I have been following Ruled.me and love the website, meal ideas and tips. I even go back sometimes and re-read as a refresher. The longer you are on a “diet” I find you get lazy in a way and need to go back to the basics.
I have been on a keto diet for over a year now and have had amazing progress. Just a little background for you, I have had issues with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) since I was 16, over 10 years. Originally I was having trouble breathing when the acid went into my lungs. Before being diagnosed doctors said it’s just Asthma so they pumped me full of prednisone (double the adult dose for over a month straight). In that time I gained a massive amount of weight. I went from being 165-170 to 235, and it was the worst time in my life. I did not go to prom, did not finish high school with the rest of my class (though I did finish from home). I was embarrassed to be in my own skin.
After years of struggling, my doctors realized I had GERD and not asthma. Now the issue was I gained too much weight and the extra pressure on my stomach was making the GERD worse. Now came the struggle of loosing the weight I had just gained.
Loosing it was definitely not as easy as gaining it. I struggled for years trying Weight Watchers, Curves, and different fad diets. I moved to another city, got a new doctor and she had a solution: keto.
Before her suggestion to try it, I had never heard of keto before. I started Googling and immediately became overwhelmed with the amount of information. To top it all off I thought my doctor was batshit insane to cut all carbs, even things you think are good for you like fruit. Nope, not good. I couldn’t even eat potato! I am from PEI (in Canada) and we are famous for two things: seafood and potatoes. I thought she was crazy!
Once I got past the initial two weeks and the horrible keto flu I have had very little trouble sticking to this diet. The first diet ever I can say that about. I am rarely tempted to stray from my LCHF diet. Before I started keto, I had the BIGGEST sweet tooth ever. I did not think it was possible to live without sugar. Now here I am! I still make ketofied desserts now and then.
The way my GERD progressed after my original diagnosis is that I get wicked bad heartburn almost all the time. I used to throw up almost daily from the amount of acid built up in my stomach. Currently I am down almost 75lbs and several inches off my waist, hips, arms, legs and even neck. I can actually see my collar bone now (for all these years I thought it was gone for good). Currently I throw up maybe once a month, still have the odd bad acid day, and the heartburn is down to a dull roar most of the time. I didn’t think this was possible, but here I am as living proof. I tell anyone who will listen about this diet since it has had such an amazing outcome for me.
I struggled with trying to figure out a solution for over a month after she told me about this diet. Then I found ruled.me and the information was so easy to find, there were recipes for things I never thought I would be able to eat, e-books (which I have 3 on my ipad and 1 on my iphone). It made things so easy. On top of that the recipes are easy to follow with good instructions. I can’t even tell you the number of times I have started a recipe (from other sites) and realized part way through the instructions are incomplete or missing key parts. I have never had any issues with and enjoy browsing around RuledMe. I am constantly looking for new posts as I have read everything else on the website to date.
Here are my stats: F26, 5’1″
Highest weight – 235lb
Starting weight (on keto) 215lb
Current weight 158lb
Original goal 150lb, new goal 135lb
Also please see attached pictures. I don’t have any full body shots from my old weight. I ran when a camera appeared…so no evidence! Currently I am happy with my body, and even sent a bathing suit shot. No fear any more!
All the best and please keep more posts coming.
What is your favorite recipe from Ruled.me?
I make the sweet & sour chicken with the cauliflower fried rice about once a month (helps to beat my Chinese food cravings), the cauliflower tater tots are great (although mine never look as good as yours), and for dessert either your fried cookie dough balls and the caramel pecan pie are both great (although sometimes I go for the coconut chocolate mug cake for a quick single serve option). I actually make batches of the mug cake recipe and portion them into zip lock bags so all I have to do is add butter and egg.
What is your favorite ingredient to use when making ketogenic recipes?
Coconut flour, actually all coconut (unsweetened). I love taste, super easy to use and can go in almost anything (within reason.)
What is/was your motivation to keep on track?
In the beginning it was not throwing up every day (which I have accomplished) and now maybe to one day get into a bikini in public and not be ashamed. I didn’t think I would even come close to reaching 150lbs and now I am only 8 lbs away. Hopefully the 130’s will come soon!
Did you ever encounter a stall? If so, how did you get over it?
I have encountered a few stalls over the last year, one was I was eating too many “fake sweet” foods (mostly with xylitol) and I noticed I was in and out of ketosis and not loosing any more weight so I cut back on those types of foods and my stall finished. The other time I had stopped tracking (thinking I could estimate) and I stalled so I am back to tracking in MFP
How did you hear about keto, and why did you start?
My family doctor actually suggested it to me. She had just gone to a conference on ketosis and the amazing health benefits when I had gone into see her with reflux, constipation and weight issues and she thought it would help all around, which it has.
In what aspects have your life changed since going keto?
I used to eat whatever I wanted and ate out far too often (which on keto is not as easy as you never know how your foods been cooked). I do a lot more research on my foods (recipes, ingredients, etc.), I have an entire day each week set aside for meal prep (typically Sunday’s). I research the recipes I want to make each week, make my shopping list around it, and then spend the afternoon cooking (typically 4 recipes per week). I used to be a non-planner and just eat whatever is in the pantry/fridge or freezer.
What piece of advice would you offer to people that are just starting out on keto?
Do your research to make sure this life style adjustment is right for you. I was very hesitant to try keto and spend over two weeks reading everything I possibly could on the diet so I knew what I was getting myself into. I have shared my story with many people (friends, family, colleagues) and the first thing I tell them is do for research and watch out for that pesky keto flu. It hit me hard, for almost 2 weeks, which made me close to giving up but I fought through it and am so happy with the results.
What did you personally do in your first 2 weeks of keto? (i.e. Drink broth, go for a walk, throw food out, etc.)
I was really sick for my first two weeks, I was throwing up more than before I started keto, I was dizzy all the time, had headaches like crazy and was just miserable. I thought my body was rejecting my new lifestyle, I drank uncountable glasses of broth, and bought some electrolyte replenisher from my hot yoga studio and tried to get as much rest as possible. Since I was so sick I barely wanted to eat anything which definitely helped with the horrible 2 weeks of cravings. Nearing the end of my two weeks on keto I was starting to feel better, and had very few cravings (just solid food), I kept strong with support from r/keto and r/xxketo and had the support of my husband. He is not on a keto diet and is very happy with his frozen pizzas and pasta lifestyle, however he is a huge support to me and helping me with meal prep and always encouraging me. I am very lucky to have someone like that in my life, my parents and sister think I am absolutely crazy for giving up all the foods I have.
