No Carb Challenge – I Tried It So You Don’t Have To (But Maybe You Should)

Confession time: I’ve never been one to complain about my struggles to everyone, especially about my weight gain and cravings…

But people could look at me. They knew.

I just pretended not to care.

But it’s been my shadow, trailing me for as long as I can remember, dictating my happiness and self-esteem…

Yet, here I am. This was something I HAD to share.

If my story can help even one person out there… It’s worth it to me.

Life throws you curveballs just when you think you have everything figured out

Sometimes, life just doesn’t go as planned.

I always thought I had my weight kinda under control, even with the long hours, irregular shifts, and my thing for junk food.

I work as a nurse, so it’s 15 minutes to eat and it’s always the food at the cafeteria or snacks colleagues left in the break room.

I joked about how I could stop with the snacks anytime I wanted.

But then, as the demands of my job grew, it was like I didn’t have time for anything else. 

Meal prep was a nightmare. The constant need to be on my feet and attend to patients left me exhausted.

I started to feel burned out. Weight started to creep up.

Despite eating less, it was impossible to keep an exercise routine. I inexplicably gained 57 pounds over a few months.

The weight just stuck to me, especially around my belly, my chin, and arms.

What made it worse were the health issues that came with it. Acid reflux, heartburn, insulin spikes, and energy crashes became part of my daily life.

My friends tried all sorts of diets and it worked for them. But I felt like I was stuck.

But what freaked me out the most…

Was that I didn’t even realize what was the problem.

“You’re old, and you have a demanding job. It’s just life.”

People say, ‘That’s just what happens when you’re not 20 anymore and have a demanding job.’

I get it. The long hours make it challenging, and losing weight gets harder.

But how fast I was gaining weight… That just didn’t make sense to me.

I thought maybe I was doing something wrong. So, I started trying all kinds of things.

Vegan, fasting, gluten-free… you name it. I even went to a nutritionist, but I couldn’t keep up with the plan.

Meal prep was a huge issue with my schedule. I often just skipped it and ahd some quick snacks during my shifts to keep going.

I really wanted to exercise on my off days, but I was always so tired.

Taking care of myself became really hard because of my crazy hours. And with the extra weight, it felt almost impossible.

Being judged because of my weight was something I faced everywhere—in my job, with friends, even at the doctor’s office. It made everything worse.

I had days when I felt a bit more energetic, but the burnout was real, and losing weight still felt impossible.

The one thing that almost pushed me over the edge…

It really hit me one day in the dressing room, trying on clothes that just didn’t fit.

I felt trapped in someone else’s body, embarrassed to even look in the mirror.

The health issues were another thing. Acid reflux and heartburn made every day a living hell. Insulin spikes and energy crashes left me drained. 

Buying clothes a size up became my new normal, and it was anything but okay.

I was trapped in an unhealthy cycle and I just couldn’t get out…

There was this moment, all alone with a dress that wouldn’t zip up, stuck with my arms burning, when I thought, “This can’t be it.”

I didn’t want to keep going down this path, watching the numbers on the scale go up and feeling powerless.

I don’t want to down this path.

My mind was clear: just accepting this wasn’t an option for me.

Finding a solution for women like me

I went to meet a friend over coffee one day.

Tara is also a nurse and has been for decades. She’s older than me, yet somehow defied the age-related weight gain that seemed inevitable for the rest of us.

She wasn’t a gym fanatic or a strict dieter, but she radiated health.

How was that even possible with our crazy shifts?

She said, “It’s got nothing to do with insane diets or living at the gym. Loving french fries and donuts is fine, but carbs… they’re everywhere. We don’t even notice it.”

That hit me hard. Of course I knew about sugars, flours, and carbs, and how they lead to weight issues and more… 

But I wasn’t aware of the hidden sugars and how much they were really impacting my life. It was an eye-opener.

“Cutting down on carbs changed everything for me,” she explained, “And I only noticed that when I tried a no-carbs challenge.”

After that, she helped me take a hard look at my diet.

And it shocked me… those carb-heavy foods were hiding in plain sight.

