Welcome all you newbies!
Tips:
- Don't believe the signs of ketosis until you've been on the diet 2 weeks. Although the headache & most of the hunger goes within the first few days, the danger time for a lot of people (including me) seems to include the second week as well as the body FIGHTS to get you to go out hunter gathering for more food rather than succumbing to ketosis. I finally recognised this in myself after a few failed restarts over the past couple of years, so went in to those 2 weeks all guns blazing and am now on day 35
have lost 22lb so far.
- Surround yourself with motivational things - read blogs, look at before and after photos, look up icky medical procedures obese people have to have, write a list of why you're doing it. It helps to strengthen your brain's motivation for slimness and its aversion to fatness to give you a good chance of beating the demons.
- Don't feel you have to tell anyone. I have told people at work I'm having a protein shake some mornings for breakfast as it keeps me fuller than cereal, and that I'm drinking cup a soups at lunch as they are cheap
when pushed further I lied to say that I have a BIG healthy meal when I get home, but that it's too much faff to make to bring in to work. This stops the spanish inquisition getting too excited.
- Drinking enough makes everything easier. I have a 2L bottle that I fill up every morning and carry around the house/car to ensure I drink it all through the day. Before I have a meal replacement, I have a big cup of tea or a glass of water from the tap. I drink ginger root tea (finely chop fresh ginger, put in cup, add hot water = yum), peppermint, green tea with peppermint, green tea with ginger added, and very occasionally a normal cuppa if I'm at someone else's house.
- You will probably get quite cold at times, especially if you sit still for extended periods. Wear layers, and keep some gloves to hand. My wheat cushions are very handy at the moment! This is where the constant herbal tea drinking helps as you can warm your hands on the cup.
- If life gets in the way and you can't avoid a social occasion, get the menu in advance and make your choices with your rational dieting head on. Most restaurants are capable of doing you a chicken breast with salad. There is a list of ketogenic foods pinned on the forum to help you choose. You will need to make good choices when the diet finishes, so you may as well start the practice early. It will help your willpower if you have a shake/soup/bar immediately before you go as you will feel fuller.
- If you're going to be faced with a carb-laden buffet then again have your shake before you go and when you get there apologise, say you have had a bit of a gyppy tummy earlier in the day and stay well away from the food (people won't want you spreading your 'germs' by touching the buffet!), just wander round with some sparkling water and you already have your excuse if you're finding yourself tempted or bored as you can say you need to leave as not feeling well
