Eva did it, and so can YOU
My sister in law, Eva, began eating a low-carb diet in February and has lost 46 pounds! She only has 4 more pounds to reach her goal. She looks great, feels great, and says she's different inside. You've probably heard that before from people you know who have lost weight, but do you wonder what finally put them over the edge? What it was that finally brought on that “conversion” that it takes to do something this huge?
I'll let you in on our conversation the other day where she shares her dieting success story:
- What made you decide to begin eating low-carb?
It was a lot of things that happened at about the same time. For years I'd talk to my friends, Jeri & Cliff, and we'd wonder how we can want something so bad and not just make ourselves do it? We'd all commit to keep trying. Then we went on this cruise in February and I was miserable trying to find anything to wear. Soon after some friends asked us to go on a trip over spring break, but I just thought, “No way could I go with you, you're too thin, I'd feel like a whale next to you on the beach.” I'd watch Biggest Loser and pray, “Lord, help ME lose weight so I can feel good, too.” You just come to the end of your rope and decide it's time.
- Why do you think some people never seem to get to that point?
They stay in denial, they don't want to give up that favorite treat that they think helps them through their day, but instead it's just a 5-minute pick-me-up. They have no idea how good this feels.
- What do you like about eating low-carb, rather than some of the other diets out there?
Many reasons: 1. There are just so many things you can eat, I never feel hungry or deprived at all. I eat meats, healthy fats, and lots of different veggies – they're so full of flavor. 2. With low-carb, weight steadily comes off. When I tried cutting back on overall calories, I was always hungry and I'd lose a pound or 2 every couple weeks, but with low-carb it just comes off fast. 3. In the past, every month I'd have a big fluctuation of emotion depending on where I was in my cycle, but all that is gone now – no more extreme highs and lows, things just don't bother me like they used to.
- Do you exercise?
I walk 2-3 miles every day and I LOVE it – I can hardly wait to get out there, I plan my day around it. I have so much energy and can't wait to get going. I've even added a little bit of running. It's also a great time to pray. (Note, I asked Eva if she would run a 5K with me in the spring and she said, “maybe”!)
- Do you miss bread or sweets?
If someone would have told me that after only a couple weeks of not eating carbs I wouldn't crave them or care if I had them at all, I wouldn't have believed them. But now a typical sweet dessert tastes just too sweet. Sometimes it might smell good, but I tell myself that I've eaten enough of those sweets my whole life, I know what it would taste like, but instead I want to be healthy enough to make it through the 2nd half of my life!
- What have been other's responses to your weight loss?
For some it makes them uncomfortable, especially other women, because deep down that is what they want – which is how I always felt, too. I just keep telling everyone that you have to get your head straight before you start, figure out why you want it, and then give yourself a year. Tell yourself, “I'm going to do it, whether it takes me all year or not.” Give yourself time and be patient. I had to remind myself of that over and over. Doug (her husband, my brother) asked me, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” He helped me be patient when I'd go through a plateau.
Other people try to make you feel like you're going to put it back on as soon as you're eating a regular diet again, but they don't understand, I don't plan to ever eat that way again. I don't want that stuff, I feel so much better now. (Although soon I do plan to slowly try to add in whole grains.)
Then there are those who are so excited for you, and want to support you or even lose weight with you. My friend, Jeri, has lost 11# in 2 weeks on low-carbs. My friend, Cliff, who is also eating low-carbs, has lost 58#.
- Is it tricky getting used to being thin?
Someone called me skinny the other day and I couldn't even believe they were talking to me! For years I felt so miserable, now it makes me cry, it can't even sink in that I finally did it.
We talked about all the ways she feels better about herself:
- Spiritually, because denying yourself is good for the soul, and so is connecting daily with the One who made you. (She prays daily on her walks.)
- Emotionally, because self-discipline is empowering. Eva's words: “Self-loathing really wears on you.”
- Physically, for obvious reasons. When a flight of stairs is easy again, it's no small thing. There's nothing like moving your body, and the feeling that, “I can really do this!” That's how I feel when I'm running – even through the pain, I feel very alive out in God's world, seeing and smelling all His gifts around me.
My thanks to Eva for letting me share her inspiring story here. 🙂
- Lifestyle changes – and how they're all the same (there will always be people who just aren't ready to make those same changes)
- Mark Sisson from Mark's Daily Apple on FOX News talking about which diet really works
- Low-carb dieting – many ideas here for what to eat if you want low-carb!
- Eva is taking her cod liver oil daily, are you?
- Tips on making exercise happen – how I got into it
- My running saga…pathetic!
- Have you seen my other blog yet, Christianity 101? (It's help for those who don't “get” the whole “Christianity thing”, which is how I always used to feel.)
KitchenKop says
Cindy,
Sorry this took me a while to get to.
For me low carb is no bread, pasta, rice, root vegetables, milk, sweets, etc.
