3 KEY TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THE LOW CARB LIFESTYLE
After losing 35 lbs. on the Ideal Protein® weight loss program, I chose the low carb lifestyle as a perfect fit to maintain my weight loss. I loved the lifestyle, it worked seamlessly… for 3 years. Slowly the weight began to come back -- I was panicked and returned to Ideal Protein for a reboot. I bobbled a few more times to regain my path to weight maintenance. Why did it work for 3 years and now I am being challenged again with weight gain? I sat down and wrote all the things I was doing incorrectly that changed the path of optimal weight maintenance and found my own errors. I also continued to write down what I did right in those 3 years, and I found 3 key reasons for my success! I moved back into practicing those successes every day and I am sharing those successes here in the hopes that these key strategies will help all of us succeed in the low carb lifestyle.
1. Commitment
Making the decision to commit to the low carb lifestyle is important in maintaining weight. No more making choices eating high carb foods and thinking, “this won’t hurt just this once” (which becomes much more than that), or “I’ll tighten the reins tomorrow” (which never comes) – that kind of thinking and behavior is a set up for regaining the weight. Vacations and eating out at restaurants, holidays and gatherings, are the most challenging moments. Simply remove the bun from that burger, it’s delicious without one. Order a side salad with full fat dressing instead of French fries, that’s delicious too. Choose beef and/or cheese sticks when you’re hungry and running through an airport or bring your own low carb favorites from home and pack in your carry-on. A mindful effort to practice the low carb lifestyle will become a rewarding habit.
Summary:
Practice eating low carb alternatives every day and it will soon become habit.
2. Preparation
By preparing low carb snacks in advance, this will guarantee your success. During those hypocaloric moments when I’m ‘hangry’, my mind wanders to wanting to eat the entire pantry to satisfy hunger. It is far too easy to choose grab-and-go foods that are usually processed and high in carbs. Think ahead and prepare foods and snacks to have on hand in your kitchen – when hunger strikes, you’ll know you have a selection of foods that will keep you on course. Make a weekly plan of what you’ll have for meals – I browse my files and cookbook(s) for recipes and make a grocery list. Using that list I know what I need to do to prep those meals whether prepped ahead and frozen or made fresh daily.
Summary:
Practice making the effort to prep low carb food options in advance.
3. Portion Control
During my first 3 years of maintaining my weight, I was mindful of portion control. After all, that is what we are taught through the Ideal Protein Phase 1 weight loss program and it became habit. I measured my vegetables and protein, I drank 64 oz. of water, I knew what I had to do, and I did it. Somewhere along the way, I began to eat more food – my mind telling me it was ok just because it was low carb or even carb-less! Calories still count and just because it is low carb doesn’t mean one can endlessly munch on those foods. In the cookbook and on my website, I describe how to track meals using an app such as MyFitnessPal; it will aid in understanding your own personal food intake until you are confident in your daily choices.