I started my keto fasting journey on June 3, 2019. I am on Day 141. This is the second time I have been on a keto way of eating. This time, however, is far more robust. I have tracked my weight daily and also have been more mindful of my eating and structures I use.
I have not been exact in my keto process. At the same time, I am not lax in being keto. Simply put, this is my Keto Tao (way) and I am shaping it as it shapes me.
What do I mean by not being exact. Let me just list some things that I do or don’t do that may help clarify what I mean.
- I do not monitor my ketones so I really do not know if I am in ketosis. One reason is I do not own a ketone monitor.
- I intermittent fast using the 16:8 structure but focus more on waiting until noon to eat. I generally stop eating around 9 or 10 the prior night so I really am not fasting for 16 hours. I use the 16:8 as a model of what intermittent fasting looks like.
- I do not always intermittent fast on weekends. Sometimes, I like to have a nice keto breakfast on Saturday or Sunday morning.
- I don’t keep a calorie or grams journal. I just try to minimize crappy carb intake. I use my own basic principles and often eat the same things.
- I eat dairy, eggs, nuts and probably other things some keto folks do not believe should be in a keto diet like bacon. Not much I can say here. I understand the reasoning, but for me right now I eat these items some of which are key sources of nutrition for me. I love cheese and eggs.
- I do not have a cheat day. In the past, I would incorporate a cheat day. This time around I do not have a cheat day as part of my structure. On my journey, my mental model is not one of missing something but simply this is what I eat. I do not need a cheat day to look forward to or to reset my reserves to handle low carb days. I do not come from a perspective of lacking carbs or missing that chocolate donut. However, I do occasionally eat refined carbs. I will eat a sliver of cake or a piece of cookie. I savor the taste and sensations. If I want to eat a nutrition bar, I will break it in half. I don’t need to eat the whole package. If it says 20 g of carbs, if I eat half then that is 10 g.