Monthly Archives: July 2012

Six months on Keto: thoughts and resolutions

Total weight loss: 35 pounds

For anything to be successful, one needs to look back over the successes and failures to plan for a better future.

Things I’ve learned:

Plan meals in advance

Always have keto-friendly snacks on hand

Always have keto-friendly cooking ingredients on hand

Remember which cheat meals didn’t satisfy

Keep a list of fast food keto-friendly foods in mind

Look at bread, rice, buns, tortillas, pasta, cakes, cookies, donuts, and other high carb food and think negative thoughts: “how pasty looking that is,” “it looks good, but it’ll make me feel lethargic and half-dead after I eat it,” “that rice under Chinese or Indian food, will make me gain, and really doesn’t have much flavor; cauliflower rice tastes just as good”

Even if you eat twice the amount of almonds you’ve planned, it’s still better than potato chips

Cheat meals/days must be thought out VERY carefully. Pick something that will really satisfy you and allow you to keep on the keto plan longer

Drink lots and lots and lots of water

Drinking no-carb alcohol may be okay, but keep it in limits. Over indulging makes me gain water weight and being drunk makes me really tempted to binge on whatever high carb party food is on the table.

There is ALMOST ALWAYS SOMETHING YOU CAN EAT in a fast food place or restaurant. For example, what about chicken marsala in an Italian place?

And there is usually some salad option anywhere you are. Burger joints, just remove the bun.

Mexican and Chinese restaurants give me the most difficulty, because any low carb option is not the reason I would go to the restaurant in the first place.

If you MUST go to a Chinese buffet (I attended a funeral dinner at one), you can find options, but they probably aren’t going to be your favorite General Tso’s. How about the salad bar choices? eggs? the insides of eggrolls, and I even ate the insides only of crab rangoons. Leaves quite a pile of discarded shells on the plate and look like you really waste food.

That’s all I can think of right now, but these ideas have helped me realize the first real weight loss I’ve achieved in more than 15 years! YAY KETO!

Day 193: Weight loss success!

Today’s weight loss: 3 1/2 pounds

Today weight loss: 35 pounds

Wow! Today’s weigh in made me very very happy. It isn’t a record in terms of amount lost – I haven’t weighed in 3 weeks, so a pound a week average isn’t really exciting. However, this weight loss is significant in many other respects.

First, nine days ago was the 6th month “anniversary” of starting the keto plan. I haven’t weighed since then, so I didn’t know what my 6-month loss was. Now I know: 35 pounds. That averages to nearly 6 pounds a month, which means that in one year I could be down 70 pounds, a very significant life change – and change in my body, how I feel about myself, how my clothes fit, and how much more healthy I am.

I also had certain weight loss benchmarks in my head, and today I surpassed one. Being down 35 pounds means the plan works, and it works for me. This is the most weight I have lost in years. Low-fat diets, high-fiber diets, just cutting calories, exercising more…all great ideas, but NONE OF THESE worked for me! KETO WORKS!

Yesterday’s eating journal:

I worked at my desk at home all day on the new software going out.

  • Breakfast was yogurt
  • Lunch was leftover sloppy joe from the freezer, no bun, topped with onions, a little cheese, and mustard
  • Dinner was at the local diner – 1/2 flaming cheese appetizer, and  a gyro without the pita
  • Snack – half a hamburger patty from Rick’s leftover patty melt
  • Late night snack – 2 squares of choc/peanut butter

I’m beginning to wonder if the flaming cheese is keto-friendly. Maybe it depends on the restaurant, but yesterday’s cheese looked like it had a bit of breading on it. I’ll have to keep this little treat to a minimum.

Day 192: Pizza lunch and some new lo-carb Indian food

Total weight loss: 31 1/2 pounds

Yesterday the entire work force got together for an emergency “fire” meeting at my boss’s house. On the way, I downed a quick low-carb yogurt and drank lots of water (I always seem to forget the importance of that).

At lunch, we were served some delicious pizza and salad. Oh yes, I forgot I DID have 2 mini donettes for a snack. It was not a good choice, but it was way way better than eating all the other bad choices that were being offered.

