What benefits have you noticed since adopting a low carb lifestyle?

[onestepcloser]

Aside from fat loss, what other benefits have you noticed since adopting a low carb lifestyle?

[DC12]

I eat a lot less because I don't have cravings and I have more energy.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by onestepcloser

Aside from fat loss, what other benefits have you noticed since adopting a low carb lifestyle?

Hi osc…

• Many days of not being hungry all day long
• Eating steak, seafood, bacon, eggs, cheese, chops, and other protein laden foods I enjoy - as often as I choose.
• No craving for sweets, breads, potatoes or pastry
• No out of control eating binges
• Not concerned about portion control, fat count, calorie levels, or salt intake.
• Having to remind myself to eat
• No gas
• Nearly zero zits (and I used to get boils and zits like crazy)

I sure don't eat less than I used to, in fact probably more. But I have not put on pounds in a long time doing so!

[phatjow]

Tomorrow, I will have been on Low Carb for 14 days... I notice the reduced hunger, some days, my blood sugar is better.. I've cut my blood sugar pills in half... I can concentrate a bit better...

[phatjow]

Oh yeah.. lack of gas is real nice!

[Inglorious]

Complete elimination of chronic joint and back pain.

[eddie1956]

Wait a second I miss the gas...lol
The biggest benefit for me is my head is so much more clear now.

[alabama sunshine]

Less knee pain.I can walk alot better.

[gollum]

Lack of stomach pains (don't need to be always aware of where the nearest toilet is..), lack of constant hunger. I have so much energy during the day and sleep well during the night. I also notice I'm not ill quite so often, I used to have a flu twice a year, but it's been a year since the last one.

I've gained a love and respect for my body and feel thus a lot better in many ways.

[Anniemar]

Reduced blood pressure (remember to monitor if you're on bp meds-some bp meds are powerful and your bp could drop too low) it's true what they say, losing weight reduces blood pressure!!
All of the above in ljguitar's post....lowcarb is a wonderful thang!!

[itsmeshelly01]

Major loss of appetite
Being able to eat wonderful food that doesnt make it feel like you are dieting
Obsessing about food but in a good way not wondering when the next huge binge on taco bell is
Loving to exercise and actually being able to do it
Having a pot luck at work and everyone looking at me like im crazy because i dont load up on all of those sweets they always have and it not bothering me one little bit
Being the smallest i have ever been as an adult

Im sure there are more but 6am, its early and not fully awake but im about to have a great workout and then ill be raring to go!

[can't weight]

Not becoming practically catatonic every afternoon. I have much more energy- and actually enjoy this WOE instead of viewing it like a punishment for my past discretions!

[dgbuch]

-more energy
-reduced hunger
-sleep much better at night
-all around a much happier person because I'm taking positive steps to be healthy

[MarcyDarcy]

I'm now hopeful.

[jeaniem]

more energy
better coping skills
pep in my step
less pessimistic about life's downers
increased mental focus

I could go on and on but I won't bore you!

[clackley]

Having control over my eating. No more IBS. No more back pain.

[cleochatra]

So much of what I'd been dealing with were allergies, so ditching the nightshades and the soy and the glutens have made SUCH a difference. It's amazing how much less I crave, swell, sniffle and feel horrible when I eradicate all of the allergy-inducing foods.

[tulipsandroses]

Apart from control over food and weight loss, I notice I have less heart burn. Funny, I hadn't really noticed until my dad was visiting and he asked me for peppermint tea. Thats what my family always drinks for heartburn and gas. I didn't have any, haven't needed any for a long time.

[oceandiva]

-no more unending hunger
-no more IBS
-weight loss while eating satisfying food
-peace
-lower triglycerides and cholesterol
-feeling compassion for my younger self who judged herself so badly for always wanting to eat--there wasn't anything wrong except insulin sensitivity
-enjoyment of eating in a way that is healthy for my body
etc.

[ozdancer]

I feel like the authentic 'me' again because I'm able to do the things I love - dancing, keeping up with DD6. Plus I have major energy and lower sleep needs so I have more time to do them in .

[micheleredit]

save

[lcditto]

I'm no longer supporting the HEARTBURN relief industry!!!!!!!!!!

