"Comfort food"

(Rick P) #1

Hi, all. Been doing keto since March and made a few posts here. Lots of lurking.

So, in August, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Last Monday, she underwent a double mastectomy. She is now cancer-free, but still bed-ridden. I spent most of last week at home taking care of her.

As one would expect here in the south, my neighbors all got wind of the surgery and we have been receiving buckets of “comfort food.” We greatly appreciate the thoughtfulness, but it makes staying on keto challenging to say the least. We’ve gotten shepard’s pie, chicken soup, chicken and dumplings, tomato soup with cornbread, quiche, cake and the like. So rather than cook separately for myself, I went ahead an had some MICE (“meals I can’t eat”) for dinners. I also did not swim for 11 days (I usually swim 4-5 days a week).

So I got back in the pool yesterday and ate strict keto Sunday and Monday. When I got on the scale yesterday, I was 191.2, up 1.6 lbs since going “off-plan.” Today, I weighed 189.2. Frankly, I’m surprised I was able to bounce back in just 2 days. Of course I didn’t go crazy and eat anything with sugar in it, but I did have some potatoes and dumplings.

My ultimate goal weight was 180, but I’m reconsidering changing it to 185. I’m very close and seem to be entering that phase where my body decides this is the weight I’m going to be. BTW, I’m a 60 YO father of 2 with a grandbaby due next July.

Thanks for reading.

(Brian) #2

Many of us can eat more carbs for a short period of time and get away with it for the most part. Our bodies can be pretty resilient.

I don’t really think much about 1.6 pounds, though. To me, that’s “noise”. The last “#2” can make that much of a difference.

There is also water weight involved which is a tad bit different based upon the context of our overall diet. Certain foods cause us to retain more water. (bunny trail)

We’re not too far from the same age. Have been low-carb for maybe 8 or 9 years, I lose track. It’s not something I worry a lot about. I’ll sometimes have some higher carb stuff… but… I know that if I start doing it regularly and often, both the way I feel and the scale will tell me about it. I don’t necessarily eat exactly the same every day. Some days are nearly carnivore while others will look pretty carby. Normal is somewhere in between and it is not a constant worry.

Could I do better? Sure. But while where I am right now may not be perfect, it could be a whole lot worse, and has been in the past. I’m not gonna beat myself up over my indiscretions. And yeah, I’m gonna knowingly eat stuff sometimes that I know is NOT good for me. Case in point. Yesterday was step-son’s birthday. I had a tiny piece of his chocolate cake in celebration. Probably 2" square and about as thick. He had a 4" x 18" piece. But I did participate. Was that wrong? Maybe to some. Not to me. Will I have more cake? Nope, not for a while, no reason to.

Sure I wanna be healthy. But life is more than what I eat. :wink:

(Rick P) #3

I was originally scared to death to go off-plan because I thought I would just ditch the whole program and go back to eating the way I was before. But it seems to be pretty easy to get right back on track, so I won’t sweat it too much anymore.

Thanks for your response. Good to know I’m not alone.

(Brian) #4

Hey Rick,

Glad it’s easy to get “back on plan” for you. I kinda feel the same. But… I know there will be some reading that it’ll be a much bigger deal. And they’re not wrong, either.

I kinda think of it a bit like one might think of alcohol. I used to drink a little wine with dinner, sometimes before bed. And my mom would have been soooooooooooo worried that I was going to turn into a drunk and ruin my life, etc., etc., because others in our family had a drinking problem. As it turns out, I really don’t have that same thing happening. Have never actually been drunk. The last time I had a glass of wine with dinner was in February of this year, with the widow and son of one of my best friends who had passed away suddenly. Didn’t get drunk then, either, but had a glass with loved ones… raised a toast to my old friend. And that was it. Haven’t drank alcohol since. Could I? Sure. Am I worried about it? Not really. I could have a glass of wine and it would be a non-event.

I say that because for me, it would truly be a non-event. But for someone who has an addiction and has fought really hard to leave alcohol behind, a glass of wine might be HUGE. I don’t doubt or discount that.

