I’m about 2 weeks in to the low carb diet reboot. I wanted to do an update, but first, wanted to thank everyone who left comments and facebook messages about the diet. It was nice to hear what worked for other people!
When I started this blog, it wasn’t a weight loss blog. I just wanted to share my story of how I lost 110 pounds and kept it off. There aren’t a lot of maintenance blogs out there. A lot of the healthy living blogs I used to read diligently either don’t really blog anymore, or I’ve seen them kind of spiral into very disordered practices, or regaining all the weight back. I don’t dismiss the fact that maintenance is hard–you have to work at it every day–but for me, maintenance has been easier than losing this time around.
Quick recap: when I tried this lower carb diet back in the Spring, I lost 7 or 8 pounds right away. It was very encouraging. Then it stalled and I kept gaining and losing the same 2 pounds for the next few months.
So when I started this diet again a few weeks ago, I was around 170. I lost 2 pounds the first week! That was awesome!
I weighed in on 10/18 and was really happy to see another loss! I was down another 2 pounds! 166.6 pounds (does that number mean something?!?! LOL), which is the lowest I’ve been since I got pregnant! That means I have 9 pounds to lose to get back to my pre-baby weight!
What I’ve Been Doing
- I cut out sugar snacks and treats. Not 100% but close. I’ve had a few things here and there but I’m really happy that I’ve been staying strong and either skipping dessert most nights or having fruit or yogurt instead.
- I’m logging everything. I’m pretty good at tracking–I’ve done it for 15+ years and it’s just second nature now. But I am recommitted to being accurate–that means tracking the snacks and nibbles, too!
- No bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc. The carbs I am eating are from fruit and my Greek yogurt and coffee creamer (never cutting the creamer out!).
- Trying to drink more water. I am okay at this during the week at work but at home on the weekends and in the evenings I am NOT good at it. 🙁
- No alcohol Monday-Thursday nights. I wasn’t really in a habit of drinking during the week but some weeks I’d find myself having a glass of wine on a Tuesday when I didn’t really need to. I don’t necessarily see that as a larger problem but I do think it was a waste of calories. So I am limited my 2 glasses of wine to weekends.
- Trying to eat smart. Eating a lot of protein and veggies and trying to eat more healthy fats.
Challenges
It’s definitely felt easier this time around to try low carb. Maybe because I knew what to expect, maybe because I was seeing immediate progress, not sure. Other than feeling like total shit that first week, it’s been pretty easy this time. I don’t feel deprived. I don’t crave bread too much.
- I am getting sick of salads for lunch. I have been trying to come up with other ideas but I need something that’s fast and easy to prep and often times that’s just a protein and a salad.
- It’s been a challenge to get more fiber in my diet since I’m limiting fruit (I used to eat an apple every day and that’s pretty high in fiber, for example) and eating only certain types of veggies.
- I do miss bread. I am not craving it like mad, but I do miss it.
- I HATE that soup is so high in carbs!!! Why?!??! Even a vegetable beef stew is high in carbs! I live on soup in the colder months and I’m bummed I can’t seem to find any options. 🙁 If you have ideas, tell me!
- I miss buying stuff at Trader Joe’s! There were a ton of things I’d buy every time I’d go but they are not on the diet now so…
The biggest challenge so far? Running on a low carb diet freakin’ sucks. 🙁 I have no energy, it feels like a slog, I sometimes feel light headed, I totally crash from hunger afterwards…I need to figure out an alternative on days I run. Maybe I try carb cycling and eat more carbs before I run. I don’t know…
I am doing a cheat day/meal once a week or so. I think this is important so that I don’t feel 100% deprived, which can lead to a binge.
Week 1 cheat meal was our taco and beer date. 😀
Week 2 cheat meal was pizza!
Vickie
I cannot eat any type of lettuce. None. Severe GI reaction. So I am a salad free person. But I do lots of what I think of as “bowls”.
Green beans and asparagus and broccoli are my go to add ins.
One of my daughters was having water shortage issues too. We are a Kleen Kanteen Family. She had two, she now has three. It is helping. I have three too. We fill all 3 at start of day. They each have a time slot or a location. Work, Car, TV, lunch, etc.
