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 my thing for junk food and the many challenges that come with menopause.

I’ve always been on the thinner side, so I never worried too much about what I ate. But then, the weight started to pile on, and I found myself in unfamiliar territory.

I work as a high school teacher, so I’m on my feet all day. Yet, my lifestyle outside of work became more sedentary, and I often turned to comfort foods and snacks.

I joked about how I could stop eating burgers and pasta anytime I wanted.

But then, as the demands of my job grew and I started navigating the dating world again, it was like my body was not mine anymore.

Out of nowhere, my weight started to creep up. It was slow at first, then all at once, it felt like I woke up heavier.

Despite eating less, it was impossible to keep an exercise routine. I inexplicably gained 57 pounds over two years.

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

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 the combo of menopause and a demanding job.’

I get it. The stress and long hours make it challenging, and losing weight gets harder. Especially when you’re riding the menopause wave.

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

Yo-yo dieting became my hobby. I’d lose some weight by suffering a couple weeks, depressing plateaus, then the weight would just come back double.

Even though my schedule isn’t crazy, taking care of myself felt overwhelming. With the extra weight, it seemed almost impossible.

Dating was another story. Hurtful messages and ghosting on dating apps shattered my confidence. 

I often found myself eating my sorrows while binge-watching TV, feeling more isolated and self-conscious.

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 after a particularly rough day at school.

I was already feeling down when I received a notification from one of my dating app. Excited, I opened it, but… 

“Maybe you’d get more matches if you lost some weight.”

Normally, I would have brushed it off or laughed it away. But not that day.

The words stung, and I felt tears welling up. The comment was just the tip of the iceberg. It brought back all the other hurtful messages and ghosting I had experienced.

As I sat there, trying to compose myself, it hit me. This wasn’t really about the comment or my appearance.

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

Buying clothes a size up, struggling with simple things at work, hearing the students laugh… it became my new normal, and it was anything but okay.

People were mean to me because of my size, and it was starting to take a toll on my mental health.

There was this moment when I thought, “This can’t be it.”

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 few friends for coffee one day.

One of my friends, Emma, looked completely different.

We hadn’t seen each other in a while, and to be fair, she used to be the heaviest of our group… but now… 

She wasn’t a gym fanatic or a strict dieter, but she radiated health. A complete 180.

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

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

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 my snacks anymore…

And while I still have a few more pounds to lose, I’m looking a lot more toned, I especially see the change around my belly.

I’m starting to see myself as I was a few years ago, before menopause took over my life.

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

The challenge offered tips and tricks on how to deal with menopause and the insane cravings that come with it. I am actually sleeping 8 hours a day now!

But more than the numbers, it’s looking myself in the mirror and loving it that excites 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. 

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 overhaul my lifestyle.

But it was a steady journey, introducing small habits that I could maintain in the long run.

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

I got blood tests done and saw even more amazing results: my cholesterol levels were down, inflammation was reduced, and my overall health had improved dramatically.

My time at the school may be “lost”, but the rest of my days now give me plenty of time to exercise, prep meals, spend time with friends and family… even go out and meet new people.

This isn’t just about eating less carbs; it’s about loving how I live. Every day feels like a choice for my well-being.

✅ 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.

This journey has done wonders for my self-esteem. I’ve found a newfound confidence and learned to love and respect my body.

When I look in the mirror now, I recognize the person staring back at me. I love my body, despite its little flaws. 

And I think I may even have found someone who appreciates them as much as I do… who knows, maybe it’s too early to tell… all that time swiping has to paid off somehow, right?

Well, anyway. 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!