Back to the pizza. It was a chicken, pepper, very low sauce type, not sure what it was, but it was very good and the toppings were thick. I didn’t feel deprived not eating the crust.

I also had a small salad with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. It was 7 grams of carbs per tbsp, so I ate very little.

After the meeting, Rick picked me up and was feeling poorly. He had a really high temperature. We headed home, where I had an almond snack and worked a bit. It sure is nice not rushing over to work on the rental house.

For dinner, I had 2 beddar cheddars and some of the leftovers from Rick’s meal. He made basmati rice (which I skipped), and tried a new kind of Indian food that was very low carb. It was Passage to India brand, Korma simmer sauce, and it was very good, even all by itself in my little bowl.

Dessert was the usual fake peanut butter cup.

Day 191: Back in the keto routine

Total weight loss: 31 1/2 pounds

Well, I’m officially back in the routine. I ate no carbs yesterday, and I admit, it was a bit difficult staying true to the diet.

We’re in the midst of the house showing, with some competing bids, and a lot of stress. I worked at home again, and there’s a bit of stress there, too, since the building we work in is smoked damaged and we’re winging it as best we can. The stress, a headache, and being a bit exhausted by too much life, left me tempted to have some comfort food a few times. And by comfort food, you know I mean carbs.

But I didn’t succumb to temptation.

I ate yogurt for breakfast, almonds for snack, and beddar cheddars for lunch – no bun.

For dinner, I chopped up some leftover grilled chicken, put it on a low carb wrap, and added salsa, onion, and sour cream. I followed it with 70% chocolate and peanut butter dessert.

I’m BAAACK on track!

Day 178: Work work work

Total weight loss: 31 1/2 pounds

Thursday started well. We didn’t eat breakfast until late, and we ate at a local place called, “Toast.”

I ordered a cheese and mushroom omelet with a side of bacon. I packed hashbrowns and toast to go for Rick to have at his leisure. The food was good, and the mushrooms added a delicious tanginess to my eggs.

We worked on the house all day, painting, tiling, cleaning, and generally making it appealing so it will sell.

Lunch was a burrito with no tortilla from Del Taco. I strayed a bit and ate a churro. Oops.

Dinner was Indian butter chicken.

Day 177: The day after

Total weight loss: 31 1/2 pounds

Yesterday was the first official vacation day, not counting the fourth of July holiday.

It didn’t start well. I had about 4 hours of sleep after drinking more than I can remember having done in a long time. Before I fell back into bed, I ate carbs…a McDonald’s breakfast. There is something medicinal about eating lots of carb-laden, greasy food when I have a hangover. All-in-all, the drinking binge was a costly mistake in terms of my keto diet.

I didn’t do much but nap all day. I think I’m getting too old for a crazy night life.

Let’s just say I had an unplanned keto cheat day.

I hope today is a much better day.

 

Day 176: Fourth of July party success

Total weight loss: 31 1/2 pounds

Last night we went to a July 4th “eve” party at our friends’ house. Wally and Karl had a wonderful fireworks/dinner night for about a dozen people.

I did really well on keto, eating some pork, some low carb snacks, and only drinking vodka and Diet Coke. Many many vodka and Diet Cokes. I’m not feeling too well today.

Day 175: Monday trivia

Total weight loss: 31 1/2 pounds

Monday morning on a short week…my vacation starts Wednesday. Woohoo!

I had some cherry low carb yogurt for breakfast and some almonds for a midmorning snack.

I’ve been really really hungry lately. The steroids I’ve been taking for my giant bug bite may be to blame. Fortunately, I took the last one yesterday morning, so we’ll see…

I was supposed to meet Rick for lunch, but some Palmerworks business got in the way. He’s got a new client newsletter that keeps growing and growing. I took some time out for 2 beddar cheddars.

Within an hour, I was hungry again. What gives? I ate some more almonds.

After work, I had about an hour for a swim, then I was going to a new restaurant for trivia. I was FAMISHED. I stopped at Wendy’s on the way home and ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, but skipped the bun, of course.

Trivia was at the Penn Grill and Bar in Plymouth. It was crowded, warm, and noisy. Despite being really really hungry again, I ignored all the carby foods on the menu and ordered a grilled chicken salad. I really wanted some deep fried appetizers – any deep fried appetizer, or pizza, or….whatever. I got the salad with bleu cheese. It was just okay.

