I'm coming out! Just saying hey and THANKS!

(Amanda) #1

I just wanted to say hey, and a huge thank you to all the fantastic info on this site. I have been lurking around for a while now and finally got the nerve up to come out from behind the screen.

A bit about me: I started the Keto WOE May 2 of this year (7 weeks ago today). I can’t believe how fantastic I feel. I am a 38-year-old mama to one active 7-year-old daughter. I teach first-grade and I was constantly too exhausted to basically live. I was too ashamed and scared to take a starting weight, but I have approximated it to be 335 lbs. After a few weeks, I went out and bought a scale. My current weight is 299.4 (as of last Saturday). I know I am just at the beginning of my health journey and there are bound to be many struggles along the way, but knowing there is a group of supportive and knowledgeable people out there is really inspirational.

Obviously, my immediate family know that I have changed my WOE, but I have yet to have a social eating event where I have had to “make it” Keto. I am concerned about portion sizes and not knowing what the ingredients are. I have a serious food allergy already so I am used to being a pain in the servers’ behinds, but any advice for finding less obvious carbs?

This has rambled…I appoligize.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #2

Welcome! You’ve come to the right place!

(Marta Loftfield) #3

Welcome to the sunshine @Daisytoad lots of good info here and even more when you ask questions :sunglasses:

(karen) #5

There’s a limit to how much you can control the preparation of restaurant food, and no way you can really know if something’s been seasoned with sugar or other uninspiring ingredients like MSG. Sticking with identifiable single ingredient foods like steaks or chops helps. Mixed veggies are a lower calorie choice but you also don’t know what sort of sauce they were prepared in, they often come in a bag with a pre-made frozen “butter” sauce that’s who-knows-what. I think salad is pretty transparent, so to speak, but I ask for olive oil and (not balsamic) vinegar because I’m not going to eat 240 calories of sugar and soybean oil in the average dressed salad.

ETA: I just had a “pecan encrusted” chicken breast yesterday that turned out to be about 10% pecan and 90% something else. It just wasn’t that tasty so I decided to scrape it off - YMMV!

(Sophie) #6

Welcome to the forum! You landed in a real sweet spot for sure. I’m going to echo what @kib said about sticking to single ingredient foods when you are out. Burgers are a great option, as well as steaks and pork chops or even chicken. If you do breasts slather mayo or extra butter all over it, or go for the thighs if you can. Steamed veggies are great (with extra butter, of course) as well as a salad. I go out to lunch with my buds once a week at a different place every time. I can always seem to find something that works with my WOE. And lots of places are getting really good at dealing with special requests (Thank you gluten-free people!). Hang in there and your taste buds will change and you’ll become sensitive to sugar. You’ll eventually know when you put it in your mouth if something has sugar in it. KCKO

(Alec) #7

Oh, this is flippin brilliant! Congratulations and well done, keto is made for you! As you say, this is a long journey, but you have started at a sprint, and that has got to feel soooooo good. Keep it going, you are doing great!

Re restaurants: my philosophy is that I try to keep the obvious carbs out (pasta, rice, bread, potatoes etc), but I love rich sauces too much to ask for non sauced dishes that might have carbs in. So I tuck in and recognise that I might be going over my 20g for the day… but hey, this is supposed to be fun, right, otherwise why go out for dinner? If the next day I am feeling a bit sluggish, there were obviously a few too many carbs and I do a short fast, and things are soon back in balance.

So, as long as you don’t do it too often, going over the 20g occasionally I think is actually ok, it is keeping the body guessing. But not too often.

#8

Hello! And welcome.
For social events - always offer to bring something. That way there is a least one thing there you can eat. And if allergic - that will work in your favor- just add gluten/sugar to the list.

(less is more, more or less) #9

Congratulations on your weight loss!

Part of my way of eating includes intermittent fasting. It has helped me to develop the discipline of controlling my reflexive need to eat. I’ve come to appreciate that I don’t need to eat socially and I have plenty of occasion to avoid social eating.

You’re insightful to be leery of food you haven’t prepared. When people generously offer me food, and I don’t know the ingredients, I’ll graciously pass on their offer, saying either I’m not hungry or have an upset stomach. A year into this, however, most of my friends are aware of my lost weight and better health, and my friends are supportive. Some are envious. :wink:

(Amanda) #10

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I truly appreciate the advice. The “bringing something to a party” has been my trick for years. I have a severe peppers allergy and everyone who knows me knows that I would rather bring my own than risk a trip to the emergency room.

I really feel like I was designed for the Keto WOE. I would convince myself to try low calorie diets from time to time, but honestly I felt I was destined to be fat. I would give up, “sneak” a fatty steak and mushrooms cooked in butter and feel horrible about myself. I cannot remember a moment when I wasn’t overweight. I was raised in a fat household. My parents have been significantly overweight my entire life. I was a FAT baby, chubby kid, heavy teen and have been obese for decades. This is literally my last chance to be the mom my daughter deserves. I am doing this for me, but I understand the effect of constantly tired, food obsessed, and depressed parents can have on a child.

I have so many questions, as I find there are a lot of conflicting messages.

I want to learn more about IF, but I wonder if it is too early for me, as I am still having issues knowing if I’m hungry, thirsty or feel that it is “time” to eat. I’m sure there are answers to all my questions around here.

This place is like a magical fountain of knowledge.

Oh, BTW I am gay, so there was no disrespect intended with the coming out statement. My wife just thought it was funny.

(Karen) #11

Welcome!!

K