I decided to lose weight in January 2016. I adopted keto in October of that year. I have lost 118 lbs - 78 of it on keto. It has been basically a pound a week with a few flat spots in the chart. I find I am well suited to the <20 grams of carbs a day. It controls hunger well, and I am happy with what I am eating. I have never done IF.

With the keto diet and the weight loss, I have been able to go off metformin and am controlling my glucose with diet alone (I am T2D).

I've been doing Lazy Keto and IF since the beginning of the year, down almost 25 pounds. It's slower than if I did a strict Keto, but this is maintainable for me, and it needs to be as I have at least another 50 pounds to go. Not gonna lie, I've had a few slip ups that stalled me, but the way I look at it is that this is a lifestyle choice for me now, and I'm not in it to hit goal weight over night, so if it takes me another 4 months to lose another 25, I'm ok with it. I eat food I love, I'm re-conditioning my taste buds to eat less and less sweet - ultimately, If I can hit goal weight by Christmas - it will be way better than if I crash and burn because I feel deprived.

Everybody has their own way of battling I think. It's inspiring to read everybody's "checklist" on how they manage it.

Here's mine: Started the year at 357. Recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes, I knew I had to do something. Giving up soda was my instant change. Over 3 months dropped 7 pounds. Then, I started Keto on 3/22 at 350. Today I am 324.6. I tend to do well during the week and then over-eat on the weekends, either because of snacking during meal prep or going out to eat with the family. I still stick to the diet, but I tend to eat more than I would at home I think. My wife has been on a no-gluten diet for awhile for medical reasons and I've been reluctant to try her no-gluten foods. Frankly - I think they taste like blah. I go back to the doctor on Wednesday. But I've already seen the blood-work numbers. I'm looking forward to the conversation.

My rules for myself:
1. I don't have cheat days, but I don't miss opportunities to be with my family or friends as well. If someone wants me to try something, I'll take a bite. I'm not allergic to sugar or bread. One bite doesn't hurt. Even if it does, it's worth it if the social situation calls for it. I won't keep my family from eating at Pizza Hut. I'll just eat the toppings off of one slice and then make myself something later. Bottom line - I'm not hard on myself when it comes to the day to day tracking. Memories are more important than constant weight loss.

2. That being said - I track religiously. If I don't know, I estimate. I step on the scale at the same time every morning. I need the routine. If I gained, I don't get discouraged. It just helps keep me honest. If I know I gained a pound or two yesterday, it will motivate me to eat more sensibly. There is no "falling off the wagon." It's the only wagon I have chosen.

3. For the first two weeks, I thought I was Super-Ketoman! I dropped a ton eating pretty much bacon, eggs, and cheese. Turns out, I'll drop 200 pounds eating just that, but my blood will be motor-oil soon. I've added spinach, broccoli, and avacados whenever possible. My goal is a serving of green a day. I shoot for green at every meal, but sometimes, it's not possible.

4. I try to keep ingredients simple. When I started, I made the keto-bread, fat bombs, complicated recipies. I obsessed with "being in ketosis" by buying the strips you pee on. Turns out, none of that matters once you find your stride and figure it out. I struggled getting fat grams higher than protein grams. Now that I experimented with recipies, I know that I like a couple and I know I lose weight when I eat them in reason. I thought I would "need" bread. I don't. I thought I would "need" sweets. I don't.....well....a bit, but it's not bad.

Even if I hadn't lost a pound, I'd be doing this just based on the way I feel. Before, I could fall asleep at a red-light if I wasn't careful. Now, I don't have any of the mid-day snooze feelings.