Hi, I’m Nate. I’m a veteran of the diet wars, tried and stopped most of the ones you can think of with a few exceptions, all by age 36. To sum me up I will quote my grandfather. “Nate’s a 5 gallon hungry bucket.” I like to eat, I eat when happy, when sad, I punish food when I’m stressed.
Basic Nate information
- Former Collegiate Swimmer
- Profession: Computer Consultant (read sedentary unless running cables)
- 36 yrs old
- “Nate’s a 5 gallon hungry bucket”
What Nate tried before he found his stride…
- Primal, Paleo, Juicing, Low carb, No carb, Carb cycling, grazing, intermittent fasting, no fat, high protein, plant based, biggest loser and shake based nutrition planning in tandem with multiple forms of exercise routines and regimens
Nate’s story..
I gained 20 pound of muscle when I got to college, I had never lifted weights during swim season. After season was over I put on another 30 eating like I was still swimming ten thousand meters a day! From then on life and a semi sedentary lifestyle allowed my weight to finally get to just about that 300 pound mark.
What I wanted to share with you was what I’ve found when I found a plan, a system for eating, a diet if you will that worked for me. So here I am 298 points for a few months now. Staring down that dreaded 300 mark. That was a big number for me and a fear that if I didn’t turn back I was heading down a very slippery slope. So in conversations with Mary I mention that I am finally at the point where I feel motivated to finally do something about my weight, it had only been 4 years since I last gave it any considerable thought…. Much to her credit and years of knowing me she messaged me a few articles and a gentle nudge towards ketogenic. (What most of you don’t know is I suffer from a serious condition called “Don’t tell me what to do!”) So in hind sight I give her credit for helping me to think it was my own idea. So I read the articles she sent, reread them a few more times, dug in and did a little more research. In talking it out with Mary we discussed how we think it would work for my lifestyle and eating habits, I told her that I was only going to fix my eating habits first.
So while the family was away for the week on vacation I started the diet. In reality it was the safest place for them while the carb cravings hit. That first week I resisted stepping on the scale until it was over. That first week 10 pounds! Now I was already prepped from my research that this initial flux would be mostly water as carbs cause you to retain water. The week after was another 5 pounds and 5 the next. A few weeks later was another 5 pounds. To be clear this was with diet only, I didn’t do a lick of formal exercise. What I was noticing was I was starting to get my energy back, I was out playing and goofing around with my young children. Previously, I would eat dinner then it would be a like a had a case of narcolepsy I would pass out on the recliner or couch, there was nothing I could do to stay awake much to the chagrin of my wife. On this method of eating I was full of energy and was waking up so refreshed I would almost forget to drink my travel mug of coffee on the way in. Now I know this sounds like one of those miracle advertisements. I had set backs, I had days or weekends where I veered off the path due to “life” events. Frankly they stalled my progress, it would be another week before I would see progress again. The trick with ketones is it takes the body about a week or so to switch its main fuel source over from glucose to ketones. Turns out this was a good deterrent for cheating because of the significant setback. What made the difference for me was, that I was able go long periods of time without eating and not have any adverse effects. My energy levels were consistent throughout the day, none of the rise then crash I was dealing with before. There were a few projects I was on that I had gone 12-16 hours without eating even a snack and I felt great and could go another 4 more easily. I was not suffering through the diet either. The perks of eating high fat is the food is very satiating. Eggs, Bacon, sausage are good, chicken wings with the right blue cheese dressing is okay! Adding butter to my veggies is actually desired. It really was my type of eating!
So in the four months since starting I lost 40 pounds with diet alone. I know everyone wants to work out and go to the gym, but if you only have will power for one thing right now, I say fix your diet! The energy and willpower will come after you’ve cleaned up your eating habits!
I want to share a few take aways from my journey. Always research the diet you are planning on going on. Preferably from credible sources.
You will need to track what you are eating for months, even if you think you are being good and the progress changes, start tracking again you will be surprised how much you have veered. There are plenty of good free places to track food intake, pick your favorite then invite supportive friends to check in on you.
Start now, you could be making progress towards a goal rather than waiting for an arbitrary start date!
Lastly, if nothing else remember this: The very best diet is the one that works for you! The healthy way of eating that works for your lifestyle and becomes your ways of life is the best diet. It is all about what works for you and allows you to succeed. Mine just happens to be Ketogenic, its okay if yours is not….
Now get out there and start making a better you!
