thinking about going low carb, anyone do this?

I've done low carb several times over the years. I know it seems to work well for some, but my experience has always been a great water weight loss the first week or so of 5-7lbs then weight loss would stop. I didn't feel satiated on a low enough calorie level to lose anymore weight. My weight would stall then start to gain back I'm sure due to the amount of calories I was eating. Some low carbers say that calories don't matter and you will naturally eat less....that was not the case for me. If you want to eat low carb that's personal preference but just know that calories still matter. For me, I can keep my calories lower if I include carbs that I enjoy.

I did Atkins several years ago. I don't recall my appetite but I was successful in losing and getting to my goal weight.

My only caution is that most experts agree that to successfully maintain your weight loss you should eat similar to how you lost. That is where I failed I gained my weight back because I didn't want to give up bread or potato's forever.

Tried it, more along the lines of paleo when it was the hot thing, and while you get some fantastic recipes, it wasn't for me. I missed the convienance of bread as a carrier of things, and GF bread is gross (some aren't bad if toasted), being able to eat what I wanted without worrying if a place had options for me, and I didn't see a great deal of unusual weight loss. I tend to do better with higher protein and higher fats for keeping me full, I've been getting plenty of fiber and it definitely doesn't keep me full. If it's sustainable for you, there's nothing horrible about it (it's not like a cabbage soup diet. )

brenn24179 wrote: »

thanks for the comments. My son does it but then he goes off and has pizza and stuff, then gets back on it. Seems to work for him.

If you can do that then that's great!! I couldn't:(.

i tried doing low carb but had a hard time getting my calories up

The experienced low-carbers can comment, but my understanding form them is that it's a lifestyle choice, not a diet. And any weight lost doing keto will be regained if that WOE is ceased and a normal/higher level of carbs are introduced. Especially regarding the water weight. If you can get over that mental hurdle (of gaining pounds, but not necessarily fat) then cycling on and off might work for you.

Or you could tweak your macros and find a combo that accomplishes the same thing, and is easy to maintain in the long term.

I'm presently doing a moderate-to-strict Keto diet and it's working very well for me. I started it in an attempt to combat PCOS and the associated insulin resistance. I've mostly noticed positive effects. I have lost weight with less calorie counting, appetite is a bit more controllable (I wouldn't say "better"). I'm having my first spontaneous proper cycle without any pharmaceuticals in about 10 years (we'll see how long THAT lasts!). My bloating has almost entirely disappeared (albeit not my GERD). I feel mentally brighter as well. That being said:

The diet is not for everyone, or necessarily less-strict alternatives. If you have a diet heavy on bread/pasta/etc... it will be hard to switch. If you already eat a very high protein diet, that can also be hard, as (for keto) you need to trim back protein some as well. I already was eating fairly low carb when I wasn't convenience eating (eg. takeaway). I had already reduced my bread and pasta intake and never used them as "cores" of my diet. The only especially "hard" foods to give up have been root vegetables (which not all low-carb diets require!) and the odd dessert. I already was doing a low-ish carb diet, I just had to ramp it up!! I had even already accepted coconut oil and butter as my Lords and Saviors ;P Point being, for me, it hasn't been a huge change so it's not a big deal. If Keto/LCHF/similar is the polar opposite of your present diet, tread with caution. Don't set yourself up to fail. Transition into it over several months or even a year before you dive in. Unless you know you have strong mental fortitude to resist potatoes, gelato and churros. I do not and if I had done this 3 years ago those would have defeated me immediately!!

I am still in a "get lean" phase of my overall fitness plan and thus cannot comment on "get strong/bulk/etc..." phases. I know it is possible on Keto but I haven't looked into it in depth as of yet.

As many people experience, I rapidly lost about 2 kg (4.4 lb). However I have NOT plateaued, it's just slower. This is what happens with all diets; you will almost always drop a bunch of water weight first. When I have "Bad days/weekends", I used to bounce right back up pretty quickly on a calorie-cutting-only plan. On Keto, it has been much more stable. I also have been able to slow decrease/maintain with much less exercise than I've had to do previously.

I will probably not sustain this diet strictly as a lifestyle. I love potatoes too much. BUT I will be using this opportunity to help buck my sweet-tooth, and to help me learn a lower-carb-but-not-strict lifestyle.

End of the day: If it's right for you, go for it! You can't really hurt yourself as long as you keep eating your vegetables and don't fall into the "eggs+Bacon+Butter all day every day!" trap. BUT if it's a dramatic change from your normal diet habits/tastebuds, think about doing a slow transition instead of diving right in!!

This is just my experience, and is similar to that of some mates of mine. But it's far from fully representative! Take it as you will