Starting Keto soon - where to start?

(Karim Wassef) #21

maybe I wasn’t clear… those are the ones I added to my plant exceptions as in “the plants I would include in my diet in addition to carnivore”.

I’m usually more articulate but maybe it’s the effect of lifting heavy on my third fasting day… :smiley:

(Running from stupidity) #22

Righty. I didn’t get that.

I think it’s one of the problems with crazy-specific posts, as much as anything.

(Karim Wassef) #23

I was really trying to help … this wasn’t easy to get right and hidden carbs caused me a lot of pain getting going.

for me, I had to hunt each and every potential source of carbs and inflammation… That’s why I’m so exclusionary. It’s easier to eat fewer things and then slowly add things in … vs getting discouraged when you do 99% of everything right, but the 1% trips you up.

At one point, I was down to just eggs because they had no impact on glucose and boosted my ketones. They were my “safety” food. I slowly added things over time testing each and every one… lots of pin pricks… :smiley:

I’d spare anyone that kind of pain if I could.

(Running from stupidity) #24

For sure, I get that.

But getting into the weeds like that can cause more problems than it solves.

I mean, people should be checking everything they’re going to eat anyway in the interests of education, so general guidelines to point them in the right direction tend to be more useful for most. It’s not like getting to 30g carbs on one day because they screw up is going to hurt all that much as long as they’re aware that 20g is the goal.

(Karim Wassef) #25

ok. simplest to start is just eat animals, eggs and butter… very hard to get that wrong :slight_smile:

“green” veggies tripped me up because peas were a personal favorite of mine and they’re one that had to go.

alcohol was another one that tripped me up … and that comes from plants too. sure, there’s keto beer now, but exclusion is just simpler.

ok - I think that’s everything… for now :wink:

#26

Yes dietdoctor.com! I would also say to check out burnfatnotsugar.com

(Running from stupidity) #27

Yep, but then people complain that keto is too restrictive :slight_smile:

alcohol was another one that tripped me up

Not just you, not even close.

But it’s a toxin, so your liver prioritises dealing with it, so it’s not doing other stuff during that time.

ok - I think that’s everything… for now :wink:

KISS :slight_smile:

(Anne Marie) #28

Thank you for your recommendations. Sorry for being so general in my initial post. That was the result of having a toe-tapping 14 yr old suddenly ready to leave to help me with my bi-weekly, of all things, grocery shopping trip. Nothing like shopping for food for 4 teens and young adults when you haven’t eaten in 12 days. Yeah, me! LOL — Oh, but the willpower I have developed is impressive. I’m looking forward to enjoying my healthy rewards on February 4th. I’ve given up my Diet Dr. Pepper addiction in this too… and that’s probably bigger than any food to me.

You’re absolutely right that we’re already jump-started with this fast. I guess that’s why my husband was wanting to stay in ketosis.

We’re not completely new to low carb. We did Atkins 16 yrs ago (and other times)…and we know it works.

Thanks again for the advice. I appreciate it.

(Anne Marie) #29

Yes. Thank you. I have been to dietdoctor.com . Glad to know that’s a good resource!

(Anne Marie) #30

Thanks, Karim, for all your advice.

Oh, yes, peas! :sob:

(Robert C) #31

Agree, good call on priorities, habits like that can really impede healthy progress - True Win!

Here is a rabbit hole you might want to go down if you have not already - benefits cannot be under stated - two words “Sous vide”

https://www.ketogenicforums.com/c/food/sous-vide

(Anne Marie) #32

Just a quick glance there, that’s all meat related? Yeah. If my husband wants it like that, he knows where the kitchen is too. He also has a friend who lives for that stuff who would be more than happy to do it.

My love of meat stops with bacon, turkey bacon, pepperoni, turkey pepperoni, and beef jerky.

Oh, so, what I meant in my original post about carnivore and vegetarian-ish meals or versions…is finding meals that can be made with and without meat…because I don’t want to make 2 different meals for us. He likes a lot of meats and I do not. I’m pouring through Pinterest. But I’m going to do as suggested too and hit a bookstore this weekend.

(Robert C) #33

Of all of these, bacon and (gag) turkey bacon are probably the only healthy ones (if you choose non-hormone, non-anti-biotic bacon). Others are “keto” but, chemically keto (unless you found some great brand without things like dextrose etc. - longer shelf life is less and less healthy - my opinion).

I don’t know if you’ll ever find what you seek directly - a dish you can serve where you just add meat to his plate. Most dishes will depend on the overall composition so if you just skip the major protein source - you’ll be under. If you just switch his cubed steak for bacon, the dish might not taste good for one of you.

If I were you, I’d shoot to become the “sides” and “appetizers” professional. Cheese covered riced cauliflower and mini-fathead pizzas - these could even be the majority of the meal - then he gets half a steak and you down bacon with slices of cream cheese on top.

(Anne Marie) #34

That’s probably how this will go. He will just cook whatever meat he wants to go with whatever else I make.

(Karim Wassef) #35

In that case, let me recommend SousVide for him.

I love steak and all red meats but I also like to save $. My wife likes “real cooking”, veggies and chicken. So we’ve basically done the food split!

I buy steaks in bulk, Sous Vide and chill. Whenever I want red meat, I take it out of the bag, go outside and flame torch sear it for a few minutes. I make 6 eggs and bacon in a pan (I can do that much). I cut up an avocado… and I’m good to go with anything keto she’s done.

She likes the green leafy stuff and uses avocado oil mostly. She also makes lean meat like chicken but I like it fatty - lowers insulin response and tastes better. So I use romaine lettuce leaves and mayo + spices to turn any lean protein into lettuce fajita wraps.

It’s semi-cooperative.

(Anne Marie) #36

That sounds about like us even now.

#37

Lot of different opinions here, but my advice is not to over-stress and keep it simple.

  1. Try to keep yourself to around 20 grams net carbs a day (total carbs - total fiber).
  2. Stick to clean eating. Shop along the edges of the grocery stores – fresh foods, keep it mostly Whole30 at first.
  3. Don’t stress about the other macros so much or feel like you need to over-limit protein or hit some perfect ratio. Just limit carbs and use plenty of fat when you cook!

I’d wait to experiment with keto cakes, coatings and desserts. Just get used to eating simply and clean, protein and vegetables, low-carb fruits.

Don’t stress too much if you go over 20 grams eating clean – leafy vegetables and brussels sprouts are not going to wreck your path into ketosis (they just aren’t).

Some may disagree, but I tend to promote a very low-stress keto focused on yummy whole foods, lots of cooking – not sweating the small stuff or feeling like a failure if you slip.

It’s a process and you can do it!

(Anne Marie) #38

Thank you for your advice.