Review: After 6 weeks, I'm amazed! LCHF plan. UPDATED 5/27/14
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 16, 2014
I got this book a while back on a Free book of the day. Often these Indie authors can do a pretty good job at simplifying the subjects that others make into a long boring book. I know this review is long, but it is a chronology of my experiences and hints I have learned to be successful on the plan.Well written book, good information, good plan especially to someone new to the Ketogenic Diet. 5/27/2014.I will say, I am not a total low carb junky but I naturally don't willingly buy and eat many grains/starches or white products either (sugar/flour), but I do like my numerous Pinto Bean recipes and Cornbread recipes (I have a hungry hard working man to feed) and I also need to limit my carb intake to manage my own blood sugars. And I wasn't managing my blood sugars very well despite eating less than 100 carbs a day. I only ate 1/2 cup of Pinto Beans or similar amount of other carbs if I know I am going to go walking/shopping/trail walking. Maybe that thinking has been my downfall. I could stand to lose 20-25 pounds. I'm not lazy and I do exercise, but this was a free book that I at least looked forward to reading. So, what if I DO exercise and follow this meal plan for a month? I have to wait and see.One thing I liked about this book, is there are numerous food suggestions, including nuts and coconuts which I love, from which I am sure I will be able to find an allowed food to eat at any given time of the day or night when I do feel hungry. I have already adopted this author's suggestions on when and how often to eat. I will be typing out a printed list of foods suggested in this book in LARGE PRINT for DH to carry in his pocket.Some book comments:Stews: "We can make them super fatty by adding lots of butter."  I had a difficult time with this idea. I do use butter, just not lots of it and I cannot imagine using an entire stick of butter for one meal. Margarine (was NOT suggested by author) from my RN research is a murderous villainous faux food that was stupidly pushed onto Americans, CORN and CORN OIL is darn near poison (thanks Monsanto!) and something that I would NEVER eat! I never believed in the Gov't Food Pyramid either. I have never eaten 7-11 servings of grain in any one day especially 7 days a week!I was thankful to read the Author wasn't advocating "Gluttony" in these high fat foods, and did suggest various forms of exercise to plan on doing during the month. There is a calorie limit as well, but there is little to no  hunger between meals.Author states "No theory...if you're looking for theory search elsewhere."  Actually, I'm tired of theory. My question is "What works?"The author does provide TEN links for theory, one of which is the Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson. I already know the Theory behind similar diets under different names, i.e. Primal, Paleo, Atkins, and the new one I just heard about: "The Low Carb High Fat Ketogenic Diet" and who the author is I haven't a clue.  Regarding that diet, I have a friend who has been 95 lbs overweight for years, and who did try that diet and actually did lose the weight. She states she feels 25 years younger. She also looks that much younger too. This made me search Amazon for book, and I found this one. It was free. I got it and 6 weeks later, I'm glad I did.I am not a super high fat foodie, nor food extremist of any type, however, I will attempt this diet for a month, since I already know I feel like crap when I eat carbs, and high sugared foods cause me joint aches and pains (true for many people). Another Indie diet book author has suggested as a "way to become healthy, feel healthy and become non-diabetic again!" which I tried, but after a month, it only served to drive my blood sugars up to sky high levels about 40 points above my normals, despite regular exercise. I literally could not stomach the idea of eating high carb cereals unlimited or spoonfuls of sugar and salt [tsk tsk] and continue to be gaining weight until my "Metabolism" fixed itself! Sorry. Bad judgment and advice in that book.This author suggests to try this diet for 30 days. Okay, I will try it, up to a point. I just cannot fathom the idea of adding lots of butter! That one suggestion threw me into a near tailspin. I always update my reviews, so May 18th I will come back and give an update. Son's birthday, great reminder. So for now, PiIIs-bury, go away!So today is Day #1. Be back in a month! After a good try, the book will either be 5 Star, or 3 Star (after an honest try). I'm also due to have A1C blood labs drawn June 1st, so I'll report back on that too. Now I gotta thumb through my Kindle book and type out my food list if I'm going to be serious about this...Stay TUNED....UPDATED 5/9/2014...Okay!  