If you want to lose some weight, the first thing you need to change about your diet is to reduce your carb intake. Here are 8 essential tips for cutting out carbs so you can start losing weight.
Are you unhappy with your body? Maybe you are rushing to get beach-ready for your summer vacation, or you feel you need a change in your overall lifestyle. Well, you’re not alone. At any time, roughly 40-50% of women are trying to lose weight.
Navigating through all these different diet and exercise routines can be stressful. You may begin to feel like you are in over your head. Once you finally settle on a low-carb diet, you may think the hard part is over.
However, sticking to that diet and cutting out carbs can be harder than expected. With so many delicious carb-filled foods, like cookies, pasta, and bread, figuring out how to cut carbs will be a learning curve.
But we’re here to help! Keep reading to discover 8 essential tips for cutting out carbs from your diet.
1. Forget the Sugar
The first step in reducing your carb intake is learning to curb your sweet tooth. Sugar is a carb, so all that soda and ice cream isn’t going to fit into your new diet.
It can be hard to do at first, but it will get easier over time. You’ll feel more energized and save your teeth too! If you’re addicted to your late night sugary treat, consider having some substitutes available, like fresh fruit.
2. Dial Down the Artificial Sweeteners
Don’t even think about dumping 4 packs of artificial sweeteners into your coffee or iced tea. The more you indulge in sugar and artificial sweeteners, the worse your cravings will be. You’ll find it harder to stick to your diet when you want something sweet.
By dialing down (or completely removing) artificial sweeteners from your diet, you’re helping your body adjust to a less sugary diet. Over time, you’ll also want to decrease your fruit intake. While fruit has many benefits (and it’s okay to include in your diet), it is full of natural sugars and carbs.
3. Cook More at Home
The best way to learn how to cut out carbs is to learn which foods and ingredients contain a lot of them. When you go out to eat, it’s much harder (even impossible sometimes) to track your carb intake. Since carbs hide in things like sugar and milk, you’d need to know every ingredient in your dish.
Instead, make an effort to cook more at home. If you don’t have a lot of energy during the work week, consider cooking your meals in bulk during the weekend and eating leftovers during the week. This way, you’ll know exactly what is going into your body and how many carbs you’re consuming. Bonus points if you commit to buying organic or local meats and produce!
4. Snack Correctly
Many new dieters find avoiding snacking to be the hardest part of the day. But, you don’t need to avoid snacking, just learn how to snack correctly. Get rid of all your junk food and replace it with high protein, low carb snacks.
The high levels of protein will help you feel full longer, so you’ll eat less at dinner and won’t have the urge to snack later in the day. Nuts and cheese are both excellent options. They’re easy to grab and munch on while watching TV, and they’re good for you too!
5. Swap Your Chips for Veggies
Are nuts and cheese not enough to fulfill your snack craving? If chips and dip used to be your go-to snack, consider swapping it for veggies and hummus.
The veggies will give you that crunch you may miss from chips and the hummus stands in place of high-carb dips. Plus, you’ll get a lot of protein from the hummus, so you’ll fill up faster and feel full longer.
6. Substitute Wraps the Lettuce
On your quest to cutting carbs and eating healthier, you may have made the adjustment from eating sandwiches to eating wraps. While flour tortillas can be better than bread, they are still loaded with carbs. That doesn’t mean you have to give up your wraps for good! Substitute that high-carb tortilla for a healthier lettuce wrap!
This is a great option because many people don’t eat wraps because they like the taste of a tortilla. They eat wraps because the ingredients inside are what makes it great. You won’t even miss that flour tortilla!
7. Opt for Alternative Flour and Milk
Is baking your pride and joy? Unfortunately, many desserts are high-carb due to the flour, sugar, and milk (milk contains lactose, which is a sugar, and thus a carb). However, there is a way to make lower-carb desserts. One of the best things you can do is swap traditional flour and milk for their coconut or almond counterparts.
To stick with it, turn low carb baking into your new hobby. You’d be surprised how many options are available. Are you in the mood for blueberry muffins? You can discover more recipes for the perfect low-carb muffin.
8. Keep Things Simple at the Bar
Do you have a night out planned this weekend? The bar can be your best friend and worst enemy. While you may be due for a well-deserved night out, you’ll have to be careful about what you drink.
Fancy cocktails tend to be mixed with sugary fruit juices and syrups and should be avoided when you’re cutting out carbs. Beer is also a high-carb drink that won’t fit into your new diet. When it’s time to order, consider sticking to wine or liquor on the rocks. If you need a mixer, avoid things like soda and cranberry juice. Opt for club soda, lemon slices, or lime slices instead.
The Best Tips for Cutting Out Carbs
If you’re trying to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle, you’ve probably been researching low-carb diets. Cutting out carbs can be harder than you think when they are everywhere. By following our tips and tricks, cutting carbs will be easier than ever.
Did you like these tips? Check out our health blog page for more great posts like this.
