Discussions

Yes boss!!! Hehehe, just kidding. I get where you're coming from (it's easy to get off topic on here lol)  
 
So in regard to shopping....is there any milk allowed??? I only drink water and milk so that's gonna be tough.  
 
Fruits...being diabetic I have to watch that anyways but the few fruit I do eat (banana, plums, oranges, apples) are the no list now. I don't really like berries but will have to learn! It's gonna be more money in that department too I think because the no fruits are typically cheaper?  
 
Brings me to my next question...do you find this diet cheaper or more expensive compared to how you were eating?  
 
And next, fish. What do you like buy and what brands? I tend to only buy frozen salmon but I admit I don't know if it's the right kind or the farm raised stuff which is bad right??  
 
Where do people like to buy their grass fed meat? Do you eat a lot of chicken,beef and pork?  
 
Hope these questions are acceptable. If not, let me know!! No hard feeling

First of all I forgot to mention, I like rye with club soda and lime. I use the packages of crystalized lime I mentioned before because I always have them on hand.  
 
For milk you will find the skimmer the higher in carbs. You're not supposed to be afraid of fat when you're eating low-carb, so it's recommended you use heavy cream (like 35% whipping cream) in your coffee and recipes.  
 
Fruits are pretty limited. Berries are recommended because they aren't as sweet and have a lot of fiber I guess. If you don't like berries you can omit them too.  
 
I'm hoping someone can chime in with some recommendation on fish and meat besides what I find at superstore, but you can eat any meats that you like. Using a calorie and nutrition app like My Fitness Pal will help you learn.  
 
I mostly eat back and chicken so far.  
 
Use this calculator to explore your options.  
https://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/

Also this diet is cheaper because I was ordering Little Italy or Pizza Express 4 or 5 times a week, and Tim's 3 or 4 mornings a week.

I'll check those out tomorrow. Thanks!  
 
We do get beef packages from my aunt that are grass fed but the rest is usually store bought. I need to look into the butchers and farmer packages  
 
Is the crystallized lime healthier than lime juice?

I don''t think lime juice or crystals are especially healthful - just delicious. Don''t overthink everything.  
 
Grassfed has nothing to do with carbs. I'm sure its healthful but I think it's just a carryover from the trend of eating whole foods and the popularity of a paleo diet.  
 
Edited by PrairieDog204, 2017-08-15 23:04:09

Lol I definitely over think! I was just curious if there was a health benefit to crystals versus juice. I have lemon and lime juice on hand so will use those  
 
I thought I had read that meat should be grass fed so that's why I had mentioned our beef we get. I will need to change from chicken breasts to darker pieces. Because they're fattier, I read.

Really, I think any fish is fine. I have sardines crushed with onions and black pepper with pork rinds. Or regular lake fish fried or stewed down, baked or roasted in foil.  
Tinned makerels or sardines from the dollar store are a pretty cost effective option.  
 
If I go for take out, I normally do Sushi Hut and have as much sashimi as I possibly can :-D

Cauliflower is an amazing low carb vegetable. It can substitute for potatoes, a food that is often craved in low carbohydrate diets.  
 
 
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/recipes/cauliflower

We started the keto woe on Tuesday. I definitely underestimated the "keto flu"....I feel like crap! The other half seems to be fine so far. I'm already sick of meat, cheese and eggs but I'm going to push through and see if I feel better after a week. Down some weight already and my sugar levels have improved BIG time!!

Hey Sammy! If you're going to attempt full-blown Keto I hope you did a lot of research. Most people say that maintaining your sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels is super important. In addition to the ol' meat & eegs I burn through spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, swiss chard, rapini, kale, and cauliflower like crazy. I just fry it up with a bit of butter/oil and salt.  
 
As for me I went on a short vacation and I've been off the wagon ever since. Special occasions and travelling had me eating like garbage again but I'm almost ready to hop back on.

