Keep on keeping with KETO WOE

(jim Chiodo) #1

Is there any kind of study, documentation, evidence, etc that would answer this question. “I’ve tried every kind of diet there is and while successful, I always gain the weigh back”.

My experience with Keto has been good, I’m down 40 lbs in a little over 4 months and not planning on falling off the wagon. (I’ve done this with Atkins many times over the past 17 yrs. After an initial big success, loosing 100 lbs, I kept it off for 4-5 yrs than I “found” it all back. Other endeavors with smaller loss, resulted in falling off the wagon every time.

While I’m optimistic, I’d like to offer some kind of assurance both to myself and to friends who ask about Keto and have the same skepticism.

(VLC.MD) #2

I think you realize Keto is permanent for you.
Forever.
and ever.

So that’s why your gains will stay.
Because your body doesn’t handle carbs well.

(Doug) #3

Jim, for almost all of us that have been there, it comes down to the same conditions - most of which is our behavior - that led us to weight gain in the first place. As VLC said, the change needs to be permanent. I struggle with it, but acknowledge it.

(Richard Hanson) #4

+1

This is a way of life for me, not a diet. When I started, the goal was to cure my T2D, and I have. The 60+ lb of weight loss is just an additional benefit.

I have come to accept that I will never eat anything again that just turns into sugar in my blood. My expectation is that I will not regain the weight, and I think this is quite realistic as I no longer suffer from massive waves of hunger.

Keto for Life!

Best Regards,
Richard

#5

You and everyone else! This is not unique to keto or Atkins or any other diet. If you kept 100 pounds off for four or five years, you did much better than most people. There is no study to reassure you. All studies show the same thing: People almost always regain weight they’ve lost, no matter how they lost it.

Like you, I’ve been on this wagon many times before. Will I fall off eventually and regain like every other time (and like almost every one else)? I hope not, but judging by statistics, that answer would be, “Probably.”

But I’m cautiously optimistic. Things that are different this time:

  • I’m diabetic now, or at least I was when I started (labs normalized within months). I can now look at carby foods as literally poison to me.

  • I’ve realized that I’m not someone who can have cheat days or even cheat meals. A recovering alcoholic doesn’t get to have a “cheat drink,” no matter the occasion. Why would this be any different?

Everyone has to find his own motivation, but yes, the key is that the changes you make have to be permanent. And the reassurance that this time will be different has to come from yourself, not a study. It can be done, and it has been done. You could be one of of those statistical anomalies. Be resolute in declaring that this time, it will be done.

(Donna ) #6

This ^^

(Brian) #7

Wow, you’ve done some serious weight loss with keto. 100 pounds ain’t nothin’ to sneeze at. So you pretty much know what it takes.

The thing of it is, if you want to keep the weight off, you can’t go back to what put it on in the first place. I would have thought that you would have retrained yourself during those times of weight loss and not gotten back into the weight gaining habits. I know my tastes have changed and I really don’t like the heavy sweets and starches like I used to.

Maybe you need help in finding some new recipes to keep you low carb even after the weight loss? Carby and sugary foods can’t be your reward for losing weight anymore. There are so many really good foods that are completely keto friendly. Gotta stick with 'em.

Good luck!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #8

Amen! Fortunately, the same techniques for postponing the next drink also work pretty well for postponing the next carb.

(jim Chiodo) #9

Koda,

What a great reply. I really like the analogy of an alcoholic “cheating”. Believe me, I am resolute and plan to stay with Keto and I don’t expect to look back in 17 yrs and think about repeating it. (in 17 yrs, i’ll be 89 yrs old)

Thanks

#10

I don’t have the depth of experience losing and regaining weight as some folks here, so with that caveat, here are my thoughts.

I don’t think a commitment to a particular way of eating is sufficient to prevent relapse. I think identifying and fixing the underlying emotional, environmental, mental, and spiritual issues is essential. And then using that to develop a structure which includes but extends beyond a WOE.

I’ll use myself as an example. I retired at 35 and moved to a tropical island. Over time, I grew bored, restless, with nothing to do and totally directionless. So I ate. And ate. And gained 50 lbs. Chilling 24/7/365 doesn’t suit me. I learned that I need to have a purpose. So I redesigned my life. Part of the new structure is getting healthier. Re-engaging in old athletic pursuits and joining training groups (socal structure). Weighing myself everyday is a permanent ritual, because that’s a habit successful maintainers employ. I’ll do an assessment every year and come up with a plan for any necessary corrective action based on a medical exam and DEXA scan. I like eating HFLC, but I don’t want food to be a major focus in my life. Fasting allows for food flexibility so it will be my tool for maintaining my weight. If my weight exceeds my defined threshold (10 lbs), I’ll fast until it comes back down into range.

(Jacob Wagner) #11

The secret is easy. Don’t diet to loose weight.

Instead eat a well formulated ketogenic diet to get and stay healthy for the rest of your life. If you are overweight then weight loss will be a pleasent side effect.

–Jacob no

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #12

Bingo!