Danny Davis
Is your low-carb diet becoming drab and boring? Do you need a bit of inspiration to get your mojo back? Then, you’ve come to the right place!
Today, we’ll walk you through the top 10 tips for low-carb dieting. By the end of this post, you’ll enjoy your meals, and maybe even come up with a recipe or two of your own!
Let’s dive in.
1| Eat Your Breakfast
Lots of studies have been carried out on the importance of breakfast. It gives you a boost of energy to start your day out right, increases cognitive functions, and keeps you satiated until lunch time.
Moreover, eating a hearty low carb breakfast can help you lose and maintain a healthy weight.
People who do skip breakfast regularly are more likely to spend the better part of their mornings nibbling on high-salt, low-fiber snacks to tide them over. Then, when lunchtime rolls around, they’re famished, they order the largest meal on the menu.
The moral of the story is: try to eat breakfast each day. If, for whatever reason, you can’t, then keep some nutritious, low-carb snacks in your bag or desk to help you get through those mid-morning hunger pangs.
2| Know What Foods to Eat
Not knowing what foods are safe to eat in a low-carb diet and what foods to avoid can be challenging. Yet, knowing which food items to include on your menu can help you better manage your eating habits.
Here are a few examples:
- Eggs
- Fish
- Lean meats
- Oils
- Unsweetened dairy products
- Leafy greens
- Seeds and nuts
3| Look for Alternatives
As the name suggests, low-carb diets are all about restricting the amount of carbs you consume and replacing them with foods high in proteins and healthy fats.
The problem many people find with this diet is it can be a bit restricting at first. After all, our bodies crave carbs.
The good news, however, is that you can reduce your carb intake, while still filling your body with tasty alternatives that make you feel just as good as those delicious carbs.
Some of these alternatives we all know and love, like spaghetti squash. Others, however, are a bit out of the box, such as:
- Avocado slices as bread for your sandwiches
- Lettuce wrap instead of a burger bun or taco shell
- Eggplant slices as pizza crust
- Baked butternut squash or sweet potato fries
4| Drink Lots of Water
No, I’m not saying chug gallons of water. I’m saying get a regular 1-liter water bottle and take small sips throughout the day.
If you’re bored with clear, tasteless water, try adding some lemon or cucumber slices. You can also drink unsweetened herbal tea if you prefer.
5| Make Smart Choices
Ask any nutritionist and they’ll tell you that making a series of smart choices is the best way to maintain a healthy eating habit.
For example, many people deprive themselves of everything they like all at once. It might work for the first couple of hours, but, very quickly, your body will lash out in retaliation.
Plus, the right low-carb diet should be the opposite of depriving yourself anyway. Just make sure you pick the right foods that provide you with the proper nutrition to sustain you and keep your cravings well under control.
6| Plan Ahead
No one ever regretted planning ahead. In fact, studies show that staying organized raises the success rate by tenfold.
The same thing goes for your low-carb diet plan. This can help you stay on track with your food choices, as well as help you find new, mouthwatering recipes to try.
One place to start is your local market or the fresh produce section in your supermarket. Keep an eye out for what’s in season and use it as your inspiration to fill your meals with bright and vibrant food choices.
Having a weekly meal plan already saves you the hassle of asking the ever-boring question: what should I make for dinner? We all know that most times, the answer to that would be to get take-out or you just end up making anything and call it a day!
7| Exercise Regularly
Exercise is your body’s way of getting rid of toxins, extra weight, and improving overall health. In addition, it also works as a mood booster.
The best part is you can do it at your own pace and you’ll still see results. Exercise isn’t always about speed and power. It can be a low to moderate-intensity walk around your local park.
Whatever you like to do, you’ll find a type of exercise for it that makes you stronger, leaner, and happier. Here’s another benefit to working out regularly: it gets your bowels moving as well.
8| Keep a Food Journal
I used to think food journals were for chefs and people who had nothing better to do with their time than write down what they ate.
Turns out I was wrong!
Writing down each food item you consume makes the whole process vivid in your mind. You have a tangible reference to go back to when you need to count calories or reward yourself for a good day.
Jotting down what you eat also helps you figure out why you had a stomach ache one day, but not the next. Maybe you’re allergic to something and you don’t know it, or your stomach is sensitive to dairy products or nuts.
Seeing it all there day to day is probably one of the best ways you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
9| Carry Low-Carb Snacks
Once your body gets used to eating a diet of low carbs and high proteins, your need for snacking will diminish. Yet, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t carry a resealable bag or a small lunch box filled with yummy snacks.
Take a look at these healthy options to tide you over until your next meal:
- A handful of nuts or seeds
- Chopped up carrots
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Unsweetened Greek or regular yogurt
- Cheese slices
10| Reward Yourself
Always be kind to yourself and be proud of how far you’ve come, of all your achievements, as well as your setbacks. Even when you cheat once or twice, those times helped you become the strong, resilient person you are today. The important thing is that you hold yourself accountable, then make a conscious decision to choose right the next time.
So, if you remember just one thing from this post, remember this: you are a strong, hard-working individual.
