Kristy, congrats on your new sweet puppy! After reading your wish to remove certain posts my guess (completely guessing, I may be totally off ?) is it’s do to negative words/negative thinking posts which I know I can do in my roller coaster of emotions when fasting, I will be mindful of anything I put out there. 
Kristy's Journal
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You’re exactly right! Everyone is amazing and I don’t want people to censor their needs to communicate. Fasting is hard and being able to share in this community is paramount to success. I just want to be able to participate while maintaining my social media fast.
Having an emergency visit with the neurologist tomorrow. But that means I’ll be able to get Indian food (almost all of it is keto)! It’s quite a drive so I’ll be in the car a lot tomorrow- will have to plan food accordingly. Luckily I don’t have to have to do anything special for tests!
Bummed out that I have to see the Neurologist today instead of swimming. Getting poked and prodded is never fun but necessary. The memory tests are always the worst. It’s too early to tell if I have early onset alzheimers (I’m only 34) or if the memory loss/ inability to make many new memories is due to prolonged neurological damage. It’s more likely that its the latter but it is also too early to know if I have Parkinsons and we’re pretty certain it’s not MS. Luckily I haven’t experienced lost words (aphasia) in a couple of years. Not being able to say what you’re thinking totally sucks!
Just for sh**'s and giggles I ran my TDEE numbers today. I take all of this with a giant spoonful of salt. But I thought it would be fun anyway. I am obese (duh I knew that). With my exercise level I burn about 2,300 calories a day. I don’t count calories or macros. However, since I eat keto I am pretty good about staying under or around 20 net carbs a day. I don’t need to calculate this- I know food/proportions well enough to be mostly accurate. Staying around 20 net carbs a day can be difficult when I eat so many veggies and nuts! Ummm… almond crusted eggplant… buffalo cauliflower with blue cheese and celery…
I don’t give a flying f* about how many calories I burn when exercising. For me exercise is solely about maintaining my mental health, being strong, and preventing further injury. Plus it’s super good for my damaged nervous system. That being said, I guess I’m burning up to 500-900 calories when I swim for 2 hours? No wonder why I’m ravenous during PMS and my period!
Food as a reward is not something I usually do. I usually buy cool stuff. However, today I will treat myself to a weeks worth of Indian food + Left overs because seeing the Neurologist is always pretty depressing. And nothing makes me feel better than food so spicy my face melts off.
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I posted this on @bralee21’s thread but I thought everyone should see it!
As a former pastry chef I know some tools you can utilize to reduce sugar addiction/ manage sugar consumption.
Plan desserts ahead of time (not every day). You are going to eat sweets. An all or nothing mentality will not help. It’s an integral part to all celebrations and special occasions. So make having dessert something extremely special. I frame this as “my tastes are too refined to enjoy anything but the best desserts” This type of thinking also sets a standard for what is “worth” consuming. I plan trips to some of best patisseries, restaurants, and niche markets where I can find and enjoy some of the best desserts from titans in the industry.
Do not eat dessert in the home if you can avoid it. This doesn’t mean don’t have sweets in the house (you have a family after all) but making desserts a special occasion treat is easier if it is associated with specific places. “I can only eat desserts during xyc ocassion at home and in xyz places to make wonderful memories with my friends/family”
Enlist an ally. If you do have a plan to eat dessert in the home only eat it when it is served to you by another person and have a plan in place about your portion size.
Money. A lot of people don’t think about this one. If you are privileged enough to be able to afford to buy “the best” products then don’t waste your money/time on anything but the best. Usually, but not always, this means the product is more expensive. A tiny French macaron vs an oreo. Or an small entremet vs a hostess cake. I know this is super elitist and snooty but “your pallet is too refined to eat anything less than the best.” Another rule I have is only to eat desserts I purchase with my own money or make myself from scratch. My husband and I do not have a lot of money and making pastries from scratch takes a lot of time and ingredients. So buying the best can put a dent in our budget. That’s why it is a treat because we have to specifically save up for it.
Reframe your perspective. Food is sacred. Educate yourself on the roll of food in the development of cultures. If you are going to eat something special know about it’s origins! Like- Did you know croissants first became shaped like Islamic crescent moons so the French could subversively show resistance against the invading Moors? Isn’t that an awesome little bit of food anthropology!? This also makes enjoying desserts and all food much more than about nutrition. It feeds our spirits’.
