SaraRiley's Journal, 21 Jul 23

I am so happy for you that you got a good night sleep! That is awesome ❤ Also 14 hours from dinner to breakfast with no food is great 😀 And you already did some exercise - winning! 👏👏👏🥳🥳🥳 Have a great day, Sara! 🙂 

Great news!!! You can always sign up for the challenge & just do your best! That's what a challenge is. It's different than a commitment. If you fall off for a day or a meal, just get back on the horse again for the next meal or day. Fasting is not a complete requirement for the challenge, and it will make things harder if you are new to cutting carbs that low. PERSONALLY, I wouldn't do both as a beginner. That will be likely too overwhelming. Sometimes we have to choose our horse...lol. Baby steps!!! 🙂You are doing great, Sara!!! 😁 

@Zenus, are you referring to 24 or 48 hour fasts? Or are you including time restricted eating 14:10? 

@Lady... Well, we know that everyone is different. (Let's get that out of the way...lol.) For me, when I first cut my carbs that drastically (back then), I was ravenious. I started out eating whole packs of bacon for breakfast AND drinking Bullet-proof coffee. I ate whenever I was hungry or carb cravings hit, feeding my body only fat and/or protein. It was kinda like I was telling my body, "NOPE! YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY SUGAR! HERE'S SOME FAT, LEARN TO USE IT!" (Kinda like I had to eat what was cooked as a kid, or not eat...lol.) I didn't do any calorie counting or time restricted eating in the beginning, and the weight still just feel off. As I became fat adapted, time restricted eating just came naturally.  

...on the other hand, this time around, the extended fasting helped me get into ketosis probably quicker. ...but at the same time. I already knew the ins & outs & what to expect. 

I'm so proud of you Sara!! 14 hours is awesome! 8.5 hours of sleep is SUPER-awesome as sleep disruption causes all kinds of physical and mental imbalances. I am glad you looked at the carnivore diet and are considering trying it! I also know that in the excitement of feeling better and moving more you want to do all things at once. From experience I know that drastic changes done too fast can also disrupt your balance mentally and physically. You are introducing your body to time restricted eating and lowering your carbs which is a major change for you considering what you have told us of your history. My suggestion to you is to continue making the changes you have already made into a daily routine, let them become comfortable. Then start upping your protein fat and reducing your carbs further. Baby steps. It is possible to allow your enthusiasm to derail you by overwhelming your system with too much stress. Your body likes homeostasis and it will fight you. The stress of fighting it can cause serious frustration and set you up for a poor outcome. Discouragement, depression and a "I suck! I don't give a f***" attitude. ME....Been there Done that....don't recommend!  

Good luck! 

The carnivore diet is not going anywhere, it will still be there when you have your body primed to accept it. 

Thank you everyone I decided to exercise for a extra 5mins and now I am at the point of where I can stand up 5 & 1/2 mins on my bad knee before I start hurting it's crazy I can stand up and walk as long as I want on my right knee but the left side is crappy unless I am leaning on something then I can walk or stand at least 30-45 min on the bad knee but I want to do it without having to lean on something. I'm going to take your advice and do baby steps as I am still new to all this and still learning. But I have learned so much from all of you and I appreciate it very much. Told my hubby make his mind up by Monday about vacay in either Florida or Tennessee in Oct or I'm picking because I want to make sure I know where we want to go ahead of time.  

LOL at the vacay ultimatum! Our hubby's have no idea how close October is to the end of July, us girls gotta plan and prep, so YEAH, we gotta know where we are going! I don't know if you use any type of mobility helper but when you have a one sided mobility issue it does throw off you balance. A cane or just a sturdy hiking stick can help you keep your balance while you are trying to move. I used a hiking stick before I started taking the dogs on walks with me. I could tolerate using it because I knew it was temporary, a means to an end. I'm glad you are going to allow your body to get used to the changes you already made before adding more changes. You are making two major changes, actually three when you add in the exercise. When it gets easier and does not require as much effort to do those things every day, then you start incorporating the other changes you want to make. You can still read up on them, investigate other folks testimony on it. Right now you are taking back control of your food, that is enough and you are doing a fantastic job. 

Yes thank you Debra I am so ready for vacation too we've never been on a vacay and been married 9yrs we didn't even get a honeymoon really just stayed home because we couldn't afford it but this year is#9 and I have the money put back to go on it either way after covid and being stuck at home the last 2 & 1/2 yrs taking care of his eldery sick mother it finally got to me I was so depressed and not wanting to live especially when we lived with her it was awful and he did 99% of the work and I wasn't much of a help due to my own health and depression issue finally I decided we are moving Bec his sister and brother wouldn't help him it was too much on him they said oh you too have to stay with her 24/7 doctor orders so we didn't get to go anywhere. We moved in to our own place again in Feb Becca was done and he was too his health was going down and he started stay in the bedroom with me when he was not doing everything and I mean everything for her wiping butt, and diapers and you wouldn't believe the crap she intentionally put him through even when ppl came over and she would stand up and pee or 💩 in the floor because she was waiting to long to get up to go to the bathroom she would still tell them when they offer to help nevermind chris will get it. I won't even tell you the rest of it we stayed suck and miserable it affected me so much I can't stand nastiness so I would stay in my bedroom and that caused more depression sin being on our own it's got so much better for us both we laugh and go places and do things we want to do. As soon as we moved out his sister was told she would have to let her live with her or take care of her and she refused to let her live there said I'll take care of her but I'm too busy to go over there and sit all the time I got things I gotta do. She goes over her boyfriend who is 30yrs older than her and she's 45 like me does dishes and cooks breakfast and she helps her bath then leaves maybe there an hour comes back in afternoon and does same thing maybe a hour but we don't go over there much anymore. It's been so much better than it was do we definitely deserve a vacay for sure.  

It was so crazy I meant I was ready to go and he was to and we stayed sick not suck lol dang typos 😂😂😝 anyhow we are going on our first vacation and I can't wait I'm so happy to get to be able to go with him. I use a cane now when I walk I may have to rent one of those motorized scooters and go that way, that's why everyday I try standing up 30 sec longer than the previous day and hope I get to where I can stand/walk 15-20 min by Oct that would be great and then I could use the scooter thing for longer periods of walk . Thank you for listening to me and replying I appreciate you Debra and everyone else that has been helping me out with my journey you all ❤️ are the best...  

Moving out was a crucial self care decision. The pounds will just fall off the next month or two and I bet your left knee will thank you. Also less carbs = less inflammation = less pain. To me, Florida = collecting seashells on the beach and Tennessee = beautiful fall colors and great BBQ. Either way, it's a win 🙂 

@Sara, it's hard to care for a sick relative, especially if they are difficult. I loved my Mom and her slipping into dementia and becoming abusive really did a number on me mentally and physically. You have it in the front of your mind that they are sick and they need you, but the resentment still builds and eats away at you. I'm still dealing with the emotional trauma. She wasn't my Mom anymore, she was someone strange and ugly and I did not have all the tools needed to deal with it at the time it was happening. I go over and over in my mind with the would've, could've, should'ves. I had to hire help for the hours I went to work and we went through about 3 home health aides before we found one who was bullet proof. It's tough! I sympathize completely. Past is done, we keep moving forward and the future is bright! 💖💖💖  

I love your determination; fight to win!