I don't love meat

#1

Hi all. I want keto to become my WOE, but lately I have not been feeling excited with my food options.

I’m about 8 months in, 60 year old female, no metabolic issues except slow and steady weight gain (about 20 pounds) since menopause. I’m down about 10. But my main reason for trying keto was fibromyalgia / arthritis pain. I’m better (although by no means pain-free). I’ve seen other NSV, which are also very motivating.

My challenge in continuing the diet is that I’m just not so fond of meat --especially fatty meat. Never was. I try to force myself to eat the fatty portions but the consistency repulses me. I’m trying to get over this but not making much progress. I could focus more on dairy (which I love), but if I eat a lot of cheese, I get severe constipation. Also, my understanding is that dairy is not ideal for controlling chronic pain.

Just not sure where to go from here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

If you can find enough plant proteins to eat, and get the essential amino acids in the correct proportions (so as to be sure of getting enough of each), you would probably be fine (though you might have to take supplements, in order to ensure getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals).

An alternative might be to eat leaner cuts of meat (assuming they are palatable to you) but with more added fat (you can put butter on it, for example; or lots of blue cheese dressing on your salad; or some such).

Or it might simply be that a ketogenic diet is not for you.

(Marianne) #3

I’m sure others more knowledgeable than me will chime in, but how about if you just eat the meat (protein) that you like, and get your fat through other sources? We eat a lot of pork cuts which aren’t fatty, but almost always have dinner with a steamed vegetable with added bacon grease. You can add a piece of processed cheese to that (melts better), and it makes a nice sauce. Do you like chicken legs and thighs and hamburger? We buy the hamburger that is 73/27 and love it. Slap a piece of cheese on the top, maybe a dollup of mayo or sour cream. This could be additional fat, if you like the leaner hamburger. If you only like chicken breast, make a cheese sauce or alfredo sauce to go on top. Eat the meats you like and try to improvise on the fat sources.

Best.

Good luck.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

Personally, I drink my bacon juice, but I didn’t mention that in my other post, for fear of putting off the OP completely. :bacon::bacon:

(Marianne) #5

Haha!!

For real? We use bacon grease on everything, but that kind of skeeves me. :rofl:

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #6

Sorry! What can I say? :rofl: These days, however, I’m so not hungry so much of the time that I don’t get to enjoy bacon nearly as often as I’d like.

#7

Than eat lean meat, there’s no rule saying you have to eat fatty meat. You go into ketosis from a lack of carbs, not from eating fat. You do need to eat enough fat for your body to run correctly but you don’t have to force it where you don’t want it either. Most people eat real fatty meat because (opinions) It tastes much better, which could be the case here as well. A nice ribeye cooked correctly should have a near melt in your mouth very flavorful taste, not sure what consistency you’re winding up with but in any case you don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to. Most people have little issues with dairy. I’m lactose intolerant and when I’m eating strict keto I can eat dairy like nothings wrong at all! After years of strict keto I literally forget I was lactose intolerant. Now that I eat more carbs me and diary have issues again, so unless you see evidence that dairy is holding you back I wouldn’t worry about it.

#8

@PaulL @gingersmommy thanks for the suggestions. In fact I have no problem with using the fat from meat (or bacon :smile:) for cooking eggs. lean cuts and low-carb veggies. I have just lately felt disappointed in the way my meat cooking has been turning out. I think another option for me might be to get really farm-fresh (as in from the farmer’s market) meats. The few times I’ve eaten freshly slaughtered chickens was like a completely different eating experience. The meat was evenly chewy and flavorful and not interspersed with rubbery textures. Or maybe I need to improve my cooking skills. I would love to join an online cooking class on how to prepare low-carb meat/chicken/fish dishes. I’m sure that would help.

#9

This is interesting. I’m also noticing improvement in bowel function with each month on keto. It’s happening at glacial speed… but I’m without a doubt much more regular these days. Except when I eat a lot of cheese… Hoping and waiting for this to eventually change too!

(Alex) #10

If you’re still having issues with fibromyalgia/pain it might be worth giving the autoimmune protocol (aip) a go. It’s compatible with keto and you could do it with leaner cuts of meat or fish.

Healing is always frustratingly slow! I’m still noticing improvements from keto + aip years into the process. Sounds like you’re on the right track, although i wouldn’t go crazy on the cheese. I stick with covering everything with ghee :slight_smile:

#11

Dont’t eat (fatty) meat then? I always loved fatty pork but I did vegetarian keto for very long and it wasn’t hard or bad, I just realized I need to go lower with my carbs and without plants, well, meat is pretty much inavoidable. I can’t buy proper meat since 5 months so I eat little meat. Not ideal but works well enough.
You can eat so many things on keto! Even if meat is just a little extra and you focus on other stuff, it may be okay for you. Eating something you dislike sounds bad to me.

If you are fine with lean meat, eat that and use fat from other sources if it’s possible for you, I don’t know what you like and what your body accepts. Added fat is pretty much out for me, I use some but a very minimal amount. But I have eggs and cheese (and I eat fatty meat but usually in very small amounts so I depend on other fat sources too. I usually eat very little cheese too but I am fine with lactose-free ones). Higher protein and lower fat works for many of us and if you don’t need zillion calories, you probably don’t even need particularly much fat… I eat very fatty but I almost never reach the 70-75% some people try to meet at all cost… It’s inconveniently, uncomfortably high-fat for me unless I half-force myself choosing fatty stuff instead my normal fatty proteins. I can do it but it’s not natural and probably would cause overeating anyway.

So the solution may be complex: less fat, fat from non-meat (and non-dairy if you find that problematic) sources…

(Laurie) #12

I don’t eat “fatty” meat. I just eat normal meat, eggs, etc.

The only time I felt like I hadn’t had enough fat (yes, I could feel it) was when I ate skinless chicken breast. But if you eat chicken legs with skin on, you should be fine.

I see people putting butter on steaks, eating butter, etc., but I’ve never felt the need to do so.

We are all different. I hope that helps.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #13

Keeping salt intake in the right range helps with digestion; too little, and I get constipated, too much makes stools very mushy (sorry!). But remember that a healthy bowel does not need to move every day. I am old enough to remember when that idea was first being promoted by the laxative manufacturers.

#14

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and thoughts! I do want to make this work for me!

(Marianne) #15

I find a meat thermometer makes all the difference, especially with pork. So much better when you don’t overcook it - or anything, really.