Tulipgirl6's Journal, 12 October 2014

Weren't you on the ketogenic diet already? Ketogenic is similar to paleo, but with dairy. I'd find it difficult without dairy, especially as to stay in ketosis I really need to keep my fat intake up, and the only way I can get adequate fat intake is with dairy (yummy- cream, cheese and cream cheese). If you're on ketogenic and have plateaued, have you looked at all the ways to kick start weight loss? Most useful for the majority of people regardless of the diet they're on seems to be going back to week 1. Pretend like you're staying out. Look up every food. Enter in your journal religiously. Measure and weigh. Do your exercise. Check your macros and adjust (if you're on ketogenic) . Just reassess everything. It's amazing how bad habits creep in without you noticing. I'm really liking the ketogenic diet and finding it not too hard, though not to happy that I went away for 4 days and despite trying really hard on 3 of those to eat the best choices, and walking A LOT, I put on 2.5kg. That's what happens when you mess with something that's working! I bought a ketone meter and I know I haven't been in ketosis since we got back. Grrrr. I guess what I like about the ketogenic diet is that there seems to be a lot more science out there to help you adjust the diet, though that makes it more complicated and more work. But on a low-fat or calorie- controlled diet, there is little information to fall back on when you plateau or stop losing weight. It's just, "eat less" or "exercise more". 

lol about eat less and exercise more and falling into bad habits. i'm not ketogenic but I am low carb; dairy is my big problem, it doesn't actually add any nutritional value to my day; not sure if I can live without cheese which I try not to eat too much of; I don't eat much grains; which just leaves salads and proteins . . . . . aaaah.... 

Try going ketogenic. It will mean no grains at all, but you can enjoy your cheese, and plenty of it! If you're not going ketogenic, I wouldn't have cheese at all, too many calories for little nutritional value. What I love about the ketogenic diet: plenty of cheese, cream, and I can make yummy things like cheesecake, WHEN I keep in ketosis I'm not hungry (though when I jump out of ketosis is a different story), it's relatively easy to stick to, it's very prescriptive, there's a lot of science you can apply to play around with to balance your weight loss. What I don't like: it's a lot of work planning meals and getting your macros right, you can have weeks of plateaus when your macros are wrong, bowing to even a small temptation can throw you out of ketosis for days or weeks (though this is a good incentive to not cheat!) so even little treats are out (I got given ONE Ferrero Rocher yesterday, can't eat it, but I had a piece of my sugar-free chocolate instead). Overall it's working for me though, so I'm sticking to it for now (and my husband, who just eats what I say he can). 

I have had next to none, with regard to dairy, in the last nine months. Pretty easy in fact. Check out my journal entries to see dramatic changes in bloodwork and weight, with increased energy, no headaches anymore, etc. Not paleo, not keto, probably more primal, but mostly just no processed stuff. Check out my diet log to see... except today and yesterday! Check out scoobysworkshop.com for plateau busting tips! 

I hope you find what works for you. Most plans can be modified to work for the individual, though maybe not with the touted results of sticking to the original plan. Sometimes it is more of a trial and error on what works best with your particular body. The main thing, it seems, is staying under your RDI whether you do weekly averages or do day to day. Good luck! 

Paleo is my dietary focus and I'm in the process of doing my 4th Whole30 right now. I like this way of eating because it is all whole foods, nothing processed, and reasonable for me. I personally wanted to get away from ingredients I couldn't pronounce and ingredients that caused me discomfort. It's easy enough to follow and very straight forward. Is there something that I can help you with or questions that I can (maybe) answer for you? There's a lot of information out there on the interweb - lots of good blogs and cookbooks and stuff. Best of luck to you if you do decide to do a Whole30. It can really help you get out of a rut. 

Hey Tulip! Glad to hear the foot is healing. :) Carolinebee said a lot of the things I would have said to you. Let me add this "something to think about" - just my perspective on myself so far that may give you some food for thought. Regardless of which WOE I finally settle on, it has to be something that I can sustain for life - with little tweaks here and there as I transition through various stages of my life. In order to be sure that I can sustain it, I have to take the time now while I am adopting this new way of eating, to figure out what works best for me. This means figuring out how much carbs my body can tolerate before it starts gaining, how much cream is too much, how much cheese is too much, how much proteins, how much (and which) physical activity leaves me feeling vital and well (with the peripheral benefit of weight loss), what foods am I sensitive to (this is unique to each of us - so I watch when I get bloated after eating certain foods, I watch how I feel, any aches and pains, etc.) and I also try to focus on what's going on inside of me emotionally (am I eating because I am upset, depressed, happy, in a social setting, bored or hungry?). All these things and others help me to find the eating that will work for me. Of course, it is important to know some things going into the journey eg: my macros (site IIFYM helped me figure that out - Draglist pointed me there). I found it was important to do a little experimenting along the way to answer some of the questions I had (what works for others may also work for me but I will need to tweak it to find my unique formula). I found the most important barometer for successful weight loss is the ability to stick to the prescribed way of eating for the long haul and learn everything you can about it so you can figure out how to break stalls or meet other challenges (RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH). I have always believed that success is a squiggly line - it is not a straight path from point A to point Z. It is how I handle the squiggly lines that really matter. I won't give up, I will be patient (most days...lol), I will persevere, I know that there will be good days/weeks/months and bad ones on this journey and I will keep my eyes on the prize. The truth of the matter is, for some people, myself included, this journey is about more than what we put in our mouth - it is about a transformation internally and externally. I know I need time for the foundation of the transformation to take root so that I will be able to sustain a WOE that works for my body. That is why I am thankful for the time to figure it out now. There are many Aha moments that I have had along the way and it gives me the learnings that I need to help me maintain the right behaviours that will keep me at a healthy weight later. I believe there are many more Ahas out there waiting for me .... I am, we all are, a work in progress. STAY STRONG.  

I've been Paleo for quite a while. Recently, on the advice of a friend, I modified my diet to limit carbs, moderate protein intake, and increase and emphasize high quality dietary fat. I still use Paleo standards to choose which carbs, protein and fats I eat. I keep my carbs under 20 grams daily, my protein around 50 to 60 grams, and fats around 80 grams. Because I'm Paleo, no sugar or artificial sweetener in those carbs, and very limited fruit or higher carb veggies. This is for weight loss. Although you don't have to, you can add a little more carb when you are at goal. I wouldn't ever go above 50 grams of carbs daily, but that's just me. I know my limits. Some lucky, usually younger or male, people can go higher without gaining. You just have to learn your own carb tolerance, once you are to the point of maintaining the weight you are want. I agree with JennBuck61. The best weight loss plan is one you can stick with for life, and that allows you to adapt it to your values, preferences, and to changes in your life. 

I did a version of the Whole 30...I lost 28 pounds. Finally got off my 10 MONTH plateau/ gradual weight gain. Still losing. I have lost 30 pounds total since the end of August.  

I'm paleo! Down 20 lbs. Feeling better. Much less sickly. Emotionally doing A LOT better! 

I'm so glad to hear your for is healing! I've been playing with my WOE too and am also in a transition phase, so am eager to hear what you decide. xoxox