Blood Sugar (2:12p): 78 (seriously?!)
Weight: 456 lbs (high reading on scale), -22 lbs
How I feel: I get cold easier. I am easily fatigued when walking, but out-of-breathness continues to decline. Woke before alarm again. Still swelling in legs (wrapped both today) but not warm to the touch and sores scabbing over. Hunger level low, but temptations remain. Not planning my first meal yet, but preparing for doctor appointment tomorrow, if they draw blood. Last time they did so I got light headed and had to eat, but ate all the wrong things. If I must, would like to eat enough to recover, but then resume the fast.
I had my first group session with Dr. Nadia at IDM this morning. It was a small group, just four people. I was the only one over 200 pounds, and I was the only non-diabetic. I got thumbs up for continuing to fast as long as my body permits, and got some tips for eating keto. She gave a great phrase: mankind is an obligate carnivore and a preferential omnivore. In other words, if my only safe keto meals are eggs, bacon, mayonnaise, avocado…then do that. add veggies if you can, but focus on fat. As I understand it, to stay ketogenic you need to eat under 20g of carbs per day, and have a diet of 80+% fat. One experiment featured two arctic explorers who were 100% fatty meat eaters for a full year, and they didn’t get scurvy or other diseases. Not that this is recommended – it’s a diet suited to the arctic – but evidence that veggies aren’t crucial, but the more the better. She gave a nice ad hoc recipe for adding veggies: whatever you may have on hand, stir-fried with good fat, and topped with a couple of eggs. Fairly simple. She also provided a nice thorough guide to keto eating with dozens of recipes.
So far, I’m glad I signed up for IDM. it’s not highly invasive but it does offer feedback, accountability, and experienced advice.
My brother will be coming to town this weekend. I may end up eating with him, but we’re already talking about where we can go where I could eat keto. My brother is much smaller than me; he’s never to my knowledge topped 400 pounds, and he’s several inches taller. He’s always been more active, with surfing, triathlons, and doing tours among Mayan ruins. But he’s probably had more stress from fat-shaming than I have, and he’s tried as many extreme measures to lose weight as I have. He finally decided enough was enough and has sworn off dieting. I can’t say I blame him. Although I do emphasize my weight, increasingly I’ve been focused on my health and quality of life (how out of breath I get, how swollen my legs are, how hard it is to tie my shoes, pain levels, etc). My a-fib scare last year has me much more concerned about overall health. I’m trying to approach my body with more kindness these days, rather than as an enemy to overcome. it’s helped with stress levels. I’m still highly susceptible to sugar and pastries, but knowing the role hormones play in hunger and temptations, and experiencing the freedom from them while fasting, has been a stress relief.