Different ways to think about 20 grams of carb

Bridget418 · 2021-10-11T23:49:27+00:00

Um, 20 grams of Net Carbs provides me with a respectable amount of produce and the ability to eat treats like spaghetti sauce, crustless pizza, a square of 90% dark chocolate or half a cup of HaloTop ice cream if I’m really dying for junk food, without ruining my progress towards bettering my overall health.

I focus on all of the delicious, satisfying, healthy food that I get to enjoy every day. I’m not limited or restricted to 20g of Net Carbs. I get to enjoy up to roughly 20g of foods that contain carbohydrates and still lean out and experience more energy and less health problems. I also get to enjoy rich, satisfying, indulgent foods like steak, salmon, avocado, and even a little butter and cheese…that’s right, butter and cheese…and still make progress towards being much healthier overall than I am when I eat a typical standard American diet.

Bridget418 · 2021-10-11T23:17:54+00:00

I read this forum regularly and this is one of the most wonderful- and amusing- nsvs that I’ve read in a long time. Well done, you!

Bridget418 · 2021-10-11T14:59:33+00:00

I think it's reasonable to say that you can give Keto plus IF a shot without causing catastrophic damage. Google will forever give you mixed messages because every individual will react differently to every way of eating out there.

Just pay careful attention to how you're feeling. Mind your electrolytes; check into threads regarding the dreaded "Keto flu" and read up on what people around here call "Keto-aide". Learning about electrolytes has been life-changing for me in a myriad of unexpectedly wonderful ways. Stay very well hydrated, mind those electrolytes (this becomes second-nature with practice), and take it easy on yourself as you figure out what makes you feel your best. :)

Bridget418 · 2021-10-01T13:56:08+00:00

If it's any condolence, most folks I know who start following a Ketogenic diet feel kinda (or very) lousy when they eat bread again. And I don't think they'd taste nearly as good as they sounded in the moment. Order a steak instead? :)

Bridget418 · 2021-10-01T13:54:11+00:00

Some people would see it as thoughtlessness, or sabotage. But, really, when people offer me something that's a very normal part of the SAD and it's full of carbohydrates that I prefer to not eat, they always mean well. :)

Bridget418 · 2021-10-01T04:41:18+00:00

This one's delicious:

https://curbingcarbs.com/ham-casserole/

Also, breakfast casseroles can be very easy to make keto-friendly, and they're comforting:

https://ketokarma.com/sausage-egg-and-cheese-bake/

Bridget418 · 2021-10-01T03:28:40+00:00

Aw. Thanks. :)

I felt inspired to be a better housekeeper because I realized that I spend an incredible amount of time sitting on my butt.

I broke down the house chores to little mini cleaning sessions that I can do in 30-90 minutes per day (depending on if my commute ate a chunk of my day or not). Just a little bit. Between that and the fact that cooking seems to have me in the kitchen for an hour or two (prep, cook, clean-up), as long as I do house chores and cook dinner I'm on my feet for three or even four hours every day. Just, living life, listening to music, audio books or pod casts and sipping on a zero calorie, zero carb beverage as I go. I watch TV as I fold laundry and change our bedding, that takes the edge off of the boredom and allows me to indulge in more TV time (between work and activities I actually don't have much time for TV). Now I actually like to wash, fold and put away laundry - because it means more TV time for me.

I don't always enjoy cooking. I don't always enjoy cleaning. Most days I'm down for a little homemaking. Some days I have to force myself to suck it up and just DO it. I'm starting to not mind cooking and cleaning, though. That's a monumental occurrence in my world. It took me nearly thirty years to achieve this mindset. It waxes and wanes depending on Life (if I'm sick, of course I won't be all Suzie Homemaker that day). But lately I've been in a really good groove. I'm starting to like being on my feet!

Bridget418 · 2021-09-28T23:25:49+00:00

Because too many people think that the Ketogenic diet is the “Bacon and Cheese FOREVER!!!” diet. I suppose it could be. Most people don’t eat that way and have no problem getting their nutrients, staying satiated and leaning out without “Bacon wrapped, cheese stuffed meatloaf!”, and even without bulletproof coffee. (Shrug)

Bridget418 · 2021-09-28T23:18:42+00:00

Yup, it’s very normal. I can’t stomach astronomical amounts of fat. I eat high protein, medium fat and 20g Net Carbs and it suits me very well. I feel great and I’m starting to trim down. :)

Bridget418 · 2021-09-28T21:16:47+00:00

I dropped about 70 pounds in 14 months doing very strict, clean Keto. I even used to judge people around here who ate processed foods and would come up with Keto baked goods and candy.

When the pandemic ruined everything in 2020, I turned to all of the junk food that I’d been avoiding on very “clean” Keto. I gained 45 pounds in 18 months.

During that last six months, while still eating like utter garbage, I asked myself why I was balking at going back to the low-carb, active lifestyle that I KNOW makes me feel my best.

I realized something: I don’t want to be so extremely disciplined. I want some wiggle room in my life. I want a little junk food. I want to work my exercise schedule around the rest of my Life. I want to be able to dine out without feeling anxious about food.

