Sorrento
Wed, Feb-22-12, 21:45
Hello all. Been low carbing about 8 months now, and the results have amazed me. I mean it, I shake my head nearly every day at the results I have seen.
So, this is my introductory post, hope it is not too long-winded. I hope it might be interesting and maybe helpful for someone.
I had been overweight for years. Early last year my wife dragged me along to the doctor, to get a referral to a specialist to do something about my sleep apnea. The doctor measured me this way and that, and casually remarked that I was obese. Ouch. I got the referral, but as was my way, did nothing with it. It seemed obvious to me that my sleep apnea was because of my excess weight, I didn't want to get into a cycle of doctors, specialists, special equipment to help me breathe ... it just seemed to me that if I lost weight then that would go a long way toward helping this condition. Again, as was my way, I did nothing about it.
Then in late June 2011 I picked up a book to read. It was a non-fiction book (I like non-fiction books, preferably science-based), by Gary Taubes, called Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It. From a note in my diary from last year I see it was June 28. I read it in a day. It made a lot of sense to me and I started my low-carb eating that evening. Looking back, it would seem obvious that I should 'Give this a try', but it didn't occur to me that I was giving something a try, it just seemed a logical thing to do and this was the start of a new way of life for me. A permanent change. There was no 'try', it was just 'do'.
Eight months later ... like I say, I still shake my head in amazement.
My waist size has gone from 115 cm to 90 cm, I have dropped nearly all excess weight.
I remember the first week. No pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, cakes, chocolate (more on chocolate later). To say these were staples for me is an understatement. They were like breathing. Now I realise they were a habit.
Lots of liquids (as advised). Chicken soup was a saviour (kept some in the fridge for a quickly reheatable meal). Meat. Salad. Some cheese. As much as I wanted ... Here's the thing, though. After about 4 days, I felt awful and I had to force myself to eat. I wasn't hungry. I was lethargic. All of these symptoms I had been warned about, and told they would pass. Forewarned is forearmed.
As soon as I started low-carbing I had hit up websites and forums (like this one). Something that really struck me is the generous, friendly and supportive environment on the sites and forums (like this one). I remember reading on About.com that sometimes people give up on low-carb because it is too hard, but that any reduction in carbs is going to be helpful and maybe ease into it slowly. This struck me as such a supportive attitude, recognising that people are not perfect and sometimes we take a step back, but the important thing is to take two steps forward after the one step back.
Well, after a week (I remember it clearly) I took my one step back. I felt awful and I was doing physical work, and I couldn't keep going. So I had a slice of white bread toast. Just one. That was enough of a step back for me. I stubbornly felt that after a week of feeling awful I wasn't going to throw it all away. I hadn't spent a week of feeling terrible to give it all up so easily. So, one slice of toast, then back into the low carb.
The results were close to instant, but, as I understood that much of the initial weight reduction could be loss of fluids from the body I was very conscious of keeping my liquid intake up (hence the Chicken soup). I wanted to be as sure as I could that the weight loss was real. Within 10 days I was in a notch on my belt ... it felt strange to be going that way on the belt! The notches have, of course, continued to come in. And, of course, new pants (I am wearing a pair I bought about about 7 weeks ago ... they are even a bit too large on me now! And my belt has reached the final notch and could easily have a new one cut into it).
Speaking of the new pants, when I first put them on I caught a glimpse of myself in a full-length mirror (mirrors had been an enemy for so long, I no longer loath them). I am being honest when I say I was shocked at what I saw. If anyone is reading this who is considering what maybe a low-carb way of eating can do for him or her, can I honestly tell you that when I saw myself in that mirror in my new pants I was shocked. I am not exaggerating when I say my jaw dropped open.
Speaking of honesty, let me tell you of my cheats. I eat out a lot for work. Sometimes I get a choice (in which case it is meat and salad), sometimes I don't (in which case I will usually just eat the meat and the non-starch vegetables). But, sometimes I get served a meal where it pretty much all high carb. I am not a saint, I eat it (actually usually just about half of it, leaving it when I feel satisfied instead of being the old me who would have eaten everything on the plate). Consider it a special treat, and jump back on the low carb horse the next meal.
Another cheat. It is said that for brain work it is often helpful to have a hit of glucose. I don't know how true that is, but it is something I am prepared to exploit for another cheat opportunity. Biscuits (some call them cookies, but in Australia here it is biscuits). I used to eat maybe 6 to 10 biscuits a day, usually chocolate-smothered. Now it is plain biscuits, as low carb as I can find, and its one or two with a tea or coffee.
Oh, yes, Christmas and the holiday season. I had a dessert on Christmas Day. A high carb one. Or maybe it was two?
So, I am now slim. My sleep apnea. Completely gone. Last week I had to drop my car in for servicing and had a 20 minute walk home. On route there is a huge hill (it really is huge) that I had occasionally walked up in my efforts to lose weight. Well, I easily walked up it and at the top I wasn't out of breath and thought to myself it was actually quite easy. Mind you, I was lugging about 25% less body up it than 8 months ago. I should also clarify that I haven't exercised at all since starting the low carb (I know that is not a good thing, but I'm being honest. Exercise is on my 'to do' list).
