My 15kg Weight Loss Journey: How I Finally Found a Diet That Worked for Me

Hello everyone, and welcome to my review! I wanted to share my experience with weight loss, but I'd been putting it off for months. It's finally here, and I'm excited to share it with you.

I'll start with the backstory – how it all began and why I needed to lose weight.

My Backstory

I've never struggled with excess weight and have always tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But, as soon as I got pregnant, I let my guard down and indulged in whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I wasn't just eating sweets; I was eating whatever I felt like, day and night. By the end of my 9th month of pregnancy, I had gained 17 kg. At the time, I wasn't too concerned about my weight, thinking that after giving birth, I'd lose it all quickly. But, that wasn't the case.

After having my daughter, I only lost 6 kg, which eventually came back. I was breastfeeding, and I found myself constantly hungry, both day and night. I envied women who claimed that breastfeeding helped them lose weight, and I'd wonder, 'How is that possible?' I was doing the same thing, but it wasn't working for me. The postpartum depression and adjusting to my new role as a mom left me with no time to focus on my own health and well-being.

My first attempt at going on a diet ended in disaster. I lost milk production, and my daughter, who was 1 year and 2 months old at the time, started experiencing constipation. I had to abandon the idea of weight loss because I was planning to breastfeed her until she was 2 years old. She refused solid food and preferred breast milk. After being on the diet for 3 weeks, I managed to lose 2 kg, but I had to go back to my regular eating habits.

I was miserable with my new figure, instead of my usual 48-50 kg, I weighed 66.5 kg and was still wearing maternity pants and loose tops. I had given up on buying new clothes because I knew I'd lose weight eventually.

It wasn't until November 2014 that I decided to take control of my life again. I realized that I couldn't keep going on like this, that excess weight adds years to a woman's age, and that I couldn't wear the clothes I wanted to. I felt like an aunt, not a young woman. I started looking back at old photos of myself when I was thinner and more toned, and I motivated myself as much as I could.

It was tough to start, as I needed to lose around 17 kg. Over the last 7 months, I've relapsed twice and started eating whatever I wanted, and these relapses lasted for weeks or even months. But I always managed to get back on track.

In the end, it took me around 5 months to reach my weight loss goal, not counting the relapses. During this time, I lost 14.5 kg. Many people might say that's a long time, but I'm not a fan of fad diets or quick weight loss schemes. I find it hard to stick to a specific diet or meal plan for more than a few days.

I've been on a low-carb diet before, so I knew exactly what to expect. I was confident I'd lose weight and the pounds wouldn't come back. But, of course, there were times when I thought about my usual diet and couldn't shake off the cravings...

____________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________My Diet System._____________________________

I came across this diet system on a website a few years ago, and it's been bookmarked ever since. If you're interested, I can send you a link to the article in a private message.

This article really resonated with me and motivated me to lose weight. It's a long article, so I won't go into details here. If you're interested, go ahead and read it. The article covers two diet systems: strict low-carb and selective low-carb.

I opted for the strict low-carb system.

First, I printed out a list of allowed foods and stuck it on my fridge. Within two weeks, I'd memorized the list and stopped checking it. When I first saw the list, I was actually relieved – it included all my favorite foods that I'd been eating without restriction.

First off, I went wild on all the protein-rich foods I could get my hands on – milk, cheese, meat, fish, poultry, liver, tongue, eggs, seafood – all without breading, boiled, steamed, microwaved, or grilled, and veggies with less than 5g of carbs per 100g (asparagus, broccoli, green celery, mushrooms, sauerkraut, cucumbers, all types of leafy cabbage and salad, zucchini, spinach, fresh green beans, turnips, peppers, radishes, tomatoes, green olives, fresh almonds, tomato juice). I ate until I was stuffed, whenever I wanted, and even allowed sugar substitutes. I couldn't do this for more than five days, though.

When transitioning to the second stage, be careful – introduce foods with 5-10g of carbs per 100g in grams, one item at a time, and then gradually add two. Fruits (no more than two or three a day) should be consumed at the beginning of meals. But you can have strawberries and raspberries, and other red berries, as a dessert.

The second stage lasts around a month. New additions include artichokes, eggplants, avocados, beets, all types of mushrooms, carrots, celery root, cabbage (white, red, colored, Brussels, kohlrabi), palm hearts, fennel, onions, black olives, melons, hot peppers, green peas in all forms, leeks, milk, goat and sheep cheese (not more than 15% fat), apricots, fresh pineapples, cherries, currants, kiwis, lychees, mandarins, gooseberries, cranberries, fresh coconut, oranges, grapefruits, peaches, apples, pears, grapes, lemons, and in very small quantities and not often, dry wine and beer, and freshly squeezed juice from unsweetened fruits.

