IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW ...
/Weight Loss Fluctuations (8.4.2025 to 8.10.2025)
It's a gift, or curse, of the human experience that we can reflect on our past, for better or for worse. Sometimes we think back with warm feelings on a cherished moment, like when your six-month-old laughs uncontrollably, making everyone around then laugh, making the baby laugh louder. Or that time when you thought you'd be seeing in a new year alone, but moments before midnight, you hear your husband's car bolt into the driveway, followed by his rushed entry through the door. He had managed to talk his boss at the restaurant into letting him go in time to be with you to celebrate a newly minted "1987" together. That's a sweet memory of mine.
But some visits to the past make you wonder what might have been had you known then what you know now. What might you have done differently? Like, would you still think a silly startup could be a success and that maybe you should buy a few shares at its IPO price of $18? Who knew Amazon would be a big thing? I didn't. If I knew then …
My life, just as everyone's, has changed and morphed, has had triumphs and trip-ups. Some decisions were grand slams, and with others I struck out. Hubris to humiliation, happiness to heartbreak. As a rule, I don't dwell on the past but prefer to depart for the future. Yes, I realize I can't go to the future yet. But would my present be different if I made other decisions or took other actions knowing what I now know?
Not really.
There are some procedural things I would have done differently when I started the ketogenic protocol. But I didn't know it would work so well, and how the course of my life, both personal and career-wise, would turn so abruptly. If I had known, I'd have documented the process. There would have been frequent video diary entries so I could have a record of the changes in my appearance, as well as to reflect on how laying off the carbs impacted my mood and physical state. I don't know what day I first realized that my joints didn't ache. I would have taken note of that day. Nor do I recall the first time someone asked me if I had lost weight. That would have been a gold star date on my calendar. When was it clear to me that this diet was different than all the others I had tried? It was a few weeks in, but that would have been another good thing to record. Because feeling that the ship is turning on a pin, that fool is no longer the boss, is a momentous thing. Overcoming carbs is easier than conquering our thoughts about and history with being overweight.
I'm pleased with where, who, and what I am now, and I wouldn't have changed my approach to the ketogenic diet after I started following it on January 8th, way back in 2014. It worked perfectly for me, so no regrets on that score. If I had known that 'Go Keto with Casey' would be my little corner of the world, sharing my experiences with others who may benefit from doing so, I would have kept clear records so there would be objective evidence that it works. But, again, who knew?
Let's face it, there is little to be gained from hand-wringing over what might have been, what we did wrong, or could have done better. Learn a lesson and move on. There are things in life that have clear 'yes' and 'no' options. Rob a bank? No. Litter? No. Be kind to someone in pain? Yes.
Many things about which we need to make decisions are less apparent. Is this the best house for us? Hmmm. Maybe. Maybe not. Paper or plastic? You tell me. And some circumstances are total crap shoots. Let's face it, when it comes to raising kids, we have a 50/50 chance of making the wrong decision every time. We do our best, and hope things work out.
But if you're commencing on the ketogenic diet, or even if you're long into it, consider keeping track of how you feel, what changes you experience, how relationships change. Even if you never look at the videos or read the entries, taking note—and taking notice—of one's life can be an act of progress in itself.
As always, if I can do this, you can do this. I promise.
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical doctor, researcher, or Ph.D., but instead, I’ve been fortunate to have had the time and resources to research the ketogenic diet, also known as LCHF (low carb/high fat). The information I share is based solely on my understanding of that research. We are all responsible for our own choices, including what we put in our mouths, and there’s no substitute for each of us checking things out ourselves. And I’m not a medical professional in any way. Go Keto With Casey is not a medical site. “Duh,” you might say. But best to make it clear to all. I welcome questions, comments, and even civil criticism. I’m still learning. So, if you have something to add, go for it. Links in this post and all others may direct you to affiliate links, where I will receive a small amount of the purchase price of any items you buy through those links. Thanks!