Although I have been keto for some time, I have fallen off the wagon and cannot seem to get up. I have lost more than 20kgs (40 pounds) on keto in the pandemic sitting at home. But since I started having to go out again it seems like I cannot consistently adhere to the diet. A chips/cookie every now and then (every 2 months or so) has turned into daily junk food binges and I have managed to gain all the weight back and more. I don’t know what to do. I feel like I have an unhealthy relationship with food. Anyone here went through the same struggles. If so, how do you get back, maintain? Need help.
I have been feeling low for the past month
Shinita
#2
It seems you are the one who should treat carbs like ex alcoholics treat alcohol… Stay away from them, all the time.
I have no idea how to do that, I am super disciplined and have my extras but I can handle them well enough. So our case is different. I HATE being a slave to some food so I train myself and work against relapses stubbornly and passionately. So it’s some mental game to me…? It’s worst with not ideal but mostly harmless items where I don’t have a true motivation to stay away…
Even if I go total crazy, the next day is almost tabula rasa to me 
I can get back. I go for my eggs and meat and it’s easy enough most of the time. And anyway, carbs feel worse so I get motivation to stop.
But I am familiar with falling off the wagon. I did it hundreds of times, maybe more and I probably will keep doing it occasionally. But my off times are usually not very carby (nowadays my off days easily can be keto, my on is something close to carnivore) and if every weird thing piles up and it still gets too carby, I bounce back immediately. I am a hedonist and like to feel good…
So I just… Get a bit more determined again and come back. Grab my lovely staples, maybe add much variety if I am afraid I may not be happy with the basics… And just do it for another while.
I am a stubborn one and I am exceptionally bad at giving up. So I just stray and try again. And again. And again. For the 1000th time, no problem, I do it. And I don’t even consider things a big fail as I can handle some carbs after some very low-carb times. I just hate when it’s not hedonistic. I ruin things and don’;t even enjoy it, it’s a bad deal and I think I am good to stop those as there is a big demotivation towards them. Even if something is enjoyable, health is my top priority. I never lose fat anyway (or gain) so that matters little except my hope that one day I will be able to lose fat and gain muscles (though I suspect I do the latter just super slowly ;)).
It’s probably not simple at all. We all have some different attitude, personality, strength and weaknesses, priorities… IDK what would be the right thing for you. I do A LOT for health so if I am willing and able to listen (well-fasted state is good as long as I am not too hungry. but I never am in that state), I can persuade myself I should do the right thing. And the right way is very tasty and tempting so normally it’s not a struggle…
robintemplin
(Robin)
#3
you already know how to eat on keto. No one else can help you return to it. It’s all up to you.
Fangs
#4
me, me, raises hand and says I had a massive unhealthy relationship with food and believe me, for some of us, changing eating for life is darn hard!
I lost 70 lbs. Gained 70 lbs. Lost 70 lbs. Gained 60 back. Lost 50 of that and then gained back 60 again. Then I lost 70 again and gained back like 30. Then I lost that 30 and gained back like 50…then I had enough. This was over a few years of ‘dieting’ and in the end omg I was going bonkers. Enough was enough I said and one day I went extreme low carb and held on like insanity and had to fight myself literally to not get off my eating plan. I had many crazy days screaming at myself to NOT eat that crap Many days where I felt depressed giving up all my old foods I loved. Til with enough time on plan, changing my mental game trying to see all the positives in eating different and then I started to relax more. Became calm about this change and I lost 60 lbs and have kept it off. I would love another 10-20 gone but I never fixate on that at all. I just focus now on how much I did get off and am happy with that at this point cause if I focus on those last lbs. it would drive me bonkers again LOL
I tell ya, it is a very hard walk for some of us. We all have to fight thru some issues we have to make it work, stick to it, commit all in to our health changes and hang on for that ride! I had a little mantra I would say over and over any time I wanted to eat crap, I said NO MATTER WHAT you are staying on your eating plan and I did. Finally.
Just take your time, as issues come up you want to eat those cookies or whatever you have to mentally face that moment. Make a commit to not eat that stuff in that moment. Then move forward anyway that works for you. Want cookies, eat a steak. Want cookies, go for a walk. Alot of times it takes a small flip to not eat them and be dragged down that rabbit hole.
wishing you the best way forward!!! Hang in there. You have to want it to achieve it and you will if you dig down and deep and commit hard to how you want to live and the benefits and goals you want to succeed.
NazmusSaqueebAshrafi
(Nazmus Saqueeb Ashrafi)
#5
I admire your persistence. You are literally what I am striving to be. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who have to control my diet extremely (like you) to get in shape. A little a cookie and I am not losing, I am maintaining.