I've been through so many diet attempts that I've lost count. It's over 20. I do great for up to 45 days, lose weight, get stronger (sometimes) and then crash and burn. What I've learned is I can't sustain all or nothing approaches which is why I'm now doing this slow habit roll out.

I did want to talk about my experiences with carbs. I have lost weight working out with a personal trainer in the past on a very normal diet with about equal parts carbs and protein, and about 20% fat. No focus on food quality was really made. It worked but I didn't feel good. I've also experimented with Paleo / Primal Blueprint type diets. Unfortunately I've also taken those to a low carb extreme (they aren't low carb diets) and I feel like superman on low carbs, until I try to do something endurance focused or power focused like Judo. Then I bonk hard on just fat as fuel. The weight loss comes quick and easily with little hunger though. It's pointless if I can't perform athletically.

So, obviously, where I'm headed in the future with my new habits is to take the best of both. Deeply nutritious carbs at a high enough level to support my activity while keeping to paleo principles of no processed, nutrient deficient foods. Practically this will mean ramping up the veggies, and maybe throwing in a sweet potato or two on heavy training days so that I have fuel.

What I don't know with this approach is if I can lose weight easily and without hunger. I'll have to find out! But as with my theme of abandoning all or nothing, I'm going to ease into it. I had some caloric drinks today without thinking but habits take time to build. Overall I've dramatically reduced my consumption. Why this is is I stayed up last night too late, skipped breakfast, then was Ina negative pattern. Breaking out of my habits/routines leaves willpower in the mix which is a bad plan. Much yet to learn, have I.