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Great advice to think of treats as special treats, only eaten rarely and only the best, most special items as treats.
I’m sorry you’re dealing with so many health issues. I loathe going to the neurologist. It’s depressing. I’ve dealt with memory loss, confusion and aphasia in the past. It’s so frightening and frustrating to go to the neurologist and not be able to answer their questions. Or worse, to ace all their tests, have them tell me nothing’s wrong, and then go out to the car and realize I can’t figure out how to turn the key or shift the gears on the car. I’m mostly good, most of the time, now, as long as I live a somewhat limited life.
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Thank you for your empathy @Sky ! Having ally’s is a huge comfort! I have also experienced the intense fear of having crippling undiagnosed symptoms. Being shuffled around to specialist after specialist as kind of a medical conundrum wrapped in an enigma is terrifying.
Learning to accept a “limited life” in my instance is a challenge every moment but I remind myself it’s about the journey and not the destination. Getting caught up in what I’m no longer able to do keeps me from enjoying the wonderful things I can do. Having to completely shift hobbies because because I’m no longer able bodied enough to do them, no longer being able to work and the loss of income, and coping with my families fear while they’re walking on eggshells around me wondering “Is she going to die this time?” is so painful. But all of those experiences has opened up an avenue to have this powerful unadulterated love, empathy, and compassion.
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The neurologist didn’t have any real news for me except you have to eat with xyz medicine and if fasting disturbs your sleep it’s not the healing process that is best for me. I’m going to try to find a middle path and it will take some experimentation and planning. So nothing new in my experience. I’ve almost died a couple of times from not sleeping. The insane lack of sleep has caused permanent brain damage so I’ll have to find a way to make fasting work that doesn’t effect my sleep. Any ideas oh mighty community?
The pool has completely changed its’ hours from the morning to the afternoon. I’m a morning person so I’ll have to make a new schedule. I live in a very small Iowa town where everybody knows everybody. The community is very excited to meet our new puppy, Data, and we’re already planning meet and greets. With the conditions in the world right now everyone is eager for some puppy therapy!
I ate quite a bit of Indian food yesterday but it was almost all veggies so I felt great about the indulgence. During my period I almost always leave ketosis. I wonder why that is?
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Are you familiar with Dr Joe Dispenza? He’s on youtube if you want to check him out. He’s all into rewiring your own brain with intention and meditation. He was in an accident where they told him he would never walk again and he walks just fine today.
Also, I’m guessing you’re tried melatonin? There’s one Fasting group I’m in on facebook that has lists of supplements to take while fasting and I believe melatonin is on one of the lists.
Looking like you are going to IF for a while then to feed the meds? That gunk’s up a plan. But at least there’s still work around.
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Yeah melatonin doesn’t really do anything but I take 40mg of it every night anyway. Yes! Meditation is amazing for the brain. It builds grey matter, develops neuroplacity, and helps interconnect the left and right hemispheres of the brain while creating new synapse routes!
The Dalai Lama started The Science of Life Institute many years ago. It extensively works with some of the worlds top neurologists to study the brain and how meditation effects the brain and subsequently the entire body! Did you know that meditation changes the gut biome by way of activation of our parasympathetic nervous system? It’s truly amazing! Actually, the person who introduced me to Buddhism when I was a teenager was one of my Neurologists. Every person could benefit from meditation thus making even those who don’t meditate reap the “rewards”
I haven’t heard of Dr. Dispenza. Thank you for recommending him to me! The more resources we have the easier it is to make wholesome choices. I’m going to google him right now!
Yeah taking the food/meds does change the fasting schedule. However, I go on and off medications all the time based on results of my tests/ balancing my chemistry. I do not think I’ll need to take this food medication for too long. Just need to cultivate some patience and acceptance… easier said than done!
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This link is good for 72 hours. It’s the first of a series of videos for a weekend event.
But do check out youtube too for interviews with him. 
Super fun article @Kyle : Pleasure Is Good: How French Children Acquire a Taste for Life
Consider a pleasure recalibration based on ‘l’éducation du gout.’
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Thank you for this Kristy! Very good read!
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Started my period and boom back into ketosis! I’m assuming with swimming and my period I’m going to be pretty ravenous this week. Will try 20:4 or 18:6 depending on how I feel.