Plus what everybody else has already said.

[Beeb]

No more pain from my Fibro!!!!!

[Alania]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi osc…

• Many days of not being hungry all day long
• Eating steak, seafood, bacon, eggs, cheese, chops, and other protein laden foods I enjoy - as often as I choose.
• No craving for sweets, breads, potatoes or pastry
• No out of control eating binges
• Not concerned about portion control, fat count, calorie levels, or salt intake.
• Having to remind myself to eat
• No gas
• Nearly zero zits (and I used to get boils and zits like crazy)

I sure don't eat less than I used to, in fact probably more. But I have not put on pounds in a long time doing so!

All of this. For me, one of the most profound things is that my skin cleared up almost immediately. I have suffered from adult acne for several years and have been taking multiple oral and topical antibiotics and other topical meds to control it. After less than one week on LC I noticed that blemishes I had were clearing rapidly and no new ones were popping up.

[OSURugbymom]

-no more heartburn
-no more joint pain
-LOTS more energy
-being able to stay awake all day
-eating really good food that I enjoy
-losing weight almost effortlessly
-improved moods
-clearer head
-sniffles, stuffiness are gone
-I can enjoy clothes SHOPPING again

There are just so many things to enjoy and appreciate about this WOE. It is amazing. I don't know it took me so long to get back on track after I fell off.

[SugarFreeSheila]

The worry that once plagued my mind is now a matter of stress-free maintenance - no more troublesome than brushing my teeth or washing my hair.

Long gone are the days of tail-chasing "new ideas" I would read about & cling to - the ones all the magazines insist will take the weight off. Oh, where to start: glute/ab squeezes while sitting in traffic thinking that'll be the thing to finally have me looking great in a bikini; divvying up 3 meals into 25 tiny time-consuming ones because that will supposedly make all the difference in a sluggish metabolism, energy pills, appetite suppresant pills, slashing my calories and fat thinking "This is it!!"; drinking really cold water upon rising because that might rev up my metabolism & make all the difference in my body fat, not eating after 8 P.M., parking 3 spaces further away from the good spot even though I'd already worked out that day because that will be "the thing" that will finally get my weight off ... UGH.

The only thing I actually did end up having to do to lose body fat? Nixing the the sugars & starches - and cutting my cardio more than half from the hour I was doing before at that. "Abs are made in the kitchen" is a philosophy I wish I'd learned years earlier - but I'm grateful to know and successfully live by it now.

[Knittering]

-No more anxiety about food
-No more "out of control" eating
-No more headaches
-No longer feeling "spacey" and not fully present
-More energy
-Calmer, and more confident

The biggest for me is the first. I used to have terrible anxiety related to eating when I was doing Weight Watchers. Sure, I was losing weight, but every point that I "used up" would stress me out horribly. And then, when I lost weight, I was rewarded by *less* points per day... it was awful. Now I don't weigh my food, don't measure, count nothing but carbs and am calm and happy with my WOE.

[MelNouveau]

No more headaches
No more acid reflux
Clearer skin
Increased energy
No more digestive issues
Healthy blood pressure & blood sugar
No more obsession with food/bingeing

To sum it up, I no longer feel like I'm dying at 26.

[lowcarbie]

Originally Posted by onestepcloser

Aside from fat loss, what other benefits have you noticed since adopting a low carb lifestyle?

I am going to co-sign with everything that everyone listed!!!! Eating low carb is the ONLY way for me, I have tried NUMEROUS diets and this is the only plan where I lose weight, feel better, I don't feel deprived and my health improves DRASTICALLY!!!! The benefits of eating low carb:

1)more energy
2)less cravings
3)better health
4)less hunger
5)no joint or knee or back pain
6)reduced blood pressure
7)more energy to exercise
8)no fatigue
9)no potbelly ( or reduction of potbelly and better weight loss ease)
10)much easier to get up earlier each morning.
11)better sleep at night
12)less mood swings
13)less anxiety
14)eating foods I enjoy
15)clearer head
16)my clothes fit better
17)my body looks and feels better
18)feel less depressed

[sweetpoison]

Just marking my spot for future inspiration...