Writing from the Pizza, Pasta, Pane (bread) capital of the universe


(Suzi Jenkins) #1

Hello. This is literally just to say hello. So that’s out of the way.

I write from Florence, in Italy (the most dreaded country to visit for Keto Freaks I would imagine!) I stumbled across the podcast by accident a few weeks ago, and have been binge listening every since. I am only up to March 2017 so please … no spoilers!

My diet pre keto was actually fairly healthy simply by choice/perference. I have never done fast food, sodas, cereals, chocolate or carby junk food in general. My (I now know) bad foods were root veggies, occasional pasta (wholewheat), spelt grain, oatmeal, barley, homemade rye bread. Oh yeah, and wine. Very possibly too much wine!

I run about 5-10km 3 times a week and have a pretty active day.

Yet those 7 (really they are 9, but I don’t currently admit to that) kilos that have been hanging around since my daughter was born are still there, and are not going anywhere. Short of stopping eating altogether I was slightly mystified about how I would ever get rid of them, given my “good” eating habits and active life.

I have been lucky enough to be super-slender most of my life, so my new porky figure is not sitting well with me. I had been looking around in a superficial way to find a diet plan to follow, having never ever dieted in my life. But nothing was really convincing me (I didn’t even try and fail, I just didn’t try).

But at the risk of sounding like a loopy convert to some weirdo cult, I have seen the light!

I have been keto now for one month, and I can count my “slips” on the fingers of one hand. (Rice once, potatoes once, soya bean hummus, and a slice of watermelon), and they were never by choice, but in a social situation where it was difficult to be the odd one out.

I almost instantly lost 2.5 kilos, which was great. But I have also noticed a difference in my energy levels, my sleep pattern, my skin and all the other things that you dudes already know. They were things that I had not expected.

I have stopped losing now, and have plateaued, but I am ok with that. I am finding how to make more keto-friendly foods, and slowly learning to eat fatty meat (which has never been a favourite). I have discovered a great cured bacon slice we have here locally called rigatino toscano, and that wrapped around a brazil nut or macadamia nut with a slice of pecorino cheese is my new snack.

I am listening to the Type 1 Diabetes Episode as I write this, and listen to at least 1/2 podcasts a day - which really helps keep me focused.

I am so grateful to Carl and Richard for kicking this whole conversation off - I have a feeling I am not alone.

So anyway, all of that was just to say Ciao! I am so happy to be here.


(Wendy) #2

Welcome and great to meet you! It sounds like you are off to a great start. Those podcasts are such an encouragement and really helped me on my Keto journey as well. This forum is great too. Have you visited Carries recipe Facebook page yet? That’s another keto place that is fun to hang out at and she shares the nicest recipes.


(Ellen) #3

Ciao Suzi, welcome to the forum, sounds like you’re off to a good start, this forum has a wealth of info and great people.


(Susan) #4

Welcome to the forum, Suzi. It is awesome that you have seen the light, good luck on your journey to health and wellness now =).


(Polly) #5

Ciao Suzi. Great to welcome you to your new way of life.


(Carl Keller) #6

Ciao Suzi.

I can relate to this. But I still consider myself as never having dieted. I simply changed my way of eating; no sugar, no starch and sticking to real food. It’s worked wonderfully and I have no intention of returning to a carb-heavy/processed way of eating.


(Laurie) #7

Welcome, and thank you for telling us about your success so far.


(Suzi Jenkins) #8

Haven’t visited yet. I am lucky to live in Italy where seasonal produce and local dishes containing real food are the standard. And many of them are totally keto. The only new thing I have done so far is cloud bread. I am sure that I will be checking it out soon though! Thanks for the tip.


(Bob M) #9

Breads are the most difficult, to find one you like. I have given up on them, for the most part. I was never a big bread eater to begin with.

Now pasta and pizza…different story. I just eat the ragu/sauce for pasta. I just don’t worry about pizza. Fat head pizza dough is good, but is a lot of cheese, and you add cheese on top of that. I have also found a good fake lasagna recipe, and some other keto recipes for other Italian dishes. It’s too bad my dad (whose whole family came from Italy) did not find these, as he loved pasta and ended life as a type 2 diabetic.