My journey through weight loss

#1

I am pushing 70 years old and for the last 25 years or so I have weighed between 280 and 300. More than 300 and I would not fit into an airplane seat, so I set that as absolute limit. I am 5’10" with broad shoulders. Last summer I hit 320. I don’t fly anymore, but now the weight had become uncomfortable for me, so I decided to shed some.
At that time I also realized I was darn near completely lactose intolerant, as a life long cheese gourmet that was hard to swallow. Or rather, not swallow :slight_smile: . So I cut out dairy and added sugar and ate fresh. 20 pounds came off rapidly. I did eat fruit, quite a bit of it, too. I went on a simple no added sugar and no starch diet, and ate as much meat, veggies and fresh fruit as I liked. I continued to lose until I hit 280, a previously “normal” weight for me. Then I stalled.
So I gradually cut down on the fruit. Instead of eating a whole mango, I had 4 fruit deserts from that one mango, after dinner. Slowly I ended up inserting avocados and berries and cutting out the fruit. I am still guilty to this day of eating some fruit.
By now, I weigh 252. I have a dinner of meat/seafood and roasted veggies. I have one or two glasses of dry white wine with dinner. It relaxes me and I sleep like a baby, for 8 hours every night. I fast every morning, having just coffee with MCT oil, and have lunch as carnivore. I feel more energetic than I have in a long time. Not happy with the wrinkle and baggy skin effect of losing so much weight at my age, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks of my weight loss. I don’t really think that my energy comes from shedding weight, it comes from eating better foods.
The lowest adult weight I ever had was 180 in my early 20s, and it looked darn good if I may say so. Now I am just shooting for 200. And I am more than half way there and quite happy with my diet, never hungry.
So, I just slowly found my own version of a palatable, satisfying way to eat. With the exception of my wine and fruit, it’s pretty keto. And my wine and fruit are parts of dinner only. I have not ever measured my ketones though, and I won’t. It would just add to my number of things to worry about. I also only weigh once a week, I can actually feel my weight shifting and going down, so I don’t worry about it day to day.

I have been lurking here for a while and have learned a lot. Thanks for creating this message board.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #2

Welcome Velvet. It sounds like you’re figuring things out and getting results. Thanks for stopping by to say hello and happy new year!

(Jill F.) #3

Hi Velvet! We are glad you are here too. Dont beat yourself up over what you eat, we are all human and are not going to be strict all the time. Yes I eat clean and healthy and keto friendly 98% of the time but every once in a while I dont. The difference is now I eat far less of the bad choices than I used to, and I get right back on track the next meal.
Last night I was starving after car shopping all day and we went to a hibachi buffet type place. It was laden in carbs! I ate as low carb as I could but did eat a few pieces of sweet and sour chicken. Instead of beating myself up over it, i was proud of all the things I DIDNT eat like rice, desserts, fried donuts, etc. Look at the good choices you are making and how far you have come! You should be proud!

(Susan) #4

Welcome to the forum, Velvet =). It sounds like you are doing great so far, so I wish you all the best in your Keto journey.

#5

HI!!

and what you said here is a key important statement.
You made food fit you :slight_smile: You aren’t trying to make a set plan become your way of life.

When one finds YOU in all this and how to make it suit you and your lifestyle, then ya got it made in the shade. You learned how to bob and weave thru it all in your personal fashion. Very important info to help others find their own personal way. Love it!

Happy for you!! Keep on rocking!!

(Marianne) #6

Looks like you have found a WOE that is sustainable and works for you. I never found that in any other diet (although I don’t like to think of keto as a “diet”).

Congratulations!