Sometimes it takes us a while to realize we have made a bad choice, and although I am upset with myself for having left this group for several months, I am at least glad that I didn’t spend too much time or money on the other plan I was getting involved with.

I have been stuck on the plateau for about 5-6 months now, for many reasons, but mostly because I just stopped trying. I was in a “normal” range weight for the first time in my life, and so I guess that was acceptable, but never where I intended to stop. It was never my goal to stop there. I don’t to be just ok.

So I recently started up again, then stopped..and started and stopped, all in a few days, floundering like s fish out of water, not able to settle on a direction. It seemed like no matter what I tried, I put weight on, and if I tried nothing, I would lose a bit, then I’d try that more, then I’d gain! I was in a very bad place. So I decided that I needed some formal guidance, some place with formal recipe plans, weekly plans with specific lists and percentages and calories, etc. And I wanted to stay low carb because I definitely know my body well enough to know that they definitely make me fat (just haven’t figured out the rest of it!)

So I visited a web site I had seen before I found 5:2 that follows a pure ketogenic diet, and has an immense library of excellent recipes and a couple of 30 day diet plans to choose from. So I joined up, and bought the one plan for $35 (you do get a lot of info). The couple of days before I decided on that site, I had gone back to low carb, with absolutely no cheating (which I was doing a lot of)and had dropped 2.5 lbs already. So, after my first week, faithfully following my $35 plan, cooking meals, eating bacon and eggs, cheeses and meats and butter and olive oil…..have you guessed it? Yep, I gained a pound back! I think it is the dairy and too much fat. But, you know what really got me?
The forums there. I introduced myself and read some of their stuff, and was amazed at how many people wrote in saying how they were gaining weight! Well, no kidding! I mean, I believe in the science of low carb, but I don’t know about the high fat part of it. I think they way overdo it. But, that wasn’t my point. My point was, a lot of those people are so hard core keto freaks that if you even hint about fasting, they jump all over you! I even had a lady tell me how dangerous fasting is, and when I answered her, explaining about fasting, THEY REMOVED MY POST! Maybe she was offended when I told her I had hoped she would be more open minded than that!

So, anyway, sorry to be so long winded. In the end, today, I thought to myself, look back to last year when you were 35 lbs heavier, and see what you were doing then, see what was working. Go back to the basics. So I did. And I was here, doing 5:2, and then 4:3. And I was among people who, for the most part, are an ocean away, but whom I feel closer to than a lot of people who are geographically not near as far away. And even if I don’t lose another pound (although I think I will now), I would much rather be here amonst you fine people than anywhere else in the world.

Thanks for the welcome back! Waking up this morning, I could tell that something felt so right! And it was…I was back at the Fast Diet lifestyle, had already done a fast day from dinner the previous night til breakfast today, and the scale showed 2lbs lower. I feel great!

I may start a recipe “blog” so you all can benefit from the $35 I spent on that other site buying the recipe books. They are really good, for the most part. Some of them are a bit too high fat for me but can be modified. I am particularly interested in the muffins and desserts made with almond or coconut flour. Will post soon!