The proof is in the sugar free, low carb pudding.

So, four weeks ago I visited my doctor about an ingrown toenail and walked away on a diet. A strict high fat, low carb or ketogenic diet. The daily carbohydrate allowance for this diet is around 20g or less. That’s the amount you’d find in one banana. 

To reduce the intake of carbs down to this level, it essentially means no bread, no pasta, no rice or potatoes, absolutely no sugar, no beer (that’s described as liquid bread!) no cakes or pastries and no sugary drinks. All these foods are broken down into glucose which is used by the body for energy. Insulin is the key hormone that allows the cells of the body to use glucose as fuel and when we eat carbs and they are absorbed into the blood as glucose, we cause the release of insulin. Not only does insulin allow the use of glucose as a fuel, it also encourages the storage of fats. As long as the body has glucose to burn, the fat reserves we have are ignored and can cause a great deal of harm. 

The body likes to store fat in the most conspicuous, embarrassing places on our bodies. Around the midrif and the hips, the classic Wheat Belly as described by Dr William Davis in his book of the same name. But it also keeps invisible stores of fat deep inside the body, the visceral fat which is stored around our organs. This is also known as active fat and researchers have discovered that it secretes a protein which has been shown to increase the body’s resistance to insulin.

Diabetes.co.uk explain the diet here: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/keto/

So, does it work? Well, the day before I visited the doctor, I had also signed up at a local weight loss club and have been weighing in every Monday at 5pm. Therefore, any change in weight during this time can be verified. The food I've eaten during the past four weeks has been delicious, fresh and varied. I have not had any cravings or snacked between meals nor have i been hungry between meals. It's a regime that is easy to follow, although there have been one or two occasions when the wheels

have come a little loose on the wagon. Birthday celebrations, meals with friends, that sort of thing. Whenever that has happened, I've got back on track immediately  at the next meal. I bought a blood glucose and ketone monitor and I have been in ketosis regularly whenever I've checked. I have a healthy appetite and i have consumed a substantial amount of food, and despite all the fat I've consumed, I have lost over two stones to date. twenty nine pounds to be precise.

And the cycling? Not many miles completed I'm afraid. But shedding twenty nine pounds of timber is probably just as good as several hundred miles on the bike. 

The next post will be from somewhere on the journey between Roscoff and Torreilles on the Mediterranean.