I have to time my water carefully around bathroom availability. I walk 1-2 times a day. So evening is actually my big water intake time. Having it next to me is key.
Can you alternate running with with brisk walking?
Lisa Eirene
Those are great things! Good job!
I have a 24 oz. water bottle at work and I usually drink 2-2.5 of them during the work day. But it’s the weekends I struggle to drink water. I need to make it more accessible.
I love the idea of doing veggie bowls. I will give that a try!
I used to do a lot of walking. We walk with the dog and baby after work if the weather is nice.
Vickie
Do you put the baby in a pack so you can go quickly? Or are you able to keep up a good speed with a stroller? (when I try to walk with too much going on, I tend to lose speed element. But I fully understand nice to walk as a family.)
I borrow a neighbor’s golden retriever, 1-3 times a day. It gets her out. It increases my frequency and my speed.
Lisa Eirene
That’s sweet you take the neighbor’s dog out. I bet the dog LOVES it!
We take Logan in a stroller. We walk pretty quickly. We sometimes stop to say hi to neighbors etc but generally it’s a quick walk. Soon we’ll be walking without the stroller so we’ll definitely slow down!
Lori
Trader Joe’s – good thing the closest one is an hour away. Seriously – I think we only get snacky junky things there LOL. And they are so good, too 😀
Lisa Eirene
YEP! Pretty much!! Although, I do buy a lot of cheese at TJ’s…
emmaclaire
I hear you about the fiber issue on low-carb – have you ever tried a supplement? I’ve been curious if they help. It’s one of the reasons I am not doing low-carb. I sometimes have a starchy thing at dinner (though I’ve been eating zoodles and cauliflower “rice” and jicama hash browns most days) and fruit at both lunch and dinner. I just don’t want to deal with the issues low fiber causes…
Vickie
You absolutely can get enough fiber with vegetables. I suggest veggies with every meal. I just add them to whatever I am eating. Pull up a listing of green veggies and check the levels. Be careful about the fruit. Look for fiber with lower sugar. Raspberries are a good source for example.
It is an easy trap to think you have to have starchy veggies (which I think of as carbs not veggies) or grain in order to have enough fiber. And it is not true.
The supplements usually have sugar. And you can find yourself craving them. In my experience.
Lisa Eirene
We do a lot of veggies. Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, Brussels Sprouts, salad, etc. I eat veggies at almost every meal (not breakfast) but MyFitnessPal shows a really low number for fiber! I don’t get it
Vickie
How low of a fiber number?
Lisa Eirene
Yesterday I had 11 grams of fiber (I ate a salad for lunch and with dinner, with lots of veggies).
Lisa Eirene
Where do you get zoodles? I’ve wanted to try them but my store doesn’t have them.
I do supplement fiber with powder. I suppose it helps. I’d just rather get it from food.
Vickie
I just chop veggies, nothing fancy. And I use frozen broccoli florets and green beans so it is easy, always available and no waste. I add them at end so they do not over cook.
Vickie
Is it possible that lettuce is your problem?
Lots of volume with no fiber? (And little nutrition, I think of it as crunchy water).
I wonder if you make a “salad” with other green veggies and no lettuce, how much that will help.
I also would add veggies to breakfast. Easy way to use leftovers. I can eat a whole package of (frozen) broccoli florets, very lightly steamed with lemon on it, very happily.
Lisa Eirene
When I do salad it’s kale, lettuce, brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc. Plus topped with cauliflower, sometimes broccoli, cucumbers and raw peppers.
I’ve done scrambled eggs with broccoli and spinach before and it was good. I might have to try it again!
christi in ma
Lisa, I hear you on getting tired of salads for lunch.
I really love the LoveLeafCo recipes. You cook once and get 5 servings. Perfect for lunches at the office. Or two easy weeknight meals and a lunch for you.
I started with the Lunch Challenge this spring and and found some really good recipes that we make a lot (root veggie buddha bowl, bahn mi bowl, fall veggie paella were all fantastic. Lots of textures and flavors.
Check them out you might find a few new recipes you like
https://loveleafco.com/meal-prep-challenge/