Solo or with spouse/significant other/partner?

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Replies

  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I do keto for migraines

    I do it for this, and also to help with autoimmune inflammation as I'm disabled and in a lot of pain. The inflammation is mostly gone in my hands and elsewhere but the body pain lives on.

    On a plus side I'm down 62 pounds since the end of June. I'm doing it solo, but I wish I could talk some close family members into low carb/keto as well. My mother also lives with some autoimmune issues and back degeneration and I'm sure it would help her. However she won't give up her morning cereal, breads, and pastas. :neutral:

    I totally don't understand the mentality where eating a specific food is somehow more important than feeling healthy and well...but I encounter it all the time...people take harsh drugs and injections and all kinds of craziness to control migraines and when I talk to them about keto, they are not interested in giving up their pasta or even just paying any attention at all to what they eat.
  • 2t9nty
    2t9nty Posts: 1,631 Member

    I totally don't understand the mentality where eating a specific food is somehow more important than feeling healthy and well...but I encounter it all the time...people take harsh drugs and injections and all kinds of craziness to control migraines and when I talk to them about keto, they are not interested in giving up their pasta or even just paying any attention at all to what they eat.

    On some level it is a cost-vs-benefit thing for them. The cost of a donut WRT my glucose readings is not worth the benefit for me. I can get the fact that it might be for someone else.
  • janra01
    janra01 Posts: 12 Member
    My husband is sorta doing it with me. I would make him a carby side dish for dinner at first. Eventually he just stopped eating all pasta, potatoes and most of the time bread. He won’t add the higher fat, though, and doesn’t eat enough protein. He’s always been a really picky eater. He’s type 2 and I wish he would commit. He was really addicted to the sugar free candy. I got him off the malitol and buy Keto bark for him now.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    janra01 wrote: »
    My husband is sorta doing it with me. I would make him a carby side dish for dinner at first. Eventually he just stopped eating all pasta, potatoes and most of the time bread. He won’t add the higher fat, though, and doesn’t eat enough protein. He’s always been a really picky eater. He’s type 2 and I wish he would commit. He was really addicted to the sugar free candy. I got him off the malitol and buy Keto bark for him now.

    That "diabetic" candy is not very diabetic friendly IMO. It may have less sugar but it generally does not have fewer carbs. It may use sugar alcohols but those can affect BG too.

    I looked at them when I was going low carb and still looking for a way to NOT just eat low carb. They were disappointing.

    I eventually started using cacao nibs with nuts as a treat.... I still often ate too much though. LOL ;)
  • sykin
    sykin Posts: 1,676 Member
    Sooooooo, question for you guys doing this with your spouse.

    When I started in June, I was doing this solo. My husband cooked, he knew I was doing it and was supportive. In September, he decided to do it as well. Ever since, all I want to do is cheat. Like, I know it's mental, but I struggle now. Feel like I'm dieting, not just changing the way I am eating. I don't know why this is! I never struggled really with this before. But now, I feel like I'm deprived of things because I need to be strong enough to not "cheat" because I don't want HIM to fall off the wagon.

    Thoughts? Anyone else struggle with this?
  • Re_Banana
    Re_Banana Posts: 73 Member
    @sykin I sometimes struggle with myself as well. Things can be going great but if I'm feeling down its like some bizarre psychological self sabotage. My brain just keeps telling me to f#@k it and give up. It's so strange because I don't even want carbs anymore really, it's not like I'm going hungry.
    I think on days you are struggling mentally you could try eating close to maintenance. Just to make sure your body is getting enough. If this seems to help with the mental struggle let me know.
    The other thing to consider is that you are not responsible for your husband. You have inspired him to start this journey but his success is totally dependant on his own dedication. He is on his own path and how well he does is not related to how perfect you are. Putting yourself on a pedistal is too much pressure, and one would be bound to fall. You do you. Let him take care of himself. ❤
  • shelbydodgeguy
    shelbydodgeguy Posts: 194 Member
    I totally don't understand the mentality where eating a specific food is somehow more important than feeling healthy and well...but I encounter it all the time...people take harsh drugs and injections and all kinds of craziness to control migraines and when I talk to them about keto, they are not interested in giving up their pasta or even just paying any attention at all to what they eat.

    I think for my mother in particular a lot of it stems from her earlier life. She had a rough childhood and a lot of times there wasn't much food available. Then when she was married to my father he was always heavily into gardening and we always ate fresh veggies year 'round and she's always had an aversion to green stuff but ate it because that's what was around. Now that she's near retirement age and has the means to afford to splurge on stuff she'd rather gorge on pastas, breads, sweets, and other things than touch a salad, omelette, or anything remotely healthy.

    I personally have always loved fresh green veggies and occasionally enjoyed some pasta or a bread or whatnot. But a few months ago we found out that the higher carb and more processed stuff are some of my inflammation triggers and since I've gone back to my childhood way of eating the weight has just dropped off and my inflammation for the most part is gone. I never really was a sweets or pasta eater any way so I don't miss it a bit. I think the only things I really miss are the occasional corn tortilla, fried rice, and Asian & Middle Eastern type foods. I'm sure I can figure out some way of making some of them keto friendly but I really haven't researched it yet.

