Lost and Confused

(Maria Dewaik) #1

I have been playing around with low carb for a few years now. (started 2016) I am going to be 65 in April and at this point am so lost and confused. When I started low carb a few years back I began to lose weight (30 pounds in four months). Then I guess I got cocky (Like I always do) and thought I could do it on my own. I started out with the “Always Hungry” plan. The problem is I don’t have the patience or concentration to read the book thoroughly so I look for the stuff that I think will help me quickly. I live with my husband and 93-year old father who I am the sole caretaker for. I work for my husband as his assistant for Real Estate, take care of my father and try to write my books, along with researching what I should or shouldn’t eat. Not a lot of time left for myself.

Because of my lack of concentration (which I am convinced is due to carbs) I find it very hard at this stage of my life to stick to topics. I have lost interest in most things that I used to love, like my writing, music, crafts, etc. I know that if I can find a way to stick to this way of eating, my life would get better. I need to lose over 100 pounds, have type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis, severe neuropathy in my feet that makes it almost impossible to walk any distance (it also severely affects my balance) and lots of other health issues. I don’t know how to start to do this properly. I need all the help I can get to get back on this way of eating and do it right so I can get my life back.

There is so much information on the internet that it just gets confusing. My doctors are no help as they keep insisting I go low fat and eat more carbs, even though that has not worked (then they keep giving me new meds (I hate pills and try not to take them). Even my diabetes nutiritonists insist I eat 30g of carbs with each meal.

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #2

Start with this guide. Its really the simplest and easiest way to do things (and there is no cost, other than the food of course!)

Good luck to you on your journey. You can always post your meals on the forum and ask for advice on how to tweak things to make improvements. We are all here for you.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #3

Instead of ‘playing around’ get real. The issues you describe are serious and will only get worse if you don’t. There’s no secret formula - just cut out carbs. The fewer carbs you consume the better off you’ll be and the sooner your issues will start to improve. Staying consistently in ketosis brings with it a host of healthful benefits. Well worth the effort. There are lots of folks on this forum who have been where you are and fixed themselves. They can offer specific advice when you ask. Do so!

By the way, although I haven’t been where you are I decided to spend my last years as healthy as I can doing as many of the things I love to do as long as I can. I’m 74 and have been keto for 3 years. It’s the best thing I ever did for myself.

#4

Welcome Maria!
I bought cookbooks. Food on the brain! But these are keto cookbooks.The first was written by some phd nutritionist and it was so complicated and convoluted with explanations that were so scientific that I thought I was going to quit before I even started. The next cookbook I got is called “Simply Keto” and the introduction is the explanation and it is short and easy. So I “got it” kind of- with help from here if I had any questions. I also use cronometer.com to check on my macros.I hardly ever make it to the sustenance kcal level/day for my couch potato existence. And I think what might be stopping you from starting is the fear of not enjoying food anymore? Of suffering? The thing I absolutely love about keto, is that anything I crave in the way of food ( and the craving does get less) I can actually have - only modified. Need chocolate? I make myself an almond milk milk shake with sugar free cocoa and vanilla extract and sweetener. It tastes so rich that I have to water it down. Need cake? There are recipes for cinnamon rolls with nuts and maple syrup icing under “chaffles” on youtube. The same goes for bread. Miss ice cream? Take cream cheese and mix it with sweetener and vanilla extract and a bit of water. It is so rich and so satisfying. I dont miss rice because I can make thai curry with cauliflower rice. Look on youtube- there are recipes for “risotto” made with cauliflower rice. Tonight I had it with onions and blue cheese sauce. YUM. I ate duck on a bed of veg for Xmas and had strawberries for dessert with whipped cream. Does this sound like deprivation to you? And because I am not in a terrible hurry- I take it slow so I can still enjoy eating. Without suffering at all, without starving, I have lost 2 kilos ( 4.4 US lbs) in 5 weeks. If I just keep this up, I will have lost maybe 16 Kilos by this summer. Maybe more if I can get into IF- but I dont have to because I can live like this and still lose weight. Its wonderful- in addition to the side effects that my IBS has healed and I must have been allergic to grains. Bread? Never again if it gave me such cramps. I`ll make a chaffle with psyllium husks. There are even books on how to bake that are keto.
But you do have to keep an eye on your blood sugar and your meds.

