The diet

[Alan Pickett]

Hey there - 

I wrapping my head around giving Grants diet a try, and am wondering if those of you have played around with this can answer a couple of questions:

1. Has anyone noticed a change in mood, mentation, or energy level that appears to be associated with being in ketosis? I get fatigue and mental fogginess daily which i suspect may in part be due to blood sugar spikes.

2. When starting, can I literally just begin with one of Grants 24 hour carbo fasts, load up on the butter and lard, and forward march, or would you all advise a "softer" transition, say by ceasing sugary snacks for a week or so, then corn, then spuds, then grains, over a longer time period? Just wondering if I can just turn this thing on overnight. I assume with a little bit of transitional suffering?

I know this is a topic oft discussed, so feel free simply to point me to some good discussion threads or resources if this has already been exhausted.

Hope everyone is well this morning,

Alan

[Clayton.sf]

Hi Alan,

Bees doing this for a little less than two years now. Here what I found:

1. Have more consistent energy throughout the day and sleep better once I want to sleep. No food comas, huge mood or energy swings. In addition, while I felt less "on my game" when it came to sports the first two months, I now am doing better than before the switch. Less need to constantly eat on long rides. No bonking. I can ride lots with or without immediate food. Previously I needed a constant supply of food.

2. Jump right in. Give it a month.

Best wishes,
Clayton Scott
SF, CA

[Deacon Patrick]

Our family has been low carb since 2011. Understand there is a difference between dipping into ketosis (which happens when fasting from carbs (or all food) for 16 hours or more), and a full on ketogenic diet, which essentially eliminates carbs entirely, and is generally not recommended except for medical necessity. Also worth noting: leafy green veggies do not count as carbs because they are digested to fatty acids (wonderful beasties!).

1. Yes. Our whole family. stability of energy and mood throughout the day. 

2. Dive in and learn. Part of the learning is learning to listen to your body and what it needs. You are dealing with converting your "engine" from only sugar to sipping sugar and relying on burning fat. That conversion takes time, the duration of which seems to be different for each person.

Be amazed! It really is a wonderful gift to be free from the sugar burning/insulin, fat storing cycle.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Mike in WA]

Patrick and other ketogenic adoptees: Can you recommend some blogs or websites with good recipe ideas for the ketogenic diet? I've been drawn to the idea for years but never taken the plunge, and I think ignorance of how to do this economically and conveniently has been a major block. I've delved into Mark's Daily Apple before, but he seemed to have very expensive taste and a more gourmet approach. What are your primary sources of calorie-dense foods to replace the carbs for energy?

Thanks!

Mike in WA, an economically constrained but ketogenically optimistic grad student

[Deacon Patrick]

Great question, Mike. First, we made the choice to get all our nutrition from food. This shifted our supplement budget to our food budget. We follow the "Perfect Health Diet".

https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Health-Diet-Regain-Weight-ebook/dp/B007USA6MM/ref=sr_1_1_ha?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1464795713&sr=1-1&keywords=perfect+health+diet

For full ketogenic diet I just don't eat the "safe carbs." We've found for us that the whole organic (or uncertified equivalent) makes a world of difference in how we feel (and in how food tastes).

The diet itself is stunningly simple, but requires not getting any processed foods, but instead processing your own. We use our Vitamix blender for all kinds of things (well, my wife and kids do. I have to be in a different room with noise canceling headphones on and the door shut when it runs). It is how we process food.

Budget is tricky. I read somewhere that the subsidization of grains in the US creates a false understanding of actual food costs and that a dozen pasture-raised, bug fed chicken eggs costs the same today (with inflation considered) as they did back in the late 1800's, but we balk at the price because grain fed chicken eggs artificially cost so much less (but are poisoning us in all kinds of ways). We've also learned how critical it is that our food not eat grains either unless it is part of their natural diet (and if so, it is naturally a very small part, as with pigs and chickens). Real food costs more because it isn't subsidized through grain subsidies.

Buy in bulk.

Get a chest freezer, and buy a half or whole cow

75-90% of our calories come from fat. meals have a few oz. of protein and a lot of fatty goodness in sauces.

Eggs.

Cream.

Save fat (if you cook bacon, save the fat for cooking and sauces later, don't trash those wondrous calories!)

I just eat two meals a day. Growing kids and pregnant/nursing moms eat three meals a day and 1-2 snakes between.

Beef/lamb lasts far longer than the USDA exp. date. Learn when your store culls their meat and ask them to hold things aside.

Offal.

Dental bills have dropped to near nothing.

Ask for any of the unused fat when you get a cow. This used to provide all our fat needs, but the long drought a few years back means leaner cows, and there was no extra, so we've had to buy coconut oil, tallow, etc.

I've no idea what cookbooks they use. Mostly they just "convert" recipes to paleo based on experience, so we're the wrong folks to ask. Also, just search "paleo __________" to find a wide assortment of recipes. With time, you'll suss out which sites you like.

For the most part we do not make "poser" food, like paleo pancakes, muffins, pasta etc. But some things we do slightly differently like pizza are essentially the toppings with cheese on scrambled eggs taste far better than the original. They've enjoyed learning to make nut and seed breads, but it's taken them a while to figure that out to their satisfaction.

I hope that helps. Enjoy!

With abandon,

Patrick

[Robert F. Harrison]

Let's see, it's been 18 months or so for me, I'm a hundred pounds lighter, have much more energy, can ride dozens of miles on a single cup of coffee and never bonk - all good.