If I’m just being more careful and not going all out, I limit the above and only eat the good carbs: no sweets or white bread/pasta, and small portions of the whole grains or raw milk or root vegetables.
Hope that helps!
Kelly
Cindy says
Kelly, on the low-carb diet— what do you consider low carb? Certain foods or only a certain amount of carbs? Also, do you have a list of ‘good’ carbs?
Cindy
Kari says
And, sorry, I use WAY too many smiley faces and exclamation points! 🙂
Kari says
🙂 Yes, I’ve been keeping that in mind, too. It’s hard to switch your mindset, when you’ve only ever done well on a lowfat, aspartame laden diet! (and it works!) But, I never had energy, only a nicer shape! 🙂 My doc (a wellness doc) said I have a terribly slow metabolism! 🙂 I DO feel better, feel less moody, feel I have more energy. I keep trying not to just focus on the outside, but that’s hard. 🙂 I have been exercising, but I can ramp it up some, too.
I weighed myself today and I am the same as last week…not up six pounds, like the docs scales said, so that made me feel better! And, I’ve done really well today…eggs/bacon for breakfast (with coffee, cream, stevia), 1/4 cornish hen/kale and tomatoes with butter/avacado with mary’s oil blend and soy sauce for lunch, glass of raw milk for snack. I’m feeling full and have no cravings right now! (and don’t have my normal 3pm headache/fatigue) 🙂
I’m not so discouraged today. Was so much yesterday, but feeling renewed for the day. Thanks for all your help. Sometimes you need some help just picking yourself back up to go on.
🙂 Yes, I ended up responding to her P.S. I just couldn’t resist. 🙂 But, I tried to be kind and gentle. 🙂
KitchenKop says
Kari, but the tricky part is that it really ISN’T a “calories in vs. calories out” thing, it’s all about what your body is DOING with the calories, your metabolism, etc. If you feel better, that’s a great indicator of your health, and I’ll bet if you cut a little more sweets out (the honey or whatever), and exercise a little more, you’ll see a difference soon.
Keep us posted.
OH, just saw your last comment. Yeah, it was more the first part of her comment that I thought you might like. 🙂
Kelly
Kari says
Wow..okay, as a pastor’s wife, I DO NOT agree with her worldview, but it was interesting what she said. I’ll take that to heart. 🙂 And, love her and pray for her! 🙂
Kari says
My husband told me I stress too much about what to eat, and I really think about it one way or the other all the time. I wonder if it could be stress? One area I know I might need to cut is the way I get in my coconut oil. I can’t take it alone in tea, so I put it in my coffee with some cream, cinnamon, and a tablespoon of honey. I have been trying to keep that to once a day, but I wonder if I should have the honey at all?
I’ll go check out that link. Thanks! I just needed to throw that out there! I FEEL better when I eat NT, I just haven’t found how to do it and lose weight..especially on our budget. I guess what is next for me is…self-control! 🙂 I feel like I must obviously still be eating too much, or I’d lose? 🙂
KitchenKop says
Kari, I just got a comment at this post that you may want to see:
https://kellythekitchenkop.com/2010/01/what-is-a-paleo-or-primal-diet-how-does-it-compare-to-a-weston-price-diet-or-a-low-carb-diet.html
Kelly
KitchenKop says
Kari, I wish I knew what to tell you, but I’ve got similar issues here. I think I’m just not cutting carbs enough, but I’m pretty low already. Personally I need to work on getting more sleep (that really does make a difference for me), being more consistent on taking my CLO (that’s important, too), and as much as I think weight loss is more about what you eat than how much you exercise, I do think that still makes a difference and I want to get more consistent about that, too…but it’s too cold right now – bad excuse but that’s what I’m going with for now! I am losing some, though, and am trying to keep looking at things more as a slow long term thing.
For you I’d suggest thinking about how you can do something really different to “shake up” your body – I’ve heard that doing something totally unexpected every so often is necessary for weight loss, otherwise your body gets “used to” whatever you’re already doing and stays in a plateau.
If you do have waffle or pizza night try just having very small portions of the grains if you must, and fill up on fats, meats and veggies if possible. And totally skip sweets, obviously. I also eat VERY little dairy or fruits when I’m trying to lose, then go back to that once I’m down.
Sorry I’m not much help!
Kelly
Kari says
Kelly, I’m struggling here. I have been trying to follow an NT diet now for awhile. I went to the doctor yesterday and am UP six pounds since December. Especially discouraging since I’ve been trying to cut grains the past few weeks. I cannot cut them all right now, unfortunately, as I have $85/week for food/toiletries to feed my family of five. My doc, a wellness doc, too, told me to go low-carb, but I just don’t see how it’s possible to eat meat, veggies, etc.. like I need to on what I have. But, the last few weeks, i really have cut out bread when I gave it to the rest of the family, etc. Now, we had homemade pizza one night and waffles another, but really just b/c that’s what I had. Can you offer any advice? The only way I have ever lost is on WW, eating 100 calorie twinkies!! I’m SOOO tempted today to go back, though I know I shouldn’t. I am just so frustrated, and don’t know what to do. My pants are tighter this week than two weeks ago, when I started really trying to at least cut out as many carbs as I could! Thanks for any help. 🙁
RPW says
Kelly,
I just started low-carbing again, so I really appreciate this post. It’s inspiring! I have PCOS and insulin resistance, and am subclinically hypothyroid. I know what works for me, but it is SO hard to get there…this helps.