Did a fair bit of research before starting and still reading stuff every day. I joined a few fb groups that seem to be very helpful and also provide lots of ideas for meals. We've been eating spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, lettuce wraps, asparagus etc but I think because I'm so nauseous, I just don't have an appetite. Everything we've been eating, I normally do like. I need to go see my doctor tomorrow anyways so I'll talk to her about it too. She's been telling me to stay away from all carbs due to being diabetic so I think she'll be happy with my new levels!!  
 
I read to eat pickles, broth, Himalayan salt, electrolyte drinks to help with the "flu" but it doesn't seem to be working. I haven't seen too many say they've been sick past a week so I'm hopefully almost over this!  
 
Were you tired in the beginning??  
 
I made a 90 second keto bread tonight for a snack and that seemed to help my mood a bit! Lol

Does anyone check their Ketone levels? What method do you use and where did you purchase it?

So if I don't feel like making cauliflower rice, do the stores sell them?

Testing for ketones....I bought urine ketostix off amazon. Around $13. I've heard Walmart and SDM sell them too  
 
Costco sells riced cauliflower. Anyone see it in town? I'm also looking for "zoodles" (zucchini noodles) and rao's pasta sauce. Oh and Lily's chocolate bars and chips.

Are the strips just called urine test strips?  
 
I've seen cauliflower rice and zoodles at Superstore.

I don't know if I can attach a pic on the mobile app?  
 
They are called ketostix

I am in love with the blog I breath I'm hungry https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/  
 
This blog is FULL of info, and recipes, that are easy and so yummy, she even does up meal plans and shopping list to make things super easy! Great info for beginners, how to start what to expect and a ratio calculator to find the ratios of fats/carbs/protein that is perfect for you and your life style!

Ketone testing is not accurate or consistent, so the most you can hope for from testing is simply a "yes or no" to finding out whether you are in ketosis. Don't get caught up obsessing of what the perceived levels may be.  
 
Follow you're macros and there is no need to test.  
 
Zoodles are easy to make I see peelers and all sorts of kitchen gadgets that can make them.  
 
Riced cauliflower is becoming more and more common I've seen it at Superstore(frozen) and at Safeway(fresh) lately.  
 
Bulk barn has a great selection of chocolate but really any 85% and above does the trick for me.

I noticed that some of you talk about different kinds of alternative sweeteners, stevia etc.  
 
Why?  
 
Wouldn't it be better to simply retrain your tastebuds to not want those sweet things? Once you reprogram your tastes, even water would taste sweet (it does to me normally, and I'm not low-carb!). You would probably not need sweeteners at all after awhile, no?  
 
I'm asking honestly because I don't understand that aspect of it. Thanks.

Abbysmum said "I noticed that some of you talk about different kinds of alternative sweeteners, stevia etc.     Why?     Wouldn't it be better to simply retrain your tastebuds to not want those sweet things? Once you reprogram your tastes, even water would taste sweet (it does to me normally, and I'm not low-carb!). You would probably not need sweeteners at all after awhile, no?     I'm asking honestly because I don't understand that aspect of it. Thanks. "

I use swerve (sugar sub) in baking or cooking low carb items, when a recipe would call for sugar, it helps to keep the net carbs down. I don't use it in coffee or tea.

https://www.thepaleomom.com/adverse-reactions-to-ketogenic-diets-caution-advised/  
 
If any of you are on keto diets or are thinking about it, please read up on adverse effects. (e.g. on the website above or talk to your doctor) Adverse effects are like side effects but are much more serious. e.g. kidney stones, sepsis, heart problems, death. Yes, you can lose weight very quickly while eating a lot on a ketogenic diet, but ketones are very unhealthy for the body. I would rather go lower carb, and reduce simple carbs in favour of complex carbs in my diet, but would never go without carbs for an extended period of time. I know someone with heart and kidney problems due to ketosis so this is real stuff that happens to real people.