Woke up yesterday to an ear infection…YAY! Luckily I have ear drops from the last ear infection I had. Seeing another specialist on tuesday so I’ll just ask them to look at it if it’s not getting better. Regardless I’m still planning on swimming 10 hours this coming week. I’ll keep my head above water and leave my underwater ipod ear buds out of my painful ear. Why are ear infections so damn painful?! I’ve had 7 surgeries and 7 other minor procedures. And still ear infections are more painful than back surgery! What gives? Always being ill/in poor health sucks and I’m usually pretty accepting but I need a Sangha (buddhist community) to help support me. I’m not asking for or having a pity party. This is simply my lot in life and I’ve accepted it. That doesn’t mean I enjoy being in this type of pain, though. Both my husband and I are pretty terrified about covid. He is director of a university’s library and if he brings covid home to me… well… my body wouldn’t be able to fight it. I’ve never seen him so terrified. I had bronchitis earlier this year and I had to be in the hospital. I was horribly ill for 8 weeks and it took 3 rounds of different antibiotics before I started to get better.
Couldn’t sleep last night because of the stupid ear infection. Will try to take a nap today. Going to watch all the videos of my new fur baby today (for the umpteenth time). Yesterday was his first day exploring outside his pen/ welping box!
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LOVE THE PUPPIES! Animals are healing to the soul.
That sucks that you have an ear infection, those are the worst. I haven’t had one in years but I’ll never forget how painful they were. I’m sorry you are going through so much physically. I don’t know if this happens to you, but when I have challenges, they are in peaks and valleys. The valleys can seem insurmountable and can last for a longer stretch than I’d like but I do get relief from those periods of time before they come back again. Is it that way for your health or is it unrelenting?
I hope you are able to get some rest and relief for your ear. 
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@Kyle The puppies are the best! Their photos/videos are the highlight of my day, besides the endless smooches I get from my other two dogs. Thank you for the empathy. When I do get relief it is brief but the peaks and valleys analogy is very astute. I sometimes get frustrated, as anyone would, but I do my best to transform each experience into something I can at least learn something from.
“Our words reveal our thoughts,
Our manners mirror our self- esteem
Our actions reflect our character and
Our habits predict the future”
- William Arthur Ward
Every painful experience I have is an opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes, develop empathy, kindness, and most importantly compassion.
My ear is feeling a bit better. Regardless, I plan on swimming 8-10 hours this week. I will do my best to keep my head out of the water but I have prescription ear drops now so hopefully that will heal me up.
I’m not going to plan any type of food regime for my period week except to only try and eat within a particular window with IF. But whatever I need I’m going to be flexible. I’m so in awe of everyone doing these extended fasts. However, I am concerned about some people’s “why’s” or motives. “The purpose of life is to be happy” 16th Dalai Lama. And I don’t feel in my heart of hearts that everyone’s “why’s” will lead to deep contemplation, insight, and “right view.” Looking a particular way will not bring lasting joy. I’m on a high horse here, and options are not people’s personal truths, and only each person can work on their personal healing/development, but I don’t think fasting is mainly about our relationship with food or weight loss. Fasting is a deeply transformative experience that is about connection, deep looking, insight and our interdependence with more than the phenomenal world. Fasting may be one of the most tangible and human ways to develop selflessness.
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Happy Day! I hope this brightens! everyone’s day! Drink water and FEAST on his cuteness! Our little positronic puppy comes home in 4 weeks
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Thanks Kristy ! What a cutie! You have an amazing day also 
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Today I woke up and it was the first day in months I wasn’t in physical pain! I was able to meditate with cushions on the floor! I was able to sit for about 45 minutes before my body started to protest. “inhaling love, exhaling peace”
Have to spend a majority of my day in the car driving to Wisconsin (I live is NE iowa) to see another specialist. Will use the time in the car to listen to some Buddhist texts. Swimming before I see the Dr. Will see if I need to eat today. Period isn’t as horrible as it was last month but PMS was devastating. Will need to find a new balance to prepare for next month.
Will probably stop being 100% keto in the fall/winter. My husband and I primarily eat vegetable, bean, and whole grain based soups during those seasons. Hoping my pain continues to subside. Do not think I’m strong enough to start teaching/doing yoga yet. I’ll start with some very gentle flows at home see what happens.
I’ve gained a little bit of weight. Not sure if it’s just bloating but I don’t care. I feel so much stronger physically and that is wonderful
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OMG!!! What an adorable baby!! I love him! 
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