When it comes to dieting, women have pretty much done it and/or tried it all! I’m not a tall girl, I’m only five feet tall. So when I put on weight, you can tell. About three years ago, I had ballooned to 166 pounds. That is a lot for me! My health was pretty bad, I struggled walking not even a mile to the postal center at my apartment complex and I knew that something had to be done. I’d tried Weight Watchers and while it definitely worked, without counting after a few months, I began to put the weight back on. I didn’t see “counting” as a new lifestyle for me. So I looked into the Atkin’s diet. It’s a low-carb diet that basically cuts out heavy starches and carbohydrates. Our body’s are supposed to burn fat each day, but because we tend to overload it with carbs, it burns carbs instead for energy. That’s when the light bulb came on for me! No wonder I kept having trouble losing this spare tire around my waist!! It’s pure fat and it’s not being burned at all.
Carbs have been a pitfall for me…potato chips, cake, sweets…my Achilles’s heel so to speak. I love to snack as I’m a grazer. I eat a little bit here and there…ALL day long. I had gotten so bad with potato chips to where I was downing 2 to 3 bags in one day! I know, I’m ashamed to admit that. But, it’s the truth! And when it was close to that wondrous time of the month exclusive for us ladies, it got even worse! I’d stock up on salty & sweet snacks like a whole cake, about 5 bags of potato chips, candy, crackers, popcorn and more!
So you can imagine my fear of even implementing the Atkin’s diet as all of my favorite things were to be scratched off my “do eat” list. My hope for a healthier lifestyle outweighed my fear and within 3 months, I was down 30 lbs! In my first week I lost 9lbs! And what was the first to go? My spare tire! It was then that I knew I had to change my eating habits, especially my snacking habits. Now, some 3 years later (boy does time fly) I’ve maintained my weight within 10 lbs of 135. I do incorporate some carbs into my diet but I’m much more conscious of what I’m eating and how often I’m splurging. Recently, I talked to a friend who has just started the “low-carb” lifestyle for diabetic reasons and she was nervous as well because at first it just seems so darn hard. I told her it gets easier and when you see the results, you appreciate it so much more.
I decided to share a few of the items that have helped me the most during my low-carb journey when I’ve considered jumping off the train or giving in to temptation. These 5 items have definitely kept me sane and helped me maintain my lifestyle:
1) Splenda Drops– I can take these anywhere with me, so it’s great for a person on the go as much as I am!
2) Single Serve Crystal Light packs- They come in all types of flavors and when you just get tired of drinking water all day, it’s a great pick me up!
3) Low carb tortillas- The craving for bread gets real when you’re low-carbing! There are some actual low carb breads out there, but I have found that the tortillas give you more bang and less carbs. Great for all types of sandwich wraps and more!
4) Breyer’s CarbMaster Ice Cream (Butter Pecan)- THIS has saved me on many occasion! When the sweet tooth comes a calling, nip it in the bud with this ice cream! Tastes just as good as regular ice cream and I love the Butter Pecan flavor!
5) Golden Flake’s “Sweet Heat” Pork Rinds- These are perfect for when I’m craving a salty chip. The great thing about low-carbing is you can eat all the protein you want! Pork Rinds are a great filler for those crunchy snack moments.
I hope this little list can help someone out there stay motivated and see that it’s not as hard as it seems. If you’re a low-carber, what items help you maintain?
