Before you begin!
The best thing you can do when starting is to be prepared first, don't go putting it off until next week, or next month, just get everything in order now and then start!
Blood tests
Go see your doctor and let them know what you're about to do. Don't worry if they are against low carbohydrate diets, one of the best ways to show them how beneficial low carb can be, is through your own experience. If your doctor is hesitant, let them know that you have made your mind up already and you would like them to monitor you. Have a complete physical, including full blood tests done so you have a baseline. Make sure they do a full check on your cholesterol, total cholesterol is not enough, tell them to check your thyroid too.
You will be glad you had these blood tests done later!
Buy the book
Research what low carb diet you would like to do then buy the book and read it from cover to cover!
This is really important, most diets really don't have enough information online to do it properly. Yes, before you say it Atkins does have enough information on their web site and this is the diet I see most people do...
BUT even then, I still don't find that people read up about it enough so please read the book, if money is an issue try online places like ebay and amazon or borrow from a library and buy it later when you can afford to. Besides, what if you really need some information from their web site but your internet access or their web site is down, or you are not near a computer?
This page low carb diets has information on different low carb diets to help you get started.
Meal planning
Once you have read up on your chosen low carb diet, start planning a few days worth of meals so your not overwhelmed with not knowing what to cook. Most likely your book will have some suggestions plus you should find plenty more on the forum and through our low carb nutrition pages.
Kitchen spring clean!
Clear out all that high carb junk that you will no longer need. It really is best to keep temptations out of the kitchen, especially when first starting out. If you are worried about wasting food, offer it to any friends in need or to a charity for homeless people.
Shopping
Now that you have some idea on what foods you will be needing, go fill up those cupboards, fridge and freezer with legal foods before you begin! No point starting if there's not enough food that you can eat. You might find our low carb staples and low carb snacks pages as well as the shopping planner on our weight loss tools page handy.
Take a before photo
As yucky as that may seem now, later on when you have lost a bunch of weight you will be glad you did. You don't have to show anyone now although later you probably will want to show everyone how well you have done!
At the very least it will serve as a reminder to you on just how far you have come.
Weigh and measure
The morning you begin, weigh yourself and take measurements. Pick a routine you wish to follow when you do this and follow it each time to help lessen fluctuations. Most people like to do it first thing in the morning after going to the toilet.
Write it down
After you have finished weighing etc, write those stats down somewhere safe, a diary is good for this, as well for writing other important information down along your low carb journey.
