Keto Associations

     Ken and Trudie came this weekend, so the guys went out on the big boat to fish around the Canadian Islands again.  It turns out that the winds across the bay are much higher than those in our area and were too much for their size craft. They're learning so much about Canadian fishing and boating.  I hoped they'd catch some ling cod and salmon, but no such luck.  When they returned, we pulled the big boat from the bay, and Steve will put it away until we get back from Hawaii next spring.  On the brighter side, I'm still losing weight, slowly but surely. It's been going much faster since I started taking the prescription. It's a blessing to finally get off that long, lengthy plateau and start moving downward again. It will probably take me a few more months to reach my goal weight, but that's all right. In the meantime, I've been making really nice meals centered around lovely salads. I made spinach, walnuts, apple, avocado, thinly sliced onions last night, and a lovely balsamic vinegar dressing. It was a real hit! I'm still attending all of the Zumba classes that are offered right around the corner from me. I'm rubbing elbows with some fancy ladies living on yachts moored in Semiahmoo.  It's interesting rubbing elbows with these older rich people. Most started out snooty, but then they began communicating and chatting with everybody.  I'm also working on putting my blog in a book form and publishing it on Amazon because it contains valuable information for those my age who struggle to lose weight.  Also, I've added another exercise to my regimen based on my son's suggestion. I'll begin lifting dead weight on my free weightlifting off days next week. The science behind its benefits is undeniable. The deadlift works on the glutes, hamstrings, trapezius, back muscles, and core, making it very effective for muscle building, and the keto diet is compatible with that goal.  However, the research supporting muscle building while on keto warns about consuming too much protein.  According to researcher Parker Hyde, the protein must be at most twenty percent of the calories while on keto.  Excess protein turns into glucose and kicks you out of ketosis.  Rather than consuming the quantities of protein recommended by weightlifters to build muscle, keto dieters need to depend on high-quality proteins containing all nine essential amino acids, particularly those rich in the critical muscle-building amino acid leucine.  These sources include eggs, cheese, chicken, turkey, pork, beef, lamb, fish, and seafood.  They will help your body add lean muscle mass and preserve existing muscle.  I've continued researching insulin resistance and discovered that it improves as the weight comes off and largely depends on physical activity and a well-formulated ketogenic diet.  I'm certain that my keto diet will help me maintain my weight loss.  I'll also pay attention to my yearly blood glucose numbers.  Research demonstrates that lifestyle behaviors, including weight loss and exercise, restore the ability of tissues to respond to insulin appropriately.  It will be interesting to see if I can maintain the weight loss long-term when I stop using the prescription.