Radical Self-Care...agreed. I changed Everything and my life changed completely.

I have been on a ketogenic diet with intermittent fasting [not done the water fast] for 3 years and have lost 100 pounds and put Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis into remission. I used to be on 11 prescription drugs and am now on 3. My doctors are speechless and don't really like being confronted with someone who healed herself after 10+ years of taking their advice.

My bibles are The Autoimmune Protocol [www.thepaleomom.com] for all autoimmune illnesses and the Wahls Protocol for MS [www.terrywahls.com]

I don't need to, and can't afford to lose weight. Serious about that. The other aspects of this interest me. Is the whole thing aimed at weight loss, and losing weight if you need to, bring the other benefits, or is the diet aimed at bringing those other benefits and possible to skip the losing weight part?

When my late hubby and I travelled down to Mexico to check out an alternative treatment for his cancer, the dr. emphasized berries and nuts as immune system boosters. To this day, 20 years later, I eat almonds almost daily, and eat strawberries, blue berries, and dew berries when they are available.
I am extremely fortunate to have no health problems of any kind. I decided to lose weight, that nagging 25 lbs. that doesn't hurt my back, just makes my clothes feel too tight. I went on an extremely physical 2 week trip to Honduras and Guatemala in March. I came home 5 lbs. thinner. So, I decided to just eat smaller portions, stop eating when I am full, or do not eat if I am not hungry. That's it. I am down 15 lbs., and want to lose 10 more, and am in no rush to do it.
I have the self-discipline of a gnat when it comes to just me, and only me. I am just hard-wired to put in effort for my clients. Others. It is not even a thought to be in trial right through lunch, dinner, awaiting a verdict at 1 a.m. But if I were at home, and it was just for me, there is just no way I would do it.
But then, I have no health imperatives, either.
WRITE ON, MY BROTHER!

You might try the Autoimmune Protocol which is paleo and not ketogenic. Which just means low carb instead of very, very low carb.

Losing weight was not my main motivation at all. I just figured doing what I needed to do to get healthy should naturally lead to losing weight. And that is what happened. I just got healthy.

The Ketogenic diet eliminated the severe food cravings I have had all my life while eating carbohydrates, especially processed foods. This diet just gave me the power to decide what and how much to eat.

I have leveled out at a healthy weight now and have been eating the same way and amounts for 3 years. You would just need to be sure to eat enough if you don't want to lose weight.

I would be in a hospital for 6 damn weeks, and was literally force fed peppermint candy.
I am 65, no health issues other than cataracts which need to be removed.
I still hate peppermint candy.

Ailments stacking up here as I move past the half-century mark. Asthma flaring, acid reflux, constant headaches, high calcium levels in the heart, etc.

Had done a fast once, a long time ago, and while I thought it was tough near the end (and got a wicked headache), I know it is something I would like to get to again and consider making a regular part of my life.

Like you, have considered myself a pretty good eater, favoring lots of vegetables, salads, nuts, but also have a sweet tooth for croissants, ice cream, etc. We eat meat occasionally but are heavy on the greens, and salads accompany most every dinner and sometimes are even the meal itself.

Thing is, the conditioning to crave foods one grows up with affects us all to some degree. For me it is stuff like pasta, big sandwiches of processed deil meats, barbecue, pizza, etc. I've cut out or down on most of that, except for pasta. But like preconceptions toward social and philosophical matters, one has to work through the stuff in the formative years of early childhood to understand why one favors or craves certain food also.

About the fasting: how did you build up to where you do it regularly/was it difficult? Are you able to go about your business throughout the day, even if the day might be slightly rigorous (I ask as it would pertain to a drummer who performs a weekly 3-hour gig, and a Dad who spends 10-12 hours a day rearing/looking after an infant)?

Thanks for the recommendation; I'm looking forward to checking it out.

And, great to hear how well it's worked for you (and to see you back here at C99 more)!

