Tell me how you have benefitted from low-carbing other than losing weight

[MrsDesperado]

Lots of people low-carb for reasons other than weight loss. For example, I see lots comments about improved skin etc (In what way has your skin improved? Does it turn you into a polished goddess? )

Have you noticed any other changes/benefits/unexpected perks since doing it?

[McBalls]

Less puffy, I tend towards water retention when not low carbing and the effect on my face is not good. When I'm de-puffed I looker younger and prettier - my features, especially my eyes, ar far mor defined.
Lots of energy. Cravings gone. Brain seems quicker, I'm able to think far more clearly. Moods very stable.

[MarshaBrady]

More energy, zero cravings, no focus on not eating just eating regularly and feeling satisfied.

[NotSpartacus]

I used to have hormonal beakouts around my chin and when I low carb I don't.
More energy (less need to sleep)
My nails grow better

[HeySoulSister]

yes better nails and skintone!!

energy and a feeling of calm...hard to explain

[MrsDesperado]

This all sounds so positive!

A colleague at work has been doing it since Christmas and he no longer gets dandruff or eczema. Says it took about three months - how long did it take you to see these differences?

Just to clarify - When you say better nails do you mean stronger? And by skintone do you mean more even..?

I've always been convinced by low carbing as a healthier way to eat, and with all these additional benefits people experience it seems like a no brainer. I wonder why it's not mainstream.

[kiwigirl42]

• much reduced appetite. no longer hungry between meals
  

• had really reduced fibromyalgia pain within a few weeks of starting
  

• had definitely made me eat healthier food. I'm eating loads more vegetables than usual

[HumphreyCobbler]

no bloating
no pms
regular cycle
generally happier
better skin

[NotSpartacus]

Much stronger nails - they usually only grow when I am pregnant.
Regular and more textbook cycles here too (29 days down from 31-34).

[snoworneahva]

No more bloating, acid indigestion and a good night's sleep, unfortunately no improvement to skin conditions.

[thebestpossibletaste]

My IBS symptoms disappear when I stick to low carbing and PMT is much better and much, much shorter. My husband stopped snoring when he started eating low carb and he has snored loudly for as long as I've known him. Also his recurrent, frequent and huge mouth ulcers disappeared. Also neither of us feel lethargic or have dizzy low blood sugar feelings in between meals. In fact rarely feel hungry at all. We do eat large portions of meat and veg three times a day though.

[nenevomito]

When I low carb, I don't get as bad PMT or water retention and it also stops me from being bloated and getting wind.

I feel so much better on a low carb diet, but then I forget and eat pizza

[NotSpartacus]

Can I ask what the rest of you do for breakfast?
On a work day I have plain yogurt. This morning I had an omelette.
It's all v boring though...

[thebestpossibletaste]

I have 3 rashers unsmoked bacon, fried, fried tomato and mushrooms and a fried egg every day. It keeps me full for ages and I love it! IF I get bored of that, I have scrambled egg or am omelette with bits of bacon, mushroom and red pepper in and a little grated cheese.

[redwellybluewelly]

I am not LC at the moment due to pregnancy but when I do I find I have more energy, better concentration, less cravings, better skin, less.puffy all over.

Can't wait to get back to it.

[nenevomito]

For breakfast, I just broke out of what is a breakfast food.

Still do omelettes, poached eggs, turkey bacon, quorn, cooked meats, cheeses and combinations of the above.

[FavadiCacao]

Not sure I'm entitled to comment on a low carb thread...

I follow Paleo/primal, which as a rough guide means no grains (especially gluten containing ones), sugar or pulses; I suppose by default it means lower carbs/starches/sugars than your average/advocated diet.

I no longer suffer (4 yrs without prescriptions) asthma, ulcer, IBD or anaemia and my hay-fever is negligible (occasional dry eyes or itchy nose, nothing compare to almost house-bound!).

However, when I tried a spell of lower carb (< or = 30g/day) in order to speed up weight loss, I experience severe side effects (the most notable ones, of course, are the ones close to our vanity)

[thebestpossibletaste]

What sort of side effects, Favadi?

[FavadiCacao]

The headache never went away, if anything it became throbbing at times.
I felt as bad as when I had the real flu:very weak (I could barely walk up the stairs), sleepy, muscles ached, I couldn't concentrate and my memory was shot. I was constantly thirsty and my mouth was very dry, I used wake up 2-3 times every night either thirsty or needing a wee or both.
From a vanity point of view my nails were very brittle and my hair fell out by the handful and my eyes were puffy with dark circles (from lack of proper sleep).

Test for thyroid functions and low iron were normal. I was drinking in excess of 3L of water on top of broth and eating gelatine; everything was cooked/covered in fat.

[thebestpossibletaste]

I had the headache and fluey feeling for the first six days but then it went. I'm sure it was just sugar and caffeine withdrawal in my case.

[Tigglette]

Where to start, as well as loosing a good chunk of weight, my moods are more stable, my cycle has gone from an all over the place 30 - 35 days with flooding and clotting (TMI) to a regular 28 day, minimal pain, easily managed on for the first time in my adult life. I'm not hungry between meals, am clearer headed and get lots of comments about how much brighter I look. My skins clearer and no longer dry and flaky.

Gosh I must have been a total wreck before LC, but it has worked wonders for me.

[EMUZ]

I stopped getting shaky, no sugar lows. No cravings, didn't feel hungry
More energy, slept well. I've posted this photo before but my entire shape changed as opposed to just losing weight. I did go totally Paleo though with heavy weights alongside and high intensity interval cardio
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[ToomuchIsBackOnBootcamp]

Much better energy, no 4 pm slump.
Better sleep.
Better skin.
Much less puffy. I never bloat or feel uncomfortable after a meal. I also look slimmer at the "same" weight iyswim, my clothes fit better as I don't have such a sticky out tummy. My whole shape has toned up, I have a more defined waist now too than I ever did at this weight on carbs.
No thinking about calories, points, sins, what can I have, starving for days to allow for a weekend binge.
Don't have those sudden mad cravings for something sweet/carby.
Much less severe PMS. Physical and emotional.

The best for me is mental, emotional. I feel "lighter" literally. My mood is much more stable, I can cope with my PND miles better than before.

It's ace. I wish more people knew about the effect sugar has on their bodies and minds.

[BIWI]

No IBS
No thrush

Those two things alone - never mind the weight loss/control over my weight - keeps me mostly on the low carb wagon.

[ToomuchIsBackOnBootcamp]

op I think it's not mainstream because so far the Big Food companies haven't woken up to it as a challenge yet, and are still pushing their low fat (high sugar and additives) nonsense, including their usual pressure, er sorry sponsorship, on the medical profession/ dieticians. What would they do with all their shit in a box cereals and sugary yoghurts if we all start eating fresh meat n eggs from our local producers?!

[thebestpossibletaste]

Exactly Toomuch. I think it needs a celeb to lose lots of weight or regain health low carbing and then get it splashed all over the press.