Low-carb eating: 5 tips to get you started
This article on low-carb eating was written by Melissa Aarssee
When I stumbled upon the concept of low-carb eating in 2009, a world opened up for me. I was deeply unhappy with my weight, my body and sadly, with myself. I had tried so many diets and lifestyles, but nothing seemed to work long term. And I don’t just mean in terms of losing weight, but just to feel healthy and fit. I decided to look into low-carb eating, but a simple Google Search only turned up complicated material and diet products. Now we are 8 years down the road and I feel healthier and fitter than ever! And so, I’m happy to help you get started with these 5 tips for starting low-carb eating!
Low-carb eating: what is it?
You’ve probably heard of terms like: Lowcarb, Paleo, Atkins, Dukan and so on. If you ask me, it all boils down to the same thing. And I’m certainly not going to bore you with tricky terms either 😉 You cut out the “bad carbs” and switch to fats and proteins as your body’s main fuel. The result: your body starts burning fat. Simple right?
Tip 1: big cleanse
Starting low-carb eating is starting at the beginning. And so I advise you to do a big cleanse in your refrigerator, freezer, pantry and kitchen cupboards. Believe me, it’s better not to tempt yourself. And seeing food, does eating food. Give the products you should avoid to friends or family, or donate them to the food bank. Throwing away is a waste 😉 But what should go?
- Sugars (including honey)
- Alcohol
- Candy and chips
- Bread, pasta, rice
- Milk, buttermilk
- Soft drinks (incl. light drinks and juices)
- Fruit and nuts
- Sauces (anything but mayonnaise)
Should the rest of your family not eat low-carb, you can of course keep everything. Just make sure not to tempt yourself and put the above products out of sight as much as possible.
Tip 2: plan ahead
On Sundays, I always plan ahead for a whole week. I plan my breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. That way I know exactly what I’m eating and I can stick to it very easily. I also know exactly how much fat and protein I am consuming. By the way, you don’t have to prepare these meals right away for a whole week. The evening before is fine! Extra tip: hang this weekly planner on your fridge 🙂
Tip 3: groceries
Once you know what you are going to eat in the coming week, you can easily get your groceries based on it. This way you are no longer tempted to buy other products than those on your list and you save a lot of money on unnecessary groceries.
Tip 4: water
Once you switch to low-carb eating, your body has to work extremely hard to eliminate all waste products. That’s why you really need to make sure you drink enough water. I advise you to drink at least 2 liters of water per day (or 8 to 10 glasses), but preferably more. Don’t like ‘normal’ water? Then alternate with a slice of lemon (no juice from a bottle!), cucumber or some mint leaves.
Tip 5: And now keep it up!
The first 2 weeks of switching to low-carb eating are the toughest. It is not uncommon to feel lethargic or tired. And headaches are also “part of the deal”. This has to do with your body having to get used to the new nutrients. But rest assured: after those 2 weeks you will feel better than ever!
I am very curious to see if my 5 tips helped you. More tips on low-carb eating will follow soon!
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