My 600-lb Life - Low Carb VS. Surgery

Airs Tuesdays at 9PM EST/8PM CT on TLC

I started recording a series on TLC called My 600-lb Life, which apparently premiered in February of last year, however, since I live in a cave, under a rock, I watched my first episode late last night! This episode in particular follows Zsalynn, a 43 year old, wife and mother, who had allowed her weight to spiral out of control, and was desperate to save her life and be a better mother for her daughter, but was meeting resistance from her husband who wanted her to stay morbidly obese to gratify his sexual desires.

Zsalynn

It was touching and inspirational to witness her journey towards self discovery and betterment, but the whole time I was SO frustrated, I wanted to sit down and have a heart to heart with her, and tell her about Low Carb/High Fat, and why it's a better health alternative to Weight Loss Surgery (Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery). Some may assume that it's a fast and easy way to lose weight quickly, but there are horrible nutritional side affects. I'd like to share with you why Weight Loss Surgery shouldn't even be a last resort, and why Low Carb/High Fat will be the last culinary lifestyle change you'll ever have to make.

Weight Loss Surgery VS. Low Carb/ High Fat:

Surgery: Weight Loss Surgery, or Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery, is the surgical removal of a portion of the stomach and small intestines, or by placing an inflatable band around the stomach dramatically reducing it's size. This method of weight loss works by depriving the body of important nutrients, effectively starving your body skinny, but you don't feel like you are starving, because your stomach is the size of a small water balloon, and while you get fuller quicker, you also get hungry a lot quicker as well, resulting in having to eat 6+ small meals a day, but never really feeling "satisfied". If you think you can eat whatever you want after surgery, as long as it's a small portion, forget it! Before and After surgery they are going to put you on a Low Carb diet anyway, only now, you can't absorb the nutrients, so why not just opt for Low Carb? Long term success with this method is less than 10%.

Pros:

• Weight Loss

Cons:

• Risk of Death

• Invasive Surgery & Recovery

• Risk of Infection

• Risk of Gallbladder Failure

• Risk of Liver Failure

• Risk of blood clots

• Loss of Muscle Mass

• Bone Loss

• Malnutrition

• Hair Loss

• Restrictive Diet

• Hungry all the time

(to name a few)

Low Carb/ High Fat: There are several different approaches to low carb living, the Atkins and the Ketogenic Diet being quite popular. Both diets restrict carb intake, however,  there is a difference. The Atkins diet promotes eating protein as your main source of nutrients, while the Ketogenic Diet promotes limited protein and high a fat content of 75-80%. Weight loss occurs because your body runs out of carbohydrates to burn, and begins to burn fat for energy, this is called "Ketosis". There are many benefits to this Lifestyle, including a boost in energy, 

Pros:

• Weight Loss

• Blood Sugar Normalization

• Blood Pressure Normalization

• Menses Regulation

• Improved PMS

• Diabetes Reversal

• Epilepsy Management

• Cancer Management

• Acid Reflux/Heartburn Treatment

• Visible Skin Improvement

• Nail Improvement

• Hair Improvement

• Hungry Less Often

• Eating Real Food

Con:

• Giving up your food addictions (which isn't really a con after all, is it?)

Why limit yourself when you can eat your way into health?

Don't put yourself at further risk of health complications, on Low Carb/High Fat, you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods, eat when your hungry, feel full and lose weight! Eat things like:

• Beef

• Bacon

• Cheesecake

• Whole Eggs

• Heavy Whipping Cream

• Fish

• Poultry

• Pork

All smothered in butter! Here's a full list of Acceptable Low Carb Foods.

If you're ready to change your life, lose weight fast the healthy way, and still enjoy eating, Low Carb/High Fat is the way to go!

Join The Big Fat Skinny's Private Low Carb/High Fat Facebook Group and receive my latest blog updates, recipes, information regarding the Low Carb/High Fat Lifestyle, and support throughout your own Low Carb journey.

Follow The Big Fat Skinny's Pinterest Recipe Board.

5 Ways to Avoid Cravings and Cheating on Low Carb/High Fat

"Don't cheat, seriously!"