On the third stage, they introduce whole-grain bread (1-2 pieces a day) and/or undrained grain porridge very carefully and gradually. AND YOU CAN EAT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT AFTER THAT.

On all stages, a complete rejection of fats is not only useless but also harmful. However, you shouldn't overdo it on the fats. Opt for low-fat products. Prefer vegetable oil – no more than one or two tablespoons a day. The best diet results come from limiting your total daily fat intake: no more than 30-40 grams, and for a very large starting weight – no more than 50 grams.

There are plenty of fruits here, besides the dairy and fermented dairy products. And the most important thing is that you can eat at any time and in any quantity.

The first 5 days, the list of allowed foods is quite small. Although I wasn't starving, thoughts of food were constantly on my mind. I was tempted by the usual dishes I cooked for my husband and daughter, but I managed to resist.

I started the day with yogurt, but with honey – I couldn't do without it, unfortunately, in the first few days. And I read somewhere that if you do eat something sweet, it's better to do it before 12 pm, so I remembered that. Yogurt is an ideal food for suppressing hunger – if I eat it for breakfast, I don't get any hunger pangs throughout the day and night.

This fact is even proven by scientists – eating protein-rich foods in the first half of the day works better for satiety than eating them in the second half. I've experienced this firsthand – if I don't eat yogurt for breakfast, I'll definitely want to eat again by lunchtime. Try it out for yourself.

After 5 days of strict restrictions, the number of allowed foods increases, and you can already diversify your menu.

When following this system, it's also essential to keep an eye on the amount of fat you're consuming, which shouldn't exceed 30-40 grams per day. So, you need to choose low-fat products. Use no more than 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil per day, and if you're having chicken for lunch or dinner, make sure to remove the skin. You can't completely cut out fats, as it would severely impact your emotional state, and you'll experience constant mood swings. Your body will also thank you for getting the necessary nutrients. For more detailed answers on why you can't cut out fats entirely, check out the 'frequently asked questions' section in this article. When shopping for products, I simply checked how much fat was in each 100-gram serving, and it wasn't hard to keep track of my fat intake.

My lunches and dinners often consisted of roasted or steamed vegetables, and for meat, I stuck to chicken and beef. While fresh vegetables weren't readily available, my diet was a bit pricey since I had to buy frozen vegetable mixes. Once summer arrived, my diet became more diverse, and I enjoyed salads made with tomatoes and cucumbers, topped with low-fat kefir, and I also made okroshka and dishes with zucchini. Despite having zucchini in my diet all the time, I never got tired of it, and I even froze about 5 kilograms of it for the winter.If I didn't have any vegetables at home, I'd have an omelette or eat cottage cheese with garlic until I went to the store. With this list of allowed foods, it's impossible to feel hungry, and everything tastes great. You can eat at any time, even at night. Is this the ultimate weight loss plan?! But despite having such a long list of allowed foods, it's still a diet, and sometimes you do crave something forbidden...

I noticed that if you stick to this system, eating only the listed products from start to finish, you won't even crave sweets or bread!

Here are some meals I had.

Beef patty with sautéed zucchini, carrots, and red pepper.

diet menu diet menuChicken with sautéed onion and carrots.

diet menu

Sautéed cabbage with tomato sauce.

diet menuZucchini with mushrooms and cheese.

diet menuStuffed zucchini with beef and cheese.

diet menuSautéed cabbage with beef.

Diet MenuI stuck to a simple salad with fresh cabbage, carrots, and an egg for lunch.

Diet MenuFor dinner, I baked zucchini with chicken.

Diet Menu

I made a stew with frozen veggies and chicken for a quick and easy meal.

Diet Menu

What else I'd like to share about my lifestyle during the diet?

Food:

At first, I ate whenever I wanted, but as I got into the diet, I started eating every three hours and following the 'portion control' rule - my meals were limited to a single serving size. Since I was at home, it wasn't too hard to stick to.

Exercise:

I'm not exactly a fitness enthusiast, but I managed to squeeze in some hula hoop time and stretching exercises while watching TV. I also made sure to take my kid on daily walks outside.

Weight:

I was weighing myself 100 times a day for the first few days, I don't know, I was hoping for something. The weight started dropping off after two weeks, and over the course of a month, I was losing between 2.5 and 3 kg.

Later on, I started weighing myself once a week, which allowed me to better gauge the results of my efforts, as my weight would fluctuate in both directions over the course of the week. I'd lose around 700-800 grams per week.

Hydration

I'm not drinking two liters of water a day, that's just too much for me. I probably drank more green tea than plain water. I just can't seem to motivate myself to drink enough water, despite knowing that it's a crucial part of successful weight loss.I always make sure to drink a glass of warm water first thing in the morning. I'm sure I'm not the only one who needs a little kickstart to get their metabolism going.After meals, I don't drink any liquids for at least an hour or an hour and a half. Drinking too much liquid after eating can slow down digestion, and undigested food can start to break down and put on weight. And let's be real, nobody wants a heavy stomach.

