Several years ago I tried to go low-carb as part of my Lenten fast. I’ve been able to maintain some of the low-carb practices and recipes I learned during that experiment and make them a sustainable part of my everyday life. I’ve had some interesting results.
The low-carb diet killed my sweet tooth!
It appears that my sweet tooth took a bit of a hit during my low-carb experiment. (I suppose some may consider this a good thing. 😛) I still enjoy sweets, I just find that my tolerance for them is lower. Or, at least, that my “palate fatigue” is stronger in regards to sweet treats. (This mechanism was discussed in the Paleo and Keto Diet book I reviewed in a previous post.) This seems to mean that while I still have a desire for sweet foods, and still enjoy them, my craving for them ends more quickly and it is easier to put them aside.
I also find I no longer have any interest in something that is “just sweet”. This would be treats such as milk chocolate or plain Rice Krispy squares. If I’m going to stimulate my sweet tooth these days, I need something with real flavor. Dark chocolate and/or treats that include peanut butter now seem to be the most appealing.
Better low-carb food choices…
I’m also striving to continue to snack more healthily, and have been attempting to stick with nuts, trail mix, and granola bars, rather than chips or sweet snacks. I’ve still been trying to keep more whole grains, brown and wild rice, whole-wheat flour, and more “breads with seeds” (as Mr. Trekker calls them 😉) in my diet as well. One of our new favorites is a rice medley of brown and wild rice that I add edamame to. Sprinkle a little soy sauce on for added flavor and it is divine! It’s also filling and really sticks with you! (See the pic above for the finished product!)
I have been rather proud of myself. In addition to having less of a sweet tooth, I’m still finding I don’t crave processed foods as much as I used to. I allow myself to eat these occasionally, but now I seem to be able to make a single bag of Cheetos last SEVERAL weeks when I used to only be able to contain my impulses on these favorite snacks for a few days. I am also finding that certain “naughty” foods, such as sweets, or fast food items, just don’t taste all that good anymore. This makes them far easier to say “no” to! 😁
Every now and then I continue to get the occasional, lightly-queasy feeling I mentioned previously, which I’m hoping means I’m still eating fewer carbs than I used to since this seems to be a normal side effect of a low-carb diet. It usually only occurs when I’m getting hungry, and I’m still finding that a handful of peanuts seems to take care of it rather effectively.
Fasting as part of a healthy diet
I’m also still trying to implement 12:12 fasting as well, where I try to eat mostly between the hours of 7:30 am – 7:30 pm. This is harder in the summer as it remains light so late. We tend to be outside in the evening, adventuring, or even just doing yard work, so sometimes dinner hasn’t even occurred yet by 7:30. This is especially true on weekends, though I tend to be more lenient with myself on those days.
Nausea from too many carbs…
I had an unexpected experience regarding white-pasta. We had spaghetti one night as well as some breadsticks. My body had a few things to say about this…
A short time after we finished dinner, the feeling came on fast. It was kind of like an odd mix of heartburn and an IBS episode, but without any pain. I just felt very strange. It felt like there was a giant brick in my stomach, weighing me down. Then I started to feel a bit shaky. I was also sweating profusely (with IBS episodes I break out into a cold sweat, get chills, and shake, but I also have intense stomach cramps). With the help of Tums, some ginger ale, and a little rest, I quickly got to feeling much better.
Related posts: Yummy Low-Carb Foods; Final Thoughts on Low-Carb Lent
This was a one-time occurrence and I haven’t had a relapse. I’m assuming my body just didn’t know how to handle that large brick of carbs anymore. I ate white-flour noodles and white-flour garlic breadsticks, and really nothing else. I had no cheese or protein, and even the sauce I used was a light, Italian sauce. On the other occasions that I’ve eaten large amounts of carbs, it was always mixed with other proteins or cheeses, such as in pizza.
I will say, I’m used to my stomach doing strange things, but that was a whole new experience. 🤢
Conclusion
My body seems to function best with a higher carb intake (healthier carbs at least) rather than what a typical, low-carb diet allows for. Overall, I think this crazy diet had a beneficial effect on me. I’m happy to see that while I’m in no way maintaining a strict, low-carb diet any longer, the experience seems to continue to encourage my appetite to lean toward healthier foods.
What steps do you take to maintain a lower carb intake? Tell me about them in the comments!
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