  • sykin
    sykin Posts: 1,676 Member
    Thank you so much, @Re_Banana !! That really is helpful to hear. ❤️❤️❤️
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I think the only things I really miss are the occasional corn tortilla, fried rice, and Asian & Middle Eastern type foods. I'm sure I can figure out some way of making some of them keto friendly but I really haven't researched it yet.

    Cauliflower rice is actually a very passable keto friendly version of fried rice.

    They do make low carb tortillas, but I haven't found any that I really like, so I usually just eat the toppings in lettuce, or if I have the carb room I'll just overload the tortilla so I can be full even while only eating one of the tortilla wraps.

    A lot of asian and middle eastern is already keto as long as you avoid the rice and bread items.
  • teresamwhite
    teresamwhite Posts: 947 Member
    sykin wrote: »
    Sooooooo, question for you guys doing this with your spouse.

    When I started in June, I was doing this solo. My husband cooked, he knew I was doing it and was supportive. In September, he decided to do it as well. Ever since, all I want to do is cheat. Like, I know it's mental, but I struggle now. Feel like I'm dieting, not just changing the way I am eating. I don't know why this is! I never struggled really with this before. But now, I feel like I'm deprived of things because I need to be strong enough to not "cheat" because I don't want HIM to fall off the wagon.

    Thoughts? Anyone else struggle with this?

    I did in the beginning...and PMS is still a b!tch -I just want to shovel cheetos and cookies in my mouth lol. I've started looking at my diary, and thinking about the foods I "miss"...what ISN'T there that I really want? Like I said, for me, it's Cheetos, and cookies. I can't keto-fy the Cheetos, but the crispy cheese squares are a fair alternate. As for the cookies, Keto-Connect has some pretty good ones; they're not perfect, but it satisfies my craving.

    I've also decided that certain days are worth the carbs...Thanksgiving, for example, I am planning on mashed potatoes...I'll make good choices for everything else that day, but the mashed potatoes are happening! Those days, I am pretty much telling myself, IIFYM, then I can have it.

    Is there something you are craving, and makes you want to cheat? Maybe we can help you find a workaround? Or is it more the "pressure" of keeping yourself on track so your hubby stays on track?

  • sykin
    sykin Posts: 1,676 Member
    sykin wrote: »
    Sooooooo, question for you guys doing this with your spouse.

    When I started in June, I was doing this solo. My husband cooked, he knew I was doing it and was supportive. In September, he decided to do it as well. Ever since, all I want to do is cheat. Like, I know it's mental, but I struggle now. Feel like I'm dieting, not just changing the way I am eating. I don't know why this is! I never struggled really with this before. But now, I feel like I'm deprived of things because I need to be strong enough to not "cheat" because I don't want HIM to fall off the wagon.

    Thoughts? Anyone else struggle with this?

    I did in the beginning...and PMS is still a b!tch -I just want to shovel cheetos and cookies in my mouth lol. I've started looking at my diary, and thinking about the foods I "miss"...what ISN'T there that I really want? Like I said, for me, it's Cheetos, and cookies. I can't keto-fy the Cheetos, but the crispy cheese squares are a fair alternate. As for the cookies, Keto-Connect has some pretty good ones; they're not perfect, but it satisfies my craving.

    I've also decided that certain days are worth the carbs...Thanksgiving, for example, I am planning on mashed potatoes...I'll make good choices for everything else that day, but the mashed potatoes are happening! Those days, I am pretty much telling myself, IIFYM, then I can have it.

    Is there something you are craving, and makes you want to cheat? Maybe we can help you find a workaround? Or is it more the "pressure" of keeping yourself on track so your hubby stays on track?


    Popcorn and potatoes were my hard things to give up, then it was ice cream. I've found alternatives to fix my cravings for all of those. I've never really had a sweet tooth (even ice cream, I preferred creamy with fruit over chocolate/caramel/whatevers) but now all I want is chocolate. Today, chocolate chip cookies. I almost ate my protein bar 2 hours earlier than usual just to get the chocolate fix I was craving! I've started looking up some recipes, so I think that's going to be on my list of things to accomplish this week. haha

    Moreso, just the general feeling of wanting to cheat is hard for me at the moment. Like, it never bothered me if we'd go out to eat and I'd pick whatever simple dish I could that was keto friendly and I'd be perfectly content watching everyone else at the table eat bread and pasta and all the things I love. But now, we'll talk about what to make for dinner and I can't help but suddenly want nothing but garlic bread with whatever we're making. I've not "cheated" yet with breads. I feel like that would put me over the edge and I'd have a hard time getting back up. LOL

    I do have cheat days planned with my husband already - we're both going to enjoy the best thin crust pizza of our lives this Saturday night at a concert we're going to. And then I already made it clear I will not be eating keto on Thanksgiving, but that's mostly for the sweet potatoes & marshmallows, and the pumpkin pie. I think I need to make sure I just plan days/moments where I allow myself a bit of something, otherwise I'll completely fall off and not get back on again.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    Chocolate cravings are associated with iron deficiency, so maybe a nice big steak would help to ward that away????