PrairieDog204 said "Ketone testing is not accurate or consistent, so the most you can hope for from testing is simply a "yes or no" to finding out whether you are in ketosis. Don't get caught up obsessing of what the perceived levels may be.     Follow you're macros and there is no need to test.     Zoodles are easy to make I see peelers and all sorts of kitchen gadgets that can make them.     Riced cauliflower is becoming more and more common I've seen it at Superstore(frozen) and at Safeway(fresh) lately.     Bulk barn has a great selection of chocolate but really any 85% and above does the trick for me. "

At which aisle can I find these cauliflower rice? Does Sobey stock them?

I found frozen riced cauliflower at Walmart with the other frozen veggies and Sobeys has zoodles in the fruit section by the back counter but we're outta stock today.  
 
I bought some coconut sauce (substitution for soy sauce) at Hedley's health hut for $9.95 but also saw it at Sobeys, although it was smaller bottle and more money!  
 
Still haven't found the Lily's chocolate but picked up other stuff.  
 
Saw a no sugar added ketchup at hedley's but it seemed runny and pricy imo. Has anyone found a ketchup or BBQ sauce that is keto friendly, that they liked? My husband is missing it haha.

do you use butter or margarine for spread like on butter or corn or anything else

Keto is low carb, moderate protein, high fat so corn unfortunately is not keto friendly.  
 
 
I use butter in my cooking

Not to be a complete moron, but, would you like the list of adverse reactions to the SAD (Standard American Diet) that is being shoved down our throats? With everything there is a risk. I would like to think that anyone who decides to remove the majority of carbs from their diet would have already done their research and decided that the benefits way outweigh the risks.  
 
You know people who have developed kidney/heart issues, I know people who have cured a battalion of issues that existed for years on the SAD. Myself i:ncluded. My last blood-work came back with no issues. I don't presume to think that this diet will work for everyone, but after years of trying anything and everything, including the much hyped eat less exercise more, I find it quite funny that since reordering my food chart with carbs being lowest priority and fats being on top, I''m the lightest and healthiest I have been in over 15 years.  
 
Edited by scotchy, 2017-09-25 09:56:49

Just curious....why do they ask if it's an allergy or preference when you ask for no bun? Also, do you have to ask them to wrap it in lettuce?  
 
First time going there today since this way of eating and I got it like a normal burger, just no bun, and a scoop of mayo on the side. It was fine, burger salad!! But just wondering if I need to ask next time to have it wrapped

scotchy said "Not to be a complete moron, but, would you like the list of adverse reactions to the SAD (Standard American Diet) that is being shoved down our throats? With everything there is a risk. I would like to think that anyone who decides to remove the majority of carbs from their diet would have already done their research and decided that the benefits way outweigh the risks.     You know people who have developed kidney/heart issues, I know people who have cured a battalion of issues that existed for years on the SAD. Myself i:ncluded. My last blood-work came back with no issues. I don't presume to think that this diet will work for everyone, but after years of trying anything and everything, including the much hyped eat less exercise more, I find it quite funny that since reordering my food chart with carbs being lowest priority and fats being on top, I''m the lightest and healthiest I have been in over 15 years.     Edited by scotchy, 2017-09-25 09:56:49"

I eat lots of veggies. Some fruits and berries. I avoid simple sugars and opt more for complex carbs. I don't eat a lot of carbs, but would not put my body into ketosis. I am around 60 and just had a physical and got a clean bill of health. My risk of heart attack is 6% over the next ten years. And I am not overweight. Not going keto does not mean that the only alternative is SAD. Personally, I would only adopt a keto diet if I had a serious health condition, such as epilepsy, that did not respond to other treatments.

sammy said "Just curious....why do they ask if it's an allergy or preference when you ask for no bun? Also, do you have to ask them to wrap it in lettuce?     First time going there today since this way of eating and I got it like a normal burger, just no bun, and a scoop of mayo on the side. It was fine, burger salad!! But just wondering if I need to ask next time to have it wrapped "

They would ask for cross contamination issues :D

So they would just be extra careful of it was due to allergies? That makes sense