It's been a very busy summer so I apologize for not posting for more than 2 months. The good news is I have not only stayed on plan, I have discovered some amazing new ideas that have made this way of eating so much simpler. As I mentioned in my last post I have switched to a keto lifestyle which has more of an emphasis on healthy fats, moderate protein and low carbs. It was a subtle shift, but I like the way If feel and although slow, my weight loss is steady. I am losing about 3 pounds a month right now. That isn't sexy, it isn't going to set any records or win the Biggest loser competition, but it is working. I have been doing a lot of research on the keto way of eating and finding so many other health benefits to this over and above losing weight.
Keto has been shown to reduce the effects of dementia in Alzheimers and pre-Alzheimer's patients. The following is taken from a larger article found here about Keto and Alzheimers Ketosis for Mental Decline Although research is still needed on the subject of ketosis and mental decline, there have been a number of small studies done in around the last decade showing how a state of ketosis can provide value for patients who are cognitively impaired: A study with 20 people who had Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment were given a placebo or medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). After 90 minutes, ketone levels were increased in those given the MCT. The higher amounts of ketone levels correlated with greater improvements in memory [1]. Five years later, another longer and larger study was done with 152 patients who had mild Alzheimer’s. Those taking a ketogenic compound showed improvements in cognition 45 days later [2]. We also know that ketones themselves have been shown to be neuroprotective [3], which is a good sign when it comes to prevention of mental deterioration over time. In addition, inflammation, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other poor health signs are all major risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s. These are all conditions that can addressed with a balanced, well-planned high-fat and low-carb ketogenic diet.
In addition to mental disorders, Ketogenic diets have been proven to reduce and even reverse type 2 diabetes, lower risks for heart disease, starve out some forms of cancer and reduce inflammation of the arteries. Cardiologists are now admitting that the low-fat guidelines published in 1977 are killing us. Look what has happened since those guidelines were published. An obesity epidemic, type 2 diabetes spreading like a plague across America and an increase in heart disease, inflammation, and Alzheimers despite years of low fat foods, low cholesterol products and food pyramids preaching the gospel of high carb, low fats diets as the healthy approach to eating. This is also despite the fact that cholesterol levels can be lowered through statins today to almost any level we want. Yet those lower cholesterol numbers have not lowered the incidence of heart disease or people dying from heart attack at all. In fact, those numbers have increased as fat consumption and cholesterol numbers have come down.
So what does all of this mean? It means that science is not always right. Science knows what it know for now. What I can tell you is that I feel better than I have in years. I feel full, satisfied, energetic and, oh did I mention? I am now down 80 pounds since I started this journey! I know this is the way to eat for the rest of my life. Cutting out sugar and processed foods has made me healthier, happier and more healthy than ever before. I now feel like I can live well into my 80's and 90's with a quick mind and a body that can sustain me. This way of eating is not only saving my life, it is presenting me with a better quality of life for the years I have left. What a blessing to have found it!
Weight - 287 lbs, started 367 lbs
Chest - 50 Inches, started 60 inches
Stomach - 52.0 inches, started 64 inches
Waist - 42 inches, started 54 inches
Mid Thigh - 22 inches, started 25 inches
Total pounds lost - 80 lbs, Total inches lost - 37 inches
Goal weight - 195, Pounds to go 92 pounds