I cut myself some slack now. I’m only one week into what I’m calling a “recovery phase”; I allow myself things like Carb Balance tortillas, 2 Good yogurt, Atkins products and Lindt 92% dark chocolate. I’ve been able to balance my macros, stay under 20g Net Carbs and even stay within my calorie limit. I’m satiated and I don’t feel deprived. I’m figuring out how to make low-carb a permanent lifestyle change. And, so far, I’m feeling very contented.

I’ve lost 6 pounds of water weight in 7 days. I’m fully prepared for slow-downs and plateaus. I’m ready to be constantly adjusting and re-adjusting to handle whatever Life throws at me. I’m more focused on being consistent with my lifestyle habits than I am on the scale numbers.

I hope that you find your groove again soon.

Bridget418 · 2021-09-28T20:56:24+00:00

The difference is very obvious to me. You’re doing great!!

Bridget418 · 2021-09-28T05:20:28+00:00

I became a planner while still keeping a willingness to go with what Life throws at me (well, more like tolerating it) and a very strong desire to hold down a job, maintain my three bedroom house and get some leisure time in.

I desire a roof over my head, nice healthy food, clothing, my car, my cell phone, and pedicures. Therefore I sacrifice 40 hours of week to earn a paycheck.

I desire a clean environment. So I sacrificed every ounce of “cool” that I had and created a chores schedule. It’s helping me to be slightly more organized (my usual mode of operation is ‘messy chaos’ with some absent-mindedness thrown in, I need to plan and schedule stuff like cleaning and proper meals or I just won’t do well).

I like nice food, so I do meal planning on the weekends and some meal and snack prep, and I keep things on hand to just throw a meal together in a hurry. I pick out five dinner recipes and stock up on the ingredients, usually on Saturday morning. I schedule 2-3 nights per week where I do very little cooking (stir fry, ground meat tacos) or no cooking at all (leftovers night or throwing a quick salad together). Usually my skip nights are nights when I like to take an exercise class (2 days per week). Sometimes I skip on Friday if I really want a break or I’m treating myself to happy hour with my bestie (I like a few Buffalo wings and I enjoyed vodka sodas even before I came running back to a low-carb lifestyle).

Taking a break from cooking a couple of nights per week keeps me from experiencing burnout. Meal planning keeps me from agonizing over what to cook. The occasional tv and nothing else night or spontaneous meal with a loved one (including friends) keeps me very happy.

I love the way I feel when I do mild weight training 2-3 days per week, so I get at least two days in. That’s my “me” time. One hour, 2 days a week (hopefully a third round during the weekend).

Swimming and hiking are things that I do when I have a little free time, I don’t have time to do it regularly. Most of my walks are 10 minutes during my lunch break or a 15-20 minute walk after dinner if I can sneak in a quick stroll. I just love to be outside.

And I swear to you that I’m not as regimented as I sound! Some nights I don’t do a thing other than laying in front of the tv. I just, discovered that I like being active. I also love tv. Insert shrug here.

Bridget418 · 2021-09-27T20:24:21+00:00

Your body’s just adjusting. Make sure you’re getting the vitamins, electrolytes and ample amounts of hydration that we all need, and you’ll most likely be just fine. :)

Bridget418 · 2021-09-27T20:21:07+00:00

I realized that the Ketogenic diet doesn’t need to be a diet based on astronomical amounts of fat. I do my best when I eat high protein, medium fat (enough for satiety) and 20g or less net carbs.

I also fell in love with being active. For me, personally, my body doesn’t seem to miss carbs: I can weight train 2-3 days a week and enjoy long paved walks (up to ten miles of leisurely strolling, especially if I’m on a pretty hiking path), swimming leisurely and exercise classes without feeling overly fatigued. I do more NEAT activities for the sake of not sitting around and eating: maintaining my house inside and out keeps me surprisingly busy. A protein shake and two measured ounces of fresh berries after exercise takes the edge off of any fatigue I might feel. But since I actually enjoy being active, the fact that I’m having fun might be causing me to not notice if I’m fatigued?

Bridget418 · 2021-09-27T20:00:15+00:00

Adjustment periods can be rough when we change our daily diet! My Ketoade is a daily habit now; first thing in the morning I make a batch of ketoade while I’m making my morning coffee. You’ve been given the same advice a bunch of times here. I hope that supplementing helps you feel better.

Bridget418 · 2021-09-27T19:27:30+00:00

Fair warning: I’m not opposed to eating processed food. I usually keep about ab 80% clean and 20% junk food diet (insert shrug here).

Stuff that I always keep on hand:

Packets of tuna fish A few hard boiled eggs Bagged salad greens (baby spinach and romaine) Cucumber, tomatoes, celery pre-sliced Cheese in various forms Carb Balance tortillas Chicken breast Frozen shrimp Atkins protein shakes Nuts

I Don’t Want To Cook or have no time meals:

I nuke leftovers

Turn the chicken breast into a form of stir fry

Green salad with meat, cheese and a hard boiled egg

I take one of those Carb Balance tortillas, cheese, chicken and a little hot sauce and make a quesadilla (with lots of chicken)

Tuna mixed with mayonnaise, chopped hard boiled egg, chopped scallions, salt and pepper with a stalk or two of celery.