(Richard Hanson) #5

Hi Maria,

I was a type 2 diabetic for perhaps 15 years. At the end, I was taking 6 different medication for diabetes including two different forms of insulin (about 60 to 80 units a day), another injectable and three oral medications along with with a pill for cholesterol and yet another for high blood pressure. I went to a new doctor with a gallon bag full of medications and testing supplies, and he prescribed a ketogenic diet. My A1c was over 9.

Now … with no drugs at all for over two years, my last A1c was 5.1.

Every time I think about eating something with carbs, I just think about that gallon zip lock bag of drugs and diabetic testing supplies.

I did read a number of books, I love learning, but there is no need at all to read books for the ketogenic diet unless you just want to convince yourself to ignore your doctors.

You might think you know almost nothing about nutrition, I don’t know much either, but this is also certainly true of all most every doctor you will ever encounter. What science knows about nutrition is greatly eclipsed by what science does not know about nutrition.

Don’t eat any net carbs (fiber does not count) other then what is incidental to consuming low carb vegetables. No bread, no pasta, rice, vegetables that grow underground, fruit, beans, most nuts, corn, nothing with any significant net carbs. Don’t eat anything with added sugar and that will include almost everything that comes is a box, a can or a jar. Finally, eat only a moderate amount of protein. The ketogenic diet is that simple.

The Inuit people have been eating keto for hundreds of generation before anyone ever wrote a book on how to eat a keto diet. No one invented the keto diet although it has become something of a fad and many people will be happy to separate you from your money by selling you programs, supplements, coaching, … motivation.

Uneducated, ignorant, unscientific, largely illiterate native peoples all over the world suffered from none of the ailments of civilization, almost no heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, all without doctors or nutritionists. All without eating a modern, processed, scientifically fortified standard American government prescribed diet. When they start eating the way we eat, the way our scientists, doctors, and nutritionists have told us we “need” to eat, these same peoples get all of the same metabolic disorders that are now epidemic in America.

What you eat is your choice, your responsibility.

Keto for Life!
Richard

#6

@FatMan
LOVE YOUR STORY!!

(Maria Dewaik) #7

Thank you so much. You make it sound so much easier. I do have the basics down and am going to start again as of today. I think the issue might be when I try to find some recipes online. One site says you can have something, where another site says it’s not allowed. I just ordered the book you mentioned and am looking forward to readin git.

My blood sugar has never been so high, so that is pretty much under control when I follow low carb (against my doctors wishes). The highest my A1C has ever been was 6.9 (I was diagnosed around 2002). My last was 6.2, so I am getting there.

I appreciate the advice. Thank you so much.

(Maria Dewaik) #8

Thank you for your comments. I am a bit confused by your “don’t eat any net carbs”. What do you mean by net carbs. I thought it just means taking the total carbs, subtracting the fiber and sugar alcohol to get net carbs. Are you referring to certain types of foods?

Thanks again.

#9

@Mardew
I dont get that either, I just avoid vegetables that grow underground, and I am still losing weight. Just check cronometer.com for your macros. You give in a food and it will tell you how many carbs in it. I keep my carbs between 15-25g usually. I try to keep the disc showing the right percentage of fat to protein to carbs-as in eating more fats than proteins. And I lose weight.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #10

@FatMan can correct me if I’m misinterpreting. But I think what’s he saying is eat zero carbs other than what are associated incidentally with otherwise fat/protein nutritious foods. For example, don’t see ‘20 carbs per day’ as a target, see it as a max limit. The more below it the better. Carbs are not necessary for your health and wellbeing.

(Candy Lind) #11

Maria, you’ll see zillions of opinions on how to do low carb, and many will contradict each other. That’s because there are MANY WAYS to have a successful low-carb lifestyle. What is most important is to keep it simple (especially at first) so you won’t look like that “exploding head” emo (:exploding_head:)! LOL

In a nutshell, avoid Grains in any form, Potatoes, and Sugar in any form, even natural (like fruit) (memory aid: GPS), eat moderate portions of protein, and stick to small servings of vegetables that grow above the ground, using plenty of healthy fats to keep you satiated, and you should be fine.

I suggest you check out dietdoctor.com and use their meal plans if you are unsure what to eat at first. They have great infographics you can print out that show you the best (and worst) vegetables to eat, how much is a good serving of protein, where to get extra fat if you don’t feel full enough (you should NEVER be hungry on keto!), etc. I think the first two weeks are free and then there’s a reasonable membership fee. There’s also a Diet Doctor support group on FaceBook that’s really great. And keep reading & asking questions here! This is an awesome place. Look for the topics for “women of a certain age” (I can’t remember the titles - after all, I’m 65!) to get perspectives from the rest of us in your age bracket, and read the “show me the science” topics.

