21-Day Keto Diet: Day 14

Pretty busy day today:  work, then the (semi) monthly lunch I have with some of my gal friends, then class...after which I headed to the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.  I'm a regular blood donor (Universal blood type) and we're getting ready to head on a trip out of country here in a few weeks.  Due to risk of malaria, Zika, or other illnesses, visiting some areas can result in you being quarantined from donating for a year after your trip.  I called the Center to see if the area we're traveling to is on The List...and yyyup, malaria risk.  So I'd like to get in one more donation before I'm benched for a year.  I just gave whole blood a few weeks ago, so I'm not eligible for that until after we return, but I can donate platelets and plasma.

At least, I thought I could. But it's been 4-5 years since I last gave platelets/plasma, and I've had a kiddo since then. Which means they need to test my blood for a particular antibody before I'm allowed to give in that form again.  But they said the test should be done in about a week so I should still be able to donate before our trip.  

I really would like to donate while we're doing the Keto Diet, or immediately after, so that I can see how the diet has affected my cholesterol. I did something similar when we were doing the Daniel Fast, and what can I say? I'm a nerd who likes quantitative data.

Breakfast: Taco Breakfast Muffin with picante sauce and a dollop of sour cream

Lunch:  We met at a local pasta place, but I was able to have an amazing Greek salad, and I brought a small container of dressing from home, because I knew it only had 1 net carb.  

In retrospect, I could have just dressed it with oil and vinegar (both were sitting on the table), or asked the server if she knew if any of their dressings were low carb...BUUUUT I'm also terrified of being "one of THOSE customers", and so I generally don't ask for anything special. EVER.  And if they bring me the wrong food, I still eat it. Them's the rules.

Dinner:  The weather has finally turned around and it's absolutely gorgeous, so we decided to grill brats and asparagus. Topped with sauerkraut and mustard, and served in a lettuce leaf, it was perfect!

Totals: 1242 kcal, 89g fat, 24g net carbs, 76g protein

Our Thoughts:  I know a lot of people say they feel amazing after starting keto...maybe the first week is rough, but then it's all happiness and marshmallows.  Well..we're 2 weeks in and that has NOT been the case for us.  When we go to the gym, we can't lift as much weight, or do as many reps, or work out as long/hard as we usually do. And that's IF we even have the motivation to GO to the gym.  Most of the time we just feel like big lazy blobs.  I don't want to clean the house, work on projects, play with my kid...nothing but sit on the couch with my laptop.  And the brain fog has NOT gone away. 

Unless there's some miraculous change within the next week, or we both see some amazing weight drop, I don't think I'd recommend this experience to anyone.