Let me start out by saying clearly that I never envisioned talking about my low-carb diet journey on this website. For years I was using this site as an outlet for my creative energy, enjoying all the new recipes and sharing them with people who are willing to give new experiences a try. On April 21, 2017, all that changed.
THE BEGINNING OF MY LOW-CARB DIET JOURNEY
Here's the story... going back almost as far as I can remember, I've been categorized as CHUBBY, HUSKY, OVERWEIGHT or STOCKY. If you've been in the same boat, then you know just how much labels like these affect your way of thinking about yourself. I bounced from one diet to the next, with my weight and health bouncing all over the place for almost three decades.
Nothing worked. The weight always came back with a vengeance.
About five years ago, things started to change... for the WORSE. I moved out of the overweight distinction directly into the OBESE category. It seemed that no matter what I did, the weight continued to pile on my frame. With skyrocketing blood pressure, my doctor told me that I was on a clear path to diabetes, stroke, heart disease or worse.
When I asked him what to do, his response was "lose weight." Great advice, right? I've been trying to do that for my whole life. I left feeling CONFUSED, ANXIOUS and AFRAID. Instead of losing weight, I turned to food for comfort and to mask my stress with all the wonderful flavors that I could create. I wrote recipe upon recipe for this website.
I hit a low point in my life. Call it rock bottom. Call it the point of no return. Call it desperation. It had nothing to do with what my doctor told me. It was a point of self-realization which was much more simple than that. The day that I could no longer bend over to tie my own shoes... that was the day that I decided to take back my life. That was the day I decided to fully immerse myself in truly learning the low carb diet and ketosis way of eating.
Living the Low-Carb Diet
When I started living the low-carb diet every day, I have to admit that it wasn't easy. I knew that what I needed most in my life was to become healthier, more energized and vibrant. Every day it was a struggle with new challenges and obstacles to overcome.
My very first decision was to stop writing on the blog. Live the lifestyle and see what happens. The results have been absolutely astounding... over 10" off my waistline and counting in just over six months. I'm not saying that this is what everyone should expect from eating low-carb, but it is what happened to me.
Everything that I learned along the way has been documented. With the exception of meals out at restaurants (and I have articles coming to help navigate that minefield), I relied solely on my own recipes. I have set my intentions to now share my low-carb journey, the new recipes I created and lessons I learned along the way on this website.
The LOW-CARB DIET Chose Me... Not the other way around
The most frequently asked question I get is "why the low-carb diet?" followed closely by "do you think that not eating sugar is sustainable?" The answer to the second question is simple: YES. The answer to the first is a bit more complex.
It is my firm belief that learning to listen to your body is the most important thing you can do to improve overall health. Once I learned how to listen to what my body needed, the path became very clear. My body was responding exceptionally well to reduced carbs, increased greens and proteins along with some more healthy fats.
Within two months my clothes - which were once skin tight - were baggy and looked terrible on me. It was clear that the low-carb diet was really working for me. Fast-forward another 5 months to today as I am writing this... and I now know that it is not only good for me but sustainable in the long run as well. My body just feels really good eating low-carb.
Sharing my LOW-CARB Weight Loss Journey
Now that I am a PASSIONATE BELIEVER in the low carb way of eating, I'm ready to share all of what I learned with the world. I really needed to live the low carb life. And I needed to see the true LIFE CHANGING BENEFITS it has had for me to be able to feel confident enough to tell people that they too can achieve wonderful results by choosing this way of eating.
Before we get started, however, I do have to advise a word of caution. PLEASE consult with your physician BEFORE changing your diet. I'm not a doctor. I don't dispense medical advice. All I am doing is sharing with you what has worked for me - and I have no idea how your body will respond to the low-carb high-fat / ketosis way of eating. The body is a complex place so it is really critical that you speak with a medical professional before diving into this lifestyle.
With all that said, I'm so grateful and honored that you are here. Whether you are just getting started on the low-carb diet or have been living the lifestyle for years, I welcome you to the community and thank you for reading.
TECHNICAL ITEMS
Photos & Reposting
Along with a passion for cooking, I have developed a love of photography. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs and videos on my site were taken by me. I use a Nikon D7000 camera (check out all my photography gear).
PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to re-post my content on social media, recipe round-ups, or on your blog directly, please do so! All I ask are two things in return: 1) Credit me with a link back to the recipe with the following texts “Photo by Scott Groth for I’d Rather Be A Chef” and 2) Please send me a note where the content will be used. I’m happy to promote your content and link back to your site (check out my Press Page), so let me know when it has been published and I’ll do my best to get the word out. Thanks very much!
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