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 this shadow had been trailing me for as long as I can remember, dictating my happiness and self-esteem…

After my husband passed away, things got worse. I turned to food for comfort, and the weight piled on, adding to my emotional eating and sadness.

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 gets complicated just when you think you have everything figured out

Sometimes, life just doesn’t go as planned.

I always thought I had my weight under control, even with my love for generous meals and the rush of taking care of my family.

But after my husband passed away, it felt like life completely changed.

Suddenly, I started to feel burned out. My weight started to increase.

And I felt guilty for feeling so exhausted since I was retired and supposed to have all this free time… Yet, I was always tired.

My fear of falling kept me from playing with my grandkids. Severe knee pain and inflammation became part of my daily struggles. I barely felt like I was living.

It was slow at first, then all at once, it felt like I woke up heavier.

Despite eating less and trying my best to keep moving, I gained 57 pounds over two years.

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

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

What worried me the most…

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

“You’re not 20 anymore. It’s just what happens at your age.”

People say, ‘That’s just what happens when you get older.’

I get it. Our bodies change 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.

I joined a walking group and met some nice people, but I ended up skipping more jogs than attending them. 

Carnivore diet, gluten-free, vegan… I even tried cooking different healthy meals for the family, but they weren’t too happy with the changes.

And the scale hardly moved. 

I’d joke, ‘If this was 20 years ago, I’d be back in shape and full of energy by now!’

I was sad and unmotivated, not even wanting to leave the house some times. The only times I felt truly happy were when my family, especially my grandkids, were around.

Some days I felt a bit more energetic, but the tiredness and pain were too much, and losing weight still felt impossible.

The one thing that almost pushed me over the edge…

It really hit me one day while playing with my grandchildren, I realized I was too out of breath to keep up with them.

I brushed off the severe knee pain, thinking it was just a part of getting older. But my son noticed and insisted on taking me to the doctor out of concern.

The doctor warned me that my weight was putting too much strain on my joints and contributing to my high cholesterol, cardiovascular issues, and inflammation.

It was a wake-up call—I needed to make a serious lifestyle change if I wanted to be there for my family.

At that moment, I felt a deep sadness. I didn’t want to keep feeling this way, missing out on precious moments with my grandchildren.

I thought, “This can’t be it.”

I didn’t want to keep going down this path. 

I don’t want to watch the numbers on the scale go up and feel powerless.

I wanted to be there for my family… for many years to come.

I knew I needed to change. Just accepting this wasn’t an option for me.

Finding a solution for women like me

I went to meet a few friends from the walking group over coffee one day.

The oldest in our group, Andrea, 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, even in her 70s.

She said, “It’s got nothing to do with insane diets or living at the gym. I love making lasagna for the family and I eat french friends all the time, but carbs… they’re everywhere. We don’t even notice it.”

That hit me hard. My “healthy” choices weren’t so healthy after all. They were full of starchy foods I didn’t even know about.

“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 meals looked good, but I worried about eating too much.

Three meals and two snacks a day? That sounded like a lot. 

Don’t I need to eat LESS to lose weight?

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

The meal prep was surprisingly easy and quick. I found myself making quick meals just for myself and nice, healthy dishes that everyone in the family loved.

Cooking became a joy again. I felt happy knowing I was doing something good for myself and keeping my family happy too.

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 19 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 clothes fit me again, and I don’t feel guilty eating snacks here and there… 

And while I still have more to lose, I’m looking a lot more toned, especially the belly.

But more than the numbers, it’s the strength I’ve gained and how happy I feel that excite me.

✅ My exams are pristine.

I am not dragging myself through the day anymore.

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

I feel more energized, less pain, and less fear of falling. 

I went to the doctor, and the improvement was huge. My cholesterol dropped, and my cardiovascular health has improved significantly.

Proper nutrition – and cutting on excessive 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, tired, bloated.

I’ve rediscovered my love for cooking, especially meal prepping with my family. We still enjoy generous meals, but now they are healthier and more balanced.

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 myself

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

The tips on the app made me reach out to a therapist and be more open with my children about my grief.

This brought us closer, and I’m feeling much better.

I’m going out with friends, motivated to join the walking group more often, and I’ve taken up gardening again. 

I’m even considering cooking classes inspired by the meals from the challenge… 

This journey has done wonders for my self-esteem. Losing the weight is one thing, but gaining happiness? 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!