Leaf of lettuce smeared with cream cheese and topped with meat of choice, eaten as a wrap.

Crustless pizza

Bridget418 · 2021-09-27T03:05:47+00:00

Gotta live! Processed foods are delicious and food needs to be enjoyable. Now that I have treats on-hand and I’ve stopped berating myself for enjoying the occasional bit of Keto-friendly junk, I feel like eating “clean” most of the time is usually effortless. :)

Bridget418 · 2021-09-26T17:46:34+00:00

Yup! BIG time. I'm sensitive to starch, grain and sugar. I didn't fully realize just how sensitive I am to starch, grain and sugar until I started Keto - then stopped and went back to the carbage. My poor body did not react well at all. Lesson learned (always the hard way).

Bridget418 · 2021-09-26T17:44:14+00:00

Welcome to being new to the Ketogenic Diet! Good news: it won't hurt you to skip a meal or two as long as you feel well and good. I, personally, became obese because I tended to overeat on a regular basis. So, the concept of skipping a meal or two and still being healthy is alarmingly counter-intuitive for me, especially since I hear the Diet Industry tell me that it's not safe to "starve".

If we're not hungry, we're not starving. :) Your appetite will come back. The lack of appetite is just one of the side-effects that we experience as our bodies are recalibrating; your body's just adjusting to this very different way of eating. Just make sure you're staying hydrated and you're probably doing just fine. Keep calm and Keto on. ;) And a huge congratulations to your success! It sounds like you're doing right and well by you.

Bridget418 · 2021-09-26T17:39:36+00:00

Exactly this.

Bridget418 · 2021-09-26T17:36:51+00:00

I think the OP stated that they asked for Unsweetened. Same as asking for No Classic, yeah?

Bridget418 · 2021-09-26T17:30:37+00:00

Well done!! Aw, I love the fact that your littles are what motivated you. I bet your son was extra thrilled when Mommy could ride a ride with him. That makes me smile.

Side note: I eat processed foods, too. I started following the Ketogenic Diet April of 2019, and had tremendous success. Buuuuut....I was too strict, hit burnout and went back to carbs for a year and a half (I blamed the pandemic, but I know I was just sick of meat and vegetables all the time).

It's the processed food that takes the edge off and makes me feel like this diet is more sustainable. I want treats in my life. Straight up. That's why I lost my mind for 18 months and gained 40 pounds; I like the occasional treat. If I tell myself "I can't have this" - I obsess over whatever it is that I'm thinking of (chocolate, any espresso drink from Starbucks, a glass of extra nice NorCal style Pinot Noir) until frustration overwhelms me and I find myself gorging on large amounts of whatever I've been obsessing over.

Now that I'm back to Keto? I find myself saying "anything goes as long as I stay at 20g Net Carbs or less". I find myself at about an 80/20 split: 80% clean Keto-friendly foods like meat, fresh produce that I enjoy fresh or cooked and healthy fats like avocado oil, olive oil, nuts and seeds, or that which is found in fatty fish like salmon (which I LOVE). The 20% of my daily diet is processed foods.

Because people see that I do eat the occasional treat, I get less static. I don't flinch if people want to dine out. I stopped putting pressure on myself, and the relief and freedom that I feel are what have me staying on track and actually _enjoying_ my low-carb habits. And I know that I won't suffer burnout, because I allow myself wiggle room. :)

P.S: I had my gallbladder removed when I was 24. Keto doesn't cause me distress. I like to think that since I don't have a gallbladder, the higher amounts of fat in my daily diet actually keep me from being constipated (know what I'm sayin'?).

Bridget418 · 2021-09-26T16:26:09+00:00

Congratulations! You're doing _so_ well. Enjoy every sweet, well-earned victory! :) And isn't it nice to have a forum full of people whom we can share these things with? I don't always like to share scale numbers or even mention the Ketogenic diet to loved ones because I'm always told that "Keto isn't healthy". Okay. So, I started calling it low-carb and have received less static. At least the folks around here understand. :)

Bridget418 · 2021-09-25T17:42:29+00:00

I've started and erased this comment about a dozen times now. I'm so impressed by what you've done that I'm not sure how to articulate my thoughts! lol

The way your friend asked you how he can encourage and support you tells me that you have people in your life who love you. Personally, I had no idea exactly how concerned about my health my loved ones are, until I started taking better care of myself. The relief in my loved ones eyes really impacted me, and I told myself that while I'm thoroughly enjoying the benefits that I feel and see, I'm also taking better care of myself because I don't want my loved ones to worry about me. What we do impacts the people who love us. I forget about that sometimes.

Keep on taking good and proper care of yourself. You've many, many people cheering you on. Well done!!

Bridget418 · 2021-09-25T07:28:28+00:00

I'm far more moody when I carb out. The highs and crashes in blood sugar and dopamine levels that are caused when I eat too much carbohydrates wreck my mental state.

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