Once you've been on the diet for a while, you forget what it was like before you started it. You're feeling so great: so full of energy, so alive. But before you tried low-carbing, was that the case?

For two years I had been low-carbing. It had become my lifestyle. Because of my insulin sensitivity, I was on induction for the entire time. I felt wonderful. Not only was my self-esteem improved, but also my physical well-being. I was better able to fight off the common-cold, allergies, the flu. And my symptoms of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue had basically disappeared. My memory of the aching and struggling faded with time.....

Until this April when I was on vacation with my sister. I did not want to burden her with my limited menu. A visit to our Grandmother also proved it would have been hard.... she made us homemade potato pancakes, shoved cookies at us, and didn't have any Splenda on-hand. So my week in Florida was a week of fast-food and sugar.

When we returned, my intestines were going crazy. Battling ulcerative colitis last year after a vacation cheat, I should have learned that my metabolism had changed so drastically that I would probably experience the same problem again. My flare-up sent me back to the doctor, who prescribed some Prilosec for my heartburn and some other meds for my colitis. He suggested that the low-carb diet was my enemy. After about a week more of carb-fest, I was beginning to feel better. I stopped taking the medications.

Until yesterday, (May 25, 2001) I was still consuming mass quantities of carbohydrates and sugar. But I have not been myself. I have been nasty, irritable, depressed, exhausted, unable to concentrate, lazy. My face is pimply and my hair is dry and brittle. My periods have been more irregular and very painful. My Fibromyalgia has been rearing its ugly head again with joints locking, muscles cramping, headaches, breathing difficulties, and general malaise. And of course the other side effect: I gained back 10 lbs. (which look like 20 because they're all water.)

When I awoke this morning, I decided that whether it's an inconvenience or not, my body needs to be fed the way it requires. And this body requires high-protein, low-carb meals. I will miss my sugar donut every morning for about a week and then I will be glad for the change. I will crave my angel-hair pasta and my sourdough sandwiches for a few days, but it will pass.

I am actually thankful for this miserable experience because it has taught me that cheating is NOT WORTH IT! Though I feel good WHILE eating the carbs, the aftermath is vicious.