When I follow the low carb diet I feel healthy. I feel great in fact. I don't do it regularly.. only a few weeks at a time every few months. I don't like the diet for the foods available and I want to be able to eat more of the foods I enjoy (i.e. potatoes, rice, breads, fruits and veggies). However, when I am not on the diet, I feel bloated, full of gas, sluggish and not motivated (about life).

From the experts.. any suggestions on what specifically I should cut out of a regular well balenced diet to feel better without cutting out all the carbs? Any suggestions on how to help myself find out? Thanks

Personally, it seems to be grains that get me gassy, bloated, etc. Perhaps you could get away with eating more fruit and higher carb veggies, if you stayed away from grains.

No simple way around it, though. It's ultimately a choice you have to make.

Maybe take a look at a diet like the Zone, which is more balanced but cuts out a majority of the "bad carbs". Kristine's right though... it's a choice. Foods you like that make you feel like crap, or feeling good but a little deprived from pasta, potatoes, etc.

Schwarzbein also includes grains in her diet plan. However, she omits any man-made or refined grains. You don't have much to lose, so this would probably be livable for you.



Every person is unique. The only way to truly find out what makes you feel better/worse is to experiment with an elimination-type diet. Remove all HC foods and then add them back into your diet one at a time to test how you react. Make sure you journal your progress.

Good luck,
Wanda