Hi! Here’s where I am so far….
I started keto February 12, 2015. At 5’7″, I weighed 272, and I am now 176. That’s a loss of 96 pounds, and counting, in just over six months!
I am thinking 150 will be a good weight for me – We’ll see. My weight loss has slowed a bit now. I am going to increase cardio (5k walk/run interval app is my fav), and I will add resistance training, as much as I hate lifting weights!
Up to this point, I feel like the diet has been easy and the weight kinda melted away! Ruled.me is my go-to place for recipes and advice – really for all things Keto.
The crazy thing is that over 10 years ago, I brought my son to John’s Hopkins for the ketogenic diet to treat his rare seizure disorder, Lennox Gastaut, which is characterized by over 100 seizures a day. He was on five barbiturates and at the end of his induction week, he was weaned off of all meds and was seizure-free!
My son recently passed away due to his other medical conditions unrelated to the seizures. That led to my stress and overeating, which ultimately brought me to the highest weight of my life, 272. I never expected this diet to be so life-changing for me. Revisiting it, in a way, gives me a closeness to my son even now that he is no longer with me. The diet is differently administered for weight loss vs seizure control, and Ruled.me has helped me understand the differences. The Ketogenic Diet has given me a new lease on life. My daughter is an soccer player in college, and for the first time, I am not the fat and frumpy soccer mom on the sidelines! Thank you for making that possible, and for helping me get healthy for the first time since grade school! I greatly appreciate the information and support you provide!
What is your favorite recipe from Ruled.me?
Definitely the “Kitchen Sink” Low Carb Pizza.
What is your favorite ingredient to use when making ketogenic recipes?
Almond flour. It makes crust and baked goods possible!
What is/was your motivation to keep on track?
My daughter now has a role model AND a healthy mom. That’s all the motivation I need!
Did you ever encounter a stall? If so, how did you get over it?
Yes! Even with Keto and exercise, I hit a plateau. I used Intermittent Fasting in conjunction with the Keto Diet, and although my weight loss has slowed now that I have less to lose, finishing eating by 8pm, and not eating again until after 12pm the next day, insures that I will continue until I reach my goal weight, which is now to be determined (I have to see what looks good on me!). Right now, I’m down from 272 to 168, a loss of 104 pounds! I will be 41 later this month, and I wear a size 8. I started in a size 24! I haven’t been a size 8 in my entire adult life!
How did you hear about keto, and why did you start?
Interestingly, I first heard about Keto when my son, who passed away two years ago with multiple disabilities, was diagnosed with a seizure disorder, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome. It’s characterized by over 100 seizures a day, which are difficult to control with typical seizure meds. My son was on six barbiturates and still had seizures. I traveled to John’s Hopkins with him to have the diet administered as a trial. He came home a week later seizure-free! I was shocked 12 years later to revisit the diet for weight loss and find success. I feel like he is my guardian angel helping to keep me healthy for my daughter.
In what aspects have your life changed since going keto?
Keto has changed my life and in no way feels like a diet. I do not feel deprived by cutting pasta, rice, bread, and potatoes from my meals. I consider them poison now! My energy is through the roof, and I am a much happier person to be around. My blood pressure and cholesterol have normalized, and I can now shop for clothing in any store, whereas I was limited to one small section of a few stores. I am more active and I am able to enjoy life. Keto is responsible for all of these changes!
What piece of advice would you offer to people that are just starting out on keto?
If you are quitting Pepsi simultaneously, as I did, and are not particularly fond of water, buy the flavor packets with 0 carbs and 5 cals, such as Orange Crush or Hawaiian Punch, to add flavor. Also, perhaps don’t exercise right away. Just get started with Keto. As you begin to feel better, you will WANT to walk, run, hike, and generally just be more active by default!
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 didn’t follow macros right away, and I didn’t exercise immediately. When I was hungry….I ate a cheeseburger (without the bun, of course!). I fine-tuned my Keto later. The key is to just get started. That moment. Not tomorrow, not Monday. Right away.