We've all been told that at some point after we made the decision to change our lifestyles, but for some, staying faithful to our commitment is easier said than done. Some of us struggle with cravings and temptations, especially during the beginning of our lifestyle change, or maybe during the holidays or special occasions, and not all of us know what we can do to improve our fortitude and satiate our hunger for things we shouldn't have. Here are some ways you can overcome your cravings and hold fast to your goals with no later regrets!

1. When You Crave, Eat Fat

Eating fat will not only curb your hunger and give you a needed fat boost, but also when you eat fat during a craving, your brain and your body will begin associating the nutrients you're consuming from the fat with your body's craving for forbidden food, eventually you will start craving fat instead. This is almost an unavoidably transition within a Low Carb/High Fat lifestyle, but consciously making the decision to eat fat instead of a tablespoon of peanut butter, or sugar free chocolates for example, can go a long way to insuring you don't stall, lose your momentum, or become discouraged.

Fatty Solutions to Curb Your Cravings:

• Bulletproof Coffee
  - 2 Cups of your Favorite Coffee
  - 2Tbs Kerrygold Butter (or other)
  - 1-2Tbs Coconut Oil
  - Heavy Cream (optional)
  - Sweetener (optional)
  Blend together or use a milk frother to whip it all together into a creamy coffee that looks like a foamy latte or cappuccino.

• Whipped Cream
  - 1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  - 2 Packets of Sweetener
  - 1Tsp Vanilla
  Whip until soft peaks form. Add a couple softened pats of butter for extra fat, or a 1/2 a brick of cream cheese and a dash of lemon juice to turn it into No Bake Cheesecake.

• Coconut Oil Chocolate Bites
  - 2Tbs Coconut Oil
  - 1-2Tbs Butter (optional)
  - 2-4 Packets of Sweetener
  - Cocoa Powder to Taste
  Mix until well blended, place in freezer for an hour.

(Some low carbers choose not to use artificial sweeteners, and some do. To each their own. Use at your own discretion. If you've been on Low Carb/High Fat for a few weeks and are still craving carbs, stop using artificial sweeteners.)

A Variety of Other Recipes can be found on The Big Fat Skinny's Pinterest.

2. Supplement Your Diet with Vitamins

Some carb cravings can be caused by a Vitamin Deficiency, be sure to include a quality multivitamin in your diet along with Chromium, L‑Carnitine, L‑Glutamine, B3, D3, Omega Oils and Green Tea Extract.

3. Drink Plenty of Water

When your body is in Ketosis, it's burning fat for energy and that increases the amount of water your body needs so it can digest and burn that fat. Carb cravings can sometimes be thirst in disguise. If you don't like water, try to mix it up with a sugar free Crystal Lite drink mix, add some lemon, or your favorite tea.

4. Eat When You're Hungry

On a Low Carb/High Fat Lifestyle, you can either eat a few big meals during the day with some snacks in between, or several more small meals. Adjust your lifestyle to whichever works best for you, but for the love of Bacon, eat when you're hungry! Each day try to reach your fat intake goal, your diet should consist of 75-80% fat, before long you won't feel hungry nearly as often as you used to if you don't start yourself and stick to your Keto Plan.

Here's an easy way to keep track of your Fat/Protein/Carb Ratios:

Sign up at MyFitnessPal.com

• Configuring My Fitness Pal
• Installing the Net Carb/Pie Chart Keto Script

Set Your Custom Ratios:

After you have finished Signing up at MyFitnessPal and intsalling the Keto Script, on your MyFitnessPal account go to My Home > Goals > Change Goals > Custom - and set your Ratios to:

Your Pie Chart should look like this.

• Carbs 5% (27g)
  Protein 15% (81g)
  Fat 80% (192)
  (My Ratios)

Or

• Carbs 5% (27)
  Protein 20% (108g)
  Fat 75% (180g)

You are not required to meet your Max Carb Goal, just be sure that your Protein and Fat Ratios are balanced. Most of the time I eat 0-4 carbs a day.

5. Create a Reminder

Whether you place a strategic sticky note, buy a necklace, or get a tattoo, it's a good idea to have something around you frequently that will remind you of the commitment you have made to yourself and how important it is to stick to your guns and reach the goals you have placed for yourself, these symbolic items should be worn, or showcased in one or more places where you are most often. Here are some cool ideas for some symbolic reminders!

