GNCLCGirl
Fri, Sep-26-03, 19:06
We all know that "starting" a diet is a lot easier than sticking to one long term. So what's the secret of sticking to a low carb diet? Our VP of Sales, Andrea Mondello, offers some tips that have helped her - and many others - stick with it when times got tough.
Don’t tell anyone but your doctor and your immediate family that you are low carbing until you have to.
My husband and I have had "well-meaning" people tell us the most amazing lies about low carb. And if we hadn't really done our homework, I can guarantee they would have dissuaded us from low carbing - and losing all the weight we have! The best convincer is reality. So why not lose some weight and get healthier before you tell everyone in the world you’re on a low carb diet? It’ll make your life a whole hec of a lot easier. This is also important if you have created a habit of saying you’re on a diet, and then not sticking with it. You need to convince yourself that you can do it before you tell the world. Keeping promises you make to yourself is the foundation for keeping promises to others!
Use caution in pizzerias and convenience marts.
Unlike eating out while on a low-fat diet, eating out the low carb way is pure joy. Get a bunless cheeseburger with bacon, mushrooms and a big salad. Or go to a buffet place and have several types of meat and veggies. In our experience, however, we don’t find much we can eat in pizzerias or convenience marts. Even meatballs and chicken parmesan have breadcrumbs. Just about every snack-type item is a carb, except cheese sticks and beef jerky. Even most of the so-called Protein Bars sold now still have a whopping amount of carbs. So, make it a rule to avoid pizzerias and convenience marts when you're really hungry!
Don’t be so rigid that you break - stay flexible and you’ll survive.
If you go to a wedding, have a small piece of that wedding cake, or a piece of pizza at your child’s birthday party or even an ice cream on a 100 degree day. Many successful low carbers plan for "cheats" like this. But be careful! For some people, one treat can lead to a day of high carbs that can stretch out into a week - and so on, and so on... It takes time to get back into ketosis, so think about how badly you really want that sugar. Make sure you're "treat" is really worth it!!!
If you're stalled, try keeping a food diary for a week.
Yeah, I know, it’s a pain. But the plain fact is, what you think is a stall may be nothing more than "a little too much here and there" adding up! If you're like me, you'll only need to do this for a few days before you spot the problem. It's a real eye-opener.
Stay Creative In the Kitchen
If you are going to stick with your low carb eating plan, you’ve got to stay creative in the kitchen! Some essentials:
at least one good low carb cookbook
low carb baking supplies (soy protein powder, flaxseed or flaxseed meal, almond flour, etc.)
low carb sugar replacements like Splenda, Nutrasweet or Stevia (an herb classified by the powers that be as a "supplement", but it adds a sweet taste)
a low carb support/resource group, whether on line or in person, that consists of people who are also low carbing and who can share ideas with you and give you support
Experiment with cheese.
There are so many kinds and flavors. You can really make it fun for the whole family by learning the story behind some of the cheeses, how they are made and where they come from. (Remember that cheese is not carb-free, so count those carbs!)
Don’t tell anyone but your doctor and your immediate family that you are low carbing until you have to.
My husband and I have had "well-meaning" people tell us the most amazing lies about low carb. And if we hadn't really done our homework, I can guarantee they would have dissuaded us from low carbing - and losing all the weight we have! The best convincer is reality. So why not lose some weight and get healthier before you tell everyone in the world you’re on a low carb diet? It’ll make your life a whole hec of a lot easier. This is also important if you have created a habit of saying you’re on a diet, and then not sticking with it. You need to convince yourself that you can do it before you tell the world. Keeping promises you make to yourself is the foundation for keeping promises to others!
Use caution in pizzerias and convenience marts.
Unlike eating out while on a low-fat diet, eating out the low carb way is pure joy. Get a bunless cheeseburger with bacon, mushrooms and a big salad. Or go to a buffet place and have several types of meat and veggies. In our experience, however, we don’t find much we can eat in pizzerias or convenience marts. Even meatballs and chicken parmesan have breadcrumbs. Just about every snack-type item is a carb, except cheese sticks and beef jerky. Even most of the so-called Protein Bars sold now still have a whopping amount of carbs. So, make it a rule to avoid pizzerias and convenience marts when you're really hungry!
Don’t be so rigid that you break - stay flexible and you’ll survive.
If you go to a wedding, have a small piece of that wedding cake, or a piece of pizza at your child’s birthday party or even an ice cream on a 100 degree day. Many successful low carbers plan for "cheats" like this. But be careful! For some people, one treat can lead to a day of high carbs that can stretch out into a week - and so on, and so on... It takes time to get back into ketosis, so think about how badly you really want that sugar. Make sure you're "treat" is really worth it!!!
If you're stalled, try keeping a food diary for a week.
Yeah, I know, it’s a pain. But the plain fact is, what you think is a stall may be nothing more than "a little too much here and there" adding up! If you're like me, you'll only need to do this for a few days before you spot the problem. It's a real eye-opener.
Stay Creative In the Kitchen
If you are going to stick with your low carb eating plan, you’ve got to stay creative in the kitchen! Some essentials:
at least one good low carb cookbook
low carb baking supplies (soy protein powder, flaxseed or flaxseed meal, almond flour, etc.)
low carb sugar replacements like Splenda, Nutrasweet or Stevia (an herb classified by the powers that be as a "supplement", but it adds a sweet taste)
a low carb support/resource group, whether on line or in person, that consists of people who are also low carbing and who can share ideas with you and give you support
Experiment with cheese.
There are so many kinds and flavors. You can really make it fun for the whole family by learning the story behind some of the cheeses, how they are made and where they come from. (Remember that cheese is not carb-free, so count those carbs!)