Due to osteoarthritis in multiple joints, I can now barely stand and walk. My weight ballooned to…read morethe heaviest I had ever been. I need both knees replaced. My previous orthopedic surgeon told me to get bariatric surgery and when I lost enough, then I could have knee surgery. We had a parting of the ways instead. My current orthopedic surgeon first referred me to a hospital weight management program. One of the best things that happened was the clinic was moving offices and didn't get back to me in a timely fashion. In the meantime, my doctor asked if I wanted to try keto. Sure, I said, why not?
One year after starting a supervised keto diet with Dr. Jodi, I've lost 75 lbs, halfway to the minimum amount I want to lose. Knee replacement surgery for the right side is scheduled to take place in a couple of months, with surgery on the left side happening three months later.
You ease into the diet and ketosis. If you follow it, it is unlikely you will experience keto flu. You get food lists and guidance, not meal plans, which wouldn't work for me as I have multiple food allergies and some dislikes. The plan is balanced, low carb, and lower fat. Healthy eating that can be sustained for a lifetime.
For various reasons, I deviated twice from the diet. Never again. Once I ate rice. It threw me out of ketosis and I felt sick for two days. I had to restart the diet. Recently I ate canned luncheon meat slices and hot dogs. It was eat that, or nothing. I should have gone with nothing. Soon it felt as though there was a pile of bricks in my stomach. I threw up six times. My stomach could not take that much fat anymore.
I was a sugar fiend. I couldn't stand any bitter taste or overpowering foods. I no longer crave sugar. In fact, I rarely eat anything sweet anymore. I have 90% dark chocolate now and then and things like bell peppers now without a problem. Before, I couldn't stand these. My taste buds have been reprogrammed. I realized texture is way more important to me than I thought.
I go online and try various keto recipes. Most are quick and easy and are delicious. If you share your keto dishes with others, and you didn't tell others they were low carb, they'd never know, because they taste so good.
Because I get enough protein, I am rarely hungry. My hair and nails grow very fast. Dr. Jodi and I meet via telehealth, which is great for me. In between appointments, if I have questions, I email her.
The diet requires patience and a focus on the long-term. Weight loss is not a linear process. You may occasionally gain a bit, which is a sign the diet is out of balance - maybe too much fat, water retention from too much salt, etc. I keep a food and drink diary that I share with Dr. Jodi before each appointment so she can provide feedback.
I have two friends doing keto unsupervised. Both are struggling. It's been easy for me, but of course everyone is different. I went online to see what some websites say about keto, and they've twisted it to be a meat (fat) heavy diet. Bad for your health and unsustainable, even if you lose weight. Dr. Jodi supervises a clean keto diet, emphasizing whole, fresh foods. There are many packaged products out there labeled as keto. Yes, they are low carb, but they are not healthy and are filled with crap ingredients.
This is the only diet I've been on that I feel I can sustain and won't gain the weight back afterwards.
I check out restaurant menus to see which ones have things I can eat. So I'm still able to eat out or get restaurant food delivery.
Keto isn't for everyone. But you can try it, and if it doesn't suit you, you can stop. At least you tried.
