New to low-carb not so new to MFP

I don't have health issues but I notice that I just do better on less carbs. With the exception of fruit, I try to stay away from the carbs that turn quickly to sugars in your system, mainly breads and pasta and, well, sugar. I do eat freely of fruits, veggies, nonglutenous grains, nuts and seeds without any regrets of what I'm not eating.

If you lost 20 lbs in 2 mos. on the Adkins diet, then I would say you did very well on it. It sounds like when you reverted to old habits is where you didn't do well. I understand that Adkins is pretty restrictive and I don't think it is necessary to go that extream unless you have to. Also, making changes takes some getting used to but it doesn't have to mean feeling deprived. Personally, I don't care much for pasta, so I don't miss it ever, but I do occasionally want a sandwich and, since it is just occasionally, I go ahead and have one but I try to eat it on Ezekiel (sprouted grain) bread. I'll try to eat a taco salad instead of a taco or eat just the fajita fixins and not the tortilla.

You very well may not have needed to curb nearly as many carbs as the Adkins diet directs. And, you probably did go thru carb withdrawls and felt crappy. I did the Maker's Diet program and after the first two days I had a headache and was nauseaus like I was hungover, lol. I did feel better by the fourth day but one of the restrictions was a limit of sugars of all types and I felt like I was going to go mad without it. I also lost 6 lbs the first two weeks but once I gradually added back in some of the grains and startchy fruits, etc, per the program's directions, I stopped losing weight, But, I felt tons better and for the most part continue to follow many of the principles of the diet. For our supper meals, I mainly make a meat and veggies, eliminating pasta or bread for the most part. My little boys don't like potatos so we don't have them often but when we do I leave the skins on. We may have steak and buttered broccoli or chicken and a nice salad, or pork chops and sweet potato fries. You might find that eating nonglutenous grains such as quinoa or brown or wild rice will have a better effect on you. I have also found that it is better to eat more during the day, when you can burn off the calories and eat lighter in the evening when your body is preparing to rest and the metabolism slows a bit.

I get quinoa from my local healthfood store and recently got the best price on it at Costco of all places. You will need to rinse it in a fine mesh sieve before cooking, as it has a bitter coating that is removed with rinsing, and then cook it as you would brown rice (about 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups water, simmer covered for about 20 mins). Quinoa isn't really a grain, it is actually a seed, but I often eat it in place of oatmeal or brown rice. Nonglutenous grains are quinoa, brown or wild rice, buckwheat, millet and a few others that I can't think of off the top of my head. I mainly stay away from wheat (unless it is sprouted, like in the Ezekiel bread) and tho some people say oatmeal is ok, I don't do well on it.