A couple of weeks ago, I achieved the target I initially set for myself when I started this new way of living in January 2018: I lost 135 lbs.
The photo on the right was taken at my Québec City CD launch in the summer of 2016. The one on the left was taken on the morning I reached this goal, on Feburary 10th. It took me one year and 26 days to lose 135 lbs. I’ve already talked about how I managed that, but the short answer is: fasting (both intermittent and extended) and ketogenic/low carb high fat eating.
Why 135 lbs? Because when I started, I weighed 335 lbs and I thought that 200 lbs sounded like a nice, round number, that’s all. Once I saw that it was working, perhaps 30 lbs in, I decided to add a “bonus” 50 lbs to my overall target. I have a big bone structure and a lot of muscle, so at 150 lbs, I’ll be quite slim for my frame. I’ve actually already had people asking why I’m still going, which is astonishing every time I hear it! But that’s where I am now: in my “bonus” last leg. In fact, I’m 5 lbs into that, with 45 lbs left to go.
People have also started asking what I plan on doing once I’ve reached my target, or if I “get” to relax my rules more, now that the big push is behind me, and that made me think a bit. I have relaxed things a little more lately, but that’s partly because my metabolism has healed and functions well for me now. In other words, I can afford to – not because I don’t still need to lose weight, but because I bounce back faster. I can afford to make some poor choices and then get back on track. Does that mean they’re not poor choices, though? No. I’m never going to go back to the way of eating that made me sick and overweight in the first place. That’s a bit like asking an alcoholic if they’re going to start drinking again now that they’re five years sober! But I am relaxing a little bit, because unlike alcohol or drugs, food is not something that we can cut out completely, and we wouldn’t want to. I consider myself pretty lucky that I haven’t struggled with disordered eating in the past. Having spent a few months helping to run a massive forum on this way of life, I’ve come to see just how easy it is to fall into obsessive behaviour when it comes to food. The key for me here is balance.
It’s about learning when and how to make your exceptions. How to plan for indulgences, and how to compensate for them with specifically less indulgent behaviour. In other words, more fasting and eating choices that will serve my goals and my overall health.
In the past month, I’ve taken up regular working out again, and I actually love it. I look forward to it in a way that I never did before, to a point that makes me marvel at myself. I barely recognize that attitude as being me! I normally work out on the second morning of a 42-hour fast, which is the prime time to do it: you’re already in ketosis and burning fat for fuel, so you don’t have that initial 15 minutes or so of cardio where you’re burning through sugars and waiting to get into fat-burning mode: when you work out fasted, you START in fat-burning mode. Plus, fasting produces adrenaline and exponentially-increased growth hormone levels, so you’re primed and ready to roll. I find it far easier to work out during a fast than otherwise.
Last night, a friend of mine was in town and we went out for dinner and then dessert, since I had a duty to introduce him to Winnipeg cuisine, particularly our famed dessert café, Baked Expectations. This morning, being a Monday, meant it was a work-out day, so I got up and went to the gym. May I just say that I do not recommend working out when your last meal was tourtière (meat pie) and red velvet cake! It was considerably harder work than usual, though I was glad to at least start on the compensation side of the equation!
Lunch today was the last of the indulgences for awhile: I’m an observant Anglican and tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday (aka Pancake Tuesday, aka Mardi Gras). However, I’m working all day and all evening, so pancakes are not on the table. Therefore my mom and I went out for pancakes (and bacon, naturally!) for lunch, and the end of the meal marked the beginning of a 72-hour fast. This isn’t “punishment” for having enjoyed all of these recent carbs (and I did, although I feel slow and heavy today!) – it’s simply about finding balance. This finding of balance is going to be something that I apply to every aspect of my life going forward, whether I’m in active weight loss mode or in maintenance mode. It’s both physically and mentally healthy, and while balance is tricky to find, the journey is well worth it.
The Fasting Life 
I love this attitude. As I get closer to my own goal, I find myself having similar conversations with myself. Our balances will look different because my body works differently. Luckily (lol), I’m still about 25 lbs away from my first goal when I’ll have to decide what happens next. What does balance look like for me? Idek yet, but it’s good to be in the place where I do get to think about Next Steps. Isn’t it awesome! I am so inspired by your journey.
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Ooo, 25 lbs off your first target?? Congrats, my friend! I’ve found that every leg of this journey has brought its own approach. I started out by just changing the way I was eating, with a plan to introduce fasting (and MAN was I reluctant to give that a try!) after Easter. I also eased into low carb eating, lowering my carb intake gradually closer and closer to ketogenic levels (aka under 20g net carbs per day). Once I’d lost 100 lbs, even though that number wasn’t a specific target, it felt like a major milestone and I found myself relaxing things a little around then, too. Life can’t be all relaxation or all strict limitation, though, so finding that sweet spot and living in it, with a bit of wandering from one side to the other, has been key for keeping this sustainable for me. All the best with your next 25!!
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Thanks! Yeah. On April 30 last year, I went full on super strict keto and haven’t looked back. I did lean in to test the waters with reducing carbs for specific meals (just to see if I could remotely handle it ;)) and intermittent fasting for a couple weeks prior. When I took the plunge, I was ready :). Carbs and me don’t get along. I’d like to keep my leg, unlike my diabetic mother, and I’d like to keep this pcos at bay. Carbs will never be an indulgence for me. Ever. They are of the past. I look at carbs/sugar like someone with an allergy and honestly don’t really ever feel all that sad about it. I think I finally feel right after decades of feeling not right, so— yeah. I keep my net carbs below 14 a day as a limit in my tracker but in practice, keep em closer to 8-10 usually. I’d go even lower, but veggies make me happy :). I think ‘moderation’ for me will just look like lazy keto— backing off of constantly tracking every macro and focusing only on carbs while still being diligent about ingredients. But, idk— I’ll figure that out when I need to 🙂
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Yeah, I get that, about carbs! It IS an addiction and needs to be treated like one. I’m right with you on the veggies, too – love them, will never give them up! Way to go on finding what works for you. ❤
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I too love your approach, Sandra. Unlike unsustainable “exclusion zone” approaches, balance is a permanent solution. I’m so impressed with how you’ve researched your challenge, and kept with it, and prevailed. You’re a ROCK star. Thanks also for the tips on exercise during fasting! xxoo
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Thanks, you! You’re so kind! It’s honestly a pretty easy way of living and I’d never go back even if it were without consequences, you know? But yeah, DO try exercising on a fast! It’s just remarkable! xoxo
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