A Few Reminder Idea's:

• Make a Bracelet: Most of us have probably made one of these at some point in our lives, and there are a lot of easy bracelet patterns online, start with this easy beginner pattern, make it in Yellow to symbolize Obesity Awareness, or in a color that means something to you!

• Post an Encouraging Sticky Note: Sticky notes are a great way to convey messages to yourself, I personally have one that says "Don't Cheat Yourself" displayed by my desk, in my bathroom and in my kitchen. Tailor it to fit you and give you the most encouragement and positive influence.

• Get a Tattoo: If you're into that sort of thing (as I am) and looking to get ink, consider a tattoo that might symbolize your weight loss journey and the transformation you are making, like an anchor to symbolize your steadfastness, or a butterfly to symbolize your transformation, or maybe opt for a word or phrase that brings you encouragement, or symbolizes something meaningful to you about your weight loss journey.

• Wall Art & Decorations: This is a decorative alternative to the Sticky Notes, incorporate pictures and items within your home to remind you about your lifestyle change. For example, a picture with a relevant quote, wall decals, or a cow figurine.

Thank you for visiting The Big Fat Skinny, don't forget to check out The Big Fat Skinny Facebook Group and Pinterest Board. Be sure to follow this blog to receive future updates! Stay Fatty Low Carbers ;)

Back on the Fat Wagon

Before Low Carb

I can remember being very self conscious about my weight and appearance at a remarkably young age because of how all of the other kids would tease me, I sustained a substantial amount of abuse relating to my weight throughout the better portion of my life. I won't go into details, but some kids can be horribly cruel sometimes, and words weren't always the only things they threw at me. My self esteem dwindled as the years passed and by the time I was a teenager, I was wearing size 24 pants, and I absolutely hated myself. I was "funny", I was "caring", "compassionate", "intelligent", "a wonderful friend", and I had a "pretty face", but I knew what that meant; I was all of those things, and I had a "pretty face", but I was fat, I knew it and everyone else could see it. I was miserable, looking in the mirror was difficult, I didn't even want to be naked with myself; I was ashamed of my body and I felt disgusting. However, circumstances are destined to be altered, and this is only the beginning of an amazing journey of self discovery.

Losing the Weight

I started my Low Carb journey back in 2010, I was 22 years old , 322lbs, and I was out of breath, out of options, and running out of time. I didn't feel good. I hit my breaking point, I had to change. I started eating Low Carb the very next day, it was going to turn out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. Within a week I had dropped 5lbs, and my weight loss continued to escalate, sometimes I would lose 3lbs in a day. I felt great, I wasn't tired in the morning and I had energy to spare. My hair was gorgeous and shiny, my nails weren't brittle anymore and my skin glowed with a luminescence of health and youth. I lost 86lbs and gained something irreplaceable; self discipline, and the rest of my life.

Do-Over's

After I accomplished all of this I regrettably sabotaged myself and regained 59lbs. I started doing Keto Induction on December 30th, a day before my 25th birthday, as a birthday present to myself, since then I've lost 5lbs, and am looking forward to finishing what I started back in 2010 and will be documenting my journey, sharing progress, recipes and anything I find noteworthy along the way!

Social Media

The Big Fat Skinny has an Informational Facebook Support Group for Low Carber's. here you can ask question, express your feelings, share and swap recipes, and connect with fellow Low Carber's like yourself!

Follow The Big Fat Skinny's Low Carb/Keto Recipe board and the Low Carb/Keto Humor board on Pinterest!

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Inspirational Quote of the Day:

“Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.” - Tony Robbins

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Quick and Simple No Bake Keto Cheesecake:Compliments to Lisa G.

Serves 1-2  - 3.15g Net Carbs (w/ sweetener included)

• 1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Wream
• 1/2 Brick of Room Temp Cream Cheese
• Tblsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 Light Dash of Lemon Juice
• 2-4 LC Sweetener Packets (or to taste)

Whip heavy cream, vanilla, lemon juice and sweetener in a bowl (hand whipped or in a mixer), whip until soft peaks form. Add cream cheese and gently fold into mixture. Voilà! Add cocoa for an alternative spin.