Face to Face 2018, unintended benefit of LCHF and Keto, I look different

Not only do I feel 31 at age 51 but I have a completely different look now that I've been Paleo, Low Carb, mildly Keto for almost 6 years.

I still have age spots, wrinkles, chubby cheeks with a wrinkly neck,  freckles,  and some saggy skin. Weight Maintenance and the right for you food template can only fix so much. LOL.

And it's not just me. Check out all the before and after photos at other Paleo, Primal, Low Carb, and Keto, NSNG support groups.

Marks Daily Apple https://www.marksdailyapple.com/success-stories-home/
Diet Doctor (LCHF) https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/success-stories
Paleo Success Stories http://paleononpaleo.com/category/paleo-success-stories/
Keto Success Stories (Public) https://www.ketogenicforums.com/c/progress/public-before-and-after-shots
Keto Success Stories (Private) - join and participate at https://www.ketogenicforums.com/ to see those
Fasting Success stories (IDM Program) https://idmprogram.com/testimonials/
HEAL Clinics (Eric Westman, MD) https://healclinics.com/success-stories-low-carb-results/
NSNG- Facebook Vinnie Tortorich's private group

Wow. It's a real treat for me to see people eating food for humans and comparing what they look like before and after. It's amazing what addressing your obesity inputs and applying your correct food template will do. I look different in a good way.

Jan 2009, pre half marathon photo, Carlsbad, CA

I ran across this photo of me in 2009, the start of the Carlsbad 2009 half marathon. I walked it and developed plantar fasciitis a few months later. I almost became temporarily disabled from it the summer of 2009 at about 60-65 pounds overweight. I went on to gain even more weight, even though the plantar fasciitis got a little better. I was fiercely low fat, counting points, slamming Cliff Bars, Skinny Cow Ice Creams, and the obligatory LOW FAT muffins with training buddies at Starbucks.

I ate 6 times a day. It turned out so poorly

I kept my training friends and ditched low fat, high carb. I'd pay a lot for a WW enchilada frozen meal right now, with a mug of Medifast hot chocolate.

Hmmmm Beef Brisket, Rotisserie chicken, green salad, colorful lower starch veggies. Cup of good, black coffee. I would not go back if someone paid me. Really. Eating in a 6-7 hour window.

Free, feeling and looking young, vs hobbling and almost keeling over. Food seeking at every chance No WAY. I so believed I would find a lean muscular body by doing that. It didn't kill me,

Flash forward to my long term weight maintenance plan, the correct food template, 60 minutes of moderate paced walking, 2X strength workouts per week and mobility exercises daily.

January 2018, new glasses selfie!  Costco

When a food template works, when abstaining works it really shows. Lab work all the way to a selfie. Don't stop until you find the right food and exercise combo. 

My late father was right, what didn't killed me did make me stronger. Onward. 

Keto Woman Podcast- Episode #13 featuring me- Data, for informational use only!

I was honored to have been interviewed by Daisy Brackenhall of the Keto Woman Podcast.

Check out my episode (#13) and all of the prior episodes here
http://www.ketowomanpodcast.com/episodes/

Daisy is an admin over at the 2 Keto Dudes Form (hint you'll get more access to more content if you join and interact- its free.
https://www.ketogenicforums.com/

Give it a listen. A lot of "what works for me" goes against mainstream weight loss groups.
Abstaining for a WIN. Yo!!

*** correction Pamala Peeke, MD's book is the Hunger Fix

Coolest behind the scene scoop: I watched the sunset in France while we recorded, from Daisy's window in her office, while I watched the sun rise from my chair on the same day!!!  Digital connections are awesome.

Thanks again to Daisy, the 2 Keto Dudes, and to all the Keto Women past, present and future. And to my family, friends, co-workers, classmates, blog commenters, who support me. Thanks! Onward and here's to getting to your goals.

This week on the Keto Woman Podcast, Daisy talks to her latest extraordinary woman KAREN PARROTT who has maintained a healthy weight for 6 years, resolved her binge eating and obesity, thanks to keto and fasting. Tune in by heading over to the link in our profile, iTunes, or your favorite podcast app! #keto #ketogenic #ketosis #ketolife #ketoinspo #ketoeats #ketolifestyle #ketocooking #ketopodcast #thatketolife #healthy #healthyeats #healthylifestyle #weightloss #weightlossjourney #fattofit #lchf #lowcarb #lowcarbhighfat #fatfueled #ketowoman #ketowomanpodcast

A post shared by Daisy Brackenhall (@ketowomanpodcast) on Jan 19, 2018 at 8:05am PST

5 years, 11 months in long term weight maintenance

May 2011 vs Jan 2018

May 2011 vs Jan 2018

Starting weight 187.4 lbs

Goal Range 113-125  lbs 

2017 best Goal Weight Range 113 to 116

Current Weight  116.8   lbs

Keeping off    70.6 lbs

Time in maintenance 5 years, 11 months

Age 51

Menopause 4+years

Height 5'1"

BMI 22.1

BMI ave December 22.0

BMI ave November  21.9

What's working:
1. Health: Another short check in for me. 

