Zero Carbs

Other than a short stint of avoiding processed sugars, I haven't really limited my food intake for quite a while. I consider myself a "compulsive overeater" or food addict. I've binged on things like cookies, fruit snacks, ice cream, popcorn, and even squash. Recently I've been admiring the LCHF (low carb, high fat) diet from a distance, but knowing myself well enough that reducing carbs would likely back-fire into a carb binge.

One of my favorite LCHF sources of information is DietDoctor.com, who sends me regular emails, informing and promoting their membership. On October 6, 2017 an email from DietDoctor included an article called "Zero carbs for ten years" (https://www.dietdoctor.com/zero-carbs-ten-years). I was incredulous, I thought that everything had carbs. How could someone survive without carbs? This someone, and many others eating this way, are not only surviving, but thriving on animal products alone, mostly meat, and only drinking water.

I continued to do research and joined a Facebook group called Zeroing in on Health which is dedicated to people who live, or are interested in, this "WOE" (way of eating).

On January 16th, 2018 I began my Zero Carb journey. Since the claims that I've read from people who have been eating this way for months and years are pretty incredible, I've recorded some of them here. Ultimately, I believe that every person needs to listen to their own body and decide what is best for them to ingest, Zero Carb is probably not for everyone.


The PROS of eating Zero Carb:

• Fat loss, muscle gain
• Eventual disappearance of carb cravings
• Reduction/correction/elimination of:
• inflammation
• swelling
• autoimmune disorders
• chronic body pain
• headaches/migraines
• diabetes
• "brain fog"
• Improved:
• energy level
• focus
• mood stabilization
• sleep
• libedo
• skin (clearer/softer)
• hair growth and color (from grey)
• general "healthy" feeling
• resistance to common cold/flu
• digestion/bowel regulation (and excrement reduction)
• No counting calories/macros or weighing/measuring food, no food journaling
• Ease of diet, food selection
• Urge to down-size/de-clutter in general

The CONS of eating Zero Carb:

• Approx 6 months for body to fully adjust
• Initial carb/sugar cravings
• Initial boredom with food, lack of variety, meat aversion
• Initial muscle (usually leg) cramping
• Crazy dreams
• Dry mouth
• Clean meat can be expensive
• Have to learn to listen to your body (be mindful)
• Possibly awkward social eating

The claim is that eventually, you'll reach a sort of "zero carb zen" and everything else that people eat won't even really look like food anymore. I'm certainly not there yet, and today on day 30, I gave up and gave in to my carb cravings...