1. I'm a lot clearer mentally and my general mood has definitely improved. I can still get a little groggy at work (desk work) but if I remember to get up and take a walk, etc. I'm right back in the game. 

2. Jump in. I've given Grant's book to a number of folks and only one 'jumped in.' He's done really well. The other all gave it a partial try and none of the continued. They said it was probably great but they weren't getting over the cravings for carbs. I think, though I have real proof, that it's because they were still playing wit their insulin levels by having carbs and basically causing their own cravings; sort of like an alcoholic trying to have just one beer.

My own experience is that the first couple of weeks were tough mentally as I still imagined eating sugary or carb loaded foods. I have to admit I missed a few things for a bit (things I really ought to have been avoiding anyway - even if not eating this way). That goes away. Eighteen months down the road I don't look longingly at ice cream shops, cake, rice (and that's a tough one in Hawaii where everything comes with 'two scoops rice').

Also I really pigged out the first few weeks - eating a lot more than I do now. I ate a lot of bacon, I kept cans of sardines at work, brought in hard boiled eggs (or walked a mile round trip to a coffee shop that had them - overpriced but the walk was really the thing). I also used to take stuff with me on bike rides. Now? Not so much. Indeed my work schedule is pretty much 6am-2pm and most of the time I just have coffee when I get to work (a little heavy cream and stevia - still have a sweet tooth) and don't eat till I get home after a bike ride.

In short, go for it. You'll feel better, you'll have more energy, you'll be clearer, and probably happier. 

Aloha!

Bob

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

Robert Harrison

Honolulu, HI
rfhar...@gmail.com
statrix.com

Wu Name: Tha Eurythmic King of Nowhere

[Tim Butterfield]

Mike,

My wife and I started LCHF after reading/watching stuff on http://www.dietdoctor.com/  They keep pushing for you to become a member, but you don't have to.  There is a lot of good free stuff there also.  I signed up for the free emails, which link to more free information and, of course, include a mention of membership.  There was one this morning with this link: http://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/without-cooking

Cheers.

Tim

--

[Justin August]

It's definitely worth looking at sources like Mark's Daily Apple (even given his gourmet tastes) as he delves into current research and revises his approach based on current findings rather than sticking to an orthodoxy. His findings around cooled rice explaining the "Japan paradox" and the like are signs of an actual science based approach - something refreshing these days.

Disclaimer: I try to eat high fat, low carb/sugar but I love ice cream. #SorryNotSorry

-Justin, on Summer Break, in Oakland

[Chris Birkenmaier]

I have been low carb and high fat (for the most part) now for 2 years.  I have lost 95 pounds although I gained 25 back from being lazy and drinking more beer and not watching what I eat closely.  It really does make a difference for me on my food choices and the scale reflects that.  I found I have FAR less brain fog without the grains and sugar.  I concentrate on whole foods and eat a lot of cheese, full-fat dairy, berries, peanut butter, salads, nuts, avacados, etc.   The problem/difference I have is that I do not eat beef, pork, or chicken.  I do eat seafood and a small amount of fish.  If I did eat meat I know my food options would open way up but I will live with my choices.  Never did the fat fast but would probably just start cutting back/out sugar and processed foods.  You will soon feel much better I'm sure.  I know I did.

[Alan Pickett]

Just want to say thanks to all for your speedy and thoughtful replies. I will suck in all the collective input and attempt to put it to good use. It's so nice having such a great bunch of folks to check in with. Just ride!

Al

On Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 9:33:04 AM UTC-4, Alan Pickett wrote:

[dstein]

I struggle with the fatigue during the first few weeks and consequently I have never been able to go more than three weeks in ketosis. Usually after 2 weeks I feel myself 'adapting' and start to feel better but then something else happens in life and I veer off course. Supposedly a lot of that is known as the 'keto flu' and is attributed to a lack of magnesium and potassium. Brothy soups (or straight broth) is a good cure for that. 

Here's a good resource where most people have asked questions, with various quality of responses: https://www.reddit.com/r/keto/

And recipes: https://www.reddit.com/r/ketorecipes

[Mike in WA]

This website is a great resource! Thanks, Tim! All I really need is a few idiot sheets to know what TO do and what NOT to do (to get started). Good info here. 

-- Mike 

[Mike in WA]

Regarding magnesium deficiency, this is a supplement I use that may be helpful http://www.ancient-minerals.com/products/magnesium-oil/. There's good info on the website about Mg deficiency, though they're clearly trying to sell you something. I buy into their claim that it's very difficult to absorb magnesium through nutrition and transdermal application is the way to go. When I've stayed on with regular application of this stuff, I've noticed improvements in mood, sleep and energy levels. I've recently come to see that my crappy diet may have more to do with that and will be interested to see how the ketogenic plan improves things along with Mg supplementation. 

[Lungimsam]

Can one do these Just eat and ketogenics and still eat Indian food? 

[Lee Legrand]

If you can stop eating somosa and rice, sure. 😀

On Thu, Jun 2, 2016 at 6:52 PM, Lungimsam <john1...@gmail.com> wrote:

Can one do these Just eat and ketogenics and still eat Indian food? 

--

[davec...@gmail.com]

I munched down on some saag paneer and chicken tandoori the other day,pretty tasty and I think low carb. 

Sent from my iPhone

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/qPapFvDPob0/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

[Zach Kahl]

My best resource is http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com for recipes. The author there has a great collection of recipes that she shares and offers a pretty great variety to boot.