Hi Lynn..just checking in to see how it’s going. I started Atkins a few days ago and have lost 5 lbs already. I also exercised until I couldn’t stand anymore for months and nothing. Needless to say, I stopped.
Hope all is well.
Hi Corryn! It’s going great π I just got back on track this week after a little holiday splurging, lol. Glad to hear you’ve seen such fast results! It worked that way for me too. I lost 8 pounds the first 10 days alone!
Glad you stopped by. I look forward to your comments. π