Over and over again I've read how the most successful eating plans were those that were created or modified to suit their users. After all, if we're forced to eat foods we don't like, and deprived completely of the foods we love, we won't stick to it. And the biggest "diet failures" happen to those who grin'n'bear it through a "diet" until they reach their goal weight, and then go back to the way of eating that made them fat to begin with! So to have an eating plan that we can live with FOR LIFE is the key.

Because I don't like "complicated", I just took the tenets of a handful of low carb plans and made a plan to fit me. And it's working - BEAUTIFULLY! So, for what it's worth, here are the main points of my "low carb/moderate protein/high fat" eating plan:

I started out in April 2005 eating twice as much meat/protein as dairy, and twice as many veggies/greens as meat. Not by scientific measurement. And by approximate volume, not weight. And over the course of meal, or the course of a day. In a very general sense, this was my daily goal and it served me very well for the first 50 lbs or so. Then I went into a 2-month plateau and decided to change things a bit. Since fall 2005 I eat about 30gN/day of carbs or less (approx. 5% of my daily caloric intake), 50-100g/day protein (in the 15-20% range), and 75-80% of my calories from fats. This adjustment got me losing steadily again, and I'm happy with this way of eating also - it best suits my own style of eating, and is therefore painless.

I have learned how my own system responds to some foods, and made a few "lesser" rules that I try to follow - but don't beat myself up over it if I don't. For example, if I eat more than a small portion of "carb-like" or grain-based foods more than a couple of times a week, I tend to start wanting a lot more of them. So, I allow some but not much and not often; I've found my own danger zone for these foods, and it's a simple task to stay below it. Also, I avoid fake foods that are carb wannabe's (exception being the sweet'n'low I've been using in my coffee for decades and the judicious use of sucralose, since it IS, after all, made of sugar) - but I'm supremely thankful for those manufacturers that use natural ingredients to make tasty substitutes for carby foods. And, I've found that hunger is a lot different than HUNGER. An empty stomach before my next meal is something I can live with - and even rejoice in. Because it's not the "gotta have food NOW, as much as I can get, as fast as I can get it" HUNGER that used to plague me.

One thing I should note: I am not a slave to food anymore. I'm not only referring to the HUNGER that I mentioned above, but there aren't issues associated with what I eat. I'm not in a hurry to lose the weight (although of course I'm pleased to see it go!), and know that I will be eating this way forever anyway - so the fat will all be gone in good time. Part of not being a slave means that I'm not a carb-nazi. Having a piece of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving or a sliver of birthday cake on a friend's birthday is part of my life, I don't panic at the thought that a chinese dinner once a month is going to put me back where I started - fear of food no longer controls me anymore than HUNGER does. There is balance, something that must exist for any eating plan to be do-able for life.

In following this plan, I've had no need to "cheat", and no desire. I don't care for carby foods like sweets or processed grains anymore. I don't want them...don't even think about them, and they don't tempt me. I'm eating what I love, eating until I'm full, not leaving the table feeling like I want more, and feel no need to "stuff" myself anymore. I even find that I'm wanting more of the good foods and shunning the ones that hurt me. Never thought I'd like cucumbers, for instance - now I love 'em. All kinds of things like that as my body embraces its newfound healthy lifestyle. And that I WILL be able to live with for life. I can't imagine ever going back.

That's pretty much it. Very simple. And open to modifications as I need them but for now, I'm losing and feeling better than I have in years! Low carb ROCKS!

HOME