Keto My Way

[argentus]

Keto, my way

The Ketogenic diet.    For me, and most people, it’s not a lifestyle change, but a temporary thing, until a person achieves their weight loss goal.   It is based upon excluding carbohydrates.   Why?   The human body uses carbohydrates as immediate fuel, particularly in the form of glucose – sugar.   https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publ...ugar-brain.  It can also use fructose.   There was study from UCLA that correlated fructose with aging of the cells, particularly brain cells.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5705281/    The brain, being so demanding in raw power to run all the nerves/neurons, it consumes an extraordinary amount of the body’s energy.
  
Now, here’s the catch:   When the body doesn’t have carbohydrates to run it, what does it use for fuel?   Ketones and fat.  Ketones are created by the liver by the breakdown of fat.   Fat is your long-term energy storage, against a time when resources are lean.   Fat is your body’s onboard MREs.  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/bo...77-ketones.  When a body is burning fat instead of carbs, it is said to be in Ketosis, and can be measured by the ketones in the blood and urine. 

This state has unexpected joys for me, besides weight loss.   1) mental clarity  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8840718/  This particular group had improved secondary memory and verbal paired-associate learning task performance.   I have noticed an improvement of mental clarity, particularly in the mornings.   I seriously doubt anyone else around me has perceived a difference.
 
There are many benefits touted by a Keto/low carb diet.  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-...enic-diets, however much of this is not measurable, at least within my arena.   I will let you know if I discover a way to do so, and what those measurements and variables are. 

Onward.

Since I turned 50, more that 17 years ago,  I have struggled with my weight, in spite of being active.  I am overfond of my own cooking, and drink alcohol a bit.   At the moment, I am 6 ‘ 1” (183 cm) and 280 lbs. (127 kilos).  I recently weighed more.   I am now in ketosis, and losing about 3-4 lbs/ week. 

So, I wanted to open up a thread for us to talk about this Keto journey, if you are contemplating it also.   I welcome also incursions into Paleo, if that’s your thing.   I REALLY welcome medical studies and data, and of course, the best of things, for me, is that you tell us what you’re doing and how and why.   Recipes are a plus. 

Along those lines, My Darlin’ and me went Keto about a decade ago.    It worked for both of us, and she kept her weight for the most part.   Here is my assessment of what we did wrong:

1.  You will come across Keto recipes that say things like: “ OMG!!   It tastes just like the real thing!” or “OMG!  This cauliflower pizza crust is aMAZing!!!   I would never want to have a regular one!”    Lies.  You make cloud bread a couple of times, tweaking the recipe hoping for something you can tolerate.   It’s egg bread.    Egg and cream cheese.   It’s not terrible, but if you are in the mindset of making something that is a SUBSTITUTE for a food you love, you are in trouble.     What I have found is that I am making new foods that I use in the same way, but would never consider them a substitute.   For example:   I know about neeps and tatties.    I would NEVER consider mashed up cooked turnips as a replacement for mashed potatoes.   Nope.   Never.   However, if I’m in the mindset of something that doesn’t taste too bad which can accept a gravy,  okay, then fine. 

2. Bread.  I’m still fighting with this one.   I’m like this:   If I can’t have bacon, I won’t settle for turkey bacon, and I’d rather just have no bacon.   That was just an example.   Bacon, of course is very Keto friendly.   So, bread.   I’ve tried a lot.   Going to do more this weekend with almond flour, homemade coconut flour, eggs, powdered chia seeds (a binder)  and baking powder.   I’ll let you know how it goes.   That’s the beautiful thing about science --  Your failures are also victories, because they give you measurable data Which you can use to change the course of your future actions.   

3.  There is no three.    I’m worn out, so you must be also, assuming you’re still here with me. 
 If you’re interested, or undergoing this process, or have recipes, or incantations that may help or Summerian references, whatever, welcome aboard.   Otherwise, I will just talk to myself.    

p.s.  I found an excellent source of recipes, and the owner allowed me to link to here.  Certainly DI isn't her usual fare The site is Sugar Free Londoner.   

I have finally been able to make a pretty decent almond flour bread.   My next foray is to attempt Almond Flour Pasta.

[UltraBudgie]

I like how it makes your eye sockets look all haunted and sunken like you are looking directly at the existential horror that lies beneath the thin veneer of the world.

Also, healthy.

[argentus]

Erm.   I think you are confusing this with Vegan.   I eat meats and fat.  Lost of both and a few low carb vegis.  Currently working on lowering the BC.  (booze count).

[UltraBudgie]

incantations that may help or Summerian references

Sumerian Tuh'u Recipe

1 lb lamb, diced
¼ cup beef tallow
1 small onion, diced
1 tsp salt
1 lb beets, peeled and diced
1 cup arugula, chopped
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (½ c for garnish)
1 cup shallot, diced
1 cup leek, diced (½ c for garnish)
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp ground cumin
1 cup beer (German white)
1 cup water
2 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed (for garnish)

Heat tallow in a pot wide enough for the diced lamb to spread in one layer. Add lamb and sear on high heat. Fold in the onion and keep cooking until it is almost transparent. Fold in salt, beetroot, arugula, ½ cup fresh cilantro, shallots and cumin. Keep on folding until the moisture evaporates.

Pour in beer, and then add water. Give the mixture a light stir and then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add ½ cup leek and garlic. Allow to simmer for about an hour until the sauce thickens.

