Hmm…I know this is a keto forum and some people may not like or agree with what I am about to say, but I’m going to say it anyway: I don’t believe Keto is the absolute bee-knees, end-all of diets to be on for the rest of my life, for ever and ever, amen. (Aarrgh!! There, I said it.)
I do see LOW CARB as a fantastic way to become a healthier, more energetic and slimmer version of me, and Keto is certainly one way of maintaining a low carb diet. But #@$#@ happens and there are times in life that a full Keto diet does no suit me. I actually want to enjoy a special meal with my children, no holds barred – that is part of my lifestyle that I don’t want to give up.
Food holds all sort of traditional, cultural and emotional touchpoints for our family, and my being on a keto diet does not change my family’s connection with food. For example, my dad was a huge lover of White Christmas with extra cherries and ginger and we made it for him every Christmas. My dad died 6 years ago so we continue to make Dad’s White Christmas in memory of him, even though we don’t love it like Dad did. I would never pass up a piece of Dad’s White Christmas just to stay in ketosis. Two years ago, my sister was tasked with bringing the White Christmas to our family dinner and she made a vegan zero-sugar low fat version (yeah, why bother?! I have no idea what the #$@!& was actually in it but it tasted like Vaseline.) It was such a disappointment to everyone – we all felt that Dad had no presence at that Christmas.
I actually feel a lot better eating things like (real) White Christmas now (on Low Carb/Keto) than I did before. Before, I knew it wasn’t good for me, just like I know now, but I ate it anyway and then just felt guilty. Now, I know what it does to my blood sugar and how my body will react. I also know that I can slip back into Keto again within a couple of days and will be back to burning fats.
The difference between now and then is that the locus of control has shifted. Before, I felt that I didn’t have control. Now, I know I have control so I can slip in and out of ketosis as I choose. I choose what I eat with the knowledge of how it will affect me. Most times that knowledge enables me to choose not to eat certain foods. But some days I choose not to avoid a certain food. So I will have that piece of White Christmas, then I move on. The gift that low carb/keto has given me is the ability to walk right past carbage without giving it another thought. Previously, I could not do that.
So, rather than seeing Keto as a thing I do, I see my eating as on a carb continuum. Lots of the time I am in the Deep Keto range (deep ketosis), sometimes I am in Low Carb territory (mild or dietary ketosis), and sometimes I am in Mod Carb territory (no or very minimal ketosis). Even moderate carb territory is better than SAD (Standard Australian Diet) and definitely better than SADer (Standard American Diet).
And I truly get the fake sugar thing. “Do or do not, there is no try”.