Hi everyone and a happy new year (hopefully)
How is everyone’s resolve after the festive period?
Seasonal holiday periods are, or have been in the past especially difficult for me to stick to my healthy eating plan. Only human😬
However, this time around I had about 5 days off (didn’t go silly) and managed to get straight back into the grove!
Anybody finding it difficult this year?
Half a month into the new year
MrKeith
(Keith)
#1
islandlight
(Laurie)
#2
Thank you for starting this thread.
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, post-holiday problems can be complicated by the winter blahs. I don’t celebrate, but January and February are always hard on me. This year I’m still sticking to my food plan though.
Some other things have fallen by the wayside – things that will be relatively easy to resume at some later date. I know from experience that food boo-boos are not so easy to recover from. 15 years ago, one piece of pie on Christmas day led to 15 years of struggling to get back on track. So keto is a real priority now.
Kage
#3
I was doing great getting back on track in 2021 but then had one of those Aldi Advance bars the other day and felt like it kicked me in the butt. I know keto sticks are not a good indicator but I was using them just to see how things were going after falling off for months. (It is a crutch, I know.) Maybe it was the maltitol? I had never had a problem with them from time to time in the past, but maybe it was way too soon? Ugh. I need to just stay focused. Maybe use Carb Manager again to stay in line for a bit. I also got some of the Aldi “Keto friendly” bread and think I better plop that in the freezer for now. Might just be too soon even though it looks like the fiber equals carbs. I’m not sure why this all of a sudden got hard after two great weeks eating well and feeling good about getting back on track. Ok. Whine over.
Shinita
#4
Kind of fail this far. I didn’t carb poisoned myself seriously so not a total fail, I had carni days too and my January is way better than my December… But I have a very high stress level since some time and it can affect my all time low level of discipline (and I am not great when I just eat whenever. that’s the goal, though). It’s so easy in theory: if life is hard, at least my woe should be the best for me. Practice is a tad different. I can’t make myself sick but I can eat not ideally (and feeling good enough but not ideally).
I didn’t really have a big resolve, determination always help but it’s a big thing, tiresome too and it wasn’t perfect in November but I had to find my current limits.
I restart things every month (usually. December was an exception, right after my strictest month ever. but it was great in the beginning due to a big shock. I rarely lose my appetite but I managed it then) when the carnivores start another monthly challenge (not like I can do it but I try to do what I can. I don’t DO what I can, I am not that good but I often try) but I consider every day as a start (if my previous day wasn’t ideal. if it was, it’s continuation) 
If my average day is good, I usually feel quite good. A few less ideal days or a single plainly bad day can’t do much harm to me. Except breaking my momentum but I am pretty experienced at coming back. It’s usually easy but sometimes, very rarely it takes time, even several days!!! But I can’t avoid coming back eventually. So I needn’t to be afraid I will stay on higher-carb for long BUT it can be very annoying for some days too. So I dream about the time when I automatically stay extreme low-carb, my life will be easier and better then. But I can’t force it.
January is usually my best month carb wise, after my carbier (and worst anyway) month, December but this one, even after the strict November when I totally relaxed my ways wasn’t carby enough to trigger the desire for “strictness” (it’s not really strictness to me if I eat what I desire). And my life is still extra stressful. And December is close and my stricter, nicer times are farther… So it isn’t as good as it should be this far but I will get better. And I plan a nice mostly carnivore February, my best carni month ever I should practice a lot until then.
But I stop trying hard. I didn’t resist temptation before either (something in my core personality or something prevents me, I can’t even imagine I would ever plan to try to do that. definitely nope) but I did put some pressure on myself. I stop that, it doesn’t feel right.
I keep my tiny challenges, experiments and some training. They are useful. But I am getting better without trying hard, it just takes a lot of time.
And it’s not a New Year resolve or anything but I stopped tracking I probably will do it sporadically but those times are basically over. It takes off some pressure off me, that’s helpful. It didn’t really influenced my eating anyway… I was merely curious. And it was useful to figure out a few things in the past.
I am sorry, I always try to write it simpler but gets carried away. It’s probably not interesting for anyone but myself.
gingersmommy
(Marianne)
#5
My keto has been pretty consistent since I start in 2019. Speaking for myself only, I know I can’t play with going off plan. I make sure to eat simple, clean, satisfying meals - usually delicious meat and a vegetable.
MrKeith
(Keith)
#8
December has always been my tricky month, just to many Christmas tv adverts and in general to many temptations, coupled with relaxing with the family etc.
Autumn & Winter have always been my best months for strict eating and exercising, not too many social events to loose track on the goals but spring and summer typically a struggle 
with BBQ’s come the beers & cider 
(just the fatty bbq meat would be fantastic) BUT… I have discovered Gin & diet cloudy lemonade, refreshing and very tasty so 
and a lot of determination this summer WILL be different.
Even with the covid nightmare we have all been faced with this last 12 months or so, (selfishly) this year has been a turning point in my emotional battle with food, I think I have cracked the “life changing” shift I needed and feel more focused than I ever had before in my life.
Some of the changes have been subtle and some not so, but the biggest thing (other than diet change) has been a morning walk 6 days a week, only 2.5 miles on hilly terrain has seen a massive change in my physical & mental state. Although I’m active with the farm animals, carrying sacks of feed, bails of straw and hay the walk has completely changed me.
Also being on this keto forum has been a massive help too, being more focused, writing down and reading your life stories has a “not just me and my battle” gives you an education and another great tool to add.
