Get Through The First Days of Low Carb Diets

I know that low carb dieting works for me. I have not tried another diet that allowed me to feel satisfied, lose weight, and actually feel younger and more energized. However, the hardest part about a low carb diet, like Atkins, is that first few days and few weeks. They call this phase of the diet the induction phase, and it requires a dieter to restrict their carb intact to only 20 grams of carbohydrates a day! If you are used to a typical American diet, this can be tough.

For one thing, we are used to consuming a hundred, or more, grams of carbohydrates a day. It is really important to learn which foods are healtan hy and very low in carbs. Once a dieter gets a feel for the right foods, it gets much easier to control a daily menu without slipping. For another thing, we may feel some side effects as our body depletes its stores of sugar based energy and learns to burn stored fat! For the first couple of days, it is common to have a head ache, feel sluggish, and of course, experience some cravings for sweets and starches.

If you can endure those first days, then you should experience a wonderful transformation. By the third day, I always feel energized and ready to engage in more youthful activities. Small aches and pains seem to disappear, and the headaches vanish. The sugary or starchy foods that I craved before just do not look good to me any more, and I taste the natural sweetness of food that I had not considered sweet before! Beyond that, I am rewarded by a small weight loss. All of that really encourages me to go the distance.

Try Starting a Low Carb Diet On Friday Night or Other Work Break

If you can, try to start your diet at a time when you do not have a heavy schedule for a couple of days. I started mine of Friday night, so I had Saturday and Sunday to relax as my body withdrew from a steady stream of carbohydrates. I did experience a headache, and I treated it with one aspirin so I was fine. I felt a little tired, but I had the ability to take an afternoon nap, which was a great luxury anyway.

Prepare Your Pantry and Fridge For Low Carb Dieting

And yes, I did suffer some intense food cravings. My body seemed to scream out for sweets. But low carb diets allow a couple of things that really helped me get through it. I made sure that I ate a good breakfast both days, because I did not want to ever feel hungry while I got started. You can find lots of ideas for low carb breakfasts, but scrambled cheese with eggs and onions are great A friend suggested a lox and cream cheese wrap with capers. That was a delight too. You can also make a sort of fake pancake with eggs and pumpkin puree that is really great! Anyway, make sure you take the time to eat a high protein breakfast so you do not experience real hunger before lunch!

Sugar free gelatin desserts with a dab of whipped cream can be life savers. Yes, you should rediscover jello! Make sure you stock up on low carb favorites, and also make sure they are prepared and handy so you can eat them when you get a sweet craving. Again, you can make all sorts of allowed desserts with allowed sugar substitutes and pumpkin pie filling that are really good, and for me, satisfy a starch craving.

Good luck on your low carb adventure. If this sort of diet works for you, it can change your life. You can lose weight, feel satisfied, and even get back some youthful energy. As with everything else you do in life, it just helps to be prepared before you start!

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