UNBREADED

Thanks!

The cravings are what I'm most scared of. I haven't really had any yet, but I've only been eating right for a few days. Ahhh, the hopefulness and wonder of the first days of low-carbing, right?

I'm loving what I've read of your blog so far! Pretty impressive that you're coming up on a year of low-carbing.

Tracey · 717 weeks ago

I know how trite it sounds, but it is a lifestyle change. You need to do what works for you--nobody else is like you and your needs will be unique. I struggle with balance in most areas of my life. I tend to be an all or nothing person. If I'm ON with low-carb, I am REALLY ON but as soon as I deviate I'm completely OFF. I can't mix anything with it. But, I keep trying. I try low-carb meals for two meals a day then anything else for the third and that helps. Or I do entirely low carb week's with free eating one day. That works too but it's a constant evolving process. No one thing works for me.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

That's the thing I struggle with most: imagining myself living carb-free forever. When I start to think of having a hard time finding things to eat in restaurants and at parties for the rest of my life, it overwhelms me into total discouragement. But what I need to realize is that it's possible to maintain my weight doing the things you suggested. The mother of a friend of mine is actually losing weight by taking one day a week to eat whatever she wants. AMAZING! I need to remember things like that.

Tracey · 717 weeks ago

I'm so glad I get the comments to this in my e-mail, because I might never have known you posted here.

I'm right behind you, baby. I had mentally set July 1st as my go-back date, but now that my 4th of July plans are starting to get set, I'm thinking it might just have to be July 5th. But I want to do it! And be serious! And feel better! And fit into my clothes again! Maybe your re-dedication can help inspire me to find the strength to go back to avoiding all of the deliciously bad-for-me stuff I've been consuming with reckless abandon.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

It's funny–now that I've been low-carbing for all of four days, I somehow expected that a pair of my old pants would fit me when I tried them on this morning. I used to have such low expectations when I started low-carbing, but now I expect it to work miracles.

We're planning on a tasting menu this weekend, but I STARTED LOW-CARBING ANYWAY. How proactive is that?

Grace2882 · 717 weeks ago

Welcome back ladies. I have missed you and thought about you often. If I can be of any help just let me know. Don't beat yourself up. We have all been there. You were missed. :)

2 replies · active 714 weeks ago

Aww, we've thought of you, too! And felt such guilt for eating all the crap we do! Especially when I fly home to Ohio to visit Tracey and we pig out together; we're such enablers. Thanks for not giving up on us!

plumpdumpling 64p · 714 weeks ago

Thank you! I thought I replied to this before, but I guess not. I really need to get back to reading your blog religiously; you're an inspiration, and you always remind me that not everyone has the luxury of falling off the wagon as many times as I have.

anne h. · 717 weeks ago

Every day - really it's a chance to start over!
Cliche but true....
Take heart - you are amongst friends!

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

SO TRUE. It's so hard to start eating well when you've been eating so badly for so long, but I really need to keep that advice in mind.

Mrs. Bachelor Girl · 717 weeks ago

My post-baby plans in a nutshell: Low-carbing it and a shit-ton of situps. Simple, yet effective.

I hope.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

That sounds awful! The point of low-carbing is that you don't have to do situps! Carrying the Harpster around should be juuuuuuuuust fine.

Diane · 715 weeks ago

I've been dieting all my life (since my 20's) doing the Yo Yo thing...lose it...gain it...but this time it's different for me..I did the hcg stuff and lost 25lbs in 3wks (crazy, huh) - not to my goal weight - would like to lose maybe 10 more - but a size 12 is not bad considering I was heading towards a 16....To keep it off I have given up "bad carbs" and white sugar and white and wheat flour...switched to Almond and Coconut flour - and yes, it's been an adjustment but I've made a commitment to myself - no more Yo Yo'ing...I've stabilized now for almost 3 months and with all the great low carb food websites out there...I can do this... It's kinda like when I quit smoking about 7 years ago...my mantra was "It was fun while it lasted, but it's over now" - it's how I feel about how I used to eat...Websites like yours are great...it takes a village is no lie...we need support - take it from someone who's well past their 20's - it's worth it for the weight loss and the health benefits.

