Nanette61's Journal, 21 June 2017

Good move on the brownies. 

There are lots of us Keto folks here, so if you need guidance and support, you're in the right place. I saw you mentioned a sweet tooth on another journal. Look up "fat bombs". They'll save your bacon every time! (Pun intended) ;) 

Msketrela, I looked up fat bombs, and unfortunately every version I saw uses artificial sweeteners, which I'm trying to avoid. Also, if they taste sweet, then I'm going to want more than one serving which will of course put me over my calorie limit. Someone else suggested dark chocolate, but I'm afraid that will also just awaken the beast. I have the sad feeling that I'm just going to have to write them off for the near future. At least my diet allows berries! 

For me, 3 bites would be 3 brownies. So I think you did good stopping yourself when you did. 

For most people, stevia doesn't spike cravings. However, you know yourself best. If you are able to kill the beast by just avoiding any sweeteners, more power to ya! I've been lucky in that I don't really have a sweet tooth. When I first started Keto, I was amazed at how sensitive I became to sweetness, and indeed, most seasonings. I swear I could actually taste the lactose sugar in half and half! I discovered that I actually like the taste of unsweetened iced tea (this from a Southern gal who lived on swee'tea!), and I've had to really pull back on the herbs and spices I use in my cooking. If you're going full Keto, I'd suggest ignoring calories at first. Once your body switches to a full ketogenic state, getting enough calories will be the issue. I struggle to even make it up to 1000/day, because I'm just not hungry. I can easily fast for 30 hours with no hunger. 

I have heard from some members that when they ditched sweets altogether they stopped craving them! Oh heaven, to kill the sweet beast! Regarding Stevia and all the other substitutes, I'm trying to only consume whole foods and not processed things in general. I want this to be way of eating or lifestyle, and not just a diet. I am amazed by your ability to fast for that long without cravings! 

Good for you wanting to avoid commercially processed pseudo-foods! But, if you get down to it, any time you chop, slice, and/or cook food, YOU are 'processing' it. I'm an avid label reader, and strive to keep to minimally processed goods. I can my own meat and veggies when I can, I eat fresh and whole as much as possible. But the reality of 'modern' life is that it's not always possible or practicable. I do the best I can with my lifestyle, budget, and time restrictions. It IS a lifestyle, and we each have to decide for ourselves what works for us. As I approach my goal weight, I'm experimenting with how maintenance is going to work. The things I've learned in the last 13 months of losing will serve me in maintaining when I get there. 

@Mskestela - true that cooking my meat and veggies (plus adding seasonings and oil) is processing my own food, but it's minimal compared to what is done to boxed/frozen items in the supermarkets. I don't use additives, preservatives, MSG or excessive sodium, food coloring or sweeteners to my food to extend their life, and I certainly don't dry, extract and reduce it to a powder plus anticoagulant to stir into food & drink a month later. I grow my own fruit and veggies in my backyard and oftentimes just eat those raw. I'm just trying to avoid "Diet Foods" which seem to resemble Magic Pills, Potions & Powders that trap many dieters into ingesting instead of real food. I have cruised through some of your prior journals and you seem to be a fellow chef - which is fantastic! Please keep sharing your cooking adventures and experiments!