“This has been the easiest thing to stick to”

Before and after

It’s been 18 months and Emma is now 45 pounds (20 kg) lighter – and happier and healthier than ever. So what has she been doing? You can probably guess.

The Email

Hi Andreas, I am sending you an update 18 months further along my low-carb journey [previous story].

Well, I am writing this update as promised. I have now been on an LCHF diet for over 18 months. I am about 45 lbs. (20 kg) lighter, happier and healthier than ever. On the way i have discovered that I am very carb sensitive and in order to lose weight I need to be eating less than 20 g of carbs a day. If I am a bit more relaxed and have a few more carbs I tend to stay at the same weight. So I have put no weight back on during the whole 18 months.

My husband, mum and dad and my brother and my children are all now eating this way, which made cooking over Christmas fun trying out new LCHF recipes. My mum is now lighter than she has been in over 15 years! And everyone has found significant improvements in their general health (we have all had less coughs and colds). I think the biggest thing for me as well as the weight loss, is my general state of mind I am more relaxed and patient, I definately have more mental clarity.

I have suffered with depression for years and yes, i have still had down times but these have been shorter and I’ve not been so deeply depressed. My husband stopped snoring within 2 weeks of starting the diet and now only snores if he has more carbs than normal (so not just down to the 22 lbs. (10 kg) weight loss). I still can report no gallstone flair ups in the whole 18 months either and just that on it’s own would be a reason to continue eating this way! A small thing too is that my gums used to bleed when I was cleaning my teeth and that doesn’t happen now at all.

The picture I am including is of me exactly 1 year apart in the same holiday destination. This has been the easiest thing to stick too, no hunger pangs, no cravings. And honestly in the beginning I really didn’t know how I would cope without bread cakes and potatoes. My tastes have totally changed to foods I just couldn’t even stomach before, foods that I am now choosing to eat and have become favourites. My dad too has found this – he couldn’t even look at an egg without feeling sick, and he now eats eggs daily.

I still have a long way to go to get to a better weight and my intentions are to use the Diet Doctor 2-week plan to kick start me into being more strict with my carbs. I have never stuck to any other diet as long as I have stuck to LCHF and actually I don’t see it as a diet anymore it’s just how I eat.

I am including my name and a photo which I am happy for you to use.

Many thanks,
Emma Lent.

Comment

Congratulations on your big weight-loss journey and your increased health! For some people, such a liberal form of low carb could work well. A big thank you for sharing your story.

Emma’s previous story: “Before, I Was Ruled by Food”

Try it yourself

Do you want to try a low-carb diet yourself? Use these resources:

• Low Carb for Beginners
• How to Lose Weight

Share your story

Do you have a success story you want to share? Send your information, plus before and after photos, to success@dietdoctor.com. It would also be greatly appreciated if you shared what you eat in a typical day, whether you fast etc. More information: