I've been lurking, now decided to join! :)

[anon54735292]

Dude - I’m the undead. Quit hijacking the post!

[x-Dena-x]

Do we have a female Dexter Morgan over here? If ur looking to kill someone could u do me a favor and pay a visit to @safi Also welcome and hopefully u find this lifestyle good for ya.

lmao ya know, of all things I haven’t seen, Dexter is one of them! It’s been highly recommended to me by several people. I’m ever-adding to my criminal profiling addiction. Ted Bundy Tapes on Netflix was my latest binge. I couldnt stoppppp, I couldnt!!!

[x-Dena-x]

To Everyone: You guys are great. You’ve given me some really great tips, info and advice. I love it. I very humbly thank you

[Alecmcq]

Dena
Welcome to our space. As others have said there are many many approaches to keto and you have to find the best way for you.

But it sounds to me like keto was made for you. My best advice: be patient both with keto and with yourself. None of us should be looking for quick fixes here. This is a long fix, a forever fix. It takes patience and diligence, and overcoming the occasional setback.

Welcome and good luck. Keep reading and learning. There are some very wise people on here.

[CarlKeller]

I love your sense of humor Dena. So glad you decided to stop lurking and join us.

[x-Dena-x]

Awww thanks, man! I appreciate that. I’m very happy I joined, also. Everyone has been so great. I know I sound corny af but, when my mood’s stable I’m able to be nice lol I better take advantage of it now. Later I may just be writhing in a corner somewhere, rebutting conversations I’ve never had with people from 10 years ago.

[Alex99]

I’m sort of there at the moment lol. Total Carbs vs Net Carbs. Someone posted a link of Dr. Westmans’s Page 4 food list. He goes by 20 total carbs, net included in that total. 2 cups of salad greens a day he says. Dr. Berg says at least 7, because the leafy greens help support the liver to process all the fat. Dr. Berg says on his Keto on Steroids video that we should stay below 60 (depending on your size) grams of protein because it will spike insulin. And have 55-75g of fat, but no less than 50g per day.

I read on Dr. Westman’s list that we can eat as much meat as we can stomach, but he limits servings of other fats.

It can be all so confusing. Any thoughts?

Hi Dena and welcome,

It sure can be confusing at first.

By far the most important thing is to limit carbs. If we only eat a small amount then insulin, the “fat storage hormone”, doesn’t get to rule the roost. Our body gets a chance to burn fat.

But how much is “a small amount”. The correct answer is “whatever it takes to avoid insulin spikes”. Notice no mention of grams.

There is no single number which is the correct answer. For some people it’s 23g, someone else 28g, maybe 42 or 92. The correct answer is whatever it takes to keep your insulin under control.

This is why you’ll hear many different numbers, some use 20g Total Carbs, or 20g Net Carbs, 50g Total Carbs and even 10g They are all just estimates but the real goal is to avoid insulin spikes.

Dr Westman uses 20g Total Carbs because in his own words he “wants it to work first time, every time”. But he also says “many people can get into ketosis with 20g Net Carbs, that works for many people, that’s also fine”.

He also deals with many people who have tried many other diets, it’s time to stop mucking around. Must get the job done. So in his clinic he uses 20g Total Carbs to start with. Later you can carefully add food.

I hope that clears up why all the numbers can be different, yet somehow all valid at the same time.

The same applies to protein, vegetables, fat and whatever else. There is no single number of grams which applies to all people. All the numbers you’ll find are estimates in place of some laboratory measurable quantity.

The easiest way to get a handle on it all is observe exactly what people eat:

Instead of cereal with milk - I started with bacon and eggs. Instead of Subway, it become canned fish or roast chicken with avocado and cheese. Dinner was just a classic steak and veggies with butter (but no potatoes or carrots).

I was initially afraid of butter, but it it only takes a tablespoon here and there. No big deal. I’m not afraid of it anymore.

And I “eat to satiety” - that is important. Your body knows exactly how much protein it needs.

Once you get into ketosis, you will burn your own fat and your appetite goes down so don’t worry eating to satiety works out nicely.

Keto is great. It really does work. This forum is great. So once again welcome

[x-Dena-x]

Once you get into ketosis, you will burn your own fat and your appetite goes down so don’t worry eating to satiety is not a license to eat for three people.

Alex, great info, thank you! It was mentioned before, KISS Keep It Simple Stupid. As long as my carbs are down below 20 (I’ll go for total carbs incl net and see how that goes) then the rest should take care of itself. I also know that I don’t want my fat intake too crazy, because trust, I got enough of my own that my body can run on till 2025.

I’m going to stick to Page 4 for the time being. For once in my life I don’t think I’m able to eat for 3! Somedays I can barely eat for 1! It’s kind of like I’m in an episode of the Food Twilight Zone. First half of the episode I’m complaining because I’m always hungry. I take a nap, then wake up in an alternate dimension and am forced to eat all manner of tasty delicacies, happily at first, only to want to vomit after not being able to fit any of it anymore, and the smell of bacon thrusts me into something resembling a bad LSD trip. Almost at trust story. Almost.

[dlc96_darren]

if there’s such a thing as past lives, I was probably fat there, too lol. Actually, I don’t believe at all in past lives, but that fact would have ruined my joke -_-

I think you’re going to fit in here just fine, Dena.

Thanks for sharing your story. I’m glad you’re here.

You’re not a noob to you, so you need to “do you” within the general framework of keto.

Cindy, I’ve heard you say a lot of intelligent things, but this is BRILLIANT!

Once I realized that my body type was highly reactive to stress, I stopped it all and told myself that I need to just let go and just go with the flow.

Charlotte, this is an excellent observation! How often do we fail to observe other factors that affect our bodies, other than food?

I’ve caught a number of errors in Eric Berg’s material, plus some outright crazy ideas, so I don’t consider him a trustworthy source of information.

Hey, if Paul says he’s found errors, I believe him!

[cw2001]

Cindy, I’ve heard you say a lot of intelligent things, but this is BRILLIANT!

Aww…thanks. Hey @juice, Darren thinks something I said is brilliant! See? I’m not a bully.

[Alex99]

Alex, great info, thank you! It was mentioned before, KISS Keep It Simple Stupid. As long as my carbs are down below 20 (I’ll go for total carbs incl net and see how that goes) then the rest should take care of itself. I also know that I don’t want my fat intake too crazy, because trust, I got enough of my own that my body can run on till 2025.

I’m going to stick to Page 4

Well no worries, I started with Westman’s food list, made sure I got into ketosis and took it from there.

It will take many minor tweaks along the way but that’s normal and to be expected.

Cheers and KCKO (Keep cool and keto on).

[x-Dena-x]

Once I realized that my body type was highly reactive to stress, I stopped it all and told myself that I need to just let go and just go with the flow.

Absolutely. I’m the same way. I try to meditate daily because otherwise I can only imagine my cortisol levels and adrenal glands are both pretty bad. I even go the Binaural way, some make me crazy but after years of finagling, I finally have found some that actually work.

[dlc96_darren]

Ha!

The way you quoted that, Dena makes it look like that excellent observation originated with me, but Charlotte’s the one who deserves that credit.

I was quoting her in my post.

[Luckymisslucy]

Thanks. I am trying to take more of a whole body approach as opposed to strictly diet to increase my success. I see a lot of people getting frustrated with lack of progress when they do everything by the book, but they tend to forget the other stuff that effects progress. If I maintain a positive attitude towards keto then I have less stress and more progress which helps me maintain a positive outlook. Gotta love feedback loops! They go both ways. Getting out of your head is important.

[beccs]

Welcome and thanks for sharing your story!

[Kathy_Timmons]

Hi Dena,
Thanks for introducing yourself and joining the group. I am a lurker but I do read everything!!! I have learned so much from this forum.
I can really relate to your history/life. I too have tried every diet out there. I am 11 months into Keto and it has changed my life. My highest weight (that I know of) was 228. I am 5’7 and this morning I weighed 166. It is sometimes slow going but the most important part of Keto is the Not Being Hungry all of the time. That is worth everything to me. My clothes are so baggy now and I have just about gotten back into all of the “skinny” clothes that I have held onto. I am still 31 pounds from my goal weight, but if I didn’t lose another pound I would be OK. KISS is the best motto. I look forward to hearing about your journey and I am glad you found your way here. Youtube and serial killer videos keep me out of trouble.

[PetaMarie]

Hey Dena, everyone has already said things I would have so I’ll just say I have a similar past and welcome to the forums!

[x-Dena-x]

Hey Dena, everyone has already said things I would have so I’ll just say I have a similar past and welcome to the forums!

Thank you PetaMarie! Appreciate it a lot. And also to everyone who welcomed me so awesomely. A very nice group of people

[PetaMarie]

Yes, compared to the internet in general, and many actual places on Earth, this is a very nice bunch of folks to get in with.

[Karim_Wassef]

Huggg