1 reply · active 714 weeks ago

plumpdumpling 64p · 714 weeks ago

I've been thinking about your comment nonstop for a week. I have three weeks until I visit my boyfriend's family in California, and I want to lose the 25 pounds you did! Not only to feel better but to look better on the beach and to not be lazy around his niece and nephew. I've been giving myself a cheat day once or twice a week for the past few weeks, but I'm buckling down until I leave. Congratulations on your loss, your life change, and your nonsmoking!

Jennifer · 715 weeks ago

It happens to the best of us. (((HUGS))) Just get a grip now. Best advice I can give. While low-carbing, start writing down each day what your weight is, your goals for that day and your longer term goals. Keep doing that and you will have the weight off once again. It is a proven method to keep one on track. Hope this helps. I'll stick you back under my favorite blogs list - now that you are back. :)

Nancy · 711 weeks ago

I too am sort of starting over. The thing about low carb is that even when you go off the diet, if you keep a few meals low carb throughout the week you can at least maintain your weight and then when you're through being silly (thats what I call it, being silly for a few weeks so I can eat fair food) you can go back and be really good for a while. I think a successful diet is one that you can live with forever but who can say they will never eat another piece of birthday cake at anyones party. Thats ridiculous, you have to just do the best you can, most of the time, and allow yourself some cake now and then.
I have to ask an off topic question.....how did you put this comment box on the bottom of a blogspot blog? My blog is all but defunct here on blogger because no one can comment (keep being directed to the login page) and I cant comment either as my blogger self!)

1 reply · active 711 weeks ago

plumpdumpling 64p · 711 weeks ago

I wish I had heard that advice a couple of years ago. Now I'm eating low-carb throughout the week and then giving myself a cheat meal or two on the weekends so I can actually enjoy outings with friends and such. This is the first time that I've felt like low-carb is doable for life, like you said. Of course it's not as easy to lose weight like this, but it's certainly great for losing it slowly and for maintaining.

We use http://intensedebate.com/ for our comment box. You have to do a little work to put the code on your Blogger, but I think the instructions on the site are very easy to understand. And the results are so much more functional than the Blogger comment system, especially if yours is acting up!

Allie · 709 weeks ago

For at least some of us, it's not the carbs--it's the GLUTEN.

I lost 25 pounds in 6 weeks on a gluten-free diet, and at that point, I wasn't TRYING to lose weight (although I was 30 pounds overweight). I was just trying to get rid of intestinal problems and the celiac rash from hell.

I now believe low-carb diets work because they are, by definition, low-gluten. Try going completely gluten-free, but not low-carb, and see what happens. Just make sure your carbs are sensible ones: brown rice, potatoes, corn, rather than white rice, chips, and candy. Go heavy on fresh fruits, veggies, meat, etc. You can always add gluten back in if you are unimpressed.

2 replies · active 709 weeks ago

plumpdumpling 64p · 709 weeks ago

I'm interested! Being able to eat brown rice would make my life soooooo much easier. As my best friend and co-author said to me when I mentioned your comment, though, it may just be that by cutting down on gluten, you automatically cut down on carbs. So maybe it's that low-gluten diets work because they are, by definition, lower-carb. Something to think about.

Tracey · 709 weeks ago

Yeah, I mean, I think low-gluten diets and low carb diets really go hand in hand in a lot of ways. I'm pretty sure, though, if I went gluten-free instead of low carb, I would go absolutely crazy on rice, potatoes, and gluten-free desserts with real sugar.

Gluten sure does cause a lot of problems for people, though. I'm sure we'd all benefit from less of it.

Linda Rogers · 693 weeks ago

I know how you feel. About 7 years ago I lost 55 lbs doing Atkins. I felt the best I had in years. Loving the small clothes and the way I looked. I gained it back and now I am starting over again too!