I have been continuing to stick with my low-carb diet and have already lost a few pounds.  I’m not eager to track weight initially as my body adjusts.  I will share a secret to keeping low-carb (and it’s really easy) – it’s about transitioning your diet into your lifestyle. 

This helps support permanent change and makes your resolution stick!

The term diet itself makes us feel like we have denied ourselves something.  When you focus on your goals, you will easily incorporate healther choices into your life.  Don’t get discouraged.  This actually will work quickly.

Try documenting what you eat.  By keeping track of what (and when) you eat, you may discover patterns you didn’t realize.  If you find this idea discouraging, at least commit to a full day and try it.  Personally, I use an online service, food feed to track easily through SMS.  It makes an interesting log.  It’s not difficult to do, you may find other interesting Twitter followers and followees, and it’s fun to do.  If you have a particular successful weight loss week, or a plateau you are trying to break, your food trends may lend some insightful assistance.

Get off your ass and exercise.  Seriously.  You certainly can lose weight with this diet by just focusing on the food.  Definitely.  But – why not take advantage of moving this forward faster and adding additional health benefits as well?  OK, I will get back to this more in future posts – I know it’s hard to make a lot of changes at once as I am doing it.

I found a really tasty lower-carbohydrate ice cream at the market, enjoying some of the banana split one right now.  It’s not good for Atkins induction, or for overdoing it anytime, but it’s at least a little less guilt.

 Anyway – Good luck my fellow low carbers!  Happy weekend ahead…

I added a category to the website – Journey. Indeed – this is a journey.  It’s time consuming and takes commitment.  Did everyone start off today with goals of health?  I’m not a big fan of the New Year’s Resolutions actually.  We need to resolve daily to make commitments we can work with.

I had my share of carbs yesterday – champagne, pizza, pasta, beer etc. They were OK.  Future cheating (yes – it’s OK to plan for this) needs to be higher-enjoyment foods like Thai, Mexican, or Chinese.  A lot of Mexican foods can also be prepared low-carb, just not too common when dining out.  Today I started out with a few eggs and a cup of tea.  I’m going to have some coffee too.  Certain things are going to be in my diet that have carbs, no matter what.  I’m hooked on green drinks, which have around 2 carbohydrates per serving.  This isn’t high by any stretch, but all should be considered.

I’m drinking an Amazing Grass Green Superfood drink.  I like them.  Try one out, they have small packets available at Whole Foods and the Vitamin Shoppe’s, etc.  They have a ton of nutrition in them and give you energy.  I think they help with digestion and immune system too, eh – just my thoughts.  I like them.  Otherwise, I had a few fried eggs today.

Different people have different start points as well as how they follow the discipline of the low-carb lifestyle.  Some people jump into what Atkins referred to as induction; highly limiting any fruits and vegetables, and keeping their carb counts under 20 per day in hopes of getting into a ketosis state, where the body is burning primarily fat for energy.  Others slowly adjust to low-carb living.  Whichever you decide is best for you – stick with it and monitor it.  Not everything is for everyone and what got you here was a different path than everyone else too, the rebuilding will take time also.

It’s not easy – but it is simple!

Seriously – You should have fun with everything you do, including your low-carb lifestyle.  It takes trial and error, and we will talk about some methods you can incorporate into what you do, and some tricks and tips about overcoming stalls and re-motivating too in the coming months.

To get the new-year-low-carb going right, I’m going to be hitting an all-you-can-meat restaurant for dinner.  On that note, enough blogging and off to eating.

Hey what’s up everyone!  Wow – Thanks for coming to my website.

I set this up to log and share information about low-carb dieting.  I’m going to keep this simple.  I’m not going to start up with dozens of before and after pictures (who would want to see this anyway).  I’m not going to push brands of products, or tell you to count every calorie or carbohydrate you put in your body.  Here is what I am going to do.

I am going to log my journey from being overweight through a healthier weight.  I will show you the tools, resources, dedication, motivation, and results that I experience.  I hope you will share some of your progress as well.

Here is my deal.  I’m 39 years old and the pounds have crept up on my fat ass for years.  Currently, I am working my way down from 249 pounds – to breaking the 100′s barrier at 199, and then tweak the game from there.  I have never been a ‘thin’ guy by any stretch, though I have definitely been at healthier points throughout my life.  I was always ‘husky’ as a child, got thin in high school (around a 30″ waist and weighing ~140) swimming and eating a vegetarian diet, then to around 200lbs in college with bodybuilding (and being a born-again carnivore).  I am determined now to make the most incredible health gains and breakthroughs I ever have.  I’m going to start with focused diet and exercise.

Low-carb is truly a LIFESTYLE and not just a diet.

Yes, you can lose some pounds quickly – and most all of us do so when we start this type of diet.  You can continue to enjoy every food you have had before, though just not in the proportions you have had previously.

Low-carb isn’t for everyone.  It’s definitely for me – I don’t know any other ‘diet’ that encourages me to enjoy steak and other tasty meats.  I find that working with certain guidelines takes a discipline that results in greater life enjoyment.

I have lost weight in the past with low-carb (and other methods in the past) dieting.  I allowed a cocky confidence, convenience, or (insert any appropriate ‘crutch’ word here) allow me to sneak back up to an uncomfortable weight.  My wardrobe continues to shrink, and I purchase enough ‘fat clothes’ to get by.  My energy levels have declined as I have gained weight, and I don’t like how I look as much.  I also enjoyed the pride previously of losing and keeping weight off.

Low-carb has proven to me to be a reliable, consistent, and easy to maintain diet.  I feel good eating low carb.  There aren’t many difficulties with the diet outside of resisting comfort foods.  The challenges with any diet or lifestyle change are to continue being focused and creative, and recognize patterns or problems with determination to improve.

Again – This is a journey, it’s not a quick-fix.  It’s about balance and discipline.  It’s about setting and reaching goals.  Life is about ongoing self-improvement, and I’m looking forward to a long healthy life.

I look forward to sharing what I know and learn.  Please email any questions.