An adjustment period is normal during the first few weeks of transitioning to a low carb diet as this is the time when your body shifts to burning fat for fuel from burning carbs for fuel.
During those first few days, you may lose a pound or two. This is going to be water weight at the start. There are people who might lose less while others might lose more. This is pretty normal.
To make this period of adjustment bearable and easier, here are a few tips to help you out:
Take It Slowly
Unless the cold-turkey approach works for you, try focusing on just one meal at a given time. For instance, during breakfast, instead of toast or an oatmeal bowl, opt for unsweetened yogurt paired with blueberries or eggs. Experiment with breakfast with low carbs until you get used to it before moving on to changing your lunch meals.
Use a Nutrition Calculator
You can track your progress using a nutrition calculator to keep tabs on the amount of carbs that you eat daily. If you wish to have an easy transition to low carb eating, it is a great way to reduce your carb consumption per day or per week little by little during the adjustment period.
Load Up on Your Water Intake
Diet changes can have a temporary effect on your digestion. It would be of great help if you drink lots of water.
Make Changes to Your Snacks First
Look for and list down low carb snacks and refer to it when you shop for foods you can enjoy as snacks. Low carb snacks can help motivate you and get you in the groove so you can extend your low carb snacking to your regular meals.
Eat Lots of Fiber
There are people who add lots of high fat and high protein foods to their low carb diet right away only to suffer from constipation. This is why you should make sure that you still eat your vegetables. Chia seed pudding, for example, can help you get your fill of fiber with no need to worry about consuming too much carbs.
Stay Away from Tricky Carbs
It can be very easy to enjoy your steak with veggie side dish and forget to remember those carbs in the sauce. Make sure you always read the labels before you eat something.
Choose Healthy Fats for Calories
Many people find it easy to get loads of protein for their low carb diet yet it is important to make sure that you still get adequate amounts of healthy fats. Never be guilty about adding extra virgin olive oil to your salads, the handful of almonds, or the fat in your favorite avocado. If you never boost your fat intake while decreasing your carb intake, it might make you feel hungry and as a result, you might find it difficult to stick to your new diet.
Follow these tips and have an easy and fun time as you transition to low carb diet!