I've got a mild cold, not bad in comparison to some of the flu that is so devastating. That's the nice thing I've found since getting my hs-CRP super low, that colds are mild and come and go. I don't take any cold medication other than a Zicam (zinc) that is probably more placebo than anything. 

It's nice to roll up my sick days and use them for vacation. Removing dairy was key in mostly eliminating my sinus infections that seemed to be 3X per year before. 

2. Podcasts: I recorded a podcast with Keto Woman Podcast- Daisy Brackenhall.  That podcast will release around Friday, January 19th, 2018. I'll post a blog entry with a link. 

I've been listening to a lot of new podcasts, too. The Obesity Code Podcast, The Boundless Health Podcast,  STEM Talk, Happier in Hollywood, The Happier Podcast, JAMA Podcasts, select Joe Rogan, The Primal Blueprint Podcast, select Tim Ferriss Show.... and don't hate... Welcome to RealiTV. (sigh- LOL, I've got to balance out the JAMA stuff.

I'm really digging STEM talk... many of my favorite low carb, science people. :)

Feb 3, 2018 will mark 6 years in weight maintenance. It's kind of exciting. 

3. Weight: Still holding steady. I've noticed that even with a couple of higher pounds, in the 117's, my body fat is the same or less than in my lower weights. So, I'm feeling good, but watching very, very closely. I may need to go through more cycles of fasting and cutting my intake total a few more days a week. 

What didn't work in the past

1. Eating whatever and not noticing that what I ate impacted the frequency and severity of even common illnesses. My sinus infections and headaches were so painful. I don't miss them.

2. Lack of access to a variety of resources. WW magazine, Richard Simmons were okay, but I needed more. 

3. Weight, I didn't weigh frequently enough to take action. I didn't want to take action. Who wants to give up their addictive substance? I thought I would die without Skinny Cow ice cream and Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. Turns out I was dying WITH them. Funny now, sad then.  

GRAPHS: Because, data.

Rank this! 2011 to 2018 Long term weight maintenance Paleo, Low Carb, and gasp! Keto, with IF

Before getting too upset about another diet ranking
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/01/03/575181390/from-vegan-to-keto-and-mediterranean-experts-rank-2018s-best-diets

On the left: Weight Watchers results (moderation of all foods) and my ability to not think for myself almost killed me. I was in my own way.

On the right: Paleo, Low Carb, Keto and Intermittent Fasting. Abstaining from trigger foods.

Abstaining and removing whole food groups saved my life.
Moderating all food groups almost killed me.

I lived simply because I took matters into my own hands

I simply thought for myself:  I ranked my own results

May 2011 to Dec 2017

Be sure to

0. Abstain from binge foods
1. Think for yourself
2. Take 2 months to try a diet plan and see if your weight decreases or increases
3. Take 2-3 months to see if your fasting glucose and 2 hrs post is higher or lower
4. Abstain from a food for 30 days. When you bring it back in, do you have extreme cravings
5. Ask yourself :How's your muscle mass, strength, mobility?
6. Ask yourself: How's your joint pain?
7. Ask yourself: How's your sleep?
8. Ask yourself: How's your anxiety, depression?
9. Ask yourself: How's your skin, more acne, less?
10. Ask yourself: How's your GI system running?
11. Ask yourself: How's my blood pressure?
12. Ask yourself: How's your hs-CRP or other inflammation markers?

Weight maintenance = very sustainable for me.

It wasn't too hard,
I'm in great health
I'm 51 and feel better than when I was 31

Any questions?

Were any of the experts over weight as kids?
I was. Thank my higher power for thinking for myself.

If I relied on expert opinion, I might not be here.

Think for yourself!

On the left Weight Watchers
On the right Paleo, Low Carb, Keto, Intermittent Fasting.

*edited to add BP and hs-CRP to my list.

May 2011 to Jan 4, 2018 Daily weigh ins. 

365 days of what makes Low Carb, Paleo, and mild Keto easier for my long term weight maintenance 2018

(1/365) Salt makes #lchf easier, tasty, and maintains my blood pressure. Low carb means no more high BP for me. Thanks @drjamesdinic The Salt Fix author. #thesaltfix #nsng #weightmaintenance #kale #traderjoes @traderjoes

A post shared by Karen Parrott (@karenspaleolife) on Jan 1, 2018 at 7:55am PST

365 days of What makes Low Carb, Paleo, Keto and weight easier in long term weight maintenance.

Why NOT!?!?  I'm a hobby photographer and what better way to show you what makes my Long Term Weight Maintenance easier than 365 days of Instagram posts.

Go, look, learn. Here's to a great 2018! Happy New Year.

In a little more than 1 month, I'll  have 6 full years of long term weight maintenance.
Paying it forward feels good.
I was obese or yo-yo eating from ages 6-46.

Food Addiction sucks. There is a super full life in remission.
If I had realized how good and full life was living in remission, I would have hopped on this way of life sooner. Better late than never. Happier than before.

Please know, it is possible to have long term weight maintenance in most cases. The next 40 years are MINE.

Here's my main instagram account where my 365 challenge is 
https://www.instagram.com/karenspaleolife/

If you enjoy Southern California Beach photos, here is my other account
https://www.instagram.com/gardengirl_kp/?hl=en


Onward. Here's to removing any barriers to what may be better and happier in 2018.