Weight loss

My anticipated weekend foods all changed that very first day of eating solid foods (but not like Chris who started with a keto cookie!).  My first solid food item was a string cheese stick Friday afternoon at work.  Friday evening, I had a grilled chicken breast with bacon and cheese.  A few hours later, I noticed that my jaw was SORE and it took me a few seconds to realize why – it was from chewing for the first time in months!  For lunch on Saturday, I had bacon and scrambled eggs; for dinner, I had a bunless bacon cheeseburger.  My jaw was sore again this day.  For lunch on Sunday, I had a chorizo and cheddar omelet.  There was so much yumminess in one weekend but the omelet was utterly the best!

In total, I lost 16.2 pounds in these 100 days.  For someone who has been obese her entire life before keto, this is absolutely nuts.  Who would have ever imagined?  Seriously, not me or anyone who has ever known me.

Many assume that I did this challenge in order to lose more weight.  But that is not why I did it.  I did get momentarily caught up in that thought along the way, but my reasons for doing this challenge did not primarily revolve around weight loss.  So why did I do it?  I had to review some notes I made for myself in the beginning.

• to let Chris know he was not doing his project alone
• to represent a product that has been the essential tool that changed my keto game forever
• to support a company I trust and believe in
• to accomplish the presented challenge
• to see my own personal blood test results showing reactions to the different fat sources in a controlled setting
• to dial my calories back in because I had gained a few pounds with lazy keto
• to be a low carb rock in my diabetic husband’s world
• to remain actively immersed in the keto lifestyle
• to offer encouragement to others who might want to try something similar

This week, I am continuing with my choice as a preference of butter for my dietary fat.  In a pinch on Sunday and without thinking, I quickly made up one batch of shakes with heavy cream the way I used to make them so I would have shakes available the next day.  When I drank a shake Monday afternoon, I wrinkled my nose and shook my head.  I had to think about what was different about this shake than the shakes I had drank the previous day.  Heavy cream!  With no other way to describe it, the “mouth feel” is better with butter for me.  Butter is smooth and rich but without the extra filminess that I get from heavy cream.  Before this experiment, my choice was heavy cream so it is surprising that I reacted this way.  But it confirms for me that I do like butter the best!  That evening, I mixed up six days’ worth of shakes made with butter to get me through the rest of the week.  The latest blood test lab results arrived a couple of hours ago so I will be looking at those closely as well to decide scientifically if butter is an acceptable option.

Looking back at my first post, I am a little less than thrilled with the fact that I exposed my saggy elbows on Day 1 but – since I did – I have to do it again for Day 101.  sigh    I always wear a garment of some type that covers my elbows.  On these days pictured, I removed my sweater for the camera.  These elbows will never be seen in public again after this!  :)  However, I must say that I am not upset about having some loose skin.  It is a symbol of what I have accomplished and shows me how far I have come.  I think no one should avoid weight loss with the excuse that they are afraid they will have loose skin.

100 Days Keto Chow Challenge
L: 01-02-19 (weight 135.6)                                                                                R: 04-12-19 (weight 119.4)

These graphs make me curious about how they fit in with the rest of my keto journey which began in May 2016.  On keto since then, I have lost over 120 pounds.  My highest weight was 261 (previous to when I started keto) so, in total, I have lost over 140 pounds.  In a couple of weeks, I will write a post about my keto journey and will include a timeline that outlines what has worked for me along my way.

My current but changeable non-strict plan (read here: flexible) is to drink Keto Chow throughout the week (shakes each made usually with 2 tablespoons unsalted butter) while permitting keto snacks such as string cheese, boiled eggs, and pork rinds.  I will enjoy a variety of keto meals on weekends as desired.  Lazy keto is my absolute food dream come true.  I hate tracking.  I just need to be more careful about portion sizes now than I have had to be in the past.  To be honest, keeping portions small has been incredibly difficult for me this week but I am hoping to find it to be easier soon after I have fed my cravings.  If not, then I will need to take an honest look at the situation and make some tough decisions about my plan.

Next week, my incredible husband is taking me on vacation to a BEACH!  It has been about 15-16 months since we last took an entire week off from our jobs so this is exciting.  As ever, we are planning to take our Keto Chow supplies with us so we can make shakes for two meals each day.  I do not want to focus on food or restaurants.  My husband disagrees with me slightly as he is looking forward to lots of shrimp and fish!  (yuck)  While a bit of sunshine and warmth is quite welcome and anticipated, what I really want is a break from everyday life and some time alone with the great man I married.  :)