Some seem to have problems with certain foods, often junk foods, and have a similar reaction as the alcoholic. And some really could eat just one potato chip, one Oreo, or similar, and that be the end of it. Can’t paint everyone into the same box cause we all are at least somewhat unique.

Anyway, just sharing. Others might disagree, and that’s OK.

All the best!

(Rick P) #5

Hey, Bellyman, nice to find someone similar to me.

For some reason, going back on plan is not difficult at all. It’s a bit tricky having a bunch of carby food in the house, but I can manage. What’s nice for me to have discovered is that I can go off plan and it won’t result in me going out and eating a whole bag of potato chips or plates of pasta and pizza and the like.

Also, keto is very effective for me. If I keep it strict and do my swims, the weight just falls off.

Best to you too.

(KCKO, KCFO 🥥) #6

Sounds like you did very well. Sometimes, you have to do what you have to do. Sounds like you chose well with the gifted foods. Your losing already so just keep on track and you will get there.

Sometimes life just happens and things can’t be ideal. Just keep on keeping on.

Hope your wife is recovering well.

#7

We’re way more resilient than people think, and when the carbs are low for a long time we turn hypersensitive to them, which can be both good and bad.

5yrs ago eating a normal amount of carbs would screw me for days, I’d feel hungover, inflamed, complete trash. I’ve been doing a TKD/CKD hybrid for a while now, and I can have 100g of carbs before a hard gym session, and my blood glucose is back at baseline in right around 1-1.5hrs hours now. A1C is still always around 5.2 - 5.3.

That’s a long way from when I was 300lbs and diabetic. We do heal! Most people become too afraid of ever realize it though, which is just as much of an eating disorder as being a vegan IMO. People get a little pushback and get affriad. I kept pushing, and if something didn’t work, I wanted to know why!

(Cathy) #8

For years, literally years, I wouldn’t go off plan because I knew I stood a good chance of struggling to get back on. I was very strict. I needed to be.

Now, 16 years in, I can and do go off plan with confidence that I can get right back on. I have made keto my ‘normal’ eating so to be off plan isn’t comfortable for me. That being said, I guess going off plan depends on your goals. I am no longer in it for the weight loss but I am for all the other benefits with general health being my primary goal. So when I do go off plan, I know I am sacrificing my general health and that is something I always consider.

I hope your wife is ok and recovery goes well.

(Edith) #9

Stress is also problematic. So you diverged for a bit to help make your life easier during a very stressful situation. There is no harm in that, and since you already know your body prefers keto, that makes it that much easier to get back on the wagon when the stress eases.

I’ve been keto for 8 years, something like that. My body is much happier eating this way. I will be 60 next year. I am in much better shape than many people younger than me, including my own children. I give keto much of the credit for that. But… I will enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and some birthday celebrations here and there. It’s never for more than a day, and always easy to reset the next day.

I hope things go well with your wife and she continues on her healing path.

(Brian) #10

Hi Edith,

We’re not far apart in age, I’m only a few years older. But yeah, I have been noticing the appearance of people around me and noting that of people my age, only a very few seem to age well while others really do not. And I think diet is very much related.

I know sometimes people probably glance in my direction and think I’m older than I am. Most of that is because I have a great big gray beard (would do Santa proud, LOL!). My wife teases that I’d look 15 years younger if I’d make it short or shave, and she’s probably right. But I don’t have a bunch of extra weight anymore, I walk upright, I’m able to work around the homestead normally. Cognitive function is good. No meds. Is it all perfect? No. But could be (and have been) a whole lot worse.

Not trying to brag. Only suggesting that the cumulative effects of a reasonable diet near the keto/carnivore end of the spectrum seems to matter long term. Sure, short term can be good, but long term matters quite a lot, too.

Some people might know I came from a background (religious) full of vegans and vegetarians. I’ve watched over many years and if I’m honest, they’re not aging well at all. Had I stayed where I was, I am reasonably certain I’d have either had a heart attack or a stroke and would likely be on a bunch of meds. Not good. And that’s where many of them are despite their insistence that their diet is the best and the only one approved of by God. Sad, really.