Back on the Keto Wagon

#1

Hello!
Thanks for welcoming me to your forum! Here’s a bit about my keto journey.
I’m four days back on the Keto Wagon—again! :star_struck: I’ve been on/off a keto diet since 2017, successfully losing 53 pounds the first time, but regained (then lost, gain…) weight each time I took a break, like go on a vacation or “cheat” with holiday food. I struggle to get back on track. Now, I’ve been off keto a year and a half and gained 15 of the 53 lost. And with hard life challenges last year, my emotional eating also got worse. Then, I got frozen shoulder. I knew I had to go back to keto to reduce the inflammation. Again.
With a family history of cancer and diabetes, I know keto is good for me genetically and metabolically. My father died from lymphoma at 56, and last year, my mom died at 81 of pancreatic cancer and complications from diabetes. From experience, I know keto is also better for my mental health. But I’m a sugar addict. And now that I’m almost 60, carbs take an even bigger toll on my body than they used to. This time, more than five months of frozen shoulder pain finally got me back on keto.
You all know it takes a big mental shift to get started. But once I get through those first three days, I know I can do it! I started with a doctor visit and blood tests (no results yet). And this time I decided to try a few new things.

  1. Last time I was on keto, I had some liver pain that lasted at least a month. And my liver enzymes and LDL were high. Even off keto, I’ve noticed some liver pain when I eat fats, so I was nervous about keto. (I saw a doctor at the time and had a “normal” liver scan.) After some research, I read that a choline supplement might help. Here’s one article:

I’m taking 550g of choline daily (choline chloride, a prenatal supplement, Ritual brand). So far, no pain, even with 100g of fat.
2) I thought it would be good to join a supportive keto community! I’m hoping I can eat a ketogenic diet as a lifestyle instead of as a short-term cure for weight loss and inflammation.

Well, that’s my keto story! I look forward to being in this community and seeing what’s ahead in this new chapter! :sunglasses:

(KM) #2

That’s the real secret! When it finally “takes” and you start to think of your diet-health connection as a permanent path you’ve begun walking, not just a little detour back around to the old woe.

Welcome, and good luck! :slightly_smiling_face:

#3

Welcome! I don’t remember my starting year, but the same. I do on/off keto since many years and most probably will do that all my life. My off times usually weren’t very carby as my previous, very easy and sacrificeless diet was low-carb and it was clear high-carb isn’t good for me for many reasons. But as time passed, my carbs slowly went lower anyway, very slowly as I am in love of some sugary stuff and no way I ever will give them up for good (it’s mostly a little fruit). But I considered this path permanent so I really focus on omitting the very unnecessary, not worthy carbs. I have been making zillion new recipes to avoid feeling restricted. People change too. Going on/off keto all the time for years may result in changes too, I had that. I couldn’t enjoy my older diets. I never use any particular amount of self control or will power when it’s about food as my personality doesn’t support that but my softer ways are worth something too. Maybe you need that too? Finding super good food that is obviously better than anything carby you could eat? Sometimes stopping and thinking about the benefits may help too… And I understand going off in a heartbeat as I do that all the time - but keto (mostly carnivore for me) is so tempting that I can’t just STAY there :slight_smile: And my food tends to be mostly carnivore on the carbiest days (and I can go very high carb occasionally. well not compared a normal person but still. it’s not very frequent but happens) as I am a hedonist and I enjoy animal food the most (apart from fruits but that is just a tiny extra joy, not food).
So, you KNOW keto is good for you. Try to stick to it more then, find new recipes, motivation, whatever works for you. And if you go off, make sure it is for a very good reason AND come back asap! (If you are the unlucky type who can’t come back quickly, your good reason will be almost non-existent though. It’s hopefully not the case but maybe one can change that too. Like I managed to be able to eat nearly everything in very, very tiny amounts. Except my best food but that’s not a problem. I even managed to diminish my intake of less ideal carni items! And I love them to bits. It has lots of benefits, useful for a hedonist… If I allow everything on carnivore and I want to loosen up or add variety, I am doomed! Now I just have a cheesier and creamier than usual day and it may be enough… May be not, I am a hard nut… But it helps.)
Certain amount of strictness (beyond mere keto) may be useful anyway. When I dropped my plant carbs (my original keto had plenty. still ketosis for me but the carbs did interfere, changed my desires regarding food, both type and amount), it helped tremendously. I am a big dessert eater, still but it’s way better when I am full with some super delicious satiating properly fatty meat. Many talks about that so it’s not just me.