    Also, there's a chicken/parmesan keto pizza crust recipe out there that is totally amazing and very filling as well as not being too complicated to make.
  • zanyterp
    zanyterp Posts: 291 Member
    @tcunbeliever thank you for that insight; that might explain why i couldn't leave the pecan pie m&ms alone (in addition to lacking willpower). i will have to try the chicken/parmesan pizza crust...that sounds to die for. do you use it alone or do you put additional toppings on it?
  • shelbydodgeguy
    shelbydodgeguy Posts: 194 Member
    Cauliflower rice is actually a very passable keto friendly version of fried rice.

    They do make low carb tortillas, but I haven't found any that I really like, so I usually just eat the toppings in lettuce, or if I have the carb room I'll just overload the tortilla so I can be full even while only eating one of the tortilla wraps.

    A lot of asian and middle eastern is already keto as long as you avoid the rice and bread items.

    I made stuffed bell peppers a while back and instead of rice I used cauliflower rice, and a couple weeks ago I made a couple cauliflower crust pizzas that came out amazing. I honestly think I prefer the cauliflower rice in the bell peppers to regular rice. As for the tortillas it's not really a big thing for me. Traditional tacos are one of my favorite foods but it's the meats that I love so as long as I can have the carnitas or barbacoa or lengua I'm fine. Last time we did tacos I just did mine as a taco salad on a huge bed of diced romaine lettuce. Not traditional but it worked.

    I will have to figure out more Middle Eastern/Asian recipes one of these days but I've dialed back the cooking quite a bit recently and have been keeping things fairly simple.
  • BulletProofSkim
    BulletProofSkim Posts: 83 Member
    Solo. I cook separate meals for my teenage daughter, but she does share some of my keto meals. She is very supportive though, no issues there.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    @zanyterp I top the "crust" just like any other pizza...though, since it has kind of a chicken flavor I have to say I like it best with a white pizza kind of sauce rather than the traditional red...my husband and kids like it better with the red sauce.

    This is the recipe I used:

    https://ketoconnect.net/no-carb-pizza/

    I want to say the only change I made was to add some extra seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic, tarragon) and I baked the crust alone like 15 min instead of 10...but I cook on stoneware, so that might be because of the pan I'm using...I just didn't find it to get crispy enough with just 10 min in the first bake.
  • zanyterp
    zanyterp Posts: 291 Member
    thank you, @tcunbeliever
  • Everyonelies
    Everyonelies Posts: 225 Member
    Cauliflower rice is actually a very passable keto friendly version of fried rice.

    They do make low carb tortillas, but I haven't found any that I really like, so I usually just eat the toppings in lettuce, or if I have the carb room I'll just overload the tortilla so I can be full even while only eating one of the tortilla wraps.

    A lot of asian and middle eastern is already keto as long as you avoid the rice and bread items.

    I made stuffed bell peppers a while back and instead of rice I used cauliflower rice, and a couple weeks ago I made a couple cauliflower crust pizzas that came out amazing. I honestly think I prefer the cauliflower rice in the bell peppers to regular rice. As for the tortillas it's not really a big thing for me. Traditional tacos are one of my favorite foods but it's the meats that I love so as long as I can have the carnitas or barbacoa or lengua I'm fine. Last time we did tacos I just did mine as a taco salad on a huge bed of diced romaine lettuce. Not traditional but it worked.

    I will have to figure out more Middle Eastern/Asian recipes one of these days but I've dialed back the cooking quite a bit recently and have been keeping things fairly simple.

    @shelbydodgeguy - I have been craving barbacoa for a bit now! And not a lot of people like lengua... love it! Do you like the cueritos that come with the carnitas as well?
  • shelbydodgeguy
    shelbydodgeguy Posts: 194 Member
    @shelbydodgeguy - I have been craving barbacoa for a bit now! And not a lot of people like lengua... love it! Do you like the cueritos that come with the carnitas as well?

    Oh yeah! And lengua is a favorite!

    I also find tacos de buche quite tasty if you don't mind the texture. I love menudo and pozole as well.
  • Tubbytucka
    Tubbytucka Posts: 83 Member
    My gf knows I am doing this - We eat similar meals but I will have more veggies and maybe a cheese sauce, while she has carbs. Works ok so far.
  • Everyonelies
    Everyonelies Posts: 225 Member
    @shelbydodgeguy - I have been craving barbacoa for a bit now! And not a lot of people like lengua... love it! Do you like the cueritos that come with the carnitas as well?

    Oh yeah! And lengua is a favorite!

    I also find tacos de buche quite tasty if you don't mind the texture. I love menudo and pozole as well.

    @shelbydodgeguy Can't say I have had the buche but I do love me some tripitas... and we are getting ready for the menudo and pozole weather! Chicago is getting chilly!
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