Wow, just previewed this post. Looks pretty long.
Thanks for reading this far.
So, this is my introductory post, hope it is not too long-winded. I hope it might be interesting and maybe helpful for someone.
I had been overweight for years. Early last year my wife dragged me along to the doctor, to get a referral to a specialist to do something about my sleep apnea. The doctor measured me this way and that, and casually remarked that I was obese. Ouch. I got the referral, but as was my way, did nothing with it. It seemed obvious to me that my sleep apnea was because of my excess weight, I didn't want to get into a cycle of doctors, specialists, special equipment to help me breathe ... it just seemed to me that if I lost weight then that would go a long way toward helping this condition. Again, as was my way, I did nothing about it.
Then in late June 2011 I picked up a book to read. It was a non-fiction book (I like non-fiction books, preferably science-based), by Gary Taubes, called Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It. From a note in my diary from last year I see it was June 28. I read it in a day. It made a lot of sense to me and I started my low-carb eating that evening. Looking back, it would seem obvious that I should 'Give this a try', but it didn't occur to me that I was giving something a try, it just seemed a logical thing to do and this was the start of a new way of life for me. A permanent change. There was no 'try', it was just 'do'.
Eight months later ... like I say, I still shake my head in amazement.
My waist size has gone from 115 cm to 90 cm, I have dropped nearly all excess weight.
I remember the first week. No pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, cakes, chocolate (more on chocolate later). To say these were staples for me is an understatement. They were like breathing. Now I realise they were a habit.
Lots of liquids (as advised). Chicken soup was a saviour (kept some in the fridge for a quickly reheatable meal). Meat. Salad. Some cheese. As much as I wanted ... Here's the thing, though. After about 4 days, I felt awful and I had to force myself to eat. I wasn't hungry. I was lethargic. All of these symptoms I had been warned about, and told they would pass. Forewarned is forearmed.
As soon as I started low-carbing I had hit up websites and forums (like this one). Something that really struck me is the generous, friendly and supportive environment on the sites and forums (like this one). I remember reading on About.com that sometimes people give up on low-carb because it is too hard, but that any reduction in carbs is going to be helpful and maybe ease into it slowly. This struck me as such a supportive attitude, recognising that people are not perfect and sometimes we take a step back, but the important thing is to take two steps forward after the one step back.
Well, after a week (I remember it clearly) I took my one step back. I felt awful and I was doing physical work, and I couldn't keep going. So I had a slice of white bread toast. Just one. That was enough of a step back for me. I stubbornly felt that after a week of feeling awful I wasn't going to throw it all away. I hadn't spent a week of feeling terrible to give it all up so easily. So, one slice of toast, then back into the low carb.
The results were close to instant, but, as I understood that much of the initial weight reduction could be loss of fluids from the body I was very conscious of keeping my liquid intake up (hence the Chicken soup). I wanted to be as sure as I could that the weight loss was real. Within 10 days I was in a notch on my belt ... it felt strange to be going that way on the belt! The notches have, of course, continued to come in. And, of course, new pants (I am wearing a pair I bought about about 7 weeks ago ... they are even a bit too large on me now! And my belt has reached the final notch and could easily have a new one cut into it).
Speaking of the new pants, when I first put them on I caught a glimpse of myself in a full-length mirror (mirrors had been an enemy for so long, I no longer loath them). I am being honest when I say I was shocked at what I saw. If anyone is reading this who is considering what maybe a low-carb way of eating can do for him or her, can I honestly tell you that when I saw myself in that mirror in my new pants I was shocked. I am not exaggerating when I say my jaw dropped open.
Speaking of honesty, let me tell you of my cheats. I eat out a lot for work. Sometimes I get a choice (in which case it is meat and salad), sometimes I don't (in which case I will usually just eat the meat and the non-starch vegetables). But, sometimes I get served a meal where it pretty much all high carb. I am not a saint, I eat it (actually usually just about half of it, leaving it when I feel satisfied instead of being the old me who would have eaten everything on the plate). Consider it a special treat, and jump back on the low carb horse the next meal.
Another cheat. It is said that for brain work it is often helpful to have a hit of glucose. I don't know how true that is, but it is something I am prepared to exploit for another cheat opportunity. Biscuits (some call them cookies, but in Australia here it is biscuits). I used to eat maybe 6 to 10 biscuits a day, usually chocolate-smothered. Now it is plain biscuits, as low carb as I can find, and its one or two with a tea or coffee.
Oh, yes, Christmas and the holiday season. I had a dessert on Christmas Day. A high carb one. Or maybe it was two?
So, I am now slim. My sleep apnea. Completely gone. Last week I had to drop my car in for servicing and had a 20 minute walk home. On route there is a huge hill (it really is huge) that I had occasionally walked up in my efforts to lose weight. Well, I easily walked up it and at the top I wasn't out of breath and thought to myself it was actually quite easy. Mind you, I was lugging about 25% less body up it than 8 months ago. I should also clarify that I haven't exercised at all since starting the low carb (I know that is not a good thing, but I'm being honest. Exercise is on my 'to do' list).
Wow, just previewed this post. Looks pretty long.
Thanks for reading this far.