Many people inwardly recoil at the thought of a low-carb lifestyle. Give up carbs? No way! You may think it will be too hard and won’t work for you. But I’m going to tell you that living a low-carb lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult, and you can still enjoy many of the foods you love with a few modifications.
***Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and any information provided in this post should not be taken as medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before starting a low-carb lifestyle to make sure it’s right for your body.***
Why go low-carb?
I was first introduced to the low-carb lifestyle when my husband and I were trying to get pregnant with our first baby. We struggled to conceive and I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Some of the symptoms of PCOS include infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain and inability to lose weight, acne, and other not-fun things. You can read more about our struggle with infertility here.
Because women with PCOS are often resistant to insulin, my doctor suggested I try a low-carb diet to hopefully help deal with the symptoms. Desperate to get pregnant, we pretty much quit carbs cold turkey and sure enough, my symptoms started improving. My cycles regulated, I lost thirty pounds in just over four months, and we were eventually able to get pregnant (yay!).
The PCOS body is different
Ever since I hit puberty, I’ve struggled with my weight. And I always wondered why because I ate healthy(ish) and was moderately active. But once my doctor diagnosed me with PCOS, it all made sense. My body needs food that’s different from what is traditionally considered healthy.
I had always eaten the “good” grains (quinoa, whole wheat, etc.) and lots of fruits and vegetables. I tried to stay low-calorie and ate a lot of chicken, avoiding most red meat. But as I researched about PCOS, I learned that what’s “healthy” for everyone else is not necessarily what’s healthy for me.
Because I’m insulin-resistant, my body stores way more insulin than it’s supposed to. By reducing the amount of sugar I consume, I reduce the amount of insulin in my body. When you eat carbs, they are converted to sugar and insulin. So by limiting my carbs, I was able to more efficiently manage my PCOS symptoms.
Low-carb is not for everyone
The low-carb lifestyle isn’t for everyone. Please always make sure to consult your doctor before starting low-carb, because if it’s not right for your body, it can be unhealthy. I know many people who are very healthy on other lifestyles, including low-calorie, so I am definitely not saying low-carb is the be-all and end-all to healthy living. If it’s not for you, please don’t try it.
Why low-carb sucks
This is probably pretty obvious. Carbs are delicious! I mean, who wants to give up bread, pasta, potatoes, cookies, and all the other amazing things that are filled with yummy carbs? Uh, definitely not me. It was definitely a transition, let me tell you. Normally, I don’t think I could have done it, but I was determined to get pregnant and that motivation is what got me through those first few weeks.
When I tell you we quit cold turkey, I’m not joking. We immediately dropped our carb intake to 20-40 carbs per day. Just to give you an idea of what we were looking at, there are 12.6 carbs in just one tablespoon of sugar, 14 carbs in one 2-ounce serving of pasta, and 15 carbs in one slice of bread. When I first read all that, I thought, Are you kidding me?! No wonder I was having issues! I was eating waaaaay too many carbs for my body!
I’m going to tell you something about going low-carb: you will feel like crap for a couple weeks. So sorry. It’s a huge adjustment for your body and I personally experienced fatigue, body aches, headaches, and an upset stomach. This is basically a detox for your system and it is terrible. But once you get passed the first week or two, those symptoms go away and you feel so much better.
Why low-carb is great
Now that I’ve told you how much low-carb sucks at first, let me swing the other direction and tell you why it’s great. One word: cheese. Hallelujah, praise the Lord, you can still eat cheese on a low-carb diet! When I was trying to watch my calories, cheese was a big no-no because it’s high in both calories and fat. Thankfully, those things are ok on low-carb.
Now, don’t go crazy on the cheese because there are still not-fun things that can happen when you eat too much of it, but it’s ok to enjoy it every so often. Guess what else you can eat? Eggs, meat, most veggies, butter, bacon (I know I said meat already, but I feel like bacon deserves it’s own thing), nuts, and so much more.
Once I got used to low-carb, it felt less like a diet and more like a way of life. I was still able to eat a lot of the foods I enjoyed (I’m looking at you, bacon and cheese), and I learned how to cook around it.
Start with small changes
Unless you’re going to quit cold turkey, start your low-carb journey by making some small changes. Try snacking on almonds instead of chips. Use sugar-free sweetener in your coffee. Load up on the veggies instead of bread at dinner. Ditch cereal for eggs and bacon for breakfast.
If you keep making the small changes, pretty soon, it won’t seem so bad. Even one change a week will make a huge difference in your low-carb journey.
Substitutes
The key to success in the low-carb lifestyle is good substitutions. Do you have to get creative? Yes, but don’t overthink it. Do you like potatoes? Use cauliflower instead. Craving pasta? Substitute spaghetti squash, which can be used with any sauce you’d normally put on pasta. Hankering for something sweet? Try strawberries and sugar-free whipped cream.
There are so many great low-carb recipes on Pinterest. I went a little crazy with the pinning when I made up my mind to change my lifestyle. It’s true, many of them do take some time, effort, and creativity, but it’s worth it. Plus, there are a ton of quick and easy recipes, too!
Don’t give up!
Cooking and eating low-carb doesn’t have to be hard. Just start with small changes and before you know it, you will see results. Don’t get discouraged if you fall off the wagon. Just pick it up the next day and determine to make it count. The most important thing is to never give up!