My snacks, my drinks, even my “good” food choices were packed with it.

Inspired, I decided to cut back on carbs, too. Not by following a strict diet, but by being more mindful about what I ate.

I definitely needed help finding balance.

So then I started the challenge she recommended…

Experiencing change – and loving it

Once I started this challenge, things began to shift. 

But I’ll admit it. At first, I was a little bit concerned.

The idea of having snacks and regular meals felt strange to me. I usually skipped meals or grabbed stuff on the go.

But this challenge was different. It wasn’t just about cutting out carbs. It balanced everything else, too.

The meal prep tips were surprisingly helpful and easy to follow. Most meals took just 15 to 20 minutes to prepare.

I remembered the nutritionist’s recommendations and saw very similar food choices here. That gave me some reassurance.

I learned how to plan my meals around my shifts, making sure I always had a nice lunch and healthy snacks for the busiest days.

Regularizing my eating habits was already a big step. I wasn’t worrying over what to eat or what to buy. It was all planned out for me.

As days turned into weeks and the challenge came to an end, I noticed something amazing. This was working.

It wasn’t just about eating less. It was about eating right. Foods that filled me up and kept cravings away.

When the challenge was over, only 21 days later, I had lost over 36 lbs.

That’s because I am eating foods that actually work for my body, not against it…

Here’s what happened to my body after starting the challenge

✅ I started losing weight. Finally.

Currently, I’m over 50 lbs down. 

I can’t explain how great that feels. 

My acid reflux and heartburn have significantly improved. Even my insulin levels are more stable.

My clothes fit me again… 

And while I still have a few more pounds to lose, I’m looking a lot more toned.

I added simple home exercises to my routine, enhancing my results (which is a nice bonus, but not necessary.) 

The challenge offered specific exercises to do at home with no equipment. I focused on balance and strength, especially for my legs and core to protect my back.

But more than the numbers, it’s the tone in my arms, chin, and belly and the strength I’ve gained that excite me.

✅ My energy levels went up. 

I am not dragging myself through the day anymore.

It helps that I’m not putting that much weight on my knees anymore.

But I used to blame my tiredness on everything but my junk food meals. 

I also learned to get plenty of sleep before my shifts and not to work three in a row if I could help it. 

Proper nutrition – and cutting down on carbs – is key to feeling energetic and vibrant.

✅ I don’t have cravings anymore

The no-carb challenge drastically reduced my cravings for junk food. It’s like I’ve broken free from a cycle I never thought I’d escape.

I’ll admit that going through it, I thought I would have to suffer and completely eliminate my favorite foods, but it was a steady journey, introducing little habits that I could maintain in the long run.

Now, I find joy in foods I’d previously ignored – foods that nourish and satisfy me without feeling heavy or bloated.

This isn’t just about eating less carbs; it’s about loving what I eat. Every meal feels like a choice for my health.

✅ I’ve never felt more confident

There’s been a noticeable shift in my mood and overall mental health. I’m more myself than I’ve been in years!

I’m not as tired anymore and low spirits have lifted, replaced by a steady stream of positivity and energy.

I learned to respect myself more and not push through exhaustion. 

My three shifts a week might be “lost” days, but my four days off now give me plenty of time to exercise, prep meals, and spend time with friends.

This journey has done wonders for my self-esteem. Losing the weight is one thing, but gaining confidence? That’s priceless.

How and why this carb challenge helped me start losing weight successfully: 

Initially, I filled out a quiz to start the no-carb challenge.

This quiz was the key to unlocking a plan crafted just for me, removing all the guesswork from my diet and focusing on my cravings.

After that, I finished the no-carb challenge and decided to keep my personalized diet plan, as my weight loss goals were greater than 40 lbs.

And here’s what I’ve learned: my journey is mine alone. We all have different battles with cravings, weight, and, in my case, starchy foods.

That’s why finding a path that’s uniquely yours is so vital.

I just hope that you allow yourself this chance… You deserve the transformation that comes with this no-carb challenge.

It’s risk-free — a simple carb detox. I’m telling all my friends about it… Give it a try!