Debbie Cousins's Journal, 05 April 2019

DISCLAIMER: Since I started the "Swimsuit Slimdown" Challenge five weeks ago, I've been allowing myself to have fruit and/or vegetables, since one of the goals is to get in 5 servings daily. I do NOT allow excess carbs from any other source, though. I am also lowering my RDI for Calories by 25 each week, and am down to 1,575 starting today. With doing that, I have had to forego some of the Fat intake, but I'm still keeping it around 55% each day. I know it's not "real" KETO right now, but it seems to be working for my body. Ten pounds in five weeks says it's okay for ME (but it might not be for someone else). I'm still totally supportive of Keto, and it will be the WOE for me for the rest of my lifetime. It's just that, for a long time, I was getting in NO fruit or vegetables, and realized that I needed to correct that. Along with my Physical Therapy, I'm trying to allow myself to be "flexible" with my eating, too, as long as the results are positive. 

Pineapple, grapes and melon, Oh my! I agree with Keyten but definitely understand your decisions. While I am able to do the 1600-1800 cal daily limit no issue that less than 20 net is a bit maddening for someone who loves vegetables. And my body obviously craves them because in moments of hunger I'm not thinking 'ohh, ice cream and pizza and cake' but rather 'nice fresh salad with cucumbers and tomatoes.' And Apples. I miss apples. So I may eventually go to 'moderate keto' and raise my net to 50. Time will tell... just as it has with you and recognizing what works for your body. 

Debbie.... so glad to see you brought veg and fruit back into your diet. i have 5-6 servings of veg a day and no more than 2 fruit. Diets for me in the past that were so restrictive always ultimately failed over time. I have about 150 carbs a day that includes 30 g fiber.No more than 1-2 grains like wasa bread, ezekial bread, whole grain pasta, potato, rice. The key thing for me that my nutritionist recommended is to try and make sure your veg selections have some protein component. When ever you eat a carb food.....make sure you eat a protein with it. So an apple with cheese or peanut butter, fruit with cottage cheese or yogurt, veggies with your chicken, etc. She gave me a general 2:1 ratio. 2 g carb 1 g protein. Its the eating of carbs by themselves that can be tricky. By themselves they dont fill you up and can leave you hungry ..but having with protein it kinda gets cancelled out. You can do this !!! 

Looks wonderful and you know Deb whatever your doing you are just really looking great I love your pic ;) 

Yes, it is great that you are doing what works for you.  

Wow! What a delicious way to get your day's requirements of fruit and veggie. I bet it was a nice treat and helped up your mood. You really don't have to be strict with Keto recommendations, when this is working well for you. I bet you get a great fiber intake for today's goal. 

Yum! Pretty photo, too! 

Love your downward graph! Fruit provides lots of nutrition and micro nutrients that your body really needs.  

Yum yum yum 😋 

@fullaBella, you looked so whimsical when you said, "And apples. I miss apples." It made me think of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz - or maybe that was your, "Pineapple, grapes and melon, oh my" comment! @wholefoodnut, my graph would look a lot more "fuzzy" if I put the little UPS in that occur every day or so. I choose, rather, to just record the ones that stay the same or go down (unless, of course, I go up for a couple days in a row - GASP!!! I hope I didn't just speak that into existence!)  

I love cantaloupe and red grapes! Looks absolutely delicious.  

Debbie, my doc told me years ago when I seriously started the weight loss journey to average everything over a week. Weight at the same of the day normally fluctuates about 1-3 pounds (mine I've discovered is about 2 pounds). Also your body loses weight based on what you eat and do over time not just one day, so if you go over one day just adapt a few days after to get the average back. Course if you are doing keto that doesn't work well for carbs. I quit worrying about the little ups and downs and started looking at the more general trend. I don't chart a weight unless the average stays that way for a week. No need to add more stress to one's life, there is usally plenty of that already.  

Bella, apples are so nutritious! I actually try to eat one everyday, yesterday I missed as work was busy and I also had a trainee. When I finally left work after 11 hours I saw it was still sitting on my desk.  

Oh you don't have to convince me. I love apples. But right now I'm trying to stay committed to the keto plan for a set time and one Apple would be my total net carbs for the day. If I do just cross over to LCHF and raise the net to 50 an apple will definitely make the list.  

I used to eat an apple every day in high school, right before my English class, @wholefoodnut. Have you ever had an Asian Pear, Bells? They have the texture of an apple with the taste of a pear. DELICIOUS! Peel, core, slice and eat! 

They are yummy. They show up at Sprouts for a short time every year.  

Drool. That's a great idea