The two main reasons people go on diets in the first place is to lose weight and to improve their health. That’s how we define success on a diet. Not achieving those goals makes dieting feel like a chore and a huge drag.
The success I’ve had on a low-carb diet has been tremendously motivating and it really keeps me moving forward toward both my weight goals and other lifestyle goals I have. I want you to have that kind of success too, so I’m sharing 30 of my top tips for low carb diet success that will hopefully help you stay motivated and moving forward.
So let’s work together to make sure you have all the tips you need to succeed on a low-carb diet, and you know exactly what it will take to get there!
Tips For Low Carb Diet Success
1. Make sure you have a few favorite keto-friendly snacks on hand. If you don’t have any yet, a few good ones include cheese sticks, almonds, kale chips, boiled eggs, natural peanut butter, pecans, kale, raspberries, avocados, cucumbers, strawberries, and celery.
2. Ask your close family and friends for support on your low-carb journey. Tell them how important it is to you and ask them to respect your choices and not tempt or mock you with your favorite treats.
3. Feeling a little sluggish or down is common when you first start eating this way. You can help restore your body to good health by drinking plenty of bone broth and extra electrolytes during the first few weeks.
4. You don’t have to be deprived just because you’re on a diet. You can turn your favorite high-carb snacks into keto-friendly ones! See these low-carb caprese pizza snacks and these Oreo cheesecake bites. The more you feel the deprived, the more likely you are to fail, so start working on those substitutions.
5. Choose a non-starchy vegetable as a side when making your meals. These include broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, bell peppers and more. Try these amazing brussels sprouts!
6. Remember that a craving will always pass. You don’t have to give into it. When you start craving something, eat a low-carb snack instead to curb possible hunger or go start a project to get your mind off food.
7. Watch the condiments when you’re eating out. It’s easy to get unexpected carbs in dressing, sauce, or ketchup. Sugar is added to so many sauces.
8. Some people say fueling your body with healthy foods is expensive. I say so is being sick, going to the doctor, and having to take daily medication because of a poor diet. Eating whole, non-processed food is an investment in your health.
9. Need to grab a quick source of healthy fat to reach your ratios or curb hunger? Reach for cheese, avocado, nuts, eggs, or sausage.
10. Plan and prepare your meals in advance so you don’t get caught out. The fastest way to ruin your ratios or compromise your diet is to be caught hungry without a plan. If you design a weekly meal plan, you can reuse it over and over again. Make 4 and rotate them.
11. When it comes to events and celebrations, bring your own keto-friendly foods to share, or eat before you go. If you show up to a party with finger foods and you’re hungry, you’ll likely cave in and eat. If you’re not hungry, that will help, but if you’ve brought some things you know you can eat, then you’re safe.
12. Healthy eating is a sign of self-respect. Remember that whenever you reach for something you know you shouldn’t be eating.
13. Pre-portion your favorite keto snacks (or even full meals) in your pantry or fridge. Then you always know you have something you can eat that doesn’t take a lot of effort. It might help you skip the take out.
14. What motivates you to get fit and eat healthy? Knowing why you started this journey is important if you want to stick with it! If you need to see it frequently to remind yourself, write it on a poster board and display it prominently in our home or office.
15. Don’t give up even if your progress on keto begins slowing. This is a natural adjustment as your body learns to adapt to your new eating habits.
16. How many hours of sleep are you getting every night? It’s not enough to simply feed your body healthy foods. You also need to let it rest.
17. What’s the hardest food for you to practice moderation with? Do you keep it in the house? I’d suggest completely removing your biggest temptations. For me it’s potatoes, so I just don’t buy them anymore.
18. Keep a wellness journal. Record how you’re feeling each day, how much sleep you got, and what your energy levels are like. Every couple of weeks, review this journal and look for patterns. You might be surprised by what you find! Try our Kick the Carbs Planner, which includes daily food and wellness journals.
19. When you’re feeling stressed, what foods are you tempted to turn to? What could you do instead to prevent yourself from bingeing?
20. Want a sweet treat? Try a serving of strawberries or raspberries with full-fat whipped cream or full-fat cream cheese. It’s so good, you won’t want something else. I personally love these low-carb mug cakes.
21. There might be days when eating healthy seems hard. But on those days, remind yourself that you are worth it. Rediscover your motivation.
22. Surround yourself with supportive people.
23. Listening to your body is the best thing you can do for your health. Take care of yourself by limiting your stress, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly.
24. Experiment and try low-carb and low-sugar substitutes, especially sugar and flour substitutes. These will help you continue to enjoy foods you love that are better for you.
25. Stay hydrated when you’re transitioning to a keto diet. You may need to drink extra water as your body flushes out toxins.
26. If you’re not exercising regularly, pick a hobby you enjoy such as hiking, gardening, walking, or biking so you can stay active and keep your mind off food.
27. Your body listens to everything your mind says. That means you need to be filling your mental soundtrack with positive vibes about eating habits.
28. Keep your keto macros flexible. You may need to adjust them based on your activity levels, hormones, or age. They aren’t set in stone. If you get a little off one day, it won’t ruin your diet.
29. Make sure eating is fun for you and isn’t a source of stress. Find ways to associate food with enjoyable moments.
30. Keto is not about what you take away from your diet. It’s about what you’re adding back to your life: more energy, better sleep, more happiness, an improved mood, and clothes that fit better.
CONCLUSION
A low-carb diet can bring so much more confidence, healthy feelings, and empowerment to your life, if you let it. Use these tips to find your low-carb success and reach your goals.
Read More About a Low-Carb Lifestyle
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Laura is dedicated to a low-carb lifestyle after losing 52 pounds on the keto diet. As many of us do, she struggles with her weight and has found that one of the only diet lifestyles that allows her to maintain a healthy weight is a low-carb diet. She shares her favorite low-carb recipes here that are both easy to make and full of flavor, so you don’t even miss the carbs.