How LONG have you been living a LC lifestyle?
Running_and_Coffee
Posts: 811 Member
Just curious as I keep hearing people say, "Well how long is that REALLY sustainable?"
A coworker told me her mom hasn't had more than an occasional rare treat--on really extraordinary occasions, like a European vacation planned for years--since she did the Atkins diet in the 1990s. So she's still on the Atkins diet, pretty much.
There are so many horror stories of backsliding and then switching to something new--just wondering who has been able to keep it up as a true lifestyle change!
A coworker told me her mom hasn't had more than an occasional rare treat--on really extraordinary occasions, like a European vacation planned for years--since she did the Atkins diet in the 1990s. So she's still on the Atkins diet, pretty much.
There are so many horror stories of backsliding and then switching to something new--just wondering who has been able to keep it up as a true lifestyle change!
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Since Oct 2014. Flirted with carb loading the first few months and the affair always turned out to be a Fatal Attraction that I would recover from and learned NO MORE was best in my case.5
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Since September 2017, Never going back4
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Low carb since 2013 the beginning of my weight loss. Even lower carb since 2016.
Weight loss occurred averaging about 128 total carb grams a day which was primarily vegetables, fruit and legumes. In 2016 I trialed medically therapeutic keto for reason other than weight management (52 weeks).
Since then, I have upped my carbs to about 50 total per day. My MTKD experience taught me the value of keto for hunger suppression and reduced cravings. I don't focus on "being in ketosis" just lchf for the aforementioned benefit.
I eat very low carb at home (~50 total grams) which is easily 95% of my eating and "flex" when eating away from home with others such as picnics, parties, vacations, sit down dinners prepared by friends, etc but I don't become food foolish using it as an excuse to over eat.5 -
I've only been going since Feb 26 of this year for health and weight loss reasons. I have been a diabetic for over 10 years, and finally, this year, because of keto, I am no longer injecting insulin into my body! I'm a total convert to this WOL. And I plan on eating like this forever.
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6 years !4
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Just since the first of this year, but reading how long others have done it makes me hopeful. This is the only stretch of my life when I haven’t binged, when I’ve felt like I could just be “normal” about food. The weight loss is awesome, but that’s the thing I don’t want to give up.
I can’t sustain it on my “cheat” weekends and I doubt I could sustain it trying to moderate carbs, either. Maybe a few years from now; maybe I’ll never get the hang of it. And that can be okay, because I can just do this instead, for as long as I need to.2 -
It will be two years in August.4
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Since Nov 20134
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February of this year but I plan on eating this way for life!1
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Since June 2013 -- mostly lchf, under 50-80 gr carbs per day. Sometimes keto levels. I can't handle anything higher than that without hypoglycemia kicking in.4
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About 3 years.
I tried increasing carbs in the middle but it was a fail. I just can't moderate them and my heath and weight suffered as a result. I stopped banging my head on the moderation brick wall. Moderation is not sustainable for me.
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I've been doing LC for just a few months. I love the weight loss and my sugar cravings have stopped.3
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1 year this month. I started off with less than 20grams a day, now it's at 30 grams a day. When I get to my goal weight I will increase to about 50 grams of carbs a day I believe. It truly is easy to follow and maintain as a lifestyle. I don't have crazy cravings or any desire for carby foods. I eat at a mess and I still manage to find ways to maintain this lifestyle.
I also make sure to choose fats that a doctor wouldn't say no too, haha. Like coconut oil, olive oil, plant fats from nuts and seeds. I try to mimic the Mediterranean/French diet as much as possible while keeping it keto...since people praise those diets as the best.4 -
Over 10 years, with breaks when I go on vacation.8
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I was making an attempt to go LCHF during Spring Break (March 2017) but really didn't get on board until after I had my workout routine down pat and school was over so it would have been the beginning of May 2017. This way of eating (WOE) works for me so I don't see going back to the Standard American Diet (SAD). I might have an oopsie meal now and then but they are getting far and few between. Once this semester is over I will starting working out more regularly and losing weight but LCHF has allowed me to maintain a decent weight in what would be times of the year where I would gain a great deal.4
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Thanks for these answers--very motivating and inspiring!2
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Since June 3rd, 2014.
That's not to say I haven't had a day here and there that is higher carb. I have. But my intake 95% of the time overall in the past almost 4 years, is/has been LC.7 -
So what did you guys (who have been at it more than a year) do for Thanksgiving, vacations, etc. Indulge in 1-2 items, stay completely on plan, go off track then hop on the wagon afterwards? Trying to envision my own experience in this lifestyle beyond the honeymoon phase so curious how others have handled turning down a fresh croissant in Paris (do you just eat the croissant), saying no (or yes?) to a sloppy birthday cake your kid baked you, breaking it to Aunt Bobbie that you are not eating her stuffing this year....2
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@Running_and_Coffee honestly, I never cheated on holidays. I always said I would but I ended up staying keto. The difference is I wouldn't count calories. So if I wanted more cheese, pepperoni or keto friendly desserts - I went for it.4
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Running_and_Coffee wrote: »So what did you guys (who have been at it more than a year) do for Thanksgiving, vacations, etc. Indulge in 1-2 items, stay completely on plan, go off track then hop on the wagon afterwards? Trying to envision my own experience in this lifestyle beyond the honeymoon phase so curious how others have handled turning down a fresh croissant in Paris (do you just eat the croissant), saying no (or yes?) to a sloppy birthday cake your kid baked you, breaking it to Aunt Bobbie that you are not eating her stuffing this year....
I'd likely try a croissant if French Croissants we my thing. I'd absolutely say yes to a sloppy birthday cake baked especially for me by any child and if I thought it was very meaningful to Aunt Bobbi that I eat her stuffing at Thanksgiving, I'd eat a bit of it.
You see, I don't have to eat the entire croissant and I do have a perspective on 1 time versus daily. I'll share my thoughts with the other 2 situations with personal experiences. I soooo remember my my Dad eating and pretending to enjoy the little cakes I made in my Easy Bake Oven when I was a child. Likewise, I have always loved pickled beets/eggs. Even if I had been eating keto during the years I was visiting my parents routinely before they died, I am 100% certain I would have eaten the beets and the eggs even though beets grow "below the ground" and I know there was sugar in the mix. My Dad made a jar of them EVERY time I came home to visit...just for me.
This is also what I know: When I am laying on death's bed, I won't be saying "If only I had not eaten those beets". Perhaps that is easy for me because I'm not diabetic and I'm not insulin resistant and I don't have any food allergies and maybe, just maybe I'm a little too soft hearted, appreciative and accepting. I live in a world where food is often used as a demonstration of love. While I see value in changing that, I'm not out to change the world and everyone in it.
...steps down from soapbox but will add that I have turned down foods on multiple occasions. It depends on the circumstances it was offered.
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@Running_and_Coffee honestly, I never cheated on holidays. I always said I would but I ended up staying keto. The difference is I wouldn't count calories. So if I wanted more cheese, pepperoni or keto friendly desserts - I went for it.
It would not be surprising if others do the same and yet others are like me in their habits. I eat "off plan" foods (within reason) on holidays and vacations with more focus on overall calories.
Neither is right or wrong IMO. It comes down to what works for us individually. My perspective is that giving myself the freedom to relax on my choices during what I deem special occasions is a part of what keeps me on track the other 95% of my meals. At least for today...3 -
2 years for me, only thing that got off the weight from chemo/steroids. For holidays I make sure there is plenty of protein available, I have no problem just eating the shrimp, pepperoni & cheese, turkey at Thanksgiving without wanting the cocktail sauce, crackers, potatoes and dessert.
Vacation I may indulge a little but we walk a ton while sightseeing. We camp frequently and plan/cook LCHF meals.2 -
Nutrient dense lower carb for the better part of 8 years4
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Running_and_Coffee wrote: »So what did you guys (who have been at it more than a year) do for Thanksgiving, vacations, etc. Indulge in 1-2 items, stay completely on plan, go off track then hop on the wagon afterwards? Trying to envision my own experience in this lifestyle beyond the honeymoon phase so curious how others have handled turning down a fresh croissant in Paris (do you just eat the croissant), saying no (or yes?) to a sloppy birthday cake your kid baked you, breaking it to Aunt Bobbie that you are not eating her stuffing this year....
We vacation in other countries a lot, so I do a bit of research beforehand to find out what the specialties of the area are. (Pre-travel research is a favorite hobby of mine - I am my own travel agent, lol) Once I get some options for special foods I try to choose a couple that are lower carb as opposed to the desserty type things. For instance while in France, try some amazing charcuterie instead of the croissant. Try an olive oil tasting tour in Spain or Italy. Fresh local seafood on the coast of any country. If you are really adventurous try interesting insect foods (I'm into crickets right now, and NOT the chocolate covered bugs, lol) or local meats you might never have thought of, like guinea pig in S. America.
Believe it or not, I have lost weight on a cruise, eating low carb most of the time with some tropical fruit and low carb alcohol as an accent, and without counting carbs or feeling deprived.5 -
Went keto August 2016, met my weight goal in May 2017, looking forward to my 1st year anniversary in maintenance.
Before this I had pretty much yoyoed on a slow carb diet, the Zone (40c/30f/30p with 3 meals and 2 snacks a day) I would lose but never reaching my goal weight, I would get discouraged, pig out for a while and pile the lbs. back on again. I am so happy to be off the merry go round and I even lowered my goal weight and have maintained within 3 lbs of that lower number. I stay in ketosis up to around 50 grams of carbs, since I only eat the lowest GI veggies, no pastas, no grains, no potatoes.
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I've done some form of low carb for about 5-6 years; LCHF and keto for 2.5 years.2
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Running_and_Coffee wrote: »So what did you guys (who have been at it more than a year) do for Thanksgiving, vacations, etc. Indulge in 1-2 items, stay completely on plan, go off track then hop on the wagon afterwards? Trying to envision my own experience in this lifestyle beyond the honeymoon phase so curious how others have handled turning down a fresh croissant in Paris (do you just eat the croissant), saying no (or yes?) to a sloppy birthday cake your kid baked you, breaking it to Aunt Bobbie that you are not eating her stuffing this year....
Vacations were easier for me since I stayed on plan most meals and was pretty active so even if I had something higher in carb I would burn it off. I tried to maintain a good activity level and calorie deficit for the most part. I would eat the one croissant in Paris but not eat ten of them if that makes sense. Holidays can be tricky but I just leaned towards the protein, veggies, and salad forgoing all the heavy carb items and if you are getting super heavy peer pressure just take a tiny helping to appease the relatives or just stick to you guns and say no. Anything with a lot of carbs turns into portion control and then going back to plan the next meal.1 -
I’ve been low carb for 9 years, keto for 4, and keto without breaking keto for 1.5 years5
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Predominately LCHF for 2.5 years. I do occasionally eat off plan. I tend to keep carbs under 50.4
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Inspiring thread folks. I just started LCHF this week.
Actually I've been eating low sugar, gluten free, and chocolate free, for some time, and have also done IF over the past year. All this seems to have helped, as I appear to be transitioning to LCHF quite well.
Anyway it's great to hear so many of you can maintain this as a longterm lifestyle choice. So far so good for me, but I've a long way to go yet - to completely have this way of eating sussed.1
