Hi, I have just found and joined these forums. I have been reading a lot of info on the Keto Diet and I am going to start. I realize that I am a Diet Soda addict also and quit cold turkey 4 days ago. I know-not very smart, as I have a huge HA and digestive issues. But, I know that is one thing I have needed to to for a long time.
I am female, 61, hypothyroid, surgically post menopausal at age 45, breast CA survivor since Aug 2015. I have been overweight since age 45. As a teenager I was anorexic, 5’7" and weighed in the 90’s. I managed to stay alive and in my 20’s maintained a weight of 110 or so. When the 1980’s hit, I was divorced and living alone and discovered prepackaged “weight loss” dinners. Ever since then, I have fought with the scale. I tried every kind of diet and would lose but it would come right back and more. I retired in 2012 and thought I would be able to get it off-started working with a trainer and discovered MFP. Lost about 15 pounds and then- Fast forward to 2015 and CA and I was at my heaviest of 228. After several surgeries I was finally able to try something again. I started walking in my neighborhood and then we got a treadmill so I could walk safely in the house at all hours. I lost about 10 pounds and then nothing.
My husband who was still working had to have rotator cuff surgery and we started thinking about a drastic change in lifestyle. So while he was healing and researching we went on vacation to Mexico. We fell in love with the town, a very walkable town in Central Mexico in the Mountains. We bought a house and came back to the US and sold our house and 3/4 of all of our stuff-from Sept to December 2016-and my Husband retired early and we moved. We did not bring our cars-that is one thing we really wanted to do, so we walk everywhere. I lost to 200 pounds in the first 3 months- not watching my food, just eating what I considered sensible. But, I can’t get the scale to go lower. We still walk as much and I eat the same. After much research, I thought I must be Insulin resistant. I had a Dr’s appt and had all of my blood tested and everything was “normal”. So, here I am to go on the Keto Diet!!!
I have been reading and listening to so many success stories. I want to be one too!!!
We are going to grocery shop on Wednesday and I think I will start on Thursday–I hope my HA is gone for good by then. I have been hydrating with water and drinking some coffee, black for a change.
I hope I don’t get the Keto “flu” but I am going to buy all of the remedies I have read about. I don’t have access to any of the Keto books yet, they would probably take about 8 wks to get here. I am just going to wing it with your help.
Thanks for listening.
Kathy
Newbie-Intro
I joined today to.
I have been Keto since January this year. And I am slowly losing the weight I gained when I turned 40. I am now 48, mid menopause and hoping that I can keep commited to this new way of eating WOE. I don’t have a lot of weight to lose. Another 10kg, but my I haven’t been able to lose any on any other eating style.
I crept into the Keto diet. First by cutting carbs. And then upping fat. I didn’t get the K flu, but I guess I had read as much as I could about it prior. I used a supplement (stevia sweetened) to add in magnesium, potassium and sodium.
Good luck on your journey. Plateaus may happen, but there is so much wisdom and experience on this forum.
Welcome, Kathy! It sounds like you’ve had a long and complicated history with your body, but goodness I’m amazed at how you’ve taken charge in your life.
I’m so glad you introduced yourself. This community has been an incredible resource for me, and I hope it is for you as well!
Welcome!
The remedies are good but also consider stepping down the carbs over the first 3 weeks. I went from 200+ to 75g to 50g to 30g over 3 weeks and avoided the flu entirely. It allowed me to get off my worst vices without the stress of cold turkey so I could do things like step down the croutons in the salad, the multiple diet cokes a day, switch out bread for a few crackers etc. while also stepping up the fat and seeing what worked.
Diligent nutrition tracking via a free app like LoseIt, MFP, Cronometer etc. is very useful to quantify the incremental improvements.
You don’t need the books per se when there are so many excellent resources, often from the book authors on line. Great sources include:
and many more!
Best of luck!
Hi Anne,
Thanks for be my 1st new Keto friend!!! Welcome to you, too!
I have stevia and magnesium is in one of my CA meds . My husband has potassium pills for his leg cramps that I can use if needed.
10 kg is great. I guess I will have the goal to lose 65 lbs. I looked and felt pretty healthy at that weight. I gave almost all of my clothes to goodwill when we moved so it will be interesting to see when I have to buy new ones. I can’t wait to buy a pair of jeans, someday!
Thanks and good luck to you, too!
Kathy
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for the welcome!
Life is too short and I want to feel better and make mine last a looong time!
Kathy
And they never test what they really need to, to see if you’re IR! They leave us in the dark like a mushroom. 
CONGRATS - but realize this - if you go back to a SAD diet, you’ll get back all the ailments as well as the weight. Keto is a new, sustainable way of life that we think you will love.
Careful with potassium supplements! You need lots of salt on keto, and salt will regulate potassium so you shouldn’t need it. Cramps during induction nearly always respond to salt - occasionally magnesium.
WELCOME TO KETO! And welcome to the best keto community on the web, IMHO. 
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the Welcome!
That is great advice about dropping my carbs slowly-I know I am 200+ daily. I wish I had weaned off the diet coke-this HA is killer!
I have the MFP app and have been putting in everything that I have been eating and the carbs are scary high. Processed foods are so bad for us. I am going to have to cook real food. My Husband has been a vegetarian for 20+ years and he won’t cook meat for me. He has always been the cook and when I just eat what he eats I do better but I am always hungry and snack and etc, etc. etc…
Thanks for all of the links-I am just trying to soak everything up!
I am trying to figure out how to use all of the forums…I hope I am posting OK.
Kathy
Hi Candy,
Thanks for the welcome!
I have always used salt on everything. My husband buys me the light salt because he thinks I use too much but we have regular just in case. I have never had leg cramps and I don’t want to. He rarely has any cramps now since adding calcium and magnesium daily.
I am so ready for a way of life that is healthy! I have gotten rid of most all of the external stress and am now ready to just enjoy life.
Kathy
You may have to sneak some of your salt if he thinks you use too much now! The recommendation on keto is 4-5 grams per day. 
Just checking in to see how you are getting on?
I have a bullet proof coffee this morning (Timmy’s). I put in cacao butter in it… maybe too much of an oil slick on the top, but my are my lips soft now! A true lipsalve! 
Hi Kathy and welcome.
Just a suggestion. Fasting glucose and fasting insulin blood work. Those two together give you a really good idea of your insulin resistance. I believe the calculation is called HOMA-IR. Give it a plug in the search window and plenty of info should come up. Here’s the link.
Best wishes and keto on.
Kathy, how are you getting on?
I changed my user name from Fatannie to Annie bobannie. I did think too much about a username when I joined…
Sending best wishes and hope the eating style is working out for you
Hi Anne,
I just saw your e-mail. I’m sorry it has taken me so long. I am still learning how to use these forums. I am doing great-never had keto flu and I have lost 11.6 lbs. My clothes even feel looser.How are you doing?
Kathy
Hi there
Great news on your progress! Avoiding the Keto flu seems to be a key to helping new folks stick with the plan. I love the forum, there are always new questions coming up.
I have lost about 16 lbs since mid January. Currently stalled out though, generally in a Keto state, except I messed it up last week with too many Easter chocs.
I have read Jason Fung’s The Obesity Code, and I am now reading the Fasting book by him too.
I am considering trying some fasting to get the mid life rolls, rolling off again.
I threw some clothes into the charity bags…so whilst I am not at my target weight. I can see that the new eating habit is helping by a long way.
Good to hear from you, and well done again for making some awesome progress.
BW
ANNE