It's been a while...

So, I haven't posted anything in a while. I have been pretty busy the last few weeks doing my research. I decided to just try not eating any starch or sugar for a week and see what would happen. Now mind you, I have been working out and trying to eat healthy since January with very little progress. So, how did my experiment go? Suffice it to say, I was ecstatic when I got on the scale and had lost 5 pounds! Really? I have been busting my butt for 8 months, fighting my cravings, trying to eat low-fat and the most I lost in a week doing that was 1 pound. I don't exercise for a week and just cut out carbs and I lose 5?!? Needless to say, I decided to go whole hog with this for a few reasons. The first being, when I eat this way, I don't have cravings. I also noticed that I get full on less food. I don't feel the need to stuff myself. Sometimes when I was eating a meal that would be considered "high-carb", I would notice that I would have to force myself to stop eating. I would sometimes eat until I was uncomfortably full. I have not done that once since I started eating low carb. Another reason I decided to stick with this approach is because of my "genetic predisposition". My mother, her sister, their mother and her sister were all diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when they were in their 40s. I am in my late 30s right now, so this is definitely something I want to pay closer attention to. I am NOT going to go the same way they did. I have watched my family members succumb to the affects of diabetes and I refuse to let that be my fate. My mom battles with her blood sugar daily. It's extremely difficult for her to try and undo her eating habits at her age, but she is making a great effort at it. After looking at all of the options of low carb diets out there, I chose the one that's been around the longest: Atkins. I chose it because there are scads of recipes and menus for it, and there are plenty of bloggers who live a low carb lifestyle. They have been my saving grace through all of this. Also, the Atkins site itself has LOTS of information and recipes along with forums and a community of people to connect with. I am doing my first phase of the diet right now which is called Induction. So far, I feel good. I don't snack in between meals like I used to and when I get hungry, it's not the ravenous hunger I used to experience. Now I don't know if this way of eating is for everyone, I can only speak for myself. As for what's right for you? I would definitely encourage you to try it for 2 weeks before you make judgements. I would also say watch the documentary Fat Head if you are freaking out about eating all of that fat. It's a very interesting take on how the current dietary guidelines got started and why. That's all for now. I will keep you posted as developments occur.