November 2016, I started walking three miles a day, counting calories, and eliminating carbs and sugar. I lost 20 lbs, but it took me months. I'd like to take off 20 lbs more. For the last six weeks, I've been stuck. Pissing me off. So today I went on a pity binge. Didn't even get the good stuff like pizza or chocolate because there is none in the house.

I take no pharmaceuticals and have no health issues - good genes. All I want to do is be able to bend over, bring my knees to my chin, and get rid of my creaky ankles. I will definitely give your links a look. I need to breathe new life into my rehab plan. I know men lose weight easier than woman, but I don't think 1 lb a weeks is too much to ask.

So good to hear from you, and find out you are doing well.

I thought of you when Don S. got out of prison.

I'm lucky with my health. I haven't fasted in a while, but understand the health benefits. Ketosis is required to really burn off fat.

Glad you are doing well and feeling better. I must admit I live in the here after - I walk into a room and ask "what am I here after".

All the best!

that your ‘kick in the pants’ left you in such a better place; and that your son, who obviously loves you dearly was the catalyst. I’m happy for you.

OPOL

You fought the good fight at TOP/DK for Bernie

Now that we see the democratic party still floundering, still part of the establishment, and Kos seems like he is on the payroll of the party, your diaries could not have turned the tide at that spot

This election helped many of us, myself for sure, learn about the terrible presidency of Bill Clinton.

And we see what Obama has done for the oligarchs.

Bernie is still going strong talking about the issues

radical idea, the issues, .......

Actually burning ketones instead of sugar. But adopting a low sugar ( also eliminating most fruit and fruit juices sad but true ) , low carb diet certainly is healthy. Read the several books by Volek who has done a lot of scientific work with ketogenic diets and atheletes. PROOF for those science fiends. Ketogenic diets are recommended for epilepsy if you have any doubt about what OPOL is saying about clearing his brain. Paleo is alittle more expansive and easier to maintain, you can move in and out of ketosis over the course of the day and then of course Mediterranean for the undisciplined. Mediterranean has scientifically high marks for heart disease. Carbs and sugar big killers.

this topic is. We are being fed a diet which looks as if it may be very bad for our health. The evidence is coming out in bits and pieces. There are lone voices out there who are sounding the alarm and defying the status quo. In many cases these lone voices are taking a professional risk in speaking out. There are examples of people being discredited for the very act of offering critical analysis of the conventional wisdom.

Note in the video this doctor mentions this resistance from those in position of authority. These are the very people we seek treatment from in helping us manage our chronic diseases. We need people to have an open mind regarding treatment and obviously, given the statistics about the exponential rise in metabolic syndrome and Type ll diabetes, we need to change what we have been doing.

We do it all the time. We did it to the Native Americans. It's a technique related to the shock doctrine described by Naomi Klein in her book of that title. First we disempower people. We take away their means and ability to be self-sufficient.

For the Native Americans, we slaughtered the Buffalo, we took land and the resources so they could not feed themselves. We radically changed their diet. We put them on small parcels of inferior land, and gave them supplies of sugar, flour, alcohol, and lard.

Sounds like a toxic mix to me. The Native Americans have among the highest rates of Type ll diabetes and metabolic syndrome of anyone. How did a group who were so amazingly fit and athletic get here? Now who is eating that diet or a variation on that theme? Why? and How? With whose blessings?

I'd have ignored it. But your symptoms are exactly what I'm experiencing so now I'm going to do my homework and give this a try. Thanks.

including another gall bladder attack, first one after I went vegetarian. Triggered by cottage cheese! No more dairy until things settle down. As well, I had begun to get "puffy", swelling feet. Likely due to dietary changes and alteration of fluid balance. Who knew things could change so quickly? No weight loss, due to fluid retention. So she suggests. A temporary reset, Rx, only as required.

So I am working on it. At 64, things slow down. Maybe tonight sleep, after throwing up and dry heaves all night.