[MAD] Losing motivation on keto

[zombelina]

I started the MAD diet a month ago. They told me to try it for 2 months to see if it works, but they also said that since I have daily seizures I would know within one month. I should have seen improvement by now, but I haven't. I've lost some weight and have more energy, and appreciate those side effects.

But now that the probability that it will help with the seizures seems pretty low, I've been losing my willpower. I still crave carb snacks at night and it's getting harder to resist. I keep fantasizing about sneaking out at night and getting a huge order of fries :roflmao: The last week or so I've probably been eating 5g more carbs per day than I should be (supposed to be less than 20g per day).

I want to keep giving this diet my best shot but I feel like a part of me has already given up on it and I'm just ready to be done. I also feel guilty for not being able to resist the extra snacks, and setting myself back. Any tips for getting my motivation/willpower back up?

 

[Nakamova]

Have you talked to a dietitian about changing up the meals -- maybe there are some options that will make the cravings less likely. I just read an article that said if you have your largest meal at breakfast (600 calories or so), you're less likely to have nighttime cravings.

Do you have a "diet buddy"? That might help too.

Lastly, don't feel guilty if you snack. It happens. You just move on and focus on what you have accomplished and on what you will do going forward. Keep in mind, the diet isn't for everyone, and not everyone's seizures can be helped by it.

 

[zombelina]

Thanks! I will talk to my dietitian for some ideas.

 

[Linkes]

Keto fatigue?

Me too.

But like everyone else, I notice side effects, some low white/red blood cell counts, etc and decided to wean myself off the drugs and just try Keto. seven months now. Having a seizure now while sleeping or at home about every two months. Seems safe to me but Neuro not happy --says I'm 'untreated'. And a made Neuro can contact the DMV and I could lose my license. I may visit Johns Hopkins Ep Center--they are big on Keto but per their website they seem to see it as a complementary treatment, eg must be on drugs too.

On the diet: Keto cal is a package drink meal replacement which you can buy on line. Pricey. I went thru a case and used it as an occasional snack or when I felt my diet was not Keto enough. Now Im using the Walmart Atkins diet drinks and cutting them w either heavy whipping cream or MCT oil to get the fat up closer to Keto reqts. More reasonable price.

Another big help for me is a large soft taco by Ole carried by Walmart. Wrapped around the keto meals makes them so much better--try eggs salmon, spinach, whatever!! 5 grams of net carbs in each wrap. Package says the other 11 grams are insoluble fiber. I dont have a nutritionist to verify this; I might take my packages along to J Hopkins and ask them.

You probably are like me in the rest of the ideas. Nuts like pitachios, etc, bakers dark chocolate pieces, etc. Still, the diet does get a bit boring. I got so I could not take avocados and they were spoiling so I stopped buying them for a while. And for a while I was having real serious digestive issues (the big block) until I started a full dose of magnesium. That helps.

Another idea I ran across and tried once is--Indulge all at once, then jump back on Keto. Take one meal and pig out w pizza, ice cream, etc. The theory is that 98 per cent of the time, you are still on Keto. Since we are focused on the medical aspect, it seems akin to missing a medication dose... A risk, but probably not fatal...

As I see it, the longer I can postpone going back on meds the better for me though I do worry a bit about status and sudep.

All the best.

Steve