The crash was real.

My friend Amber (aka my self-appointed wellness guru) casually dropped the phrase “low glycemic index” while we were texting one night. I thought she’d mistyped something. Glyce-what now?

But I Googled it — as one does when they’re up at midnight, feeling vaguely bloated and existential — and something clicked. Foods that keep your blood sugar stable? That prevent the sugar spike-then-plummet drama I kept having?

Sign me up. Ish.

The Whole Low Glycemic Diet Concept (aka What My Brain Could Grasp)

Here’s what I understood, in very non-doctor terms:

• High glycemic foods (like white bread, soda, sugary cereal) hit your bloodstream like a toddler on a sugar rush.

• Low glycemic foods (like oats, lentils, apples, etc.) are like that chill friend who shows up late but brings snacks and emotional stability.

I didn’t need perfection. I just needed to stop crashing, bloating, and craving chocolate like a junkie every 3 hours.

Baby Steps That Didn’t Feel Like a Punishment

I didn’t go full-on glycemic index chart nerd (though there is a chart, if you’re into that kind of thing). I just started making small swaps.

Here’s what I changed:

• White bread → Sprouted grain toast
  (Surprisingly didn’t taste like cardboard.)

• Sugary granola → Steel-cut oats + cinnamon + some chopped walnuts
  (Still miss the crunch, not gonna lie.)

• Fruit juice → Whole fruit
  (I miss orange juice, but I don’t miss the sugar crash.)

• White rice → Quinoa or brown rice (when I’m feeling fancy)

• Cereal → Greek yogurt + berries + a sprinkle of chia

And listen, this wasn’t some straight path. I still had late-night Taco Bell runs. I still stress-ate half a sleeve of cookies when my dog got sick. Life happens.

But the thing was: most of the time, I was steady. And that was new for me.

Not Just Weight — My Brain Started Working Again

This part surprised me.

I didn’t start this to lose weight (though I secretly hoped). I just wanted to feel… better. Less foggy. Less crashy.

And after about 3 weeks of not mainlining sugar at every meal? I noticed stuff.

Like remembering where I put my keys.

Like not snapping at my partner when they asked what was for dinner.

Like actually feeling when I was full, which was wild because I’d spent years just kind of eating until the food was gone.

Weight loss happened — slowly. My jeans got looser, my face looked less puffy, and the bloat? Practically gone. But more than anything, I just felt like me again.

Real Talk: The Mistakes I Made

I wish I could tell you it was all salads and smugness. But nope. Here's the stuff I messed up:

• Trying to go zero sugar overnight
  Don’t. Your body will riot. I had headaches, mood swings, and even cried over a donut commercial. Eased off instead.

• Thinking “low GI” meant unlimited portions
  Uh, no. Eating three avocados because they’re “healthy” still means I’m eating three avocados.

• Falling for the “gluten-free = low glycemic” trap
  Not the same, y’all. Just because it’s gluten-free doesn’t mean it won’t spike your sugar like a firecracker.

• Obsessing over the index numbers
  Look, this isn’t a math class. Use it as a guide, not gospel.

Weirdly Helpful Things I Learned Along the Way

1. Protein is your bestie
   A boiled egg with some berries? Chef’s kiss. Keeps you full and happy.

2. Fiber is the underrated hero
   Lentils. Apples with skin. Chia seeds. Your gut will thank you.

3. Planning > Willpower
   If you wait till you’re starving to make a food choice, it’s probably going to involve chips. Just facts.

4. You don’t have to be perfect to get results
   Some days, I ate pizza. Some days, I crushed it with roasted chickpeas and a kale salad. Guess what? I still lost weight.

The Questions Friends Keep Asking Me

“Wait… so do you never eat sugar?”

Nope, I still do. But I try to keep it to once a day, max — and I usually pair it with something like nuts or protein so I don’t get the sugar spike-n-crash routine.

“Is fruit okay?”

Totally. Just focus on whole fruits — berries, apples, oranges — instead of juice. And don’t go full fruitarian. Balance, baby.

“Do you have to count calories?”

I didn’t. I paid attention to how full I felt and how my body reacted to different meals. It was more like intuitive eating, with a side of glycemic sense.

The Emotional Rollercoaster No One Talks About

I wasn’t prepared for the weird guilt that crept in once I started feeling better. Like… why didn’t I figure this out earlier? Why did I waste years chasing diet fads?

But I also had to remind myself: we’re all learning. And honestly, some days I still eat like a raccoon in a 7-Eleven parking lot. But most days? I eat with awareness. And that’s progress.

Also, weird side bonus: my skin cleared up. No science behind that (that I understand), but I’m not asking questions.

Final Thoughts (aka What I’d Tell My Past Self)

Look — the low glycemic diet isn’t a magic fix. It’s not trendy. It doesn’t have a cute name like “Whole30” or “Cabbage Cleanse from Hell.” But it works — slowly, steadily, like a friend you didn’t realize you needed.

The energy boost, the clearer mind, the fewer cravings — all real.

Just don’t overthink it. You don’t need to track every number. You don’t need to ditch your favorite foods forever.

Start small. See how your body feels. And give yourself so much grace.

Because the truth? You don’t need another diet. You just need something that helps you feel human again.

This one did it for me.

PS: If loving lentils makes me boring… I don’t wanna be exciting.