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.

Nuts make a terrific low carb snack. Nuts have a decided advantage over some other low carb snacks. Nuts are easily carried form place to place. Nuts can be combined with other low carb food to create a variety of different snacks.

Nuts can be added to yogurt. Nuts can be mixed with raisins and seeds. That mixing yields a delicious granola. Hikers have long appreciated the energy-giving power of granola.

Nuts contain lots of protein. That is another reason to put nuts at the top of a list of good snack foods for someone one a high protein, low carb diet. Nuts bring a feeling of satisfaction, a feeling of fullness. That gives anyone on a low carb diet plan even more reason to consider snacking on nuts.

There are not a lot of low carb recipes for snack food. Sometimes it is best to create snacks from whatever low carb foods one finds in the home. You might, for example, have celery at home. Maybe you have the makings of a low carb dip. Maybe you have some cottage cheese or yogurt at home. Maybe you have some dried herbs.

Mix the herbs into the cottage cheese or yogurt. You have now created a dip. If you are intent on pursuing real low carb living, you will appreciate the fact that you now have created for yourself a low carb snack.

Maybe you can find in your home other foods that can be put into a low carb snack. If so, please share them with others who are on a low carb diet. Perhaps you will share them with the writers of these low carb pages.

Fresh fruit makes a good low carb snack. While nuts are always easy to carry around, fruit can be more of a problem. Fresh fruit should be eaten before it spoils. For a long trip, a person on low carb diet would probably need to bring some dried fruit.

At home, one might consider saving a piece of a low carb dessert to use as a low carb snack. In the section on desserts, you will find mention of a low carb cake. That cake suggestion can be used to make low carb cupcakes. A low carb cupcake could make a good occasional snack.

Cheese is a good low carb snack. Eating cheese helps a person to feel fuller. Hard cheese can be eaten as a finger food. Soft cheese can be spread on vegetables or fruit. Soft cheese can also be flavored. Try putting some mint flavoring into a soft cheese, dip vegetables in that.

So, let’s review the items that can be used in low carb snacks. Nuts and foods that can be mixed with nuts make a good portable snack. Fruit makes an excellent low carb snack. Fresh veggies make a good low carb snack. At home, one can add herbs to cottage cheese or yogurt and create a tasty dip. That makes any raw vegetable more exciting.

Is all this talk about food making you hungry? Why don’t you visit your kitchen now and create for yourself a delicious low carb snack?