Try not to feel overwhelmed by the enormous amounts of info that come your way, and as we say here in the forums, “KCKO” (Keep Calm, Keto On!).

(Doug) #12

Welcome, Maria. I’m glad you’re here. :slightly_smiling_face:

You can make some important and really great gains for yourself.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #13

Welcome Maria! I look forward to hearing about your journey.

(Richard Hanson) #14

Hi Maria,

Total carbs, subtract the fiber to get net carbs. I try to eat zero net carbs with a max of 10g net carbs a day. As a diabetic, I just don’t eat anything that becomes sugar in my blood including excessive amount of protein.

The idea of eating 30g of carbs with every meal doesn’t even come close to passing a basic scratch and sniff test. I followed the recommended ADA treatment program under the care of a very respected endocrinologist for many years, a specialist in diabetes, who treating my “progressive” disease with just more and more medications.

I was so very angry for about a year after discovering I could simply stop eating carbage and cure my T2D without the need for any medications. How is it that my endocrinologists never even exposed me this option?

Keto for Life!
Richard

#15

Hi Mardew….welcome to the forum!!

One thing to remember also is while you get a handle on your new changes, eating very simple is best. Meat and a side. Trying to make complicated recipes sometimes screws up some of us LOL Like me, I am not a fan of cooking and the more fancy recipes I tried to make the more annoyed I got :wink: So keeping your food meals super simple might work well for you but you can see what path you kinda head toward. I take the path of the simplest and easiest prep meals out there cause it suits me. Others love to cook and will make recipes and more and it makes them happy. So just take your time to see how you want to roll in your eating. You got this!! You don’t have to do anything someone else does truly, you just have to eat and function thru your keto in any form that fits you best :wink: Good luck on it all!!

(Maria Dewaik) #16

That is precisely my problem. I had to see a new endocronologist becase of a thryoid scare from my old one. We discovered that there was no cancer so he just went on to treat my diabetes. He is the one who made me see the nutrionist. Not one of my doctors have any understanding of low carb way of eating, it appears. They all stress, adamantyly, low fat. When I try to explain to them that eating low fat with lots of carbs doesn’t work (If it did, I wouldn’t be 100 pounds overweight all these years), the get annoyed.

I am at the point where I do not trust or like doctors any more. All they do is push meds on you and I am not a medicine person. With no gallbladder, the medicines really make me sick. But you can’t tell the doctors that. They no bettter.

So I will continue to try to eat low carb or keto until I figure it all out the right way. I guess we have to take control over our health as the doctors don’t seem to either know or care.

(Maria Dewaik) #17

This is one of the confusing things to me. Almost every vegetable has carbs, so how do you eat zero carbs?

(Maria Dewaik) #18

I downloaded cronometer yesterday and find it very confusing. Will have to learn how to use it, I guess. Up until now I have been using My Fitness Pal. I guess it serves the purpose.

Do you count everything you eat or just the carbs? I know that on DietDoctor they say not to count your food, but to at least keep track of carbs. I have been counting everything and find that on some days I eat quite a lot of food but still stay in a fairly low carb count.

I wasn’t doing too bad, but over the holidays just sort of gave up and didn’t count anything. But I am back as of yesterday. I would like this to be as easy as possible since I don’t have a lot of spare time, as most people I’m sure. I’m not a very good cook and I do have to prepare food for three of us. My husband, my 93-year old father, and me. The two men in the house are very picky, especially dad who thinks he has restrictions because of his medical issues (he doesn’t according to his doctor, but he keeps telling himself he can’t eat veggies and other healthy stuff. He’s become like a two-year old child, making excuses for why he can’t eat healthy). I spend way too much time on the computer trying to figure these things out. Maybe I should just eat and trust my inner judgement.

(Polly) #19

Leave the vegetables for others to eat?

(Scott) #20

I am not T2D but in the interest of my T1D grandson I am reading Dr. Bernstein’s “The Diabetes Solution” and it is very interesting. I think it can be of value to anyone with diabetes. I would also recommend starting at episode one of 2 Keto Dudes podcast, @richard and @carl have been where you are and are total successes in reversing T2D. A wealth of information is available there.