I’m forty days into my “keto on the cheap” reset and I couldn’t ask for things to go better! I’ve accomplished so much over these past weeks, and I figured it was time to do another update.
First of all, I’ll share some stats.
- High Weight: 290.2lb (May ‘17)
- Start Weight: 259.4lb (9/1/19)
- Current Weight: 244.8lb
- % of Total Lost: 5.63%
I also thought I’d share how my macros have averaged out of the last forty days. There were three out of the last forty days that I wasn’t able to track for one reason or another, but I still ate on plan, of course.
- Calories: 1286 kcal
- Fat: 102 g
- Net Carbs: 12.4 g
- Protein: 77 g
- % Fat: 69.4% calories from fat
And since I haven’t done an update in a while, I’m sure you’re also wondering about the money side of things. You might remember that I set a budget of $300 per two-week pay period for our family of five. Tomorrow marks the end of the third pay period since I started this challenge, but I already have the numbers. On average, we have overspent our budget by 11%.
Over the first four weeks, there were only two of us following a ketogenic way of eating. During this pay period though, we added a third family member, my daughter, to the mix. And interestingly enough, this last pay period was the only one where we didn’t overspend our grocery budget.
Observations After the First 40 Days
Regarding my budget, I may have to increase it a bit, but I don’t think I’ll consider that until I have at least another two pay periods worth of grocery expenses. My original grocery budget of $400 per pay period may be more realistic, especially when my husband starts eating on plan again, but I’m not giving up. I really think this level of spending can be sustainable for my family. Time will tell though.
As far as my stats go, I want to make a couple points. First, I am absolutely thrilled that I’ve lost 14.6lb in forty days. I was looking at my data, and I’ve lost 6.4 of those pounds in the last thirty days. After the initial water shed, I think 6.4lb per month should be a perfectly sustainable weight loss for me, and it means that I should be in the low 230s by Christmas. Considering I haven’t been below 233.8 since September of 2013, this is huge for me.
I’m also amazed by how easy it has been this time around to stick to my plan. I’ve done this enough times to know that the first couple weeks are quite a challenge, but it didn’t work out that way this time. I was able to fall into a pattern quickly, and I’m feeling fantastic. I have a lot more energy this time around, and I seem to be sleeping better too.
Lastly, I want to talk about my macros. I’ve tracked my macros all along because I’m a numbers gal. but I haven’t been concerned about the macros that some folks would say matter. My plan requires that I stay under 20 grams of carbohydrates each day, and ideally, I’d like to see my percentage of calories from fat around 70-75%. My carbs have been spot on, but I’d like to see my fat percentage a bit higher. The problem is, eating this way is self-limiting, so I’m just not hungry. It’s been suggested to me that if I increase my activity, I’ll be hungrier, but that simply hasn’t been the case so far.
Honestly, I feel best eating ribeye, butter, and eggs, but since I’m trying to keep costs down, I’m not doing that right now. I might see what I can do later on to accommodate that tendency, but right now, I’m going to just keep plugging away at things and making slow but steady progress.
The online community I’ve found has been so helpful. And the fact that more folks in my house are focusing on their health helps me too. I got to go back to the gym this week for the first time in ages, and I can’t tell you all how amazing I felt. My daughter has a complicated schedule for one more week, but once she finishes one of her college classes, we’ll be able to go to the gym twice a week. That may not sound like much to some, but I couldn’t be more thrilled!
If you’re enjoying these updates and want to be part of the conversation, don’t forget to join me over on my Claiming Liberty Facebook page or my Claiming Liberty Discussion Group. I’m planning some content for YouTube and I’m always available to chat on social media. In the mean time, remember that what we do matters! We can get busy livin’ or we can get busy dyin’, and I think you know which one I’ve chosen.