I have stayed on this diet perfectly each and every day. I have not been hungry at all. I did feel a bit 'off' for a few days into the 2nd week. That has passed. In the past y5 ears I had a very difficult time losing weight, especially after chol lowering drugs robbed me of my muscles. Since April 10th, when I started 100% perfectly adhering and true to the Ketogenic Diet as outlined in this book, I have LOST 17 pounds and 7 inches from my waistline!  For me this is incredible results! AND a great bonus is that since I do exercise, I have put on some muscle, and I know I have because I am quite a bit stronger than I have been in years. The muscle issues in my lower body have nearly disappeared. I had a MD appt, she is a research MD, and she was overjoyed at my weight loss. My MD also approves and recommends the Ketogenic Diet to her patients and told me it would definitely help me put back on the muscle I'd lost from the cholesterol lowering drugs. In fact, in her waiting room, there were stacks of several--free for the taking--magazines that touted the Ketogenic Diet. I took 6 different issues. All had recipes.One thing that has helped me, is the faux Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, in the Ketogenic world is known as (google it) "Keto Fat Bomb" and is a 1 serving recipe mixed in a small cup and frozen for an hour or so. If you are a candy or chocolate lover, then THIS IS IT!! the Fat Bombs are eaten to help get fat intake levels up where they need to be to be Ketogenic mode. WELL, I've made them twice now in last week or so to get fat intake up to where it should be and this is a FUN way. They taste incredible, and I dare you to be able to figure out which is the real candy, and which is the faux Reese's Fat Bomb. I'm not a regular candy afficionado, but this treat is amazing!SO, with my results and very high energy levels and just generally feeling so much better and probably 25% stronger, since I do do some exercise!  I am going to be remaining on this diet. However, it could turn out to be a lifestyle, according to my MD, and other research I've done. It also helped me stay on the diet because I planned my foods I was going to eat for each day on MyFitnessPal on computer, smartphone MFP calorie and exercise tracker app (free) and on my Kindle Fire MFP app (also FREE)UPDATE 5/27/14: I have lost 23 lbs on the Ketogenic diet, and 9 inches from my waist. My clothes are almost 2 sizes too big now. I have put on  a nice amount of muscle in a short time, where there was little to begin with. I am much stronger, and I do not have any chronic muscle pain 24/7 that I once had to endure, which I spoke of in my original review. I am staying on this diet. It has made my blood sugars read 75-87 and ANY time of the day or even in middle of the night, even 30 minutes after eating a meal BS will be 85-88. On myfitnesspal, I've put my macro Fat @ 70%, Protein @ 25%, and carbs @ 5%. I plan each day's foods, and I choose healthy proteins. I am now on Ketogenic Facebook group, and also Team Keto on SparkPeople, both of which is also quite supportive and helpful groups of people.I feel better than I have in decades. My energy keeps going strong.....I still have a Fat Bomb each day to get the fat intake up, but on a couple great Ketogenic websites, I found many many recipes for different Fat Bombs that are amazingly good. I bought little 6 oz glass custard cups to make the Fat Bombs in, very nice cups, you can find my review, they were $6.59 Prime. I've also been having BulletProof coffee in the morning for the past couple weeks. I love BPC and it really gives me almost immediate energy to get my day started and my energy lasts several hours until I'm ready to eat. You can also have limited amounts of dark red wine and white wine if you desire, although it is not recommended for an everyday habit.GOOD JOB AUTHOR, I'm just downright happy I got your book, and followed the plan. There is lots of good information in your book, especially for someone new to Ketogenic Diet. I'm so thankful I got it, and finally read it, and took the leap of faith to actually do it. I've had amazing results!