You've read the books, you've watched the infomercials, and you've tried your best, but you just can't seem to make the low carb diet thing work for you. Either you forget what you can't eat and blow your carb allotment or you remember and just can't find the self-discipline to say no. And, now your weight loss turned into weight gain and—while you were once optimistic—you're now dejected and feel like a low carb flunky. If this sounds familiar, don't despair: We have 7 Tips to keep the carbs on the plate and the weight off your hips.
Write It Down
Every day write down what you ate and make a note of what worked, what tasted good, what didn't work, and how you felt about your diet that day. Most importantly, write down at least 3 things every day that celebrate the choice you've made to go low carb. Attitude is everything!
Bumps in the Road: Plan Ahead
Plan out the food in your day before it happens. Know where you'll be and if you need to pack ahead. There's nothing worse than ending up unprepared in a high carb zone!
Don't Waste Time Taking Back Your Waistline
If you start slipping in the land of high carbs, draw the line at your waistline and just say no to high carb foods. Waiting until next Monday or the full moon or you find a lucky penny are not good excuses. Start taking back control of your carbs immediately.
Just Because It Says "Low Carb" Doesn't Mean You Can Eat 12
Just because something is low carb doesn't mean that it should be a free-for-all. Be sure to check on cholesterol, saturated fats, sugars, and calories before you start gorging on any low carb treat. Moderation is always the key!
Buy A Cookbook
Got the low carb blahs? Can't think of anything low carb to make? Want to quit your diet because it's so boring? Buy a cookbook! There are countless great low carb cookbooks on the market today. Beyond that, you can transform just about any recipe into a low carb version. Don't give up because you're bored, buy a cookbook and open up page after page of possibility.
A Loaf of Cabbage and Slice of Lettuce?
Where do those carbs like to hide? That's right—in the bread! But, without bread, how do you keep your burgers bunched, your salami slammed, or your cheese closed? By wrapping it in a leaf of cabbage or lettuce, of course! Not only will it hold your sandwiches together, it gives a great crunch to every bite!
Send It Back
Many low carb dieters fall off the bandwagon when eating out. Feeling that it would be impolite to refuse, they let the complimentary bread and chips fill the baskets, sneak in a side potato with the main dish, and nibble on the dessert "just this one time." Stand up for yourself when you eat out—don't let the servers fill your plate or table with anything that might tempt you. Ask politely that they remove any breads or chips. Don't be embarrassed—this is your life and their jobs, which is more important to you?
Maintaining a healthy, exciting low carb diet is not only possible, it's important. Believe in yourself and your health and you'll have no problem keeping on the down low.
6 Great Ways to Enjoy Your Low Carb Diet
If there is one low carb diet complaint that we hear over and over again, it's that a low carb diet is so boring. Sure, they don't always use those words, but that's what they mean when they say "there's not enough variety," or "it gets so monotonous," or "there's nothing to eat." Luckily for you, these carb complainers are wrong. No one ever said that low carb dieting had to be boring. In fact, low carb dieting is not about restriction, but about enjoying really delicious, really diverse foods.
Low Carb Dieters: Want a Break from the Meat? Make It Veggie!
At first, your low carb diet seemed like the best dream you'd ever had. A dietary expert was actually telling you to eat as much meat, eggs, and cheese as you possibly wanted. You could go to any restaurant, order the biggest slab of beef on the menu and—since you weren't eating bread or potatoes with meat—you could still claim you were watching your waistline when offered dessert. But, now that the low carb honeymoon is over, you might be finding that the thought of another pork chop, omelet, or hunk of cheese makes you sick to your stomach. If you fit this description, there is a way to keep your carbs low, but your spirits high. Instead of a steak for your next breakfast, lunch, and dinner, why don't you try a low carb vegetarian dish?
Countdown to Mealtime: Why Low Carb Vegetarian Meals Will Transform Your Day
Are you often stumped about what to cook for dinner? If so, you're not alone. A staggering 75% of Americans are unsure about their dinner plans on any given day. This uncertainty often leads to spending an hour or more in the kitchen, not to mention the time spent shopping for ingredients. Wouldn't you rather spend that time relaxing with your family, reading, or watching TV? In today's fast-paced world, finding ways to save time in the kitchen is essential.
