Last week during a video shoot, I got talking to the videographer about eating habits, and he told me that he and his wife had been following a pretty strict carb-free diet for the last six months.
Usually, I roll my eyes when I hear about these Atkins, Zone, South Beach, Paleo diets because yes, while I realize that a long time ago we didn't have pumped up fruits and processed flour, we also didn't have hormone-laden meat and dairy products either.
Tricky trade-off.
But when I heard her results (hello, size 2 from a size 10!), I figured it was worth looking into. Little did I know how much dropping carbs out of my diet could actually help my marriage, let alone my butt size.
For the last week, I've been pretty much steering clear of most carbs and sugar, drinking only water and coffee (no alcohol), and eating only meats, eggs (in moderation), veggies, and dairy-free cheeses. Believe me, I'd eat regular cheese if my stomach would allow it.
And as a lover of carbs of all kinds, I will tell you that the first two days were very challenging.
But holy cow what a difference it has made with my overall mood. As in, these are my two crazy weeks before my period and I haven't had one huge mood swing, one major outburst with my kids, or the kicker, one fight with my husband.
You do realize that this is nothing short of a miracle, especially since I've been really struggling with hormones, right?
Don't get me wrong. I'm still a bit weepy and anxious, but nothing like what usually happens. I'm actually amazed at how much different I feel.
Calm. Collected. It's unreal. And that's translated into how I'm interacting with my husband.
I've let a lot of things that might generally be issues with us just pass me by because I'm not as uptight. That's meant fewer arguments overall and a lot more of our time spent enjoying each other's company.
And when I do have a problem, I'm able to approach it and discuss it rationally, which just makes a huge difference, as you might imagine.
Aside from my mood and demeanor, the extra pounds I've lost haven't hurt the self-esteem. My clothes fit better, which makes me feel sexier.
I'm guessing I don't need to elaborate there.
I've also added in a B-12 supplement on the recommendation of a friend, so that could also be helping my mood as well.
I will say that I'm concerned about what I'll do when I add exercise back into my routine, because you do need carbohydrates to burn when you work out. But for now, I'm really hoping I can stick with this plan for as long as possible.
I don't even really care about my waistline, which isn't hugely affected just yet. I honestly just like feeling like myself again, and being a pleasant wife.
Would you be willing to cut out carbs to save your marriage?
Image via daBinsi/Flickr
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Comments 10
As a diagnosed celiac for about five years, I'd say that avoiding specific types of food can be a strain in the long run. My husband has been completely supportive of my gluten free lifestyle - eating all of my GF items at home with me and never complaining - but adhering to a special diet FOREVER is hard when dining out, grabbing quick bites to eat, and grocery shopping.
I'd say that carbs in very low portions are going to be okay....at least do able. I myself eat gulten-free toast with my eggs and that's about the only carb for the enitre day. It's not that hard once you get used to it. The rest of the day I have salads for lunch and then meat and veggies for dinner....sometimes rice or potatoes; but it's worth it and it does make you feel better.
I'm a very thin person genetically. If I rule out carbs from my diet I will have no fat in me. Some people take crabs good some dont. I also need a lot of protein because its hard for me to build muscle. I was an avid runner and I never gained muscle just definition. at one point not too long ago i dropped carbs and I lost soo much weight people were starting to get worried ( that I WAS starving myself lol ) I think every body is different but being spaghetting skinny is not pretty so I eat my carbs daily : )
My diet is simple, in that 80% of my calories come from plants. Yes, plants. That means veggies, fruits, nuts, beans and legumes. The other 20% is comprised of meat, dairy, and some starches (in that order). I believe that this is the way human beings are designed to eat, and that we function optimally when most of our food is plant-based. Not to mention the nutrients in plants treat and prevent disease. My moods are stable, I'm never hungry, and I don't even have a taste for sweets anymore. It's almost impossible to overeat or be overweight when most of what you eat is plants (low-cal, high fiber).
"To save my marriage" though? If your relationship needs saving, cutting carbs and a slight pms attitude change won't help.
My husband became a vegetarian when our son was born, I was already one for many years, but then after being a vegetarian for a couple of years, he wanted to become vegan, so I said, OK! I went from a size 4 to a size 2! Of course our children are vegetarians too.