BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Low Carb How Long have you been Low Carbing?

Looking at the results of this poll, it seems that most people have been on a low carb diet for a while. Which makes sense - this isn't a "diet" in the sense of "quick fix". It is a way of life, to cut sugar and needless calories from your lifestyle.

I have been doing low carb only about three months but it's been amazing. my moods are more stable, my face is clear (never had a problem with that, but there was always the ocassional zit), and my clothes fit like they do when i am running. I was never overweight, but I was always sleepy and i suspected the sugar.

Anyway, now I don't even crave sugar or bread. I guess my tastes have adapted. Sugary foods tastes a little cardboardy now. Hard to describe. Over christmas, i let myself eat what i wanted, and had a big slice of pumpkin cheesecake - i felt edgy all day, and a zit popped up! I decided it wasn't worth it.

One thing I need advice on is alcohol. I have NO TOLERANCE anymore. is this normal? What do ya do about it? i love wine.

Yup I agree with you completely. Bread began tasting like cardboard to me, and when you think about it, just what flavors are in bread anyway? Not many. It's far better to eat fresh, flavorful veggies <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If you drink alcohol with a ton of dense, starchy foods in your belly, it takes time to absorb. If you instead drink it with a relatively empty belly, then naturally it will absorb more quickly. So that would be the difference. I of course do a ton of wine writing, so really it is just a matter of getting used to that difference. But you should always drink in moderation <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Lisa, for the info about alcohol. It's been a re-education. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I've been really good with the low carb until recently. I am so crazy busy right now with selling my house and moving across the country, that I am craving carbs. I decided to let myself have them until the move is over. I remember when I was an Outward Bound instructor, and we had 3 incredibly hectic days before each trip to plan it out. Those three days were always painful with so much mental planning. I noticed that when it got to the point where my brain hurt, I would crave carbs. Since the brain lives on glucose, it seems to make sense.

I am right there now again, with the brain hurting. Ouch!

Actually anything you eat pretty much will have enough glucose for your brain to be fine - it's not like we usually eat raw glucose even when we eat carby things. It's a metabolism process.

I think it's more likely that carbs are a comfort food, they give you a full, warm feeling. I fully understand the comfort of eating warm mashed potatoes with gravy vs eating a grilled salmon. There are times especially in the winter that I just don't want to eat grilled food because it is too 'non warming'. However if you are feeling stressed, eating carbs gets you into a starving - hungry - starving cycle which isn't great either.

What works best for stress is filling your house with lots of snackbles so that you can munch on healthy food regularly. You don't want your blood sugar level swinging - that causes those short periods of energy followed by sleepiness (the 'afternoon nap'). You want to keep your blood sugar level - and therefore your energy and emotion level - nice and steady.

well, regardless I am not worrying about it right now and I feel good about that decision. AFTER the house closes I will eat low-carb again. It's not like I am eating sugary foods - I am just not being so rigorous about it all. I really have too much else to deal with until April 27th, when my house closes. if all goes well.

Very true! You sound like you have plenty of stress in your life right now <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Drink lots of water, and eat regular snacks - good luck with everything!

Hi Lisa, I just found this forum today and wanted to say hello. I look forward to sharing tips and ideas and offering support, if needed. I have been dedicated to low carbing for 12 days now and have lost 14 pounds. This is amazing. I know I was retaining lots of water, but still, it's very exciting!

Actually a low carb diet pushes you to drink 8+ glasses of water a day. So while many diets do starve the water out of you, low carbing does its very best to ensure you are NOT losing water - that you are losing actual fat.

after reading all of this thread..


I wanna start this low carb thing <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

where do I begin?