I decided to try a low-carb diet to see if I could really lose 10kg in just two weeks. And let me tell you, it was a wild ride. I was expecting to write a review about how I gained weight on a diet, but things took a turn for the better.
Background: those people who can eat whatever they want and not gain weight? Yeah, I'm not one of them. But I did surprise my friends.
So, how did I do it? Well, I transitioned to a low-key lifestyle in September, spent evenings watching TV with chips, crackers, and sandwiches to keep my mouth busy. At the same time, I quit gluten, and my hormones adjusted. The cherry on top was a string of holiday parties!
And here I am! With my +7 kg (15.4 lbs) weight gain over autumn-winter. With my relatively short height, the fat distributed evenly across my body: face, back, hands, waist, hips, and thighs. I couldn't fit into my jeans, which I had to alter in the summer. Below are some photos.
Why I chose a low-carb diet? I did it because this diet promises a 10 kg (22 lbs) weight loss in just two weeks. My plan was to lose weight quickly and then build a new, personalized diet. And then reality set in.
What is a low-carb diet? I'd read reviews in this thread before and noticed that not everyone understands the basics. So, let me clarify: a low-carb diet is an eating regimen where your daily intake contains less than 50g of carbs.
We eliminate all high-carb foods. You can have veggies and fruits, but in very limited quantities! For example, half a pomegranate. Or 300g of grapefruit. Or one large apple. Per day.
Low-carb diet with fruits and veggies - all about moderationIn reality, without carbs, your body's supposed to burn fat for energy. That's what they call 'depletion' or 'sucking dry'. I dove headfirst into cooking low-carb meals, and it wasn't hard to find something to eat. I won't bore you with the menu (the photos speak for themselves), but I want to focus on how I felt during the diet and the results.Low-carb diet menu. Left: omelette with salmon and cottage cheese, tomatoes. Right: omelette, mushrooms, cucumbers, pomeloOn the activity front. I kept up with my usual light exercise routine - some stretching and toning exercises without any cardio. So, if I lost weight, it's all thanks to the diet.For the first three days, I didn't notice any changes in how I felt. Everything was business as usual. The only plus was that I wasn't hungry, even with a small amount of food.
Low-carb diet menuI never felt that gnawing hunger pangs, thanks to all the healthy fats. They're not only nutritious but also super calorie-dense (around 900 calories per 100 grams, if you're curious).
But then things started to take a turn for the worse.
Fat content, again. It's just that almost everything low-carb is super rich. Sometimes after eating, I felt queasy.
A low-carb diet isn't super convenient for those who cook for more than just themselves. I had to come up with something separately. Or eat a soup broth, checking to make sure nothing with carbs got into the spoon
Low-carb diet menu: borsh on the left, mushroom soup on the rightDemonizing carbs is a direct path to burnout. If you have complicated relationships with food, it's better to choose a diet where you don't have to give up perfectly normal meals.
Low-carb diet menu: cottage cheese with applesBy the way, about setbacks.
I confess, during the diet, I drank two cups of tea with honey. Sometimes I'd snack while cooking. One time I devoured a homemade pizza. And that was the first time during the diet that I went to the bathroom normally.
Pizza that's only allowed to be smelled on a low-carb dietFor the rest of the time, my stomach was 'standing still'. Constipation every other day, without fiber, my gut was lazy.
Another surprise at the end of the first week - 'no hunger between meals' had quietly turned into 'lost appetite'. In the morning, I'd drink tea and wouldn't eat anything until the evening, just drinking water. Indifference to food, you know, that happens during stress. In the evening, I ate a bit, without overeating.
Low-Carb Diet, Menu: Braised Pork in Sour Cream, CheeseBut the good news is, no weakness, no dizziness. I felt just as energetic and active as before, without any sleepiness. Then I caught a virus, got a cold, and my period started. It was a real combo! I started to feel irritable, and I'm not even sure what to attribute it to.I decided to wrap things up The result was amazing - my waistline expanded by a centimeter after just 7 days on the diet!
This would've been the most epic review ever. I thought to myself, 'Maybe the weight gain is due to the critical days (fluid retention) and the cold, so I'll just keep going with the diet for another week.'
During the second week, I tried to cut back not only on carbs but also on fat as much as possible. Although everyone says you can eat whatever you want, I got a bit bored with the same old eggs, cottage cheese, salmon, kefir, cheese, and grapefruit.
Low-Carb Diet, Menu: Baked Salmon with Sauteed VegetablesFor the last 3 days, my diet consisted of 200 grams of homemade sausage, some cucumbers, and tea. That's it! Approximately 600 calories per day.
Low-Carb Diet, Menu: Homemade Sausage, CucumbersWhy I decided to get off the low-carb diet?
I was tired of the restrictions and the constipation. I started to feel like a beekeeper in the morning, even though my period was over. My irritability got worse. It's hard to find healthy food options when I'm not at home, and it's not exactly safe to cook eggs all the time. Plus, it's not healthy to cut out carbs for an extended period...
During fat oxidation, the body produces incomplete breakdown products of fat: ketone bodies and acetone. This process is a serious risk and can even lead to coma.
Low-Carb Diet, BEFORE and AFTER
I have to say, these pants were the ones I could no longer zip up. I barely managed to snap them shut for the photo. Last summer, I had to use the belt to keep them up because they were so loose around the waist.
Low-carb diet, before and afterSure, you have to look at the sagging fat, but it's definitely less noticeable, and I can fit into my jeans a lot easier now.
Low-carb diet, before and afterOver the course of two weeks, I lost 3 kilos.
Measurements after the diet:
Waist - minus 3 cm
Waistline - minus 3 cm
Thighs - minus 1 cm
Breasts - minus 3 cm
Arms and calves - minus 1 cm
Volume under the breasts - minus 3 cm.
***
So, to be honest, I didn't really enjoy the diet itself. It's not something I can stick to as a lifestyle. However, losing 3 kilos in two weeks is definitely a good and safe outcome. I'll just have to find another way to get in shape from now on.
Thanks for reading!
❗Update: I've switched to intermittent fasting. Photos before and after.
Organ cleansing for weight loss, beauty, and a sense of lightness