A Low Carb Way Of Life

I’ve come to terms with a low carb way of life. Well, I’ve not just come to terms with a low carb way of life, I genuinely enjoy eating this way. It’s how I’ve lost weight slowly and healthily over the past year, almost reaching my pre-baby weight after years of yo-yoing after Florence, mostly due to medication that made me gain weight, I stopped 14 months ago. 

Low carbs suit me best. It always has.

That doesn’t mean I never, ever eat bread (I’m just back from Paris and enjoyed it there the odd time) and I would say I carb cycle overall (a dietary approach that alternates carbohydrate intake between high, moderate, and low days to match your daily activity and needs) eating more carbs when I’m in the luteal phase (well, the week of my menstrual cycle to be exact) meaning I eat low carb 80% of the time. I guesstimate that my carbs are around 50 grams a day (so not keto) and that seems to be my happy place when it comes to carb intake (for the first 3 weeks of my cycle at least)!

I’ve suffered from reflux for years (chokiness, tight chest etc.) but it’s become worse postnatally. Following a low carb diet (high protein and moderate fat) for the majority of the time as well doing IF (intermittent fasting) most days bar when I’m on my period has improved my symptoms hugely.

My indigestion worsens around my cycle (thanks to rising levels of progesterone during the luteal phase which relax muscles throughout the body, including the lower esophageal sphincter), so in theory I should be strict about my carb intake then, but I always find that my body is begging for sourdough, so something has to give. 

I don’t bore easily as I keep my food vibrant and varied (I only limit super sweet fruit like bananas) and I eat a tonne of veggies. I have a huge repertoire of low carb recipes, many of them feature on this blog and I find sugar alternatives or dark chocolate works with most desserts, such as these high protein sweet treats: my no bake protein chocolate and mint balls or low carb chocolate yoghurt which help keep my sweet tooth happy without disturbing my blood sugar levels.

I find balanced blood sugar means no sugar highs so my moods are stable, I feel energised and happy and I would advise, whether you want to eat a low carb way or not, packing more protein into your diet is bound to be positive for you! 

Whilst I don’t fear fat (hello cheese, yoghurt, cream and full fat milk) I don’t go bonkers with it just because I can! I never eat high fat for the sake of it but I do find incorporating more fat into my diet (extra virgin olive oil, organic butter and avocado for example), means I’m more satiated. 

If you’re thinking about changing your diet, do your research, look at resources like Diet Doctor and chat to your GP.

When I started dieting over a year ago now, I used the weightloss app My Fitness Pal to help me track calories and whilst I no longer use it, it was a real eyeopener when it came to exactly how much I was eating. Overeating is so easy especially as 1500 calories (my ideal daily goal to lose weight) sure gets spent up quickly. I had no idea I was eating so much until I tracked!

Higher protein meals help with keeping calories lower without hunger striking.

Truthfully, I’d like to lose another 10 pounds as my mum-tum still needs some work and the camera adds pounds, especially on TV, so a little more would give me a greater confidence boost.. I am, however, happy and feel healthy and have a low carb way of life to thank for that!

Have you tried a low carb way of eating?