For garnish: Pound remaining leek and remaining fresh cilantro into a paste using a mortar and pestle. Ladle the stew into bowls and sprinkle with seeds and leek and fresh cilantro paste.

The dish can be served with steamed bulgur, boiled chickpeas, salad and bread.



No bread or chickpeas or bulgur though! And the beer is questionable. But let us know how it turns out!

[argentus]

Sumerian Tuh'u Recipe

1 lb lamb, diced
¼ cup beef tallow
1 small onion, diced
1 tsp salt
1 lb beets, peeled and diced
1 cup arugula, chopped
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (½ c for garnish)
1 cup shallot, diced
1 cup leek, diced (½ c for garnish)
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp ground cumin
1 cup beer (German white)
1 cup water
2 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed (for garnish)

Heat tallow in a pot wide enough for the diced lamb to spread in one layer. Add lamb and sear on high heat. Fold in the onion and keep cooking until it is almost transparent. Fold in salt, beetroot, arugula, ½ cup fresh cilantro, shallots and cumin. Keep on folding until the moisture evaporates.

Pour in beer, and then add water. Give the mixture a light stir and then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add ½ cup leek and garlic. Allow to simmer for about an hour until the sauce thickens.

For garnish: Pound remaining leek and remaining fresh cilantro into a paste using a mortar and pestle. Ladle the stew into bowls and sprinkle with seeds and leek and fresh cilantro paste.

The dish can be served with steamed bulgur, boiled chickpeas, salad and bread.

[Image: https://denyignorance.com/uploader/image...n-tuhu.png]

No bread or chickpeas or bulgur though! And the beer is questionable. But let us know how it turns out!

I knew I could count on you!   

The beets and beer might be borderline, but the rest looks righteous!   Thank you!

[argentus]

Most Keto information indications that you must keep your daily carbs below 20 carbs, and that is fairly accurate, except -- at least for me -- I had to go zero carb for about a week to get into ketosis.   After that I could wander into the 20 carb level.   There are strips you can buy to dip into your pee to measure ketones.   You can also tell by your breath, which is my measure.  If you know what acetone smells like, that is how your breath initially smells.   Hint:   Carry lots of spearmint gum.  When that medicinal smell is on your breath, you are firmly in ketosis.

[IDELB2006]

I am not on a keto diet, but I did find some keto friendly dessert recipes that make good replacements for the typical high sugar desserts available at the grocery store.

Its amazing how tasty healthy eating can be using simple recipes even I can follow.

[argentus]

I am not on a keto diet, but I did find some keto friendly dessert recipes that make good replacements for the typical high sugar desserts available at the grocery store.

Its amazing how tasty healthy eating can be using simple recipes even I can follow.

Please feel free to post them here.   While a keto diet doesn't seem sustainable to me, a low-carb way of eating does.   Fortunately for me, I like sour things and don't have much of a sweet tooth.   I think it is likely fairly healthy to cut out bleached flour and chips and cookies and other crap like that.   If I could find a decent way to make a pizza crust.   I may have to settle for a wheat flour crust, which I have made sucessfully in the past.

[Quantum12]

@argentus

I am your height 6’1” my weight has been 175 until 2022 Feb 14. I had my heart replaced. It’s a long long nightmare but I am here.

I gained 50 pounds after my heart replacement. 

My heart doctor is someone I went to school with and my friend. He had a talk with me and he said “listen you fucker, cut the carbs now to zero or you are going to die.”

I cut the carbs and I walk 2 miles per day. I am back at 175 and feel great!

Thank you for this great wonderful thread! 

I know it will help someone.

[covent]

As I understand it and as taught at school in the 70's, with no carbs present, the human body cannot digest fat. 

Keto works because fat eaten does not digest and is therefore not stored and when there are no simple carbs (sugars, including fructose) for instant energy or complex carbs (tubers, grains) to 'keep you going', your body is forced to convert stored fat for energy.

Many years ago when my metabolism went tits up, a dietician recommended hard keto, ie. Atkins. She said the liver was key to this and so beginning the process with a liver cleanse for one week followed by 2 weeks Atkins, should rebalance everything. 

She was right. I followed her recommendations exactly and by the end of the 3wks, had lost over a stone in weight and felt more energetic and alert. 

Now older by some 25yrs, I again have metabolism issues, to point of being pre-diabetic. I have again taken to the keto thing and find it more difficult than before. For me, 'soft' keto, ie reducing carb intake but not eliminating them altogether, I have learned, does not really work. 

The most amazing thing I have found with nil carb is how once you have acclimatised to it, a diet of simply and plaining cooked meat/fish/eggs with butter and herb drenched green leafy stuff or brasilica , is so satisfying. The food is so rich, I eat less! 

I do love a Nigella style carbonara but of course with keto, no grains = no pasta. So what to do? Tried using fried cabbage with bacon and black pepper and then added grated cheddar and double cream. Eat this now each time I go hard keto. 

A very satisfying snack, plain unstuffed olives. After a dozen or so, hunger pangs all gone!

Tonight, I shall wrap some brie pieces in bacon and bake for 10 mins in a hot oven. Some lettuce leaves and a dressing of butter melted with oregano. Or maybe a nicoise type thing with the lettuce, some still hot cooked French beans, some black olives and a soft boiled egg on top. 

I have also  found if I go places where there is free cake, exercise self control and deny myself, I gain an immence  sense of achievement. 

Thanks for the info about ketosis testing strips. Might give that a go.