Not Sure What To Call It?!

[Rafter H BBQ]

It is not 100% anything… not full on Keto or Carnivore diet. But a few months ago I was just not feeling myself overall. As many of you know, I was in an auto accident that messed me up… but that wasn’t the cause of how I felt. Yes, it didn’t help and was nauseous at times from the wreck… but that wasn’t the cause.

I had to face the facts… the cause was my choices in eating. Yea, I am not a kid anymore…turned 50 last July… but will always be a kid at heart.

Anyway, though it has been a bit difficult at times… like at work the folks mean well with donuts and such… I have passed for a while now.

I needed a change, and also needed to realize it was my choices that I have made diet wise is why I felt lethargic.


I have been on a not zero carb but lower carb and high protein intake. This has seriously been such a change in how I feel overall.

Month 3 and I have went from 231 to 214 as of yesterday.

I just feel much better overall and just thought I’d share. Being an Idaho born and raised kid… I love spuds and still enjoy in moderation. Chips were my weakness big time. But have changed to Lawry’s microwave pork rinds… a low carb alternative and they are very tasty.

Hasn’t been easy as I do love carbs, but feeling overall better has helped with my eating habits.

Again, just thought I’d share… thanks for hanging with me if you read the post .

The pork rinds have again been a tasty alternative. Any of you on a similar style of eating and if so… what alternatives have you found that are low carb.

 

[indaswamp]

Quitting carbs is an addiction stronger than cocaine. and no, it is not easy. When I started back in August 2024, I went all in cold turkey on Carbs. I did it fro my mental health because carbs suck when you are ADD. I commend your efforts, But can tell you the changes you feel now will be 10X better if you go cold turkey and quit carbs totally.

 

[ajbert]

I've cut my carb intake by half, give or take, for a few years now. Yes, I've lost weight and do feel better most days. I can't give them up entirely because I have to have bread in my diet. I'd rather eat soggy cardboard than low-carb bread.

I have also lowered my beer drinking to one or two days a week. Used to be everyday of the week. That also leads me to losing weight. I do have triggers for beer that might make me drink when I normally wouldn't.

I tend to eat healthy except on the mornings my wife makes me her world famous bacon, egg and cheese sammich. Best in the world with a side of grits. Every other day she makes the sammich and in between I have a bowl of Total with a banana afterwards. Lunch is something like a carrot or two, or an apple, or a hand full of smoked almonds. Dinner is usually what ever the wife cooks up, all meat of some kind or another with or without a side. Once in a while we'll have a Caesar salad.

My weight has gotten down to where I like and I've been maintaining it for some time now. I'm 61 and still active, though if it weren't for my back I'd be quite a bit more active. All in all, I think I'm doing pretty good, better than some but not as good as others. I do drink a lot of water throughout the day and whole milk on my cereal and for dinner on my non-beer days.

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

I started a low carb diet about a year ago and down 50 lbs so far, 30 left in my goal. I will only have one or two bourbons on fri sat and that is all the alcohol for me. The big key for me was getting some exercise. I just walk due to bad knees but it definitely makes a difference. Started 10 min and now do 45 whenever i can. Couple eggs and high fiber cereal for breakfast, sometimes will have sausage or cpl pieces of bacon too. Light lunch and healthy dinner. I try to get 90+ grams protein every day.

 

[DRKsmoking]

Good read and thank you Justin for telling it . Glad this is working for you.
We all need to change our habits as we age a little.

AS you know I also love my potatoes anyway you can do them, and potatoe chips late at night watching tv,.... heaven.

I too am having problems ( it is an age thing in my mind )
Finally got a Dr. after 3 years trying to get one as mine retired, and no one took over his list. That sucked.

So I am old ( 68 this May ) still working 5 days a week for customers, and on the weekend still finishing up our new Home/cottage at the new property.

So the Dr . says I need to maybe exersize more and harder, I looked at her and said really , and she said yes, I am 5' 10" or 11" depending on the workboots. weigh 175 - 180 .

I am on a big job and have been on it for over a couple months or so. I work by myself 90% of the time, and it is hard at times but I get by.

She now also has me on BP pills, as that is her and lots of other Dr's and on the news up here a lot lately about high blood pressure and hi cholesterol even in young people.

I am following everything she has told me to do.
No pop , no junk food, and stop so much ice cream. And stop drinking so much Tea with sugar,

Trying to add more salads or salad parts to my meals. I did not think I had any problems except for the external parts of my body breaking down, Knees, shoulders and now my hands are getting really bad,
Sucks getting ollder and worn out, lol


There I spilled my guts

Thanks for asking Justin.

David

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Quitting carbs is an addiction stronger than cocaine. and no, it is not easy. When I started back in August 2024, I went all in cold turkey on Carbs. I did it fro my mental health because carbs suck when you are ADD. I commend your efforts, But can tell you the changes you feel now will be 10X better if you go cold turkey and quit carbs totally.

Thanks Keith, if it really does help that much more… I should consider going all in. The more I read on carbs and seen a thread recently where you were talking about how they affect our bodies… the more I want away from them. Your info was very helpful. Thank you!

