Need to make a grocery run tonight because our kitchen is pretty bare. Some things about keto will be easy for me…others, not so much. I’m a late night snacker and drink too much sweet tea. So giving up the sugar and the snacking habit will be the hardest. I only rarely feel hungry…I had a Lapband about 12 yrs ago that helped me to lose 85 lbs. That way of eating was strikingly similar to keto. The mantra was “protein and veggies first, carbs last, no liquid calories.” Since the band restricted quantities so much, the carbs were rarely eaten. No liquid calories meant no juice, no sweet tea, etc.
I kept the weight off for almost 10 yrs (the band had to come out due to scar tissue), but in the last 2, I gained quite a bit. 
Age (53) has contributed to some of that, empty nest syndrome (bored and missing my children) has contributed, too. But I hate the way I feel in my own body these days, so it’s time to work on getting the weight back off. Luckily, I don’t yet have any major health issues.
So there’s an implied question there. 
I’m not the type to want to track every macro…but I think that if I aim for 3-4 oz of protein at a meal, plenty of non-root vegetables, and then add in extra fat such as avocado, olives, ghee, etc…I’ll have the basics of keto, right?
Starting Keto tomorrow
Ah, that’s the beauty of keto/LCHF. Sugar triggers the desire for more sugar. It’s an ugly Russian doll of constant craving. Once you knock that sugar monkey off your back, it gets much easier. Then a few months in to the new regimen, you will resent having that damn symbiotic simian there, all these years.
Helpful reading as you detox:
2 of 3 of our children are out of the nest. Each have been impressed by LCHF, one remains on it. None of my children show the obesity I had at their age, thank you, genes from my wife.
There’s a hard “track-every-damn-thing” camp and a “don’t track anything” camp here, and really, a lot of us, in-between. I fall towards the latter, with minimal tracking. If you follow Dr Westman’s LCHF regimen, and his infamous page four, he actively discourages any kind of tracking. I am an unabashed fan of his method. If you don’t like tracking, you have an option closer to your taste.
I wish you all the best! The forums here are great for the newcomers.
My doctor, who is a bariatric surgeon, has had the gastric sleeve procedure himself. After the initial healing protocol, he began eating keto and swears by it now for all of his patients - surgery or not. He is not a tracker and adheres to the “page 4 keto” methodology, which is Dr. Westman’s plan. I think that you will find that if you can give up the sugar, which is not so hard when you start eating fat, this will work for you.
I’ll check out the Google macro calculator. I’ve been studying some of Dr. Berg’s info and I like the idea of only 2 meals per day. I’ve struggled with my weight for most of my life and it’s really created a hate/hate relationship. I hate breakfast, but was part of the “you must eat 3 meals per day” era…so always felt guilty for not wanting to breakfast. Years of trying to eat what I was supposed to eat…all the time it never really working to control my weight…I simply don’t enjoy meals.
So my plan is to go back to eating “almost” as little as possible but to make everything that I do eat as nutritionally packed as possible.
Thanks! We have 2 sons, 23 and 20. The oldest is 6’5", maybe 195 lbs. He’s never liked being tall and lean. LOL Classic case of wanting the opposite of what you have. Our youngest is also 6’5", probably weighs about 220. At one point, while a pre-teen, he was approaching obesity, but because I’ve always struggled with my self-image, I was determined to steer him in a different direction. Told him to be happy with himself because women love confident men and their are women who love a “bear hug” from a gentle giant. But also, if he’d just hold his own with his weight, practice moderation, the teen and early adult years WOULD make it better. And sure enough, he’s a good weight now, can pack on muscle when lifting weights and is feeling rather proud of himself. 
I have read about the sugar industry. It’s easy to know that sugar’s addictive…less easy to kick it. It’s not sugary foods in general that are hard for me…it’s having that first glass of sweet tea in the afternoon. It’s so much a part of my daily habits that it’s hard to let it go…but I will.
Screenack - We must have been typing at the same time. You know I’m a sometimes tracker when I need assurance that I’m doing it right. Page 4 is awesome though - very good guidance.
When my band was removed, the surgeon converted to a sleeve. Honestly, after careful eating for so long with the band, I never noticed a difference with the sleeve. Now, though, years later, I’m dealing with some random issues such as feeling like the band is there (I’m thinking that the scar tissue has worsened), muscle cramps in the area where the port used to be…relatively mild occurrences, but still annoying.
Welcome to the Keto journey Cindy. The folks here are so supportive and helpful so ask lots of questions and you will get steered in right direction. Here’s an excellent guide to beginners Keto. Just remember, stay under 20 carbs per day. Eat when you are hungry and make sure it’s mostly fats you are consuming.
I love tracking, it lets me know exactly[1] what’s happening.
[1] for fairly vague levels of exact.
I am five weeks in on Keto, I would suggest keep it simple. Have a go to snack if desperately hungry to get over the sugar and carb cravings, which can get really bad, after two weeks these will diminish and getting rid of the snacking will be easier. Don’t buy any food commercially made, stick with homemade. Simple is easy that way it is easy to set up your new habits and stick to this WOE.
Most of my sugar cravings are more about habit and just wanting my sweet tea. I’ve had one meal today…mixed greens, chicken, and then small amounts of a variety of other things (bleu cheese, pecans, 2 slices bacon, 1/2 avocado) to up the fat and make it interesting, then I used homemade mayo with balsamic vinegar for a dressing. I was hungry while I was fixing it, but nothing major. I do have an advantage…with the lapband and then sleeve, I honestly don’t think I feel “normal” hunger signals any more. I might eat one more meal later this evening (I’m preparing some ground beef and vegetables), but it’s nice to be okay with NOT eating if I’m not hungry.