Faraday - How long did it take you to lose 70 pounds? Was it all done using keto strategies? Whole 30? Other? :-) I have so far to go still and I don't DON'T DON'T want to give up and go back to the crappy way I was living before. I feel so much better, I have improved my confidence and self esteem, I'm a better wife and mother, just so many great things going on for me but I need to switch my thinking from short term to long term...I'm never going back to the way I was eating before. This is the new me and my new lifestyle.
'67mama:
10 months, 18 days. That's almost to the minute. I've attached a photo of "the moment" on the scale. I started March 2, 2014 at 282 lbs. I hit 200 lbs December 20, 2014. I've "leveled up" to about 212 lbs currently. I'd like to see 180 lbs on the scale but I'm giving that thought before attempting.
And BTW: The US BMI guidelines have me "normal" at 180 lbs at 6ft 1in. But I have no doubt I'd look really bad and scare the crap out of people if I went down to 180lbs very quickly. I can and I will, but I'm giving it some careful thought: It feels like my body is trying to tell me something right now and I'm trying to understand what.
DW and I
ate eat according to classical keto guidelines. We got REALLY tired of low variety after about 2 months, so we started using the recipes on ruled.me. That's how I got so good at making the Lo-Carb Pizza.
Full Disclosure: We sparingly use Atkins meals and Atkins meal bars as "emergency rations". However, the Atkins meals were making my wife sick because they contain a lot of ONION and the bars were making me sick because they have lactose. SO: although we were doing Keto, we still really had to pay attention to the CONCEPT of Whole30: weeding out foods that make you sick.
There is debate in the keto community about whether or not to exercise. I ignored this, as I am a rabid cyclist. When I started to see my lap times increase dramatically, I was completely hooked.
You've got to be aware that DW and I were extremely strongly motivated. She, by hatred of a remark about her weight made to her by a woman we had to be associated with at the time. Me, by fear of Diabetes and the realization that I was suffering symptoms that could eventually kill me.
So for her, the original motivator WAS weight. For me, it was the pain of ill health. As we went on and symptoms of ill health resolved. (EVEN in her - although she won't admit. She stopped snoring and her blood pressure became controllable.)
I became even more dedicated to Keto because I began to resolve chronic, painful health problems that not only made me suffer, but cost me a buttload of money in doctor visits.
DW continues to have problems wanting bread or cake. I can take it or leave it. We will indulge on very rare occasions: Her Birthday, for example. We MIGHT indulge on Thanksgiving,
but that is not a given.
I love to have homebrewed ale with my sons in either work setting or social setting. I live "in moratorium", but I will very occasionally have one with my sons. I expect to have one or two this week with them at the thanksgiving meal.
Now: When I "cheat" and have an ale, I don't get away with it. In fact, I suffer perceptibly. My gut inflames, I pop up about 3-6 lbs, I retain water and I feel like shit. My strategy for this is to go back into moratorium and EARN AND BURN. Remember, I'm an avid cyclist, so I'll do a 30 mile loop until the inflammation and weight gain are gone.
KEY to our success is thinking ahead and having coping strategies. Remember my "Season of Insanity" manifesto? That's not tongue-in-cheek: I believe it as truly as the sun will rise tomorrow. I do not believe it's a conspiracy theory, I believe it's only "good marketing" by food vendors. (FIVE OREO displays in high-traffic areas of the store? FUCK YOU.)
ruled.me was a lifesaver. We searched for recipes we liked, tried them and if they were good, printed them out and put them in a notebook. The lo-carb pizza was probably the biggest "win" of all, since it answered our craving for a bready, savory hot pizza.
DW and I got plenty of questions, challenges and people sticking their noses in our business. She reacted admirably and charitably. I reacted with anger, accusation and challenge to the weak-willed cotton-headed unwashed masses. Important thing is to push back on people who challenge: You have to turn back the opposition or they will keep coming at you.
We are still keto to this day and we have maintained our weight loss. I'd like to go even thinner, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to do that without looking gaunt and older. I'm thinking maybe just keep the weight loss at an extremely low rate - maybe 1/2 lb a week or so - and add a little more protein. Dunno, I'll figure it out as I go.