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

I've cut my carb intake by half, give or take, for a few years now. Yes, I've lost weight and do feel better most days. I can't give them up entirely because I have to have bread in my diet. I'd rather eat soggy cardboard than low-carb bread.

I have also lowered my beer drinking to one or two days a week. Used to be everyday of the week. That also leads me to losing weight. I do have triggers for beer that might make me drink when I normally wouldn't.

I tend to eat healthy except on the mornings my wife makes me her world famous bacon, egg and cheese sammich. Best in the world with a side of grits. Every other day she makes the sammich and in between I have a bowl of Total with a banana afterwards. Lunch is something like a carrot or two, or an apple, or a hand full of smoked almonds. Dinner is usually what ever the wife cooks up, all meat of some kind or another with or without a side. Once in a while we'll have a Caesar salad.

My weight has gotten down to where I like and I've been maintaining it for some time now. I'm 61 and still active, though if it weren't for my back I'd be quite a bit more active. All in all, I think I'm doing pretty good, better than some but not as good as others. I do drink a lot of water throughout the day and whole milk on my cereal and for dinner on my non-beer days.

Congrats on getting to where you feel better, not an easy journey. I still as said have carbs in moderation… it’s just hard to stop

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

One of my fav snacks… almost zero carbs.

 

[indaswamp]

Good info...this should scare people, in a good way though.

 

[sandyut]

Congrats! Sounds like a positive change for sure. I havent given up carbs, but trying to get into more healthy diet as well. The cardiac calcium scan was the first eye opener...didnt come back very good for my age. Mostly trying to cut out highly processed foods and fried foods.

 

[ajbert]

If one buys a big bag of frozen mozzarella cheese sticks and heats them up in an air fryer, are considered fried food? Asking for a friend...lol

 

[Chris_in_SoCal]

At 57 I feel what you are saying. I do not go on any specific diet but depending on how I am feeling I will change my diet to what I feel will work best that I will still enjoy eating.

the best thing is to eat anything in moderation. That should go for everyone.

I find myself more likely to make a plate with a little bit if meat with a few small cheese pieces and a bunch of veggies (cherry tomatoes halved and salted, cucumber slices, steamed broccoli, Spicy pickle slices, Green olives sliced up, Kimche, Korean radish are just on the top of my mind).

I also have been frequently buying non frozen pizzas from Walmart and adding those same ingredients on top. They cook in 15 minutes after adding my toppings and are easy to reheat for a snack.

I change it up with salads and other things depending on my mood. I do not enjoy eating the same thing day after day.

I do frequently make burritos. I use the meat I have recently smoked or cooked on the pit like the flank steak I made last week. I rotate that with Walmart rotisserie chicken and add cheese and veggies so I can have a different one each time. Adding guack, Sour cream, or salsa is changed out so they are never the same.

 

[jcam222]

Good for you man! I feel best on super low carbs as well. I've lost 90 lbs over the last 18 months and feel so much better. It was nice to get out of the big and tall dept!

 

[dward51]

I have dropped over 75 pounds since last spring on a low carb/dirty keto type of diet. The only cheat days were Thanksgiving and Christmas for one meal on each day. I too feel so much better, but more than 60 years of bad habits mean I still have a way to go.

I do eat the occasional mandarin orange, grapes, etc... but nothing with processed sugar. Drinking all water except for my one cup of regular coffee in the morning. LMNT salt for electrolytes, and monk fruit for coffee as well.

I miss "real" pizza the most. But there are ways to make low carb pizza and crustless pizza bowls that keep me happy enough.

The best bread substitute I've found is the Lewis Bake Shop "Keto" bread line. They have it at Kroger around here. A number of flavor options, with either 1 or 0 carbs. I like the "5 seed" version with 1 gram of carbs per slice, so a sandwich, burger, etc... is only 2 grams.

If you like smoking meats and making sausage, the low carb diets are made for you! Bacon, and pretty much all meats are on the menu all day!

 

[jcam222]

I have dropped over 75 pounds since last spring on a low carb/dirty keto type of diet. The only cheat days were Thanksgiving and Christmas for one meal on each day. I too feel so much better, but more than 60 years of bad habits mean I still have a way to go.

I do eat the occasional mandarin orange, grapes, etc... but nothing with processed sugar. Drinking all water except for my one cup of regular coffee in the morning. LMNT salt for electrolytes, and monk fruit for coffee as well.

I miss "real" pizza the most. But there are ways to make low carb pizza and crustless pizza bowls that keep me happy enough.

The best bread substitute I've found is the Lewis Bake Shop "Keto" bread line. They have it at Kroger around here. A number of flavor options, with either 1 or 0 carbs. I like the "5 seed" version with 1 gram of carbs per slice, so a sandwich, burger, etc... is only 2 grams.

If you like smoking meats and making sausage, the low carb diets are made for you! Bacon, and pretty much all meats are on the menu all day!

I LOVE the Lewis keto breads