It’s been six months since my husband and I chose to undertake the Atkins low carb challenge. Looking back, the first two–three weeks was very hard. It took an entire new way of thinking. When dynamics change, people react.
A few people predicted failure; a co-worker insisted sugar was in the nutrition pyramid, while the rest confessed they could never do it. I believe working as a team helped keep us both on the track. Did we eat low carb all the time? No, but at least six days a week. Even when we gave ourselves a free day, we still stayed with good food choices.
We were loath to binge eat because we learned so much about SAD (Standard American Diet.) Occasionally, we’d go out to eat, but shared a dessert, which was enough. It made me think of the book, French Women Don’t Get Fat, where the author explains our cravings are usually satisfied with a few bites of a delicious treat. I found this to be true, but I also discovered after reaching my weight goal, the items I fantasized about eating weren’t as wonderful as I remembered them.
What difference did my weight loss make in my life? I felt better and lighter. I moved up from the old lady exercise class to Zumba at my gym. My pants no longer fit, only this time it was because they were too big. I majored in weight camouflage dressing, so people didn’t immediately notice I lost weight. My husband’s weight drop was so obvious that people discreetly asked me if he had been ill since it was the only reason they could think of for a drastic weight loss. Weird, huh, no one considered changing eating habits would actually work.
What I didn’t expect.
· Losing weight in my feet and hands.
· It would take six months.
· Once I reached my goal, I decided another five pounds was do-able.
· I am actually thinner now than when I was previously at 144. This may be because I have more muscle mass now.
· People insistent that I need sugar in my life. Not eating sugar would result in illness.
· Better health and sleep
· There are several tasty low carb food and recipes.
With this in mind, I’ll keep posting low carb recipes and products. In fact, I’m ramping up for a low carb Thanksgiving.