Hello, newbie here

[LisaAG]

My name is Lisa. I thought it might be a good idea to spend some time on a message board with people on a similar journey.

I am 5'7". Last March I reached 416lb, and my bloodwork showed an a1c of 6.1. I was officially prediabetic. After a bit of research, I decided to try a keto diet. Since then I have lost 95lbs. My bloodwork last month showed my a1c dropped to 5.3; normal range, so no longer prediabetic. Yeah!

I have had a few tweeks along the way. But currently I am trying to eat between 1700-1800 calories a day. My carbs are now under 25 a day (used to be 20), protein is 110-120, fat around 65%. I also only eat between 3pm-8pm.

It is going well. My doctor is very supportive of keto or low carb high fat diet.

I started climbing stairs once a day in December. I wanted to get to 300lbs before I put alot of stress on my knees. But couldnt wait anymore. Got on the treadmill today and did 3 minutes. Good first steps. I am moving around alot more. Much less discomfort. I went outside 4 times last week and weeded my garden boxes. Doesnt sound like much, but for me it was a big deal.

I am having 1 unexpected problem, I hope someone has advice for. Its kind of embarrassing. Now that I have lost so much weight, my belly is sagging. And when I walk, its slapping on my upper legs. I am going to have a body lift when I get down to about 200lbs. But I cant walk around like this for the next year. Has anyone else had this problem? Any solutions that dont involve binding my belly to my abdomen? Lol?

Anyway, its good to be here.

 

[Trusylver]

Welcome to the forum, there are not many keto people here, however I have been keto for years but not high fat.

take a look through the diary section and start a thread there, as it is where you will get the most support

 

[DV365]

I'm going to such something counter-intuitive for you. Radical almost. I would go to your supermarket and buy those bowls of canteloupe, watermelon, and honeydew, as well as some mixed salads. I would suggest you start your day with a strip of roast beef, piece of chick or salmon and a greek salad. For lunch, I would suggest another salad and low-fat chicken soup. The total calories of your breakfast and lunch should be around 800-1,000. Throughout the day, I would suggest you eat a bowl of canteloupe, watermelon, or honeydew. I would eat 4-6 of these bowls per day = 400-500. Late afternoon, I would eat 2 hard boiled eggs (optimally because it will help improve your mindset and sleep [Tryptophan & Lecithen]) or fish, and a side of vegetable (preferably steamed broccoli) = 400-500 calories. So your consuming 1,600-2000 calories. If your still hungry, I would suggest unsalted pumpkin seeds. If this is too much sugar, reduce your fruit bowls to 2-3 and eat raw cashews or pecans. Pecans are amazing. Also eat turkey as a last meal in the afternoon (Tryptophan).

Now I know the criticism. Prediabetic + Sugar doesn't sound like a good combination. But I'm telling you from professional and personal experience, blood-glucose levels go out of wack and people get headaches when they don't consume some form of plant-based sugar. For example, when my diabetic father failed to eat fruit, he would starve and get headaches. Now sometimes his blood-glucose levels would rise, but there wasn't really a problem. His body was able to regulate the sugar.

Additionally, don't worry about going over 2,000 calories a day eating vegetables, or an extra portion of fruits and nuts. The important nutritional facts you need to be observant of is dietary fiber, potassium, and magnesium. If you eat 2,000 calories with 40-50 grams of dietary fiber, your most likely going to drop lots of weight. If you can eat the daily required amount of potassium and magnesium, your going to get enough nutrition from your foods (vitamins and minerals), and your state of mind will improve enough to prevent you from cheating.

Sleep 8-10 hours a night. No booze. Your caloric needs are above 5,000 per day. Given this diet, you might see rapid weight loss for the first 3 weeks.

 

[LisaAG]

David, did you miss the part where I have lost 95 lbs in 10 months? And I am on a keto diet. And I dont eat breakfast, I eat from 3-9pm? And that I was prediabetic and am now not? And only had mild headaches for about 4 days when I went on this diet, never since. If I followed your advice, I would probably have full blown diabetes within 5 years. No thanks. What I am doing is working and my doctor is monitoring me closely and fully supportive.

I eat my first meal around 3pm. Usually steak or chicken or pork and a veg. Then I snack on 1 oz of pecans or peanuts and 1 mandarin orange or 2 oz of fresh, not canned, pineapple. Then I have 3-4 cup salad with 2 kinds of lettuce, spinach, carrot and red cabbage, with homemade vinegarette dressing, and bacon bits, grated cheese and turkey or chicken on top. Later I might have a couple deviled eggs and bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers or a tuna sandwich on double fiber bread, or grilled wild caught salmon, or even spicy chicken wings (baked).

I also avoid pufa's like the plague. I only use real extra virgin olive oil, organic butter, natural meat fats, and coconut oil.

I need a diet that I am comfortable living with for the rest of my life. I would suggest you look at the research the russians and germans have been doing for over 40 years with regards to intermittant fasting and low carb, high fat diets.

And as for cheating. I have not done so once in 10 months. Nada, nothing. 3 days I planned to eat up to 100 carbs. And made adjustments days before and after. All planned.

And my state of mind is just fine. Thanks for the concern. IF you have some advice about how to deal with my
drooping belly, which I mentioned in my original post, towards the end, I would greatly appreciate that.

Cheers!