Good luck! This is a great place, come and talk to us if you have problems - or if you have not :slight_smile:

(Bob M) #4

I did not know that about choline. I heard someone who thought it was great (mainly discussing eggs), but I didn’t know it would help with the liver.

Good luck on this round of keto.

#5

I did keto for a couple of years & then abandoned it, now been back on for 5 months … similar to you, I regained weight when I went back on carbs, sugar addict & now back to keto for my health, so you’re not lonely! Good luck!

(Rossi Luo) #6

Well, I’m a honest person to say what I want to say when I see your story and hope you would not mind.
As you enter Keto and quit Keto again and again even when you knew Keto is good to you, so I don’t think you can keep on Ketogenic diet this time like what you did before. Like most of the human beings and animals, they would repeat their mistakes even they know it’s wrong… Like smoking, alcoholic, killing, war…

(KM) #7

Hey, I was wondering what happened to you! Nice to see you back.

I think there are many people here who have gone back and forth on keto more than once, and eventually settled on it as a way of eating for good. At least in the US, the idea that you can “diet”, in other words eat differently for a short period of time until you get the (weight loss) result you want, and then go back to eating exactly what you were eating before, but retain the results, is very popular. It’s also impossible, but it takes a while for that to sink in sometimes.

This is my third round of keto, I’ve been at it for about 3 years now, and have basically developed an aversion mindset toward processed and high carbohydrate foods. I intend to eat this way for the rest of my life.

It’s true, addictive behaviors like to sneak back in. But many people who quit for good need more than one try, but eventually succeed.

I will add that I’ve made daily weigh-in part of my routine this entire time. Most people don’t recommend this during the weight loss phase, it can be discouraging at times. However, I find it is a very grounding reminder of my commitment to health through diet. I can’t help but be aware, very early on, if a slippery diet slope has begun.

(Marianne) #8

Me, too. I’m finding it very hard to get started. You’re either on it or off of it, in my case anyway.

(Marianne) #9

Not encouraging. I’ve quit many things and have not returned. I am hoping that I can do the same with my former woe (keto). What’s left if not hope?

(Marianne) #10

Thank you. I hope that’s in my future, too.

(Rossi Luo) #11

I’m alright and I have been here all the time, I just like read more than post. No offence, I quit smoking and got back to it again and again and again, but I have been in Keto for 3 or 4 years? I don’t remember exactly, and still with it, never stopped, I enjoy it.
Perhaps I was just trying to say human beings including me are so stupid like animals.

(KM) #12

I understand the frustration, I often think we should have evolved past our base animal impulses by now; if not, what are these big brains for.

Still, we can only try. :vulcan_salute:

#13

Hi Shanita! Thank you for your welcome and encouragement :star_struck:

Blockquote I never use any particular amount of self control or will power when it’s about food as my personality doesn’t support that but my softer ways are worth something too. Maybe you need that too? Finding super good food that is obviously better than anything carby you could eat?

(I hope that quote worked—trying it for the first time)
I get this about personality not supporting self control or will power. This definitely feels familiar, so I being open to a different, long-term perspective and approach. Right now, my motivation is reducing inflammation and being healthy as possible :purple_heart:

#14

Yes! This is what I’m going for!

#15

Well, I appreciate your honesty! I’ve got some new slogans this time around that I think apply here: “One day at a time” and “Progress not perfection” :peace_symbol:

#16

Thank you for your encouragement! :blush: I do still like weighing in, even though I say that my goal now is reducing inflammation and regaining mobility in my shoulder. I also would really enjoy wearing some of my more fun summer clothes again :sunny:
I also have an aversion to the high-processed food now and rarely ate rice or potatoes — even when I was off keto. So that helps this time around.

(KM) #17

Yes, the weigh in is not to encourage me so much as to continually remind me of what I want to be doing. I find encouragement in how I feel and how my clothes fit etc.