Eating before bed. To eat or not to eat?

For the first two months, I was eating nothing for three hours before bedtime, but it took some getting used to. The thing is, your digestive system slows down at night, and undigested food can get stored as fat. But if I'm being honest, sometimes I just couldn't resist the hunger pangs, so I'd have a glass of kefir with fiber or some cottage cheese with garlic seasoning. When I was drinking protein shakes, those helped too. It all helped me get through the night without feeling too hungry.

Alcohol.

I don't drink at all, whether it's a special occasion or just a regular day. So, I don't have any experience with how it affects your body during weight loss.

Skin, Body

I've been using a bunch of creams and body wraps to help with skin elasticity after weight loss, but to be honest, I haven't been using them as much lately. I used to use them all the time before I got pregnant, but since I've been trying to get back in shape, I've been trying to massage my skin with massaging gloves and scrubs in the shower, and it's definitely made a difference. I've also been doing some body wraps, but I still have some work to do.

I'm a bit concerned about the saggy skin on my stomach and breasts. I think the sagging on my breasts might be more due to breastfeeding than weight loss, to be honest. I breastfed my daughter for over two years, and my breasts have been bigger than they were before pregnancy and breastfeeding. I didn't use any creams or body wraps while I was breastfeeding because I didn't want any harsh chemicals getting into my daughter's system. Now that I'm not breastfeeding, I'm trying to get my body back in shape.

What are some potential pitfalls of a strict low-carb diet?

For the first month, I had some issues with constipation, and I had to take some laxatives a few times. But after a month, everything normalized.

Well, that's pretty much it for now.

It's also worth noting that any diet has its contraindications.

Given that a low-carb diet can affect your metabolism, it's not suitable for everyone. Since the diet is based on protein-rich foods, it can put a strain on your kidneys, which have to process the protein waste. As a result, a low-carb diet is not recommended for people with kidney disease. It's also not suitable for diabetics.

One thing that's worth mentioning about a low-carb diet is that it can be tough on your digestive system, especially when you're cutting out high-fiber foods like whole grains, potatoes, and more. I've noticed that it can lead to constipation and other issues.

Of course, any drastic diet change should be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional, like a doctor or registered dietitian.

Now, let's get to the fun part – sharing my progress photos! I initially wanted to post a photo after each 5-6 pounds I lost, but the difference between 65 and 59-60 pounds isn't always super noticeable. So, I'll just label each photo with the corresponding weight loss. I tried to take all the photos in the same swimsuit, but it wasn't always easy.

2014 г-2015 г 2014 год 2015 2015xa0

12.01.2016

xa0

I decided to take some new photos to update my review from last year. As of now, I weigh around 50.5-51 kg, and I'm happy to report that I've managed to maintain this weight. I've been following a pretty strict diet, cutting back on sugary and carb-heavy foods, and focusing on healthier options like fruits and yogurt. It's not always easy, but it's worth it – I've lost a few extra kilos since I started making these changes.

xa0

I'm proud to say I've lost 15kg so far. It's the most weight I've ever lost, and I'm genuinely impressed with myself. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy - I needed a huge amount of willpower. But seeing the results of my hard work made me want to keep going. Even when we were out at social gatherings, I didn't sit with a scowl on my face, saying 'I'm on a diet.' I ate what was available, but in moderation. Occasionally, my husband would bring home sushi, and I'd indulge - but only about twice a month. The next day, I'd go back to my normal eating habits. Maybe I could have lost weight faster if I'd been more disciplined, but it's hard to resist your favorite treats sometimes.

'The Low-Carb Diet' really does work, but you need to be prepared for the fact that this kind of eating isn't just a quick fix - it's a long-term lifestyle change. The amount of time it takes to see results depends on how much weight you need to lose. If you set your mind to losing those unwanted kilos, giving up your favorite foods won't be too hard, especially when you see the reward of a slimmer figure.

That's all I've got to say about this diet - sorry for the long-winded review, and for the fact that it's all a bit of a jumbled mess. I just get excited when I'm talking about something I'm passionate about, and I wanted to share as much as I could. Now it's time to wrap things up!)

I'm sharing this review from last summer, but I was hesitant to post it. To all the ladies who know their stuff about diets and weight loss, please don't judge me – I know this isn't the healthiest approach. I'm not recommending it for people with health issues, so be sure to check the contraindications before trying it out. I still have some work to do, after all!

I'm a huge fan of low-carb diets, though!

Thanks for reading my review – I hope you found it helpful! Take care of yourselves and stay fabulous!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. I'd be happy to help!