I am now on week 15. I only lost 20lbs on 40. To be honest i am discourage. I feel i am doing everything right but my weigth lost stopped 3 weeks ago and i am stuck. I am keeping my cabs to a strick minimum, adding fats as much as i can but i am doing lazy keto so not counting my macros. Also doing IF 16/8 since the beginning. I am leaving for a business trip to the Middle East and Asia for 2 weeks (Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Manila and Singapore). The food is so different i am scared i will not make the right choices… in my past trips i ’ve rarely seens vegetable…! Trying to prepare ahead but no clue how I will be able to sustain. 20lbs is not much i do not want to gain it back. Any trick or recommendation of what i could be allowed to eat if anyone know these cultures…? Will be in restaurant everyday!!! Help!
Help! Travelling to the Middle East and Asia!
welcome
If you give me the flight number I will wait at the gate with goat legs and camel milk.
seriously there is nothing you find in the US regarding keto you do not find here except pigs
actually you get bone broth for free from the butcher shop
you pay nothing because if you do not take it it will be disposed anyway.
Tks Omar for the encouragement but will be in restaurant for every meal… all those amazing food and won’t be able to eat most… Fattouch must have sugar? Tabouleh, Labbhne… hoummous is small quantity is ok, Lebbe probably not, chicken i’ll be fine but it is my vegetables and fats that i am concern with… i’ll be in Riyadh for 2 days, Jeddah for 1 and then dubai for 4. Dubai will be a little easier since won’t be wih clients. Thinking of doing a fast for 20hrs that could help but i need my enegy this trip are demanding…
Don’t be discouraged…a 20lb loss is great, and stalemate normal!! Just switch things up, try fasting for longer stretches. You really just need to see what works for you to break through the stall!! I lived in the middleware for 5 years and it is definitely possible to maintain this lifestyle over there!! Good luck!!
Tks Amy for the warm encouragement. I am not good at testing i am better at following rules. I guess this is something i must overcome. Will certainly try longer fast. Starting today will try one meal a day…
–in ME-grilled anything–meats, fish, veggies and salads. kebobs, easy on the onions. feta cheese, olives
lots of stir fry options in asia, just watch out for the sauces-no sweet ones. the spicy ones tend to be a less carby choice. plenty of grilled options too, and roasted meats with a side of dry fried seasonal veggies
omelettes --in asia, w/out the gravy
Could you fast a few more hours, have one very small and only one bigger meal a day? Maybe use coffee with heavy cream to get you over any strong hunger pangs? I suppose it depends on how you feel fasting… I usually experience a lot of energy and mental clarity.
Anyway, in your situation I think I would try to skip breakfast, drink coffee with cream when needed and just eat (and enjoy) with clients when you go out for your meals; realising you won’t be able to make perfect choices but can make good enough ones!
I imagine, unless you go absolutely carb crazy, any ‘damage’ done will be minimal and you will be able to deal with that when you get home.
Don’t forget to hydrate and keep on top of your electrolytes. Hope it is a good trip 
Thank you Natasha for your recommendation. That is pretty much what my coach also recommended. I fast very easily. I have been doing IF 16/8 since August so no breakfast in the morning althought this would be the easiest meal to take with the hotels buffet but too tempting to go over:).
Ok here is an update on my first day in Saudi. I fasted most of the travel here just ate some almonds during the flight=good. Yesterday i fasted 20hrs. I broke my fats for dinner. I took my team for a nice dinner at Four season (buffet) =not good. I feel i ate too much carbs: wine leaves, hummous, got some meat (butter chicken), little rice (1/4 cup) and fatouch, but could not resist the incredible dessert buffet i kept it controled but still my cabs must be to the roof and there was not so much fat… i have most likely been kick out out of ketosis. This is day one! What are your recommendations to get back to ketosis the fastest. I am planning a 24h fast today since i will be travelling to Jeddah tonight so no time for lunch anyway… any other ideas. I am carrying macadamia nuts with me to increase my fats…
Not sure what kind of help you are seeking, we can’t help you with your choices only what would support you in staying keto…
here’s my rule when I do eat non keto foods: I drop the fats. if you are going to eat carby things like rice and dessert, I’d stay away from the macadamia nuts and go for less fatty alternatives such as almonds for snacks. If you’re not used to fasting that may make things more challenging with having to ‘resist’ foods such as rice and dessert .