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!
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