Kelly says
Hi Marci,
To be honest with you, I LOVE that book, but more for the beginning pages that are full of good info on fats and other nutrition information than for the dieting part of it.
I have a couple suggestions for you: go to the orange tab at the top of my site where it says, “dieting”, and look through those posts for a good “base” of information.
As you’ll read there, really lowering your carbs will be the best way to lose weight, but if you need more of a solid “plan” to go by, this is what I do when I need to lose a few pounds: follow a MODIFIED South Beach Diet. Follow the link at this post (https://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/01/dieting-my-food-conversion-what-started.html) and read the WAP book review on the SB diet. Skip all the crappy parts of that diet as explained at the book review, and just use it as a guideline for foods to avoid the first couple weeks, etc.
If you read through all that, I think you’ll be ready to start! 🙂
Kelly
Marci says
Kelly – I’m up to speed on WAPF and have read Nourishing Traditions and I’m implementing most (if not all) of your Rookie Tips – so far so good. Now I’ve decided to try Sally’s “Eat Fat, Lose Fat” program to try and drop 20 pounds. Do you know of anyone who has followed this program successfully? The only testimonials I can find are linked to the book’s website and I’m hoping to connect with a real person and/or blog for ideas and suggestions, etc…
Kelly says
Hi Michelle, yes, you can cut out all grains forever if you’d like! But it’s NOT easy. Read this site for more good info:
https://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/category/weight-loss/
I gave you a link that has a few weight loss posts to scroll down through. I think they’ll be helpful. This Dr. Eades eats a low-carb (no-carb?) diet for life! I struggle after only a week, but I lose weight.
I tried to find the link to a post where he talks about how people have said, “Oh, you have to have *some* grains”, or “You have to have carbs if you’re exercising”, but he says that’s not true, that your body gets used to it. Others I’m sure would disagree. If you can pull it off (like my SIL, Eva, did), then it’s the best way, in my opinion, for the healthiest and fastest way to lose weight. However, *don’t take my word for it* – do more research, and remember that for some they just can’t do it, so you need to find what really will work for you – that’s the bottom line. (Just be sure to do it with REAL food like healthy fats, if you do eat grains, be sure they’re only whole grains, etc.)
Hope that helps!
Kelly
Michelle says
Hi Kelly,
Am I understanding that she is not currently eating any grains at all? I am trying to figure out how to “diet” healthfully. I have over 100# to lose. I was thinking this morning that I should only eat meat, dairy, eggs, fruits, and veggies. Then I thought, no, you’ve gotta have some grains, too. Can you cut out the grains until you’ve reached your goal weight?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Oops, sorry about that – I forgot to add the link – it’s there now, just click on “Christianity 101”.
Anonymous says
Great article!!! Could you give the site for the Christianty 101? Thank you
Anna says
Congratulations to Eva! (I love her name, it’s so elegant). Always great to hear another person has transitioned to a healthy, low carb way of eating for life, instead of looking for temporary fixes.
As Eva has discovered, low carb eating isn’t just a short term weight loss diet as part of a yo-yo dieting cycle; when done right (with adequate protein and healthy natural fats), it’s a satisfying way to eat forever. Emerging research is indicating that low carb, nutrient-dense, whole food diets are also important tools to prevent serious disease, too, including diabetes, cancer, dementia, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease (these are all diseases with nutritional components). If Eva hasn’t read Gary Taubes’ book, Good Calories, Bad Calories: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom on Diet, Weight Control, and Disease, I highly recommend it. Though it is a little dense and slow reading in some parts, Taubes really explains very well how the Low Fat Lie got started and still persists. There is a good article from that author here:
https://www.motherearthnews.com/print-article.aspx?id=139058
In January, I will start my fifth year of following a low carb lifestyle. I can’t imagine any other way now. Our whole family thrives on this way of eating, even my 10 year old (though he has a little more carb leeway than my husband and I).
Michigan Mom2three says
That is a very inspiring story – thanks for sharing! She sure looks great in her photo!
I know exactly what she means by “too sweet” – this summer, I have SO enjoyed eating all the fresh, whole fruit in season. I ate a pear the other day, and you would have though thought it was a decadant dessert! I never enjoyed fruit like I do now. Sugary desserts taste so “over sweet” and fruit is PERFECT.
Shauna