Hi all. I have to say...I have been experiencing definite confusion with regard to approaches re. diet and moving downwards. After following the Newcastle Diet for about five weeks before the summer, then going HCHF in a sense while travelling, and losing the PLOT completely while in one country in a situation where I couldn't control my foods, and then on to another country where the food served was not Keto but WAS vegetarian with a considerable amount of fruit and oats in the morning - then salads, veg casseroles with veg protein and soup at night - plus I ate cheese (NOTE: I DID NOT TRACK MY GLUCOSE AT ALL) - I managed to get out of the summer maintaining my weight loss.
Since then I have yo-yo'ed up and down, and finally - fed up with that - I've started Keto. I've shed about 7 lbs in about a week. But...wow...I have taken flack from a plant based low fat adherent and have, in turn, been encouraged by a fan and well researched woman I know to carry on with Keto. TALK ABOUT CONFUSING. I have gone back and forth through Diabetes UK's own site and do NOT want to eat that way...is it the plant based diet? I need to check, but way too many processed carbs for my liking - whole grain breads, etc??? - ugh. So, I'm doing keto and using Carb Manager to help me.
I've learned:
1. It's so easy to overeat meat, it's not funny. Not a lot of meat is required at all. The paranoia about this is - to me - overblown.
2. I could choose to do vegetarian keto, but I haven't researched this.
3. It's quite hard to get all the required fat in!!!!!!!! I just cannot hit a target of 70% without going over 5% carbs.
4. Nevertheless, I have shed 7 lbs in about as many days. So...I have overcome a plateau that has been bugging me for easily 6 weeks or longer. ONWARDS.
Any thoughts on the evils of keto vs. the virtues of it...appreciated. I see it as a short term intervention, and then from there will move to a moderate diet with intermittent fasting. Probably something like an untracked Mediterranean Diet where I can have a little of everything, abstaining from processed foods mainly. Because this nagging fear of heart disease and the CONSTANT DEBATE about it, when it runs in my family, makes me absolutely paranoid. I mean it. It does.
Equally, on keto right now, I'm experiencing diarrhea that had STOPPED when I cut back on the meat and oils. Perhaps the dairy is triggering this. But I think it's the oil in the diet. I'm trying to eat my carbs with the fats, so as to ensure the fibre mops this up, but...still. I don't need THAT problem. It's annoying, though I love the weight loss.
I'm really keen to tackle the inflammation problem, and all indications are that LCHF/Keto/Paleo are the way to go. I just can't decide if meat is just not a problem or it is. I mean in the quantities that Keto promotes. Which doesn't seem like that much meat to me - two entrees and a protein shake a day pretty much hits my protein target. Or maybe that's with one Babybel cheese thing, too. It's not a lot of protein. What the heck is all the paranoia about? The fear of loss of electrolytes.
Meanwhile, low fat means you lose the protection of fatty acids as you deprive your body of THAT if you do low fat higher carb diet. Yeesh.
I'm persisting with Keto, as I want to hit a goal of 25 lbs off by Christmas. I also exercise, but moderately, though I do exercise 1-2 times on average per day several days a week. Exercise is a min of 30 min, and it is not running. It's walking on the treadmill for usually 45-60 minutes, it might be dancing at home for an hour, and it's usually weight training...my weight lifting is getting to the point where I am increasing weights beautifully and like what's happening to my body.
Some on Keto say: do not exercise. Bunk. Others say do. The key seems to be not to deplete yourself to excess. I don't. So, that's that.
I'm really pleased to get to 189 lbs from 233 at my high in May. My markers as I stated are that my cholesterol remains 'high' from a standpoint of a doctor, but then I watched LOTS of presentations online about how 'the research' states it is a big fat lie that high cholesterol kills us. We can be well over 200 in the 300 range, and the risk (though I wonder if it is for diabetics, too, or 'diabetes reversed' folk) is a lie. It is not 44% who are improved by taking a statin (I refuse - outright) but only 1% of people get the benefit of statins, etc. I want to completely lay to rest the heart disease question re. sticky fat in the blood stream causing clotting. Still researching all this. Anyway...I'm losing weight, but my morning fasting numbers have been rocketing up and down this week...owing to...
1. rice cakes a few days ago???
2. Extra chewing gum (been binging on it, and my gut was a mess these past two days, so ... that?)???
3. No idea.
That's what is happening. I welcome any thoughts.
Meanwhile, I persist. I'm mulling going vegetarian keto with soy products. They say soy is bad for you. Crikey. What isn't bad for you? It just goes on and on and on and ON.
Thanks,
MM.