Got home around 10:30, and I was hungry AGAIN. First, I dropped by the deck and had a Michelob Ultra with Rick, then I ate some tortilla chips with spinach dip. And another donut.

I know, this is crazy. I really really hope it was the steroids that made me do it (or the devil?). I haven’t been off track like this since I started. I do great all day, but fail at night.

Tomorrow is another day.

 

Day 174: Almost perfect keto day

Total weight loss: 31 1/2 pounds

The day started well when I put on last year’s bathing suit. It used to be tight, but no longer! In fact, it’s a bit loose.

I am feeling really good about the keto plan. It’s not quick, but it is the absolute best plan I have been on in years. I just passed the six month point, so at a 31 1/2 pound weight loss, I’ve only averaged 5 pounds per month. However, that’s fine and I’m happy. I can stick to this plan, and it is now an ingrained habit. I have a long way to go, but knowing I will probably have 60 pounds off by the end of the year is something more to look forward too. A year from now, it could be 90 pounds off. It just gets better and better.

So, back to the journal…after Saturday’s carb coma, I jumped back into keto full swing on Sunday morning.

Breakfast was at home on the deck. Being the loving and dedicated wife that I am, I made Rick a couple of dozen blueberry pancakes to go with his eggs and sausage, but didn’t touch a one. I made a grilled onion and cheese omelet for myself, and nuked 4 pieces of bacon to go with. The NYT puzzle was pretty easy, and I followed breakfast and puzzle with an hour in the pool.

In the afternoon, we got to work on the house, painting, cleaning, etc. etc. Cindy and Taylor helped and they also ran out to get some Del Taco for lunch. I ate the macho beef burrito with no tortilla. I did indulge in 3 chips with salsa.

We were tired and dragging at the end of the day. We didn’t get home until 8 pm. I was mulling over what we could eat that wouldn’t take much effort. Rick was in the mood for pizza, but wasn’t married to the idea. I finally remembered that we had some kielbasa and sauerkraut in the fridge. They’ve both been there for awhile, but were still good. I threw the kraut in a pot, chopped up the kielbasa and started them to boil.

I found some frozen cauliflower and cooked it in the microwave for about 5 minutes, then put it in the food processor with 6 oz of cream cheese and a tbsp of butter. I had my faux potatoes ready, then made Rick some “real” mashed potatoes from a packet I found in the larder.

That was easy. When the food was cooked, I put a lid on it, and joined Rick on the deck. I drank a Michelob Ultra and we chilled a bit. Afterwards, we ate our meal and the faux cauliflower mashed were hardly any different than the regular when paired with the kraut and keilbasa.

Now for the flaw in the day…I was out of 70% chocolate, and I wanted something. I ate a DONUT. sigh. I can’t believe it myself. I have no excuses. It’s done.

Day 173: Cheat meal: can’t handle the carbs

Total weight loss: 31 1/2 pounds

Yesterday was Saturday, hot, busy, and full of carbs. LOL

Breakfast…we ate a lovely brunch on the deck, followed by a relaxing swim. I opted for leftover Indian butter chicken on cauliflower rice. Rick had traditional eggs and such.

We worked on the house in the afternoon, then went to Mexican Fiesta for my planned cheat meal. I had run through a list of possibilities, but I don’t miss Chinese food or pasta as much as I do MF enchildadas and chips. I ate tortilla chips and salsa, two cheese enchiladas, one beef and cheese taco and 1/4 of my rice and cole slaw. I accompanied this delightful meal with a margarita on the rocks.

That was the good part. Then came the punishment!

I felt logie(sp?) and out of it, and could hardly make it to the car in my drunken carb stupor! On the way home (on this 95 degree day), we stopped for Mikkie D’s hot fudge sundaes. I was going to make the best of this cheat meal. When I got home (at 7 pm), I promptly fell asleep until 10 pm! I was OUT OF IT.

I just can’t handle the carbs any more. I enjoyed the meal, but hated the after-effects. Tomorrow, I’m back to keto.