It has been a long time since I’ve posted a health update. I’ve been so focused on my literary career this year, both writing-wise (Pseudologia Fantastica published in June and another story collection just finished) and day-job-wise (I started teaching creative writing again at the start of October after an 8 year hiatus and this month I started a new part-time library position) that I haven’t posted any dietary updates. Consider this one long overdue.
How’s the keto diet going for me? Long story short, it isn’t. If you follow my posts, you’ll recall this one back in January 2024 setting out my diet goals for this year. Losing 2 stone? Nope. I haven’t managed to stick to either low-carb or keto this year and I have actually gained 4lbs since January, rather than losing 28lbs. Shall I laugh at my New Year 2024 goal, which has gone up in smoke? Why bother?
I haven’t completely neglected my health; with the exception of 2 weeks of illness, I have attended all of my early evening yoga classes.
So, what went wrong? Simply this.
From March to July this year, I managed to lose a few pounds, motivated primarily by my desire to not look like a baby beluga in my bikini when I went to Spain. From August onwards, the pounds crept back on so that, I’m currently 4lbs above my January 2024 starting weight. As the weather gets colder, my desire to eat carb-heavy foods increases. That, and, as flu season progresses I tend to feel sorry for myself and binge ‘comfort foods’. Oh well. Realistically speaking, it isn’t manageable for me to set rigid weight loss goals or impose strict diet no-nos in winter; all that serves to do is make me feel bad.
Keto is a fabulous diet. When I was on a strict keto eating plan of under 20g of carbs a day for 5 straight months, not only did I lose 48lbs/ 18kgs, but my energy and mood greatly improved too. What made it easy back when I did it in 2020 was that everything was shut due to COVID lockdown. With no social obligations to eat out, I could easily control my meal planning at home.
It isn’t so easy to stick to keto these days for two reasons. First reason: I lack my original motivation since I’m no longer obese. Gaining a few pounds isn’t a health crisis like I had when I had a BMI of 31 and was a UK size 16-18 with heart palpitations, backache and joint pain. Second reason: it’s hard to avoid social eating on birthdays, anniversaries, or even just work events. It’s simpler to just forget the diet on those occasions.
From now on, I’m taking a relaxed approach to health. So long as I don’t have to go and buy a whole new bigger sized wardrobe, I’m happy to loosen my belt a little…and my mindset too. I’ll try and stick to low carb as a general rule, but if I stray, it isn’t a biggie. Hurray!
Leilanie Stewart 
A realistic approach. It’s so difficult, I’ve spent half my life on a diet, and it doesn’t get easier. I’ve done very well this year, and being in a good place means that, like you, I don’t view it as a massive crisis if I lose more slowly now. At least I won’t be going into the new year with a mountain to climb in terms of weight loss. Best of luck with yours. 😊
Glad to hear you’re losing the pounds at a rate you’re happy with. Diets are tricky, and the incessant weigh-ins that go with them. I’m giving up on both rather than beating myself up. So long as my clothes don’t get too tight, I’ll keep my chin up! ☺️
[…] in December I wrote a blog post (Keto is great but my commitment not so) about how I was planning on taking a more relaxed approach to low carb, with the intention of not […]