When You Find Yourself in a Hole, Stop Digging.
/Weight Loss Fluctuations (12.1.2025 to 12.7.2025)
At the writing of this note, we are smack in the middle of silly season, food-wise. The reasons for the celebrations and observations aren’t silly, nor is the food, really. But many of the rituals associated with the holidays have become about eating rather than whatever the original points were. Whether secular, religious, cultural, or freshly hatched ideas born from social media, one can feel we’re not fully participating in whatever custom it may be if our plates aren’t piled high.
This time of year is even more challenging than all the other challenging times of year—all the milestones, parties, festivals, and otherwise habituated eating-fests. But, as always, just because a thing is a challenge doesn’t mean we can’t manage that thing. Imagine the other hurdles there are in life that we deal with every day, and yet, we trade in our grown-up brains for those of petulant toddlers when given the opportunity to line up at the miles-long smorgasbord that the holidays have become. What do we do to keep our heads about us when faced with platters of pastries and scads of scrumptious scones? What if we’ve already dived into meringues, malted milk balls, and more Moravian cookies than anyone sensible person has any excuse for doing? Do we throw up our hands in surrender (and more than a touch of self-loathing), declare defeat, and bank on January having mystical powers that will slap us back into coherence?
As the old saying goes: when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
The best thing, naturally, is to not pick up a shovel in the first place if excavation is not your intention. Learning how to follow the ketogenic diet is all well and good, but merely knowing to keep carbs low (20g/ or few per day) is only the start. The ‘not eating if not hungry’ part is key. So, if you find yourself with the metaphorical scoop in your hand, and if it’s being used to hoist food by the trowelful into your gob, drop it. Stop. Step away from the buffet. Don’t wait for next month. Or Monday. Or tomorrow.
Stop.
It’s not too late. It’s not a lost cause. It’s not a waste of effort. Don’t dwell on what you might have done differently yesterday to the exclusion of doing what’s best for you now. Stop shoveling.
I’ve been there and, lordy-lord, I’ve most definitely done that. In years past, I’ve determined that ‘this year I’ll keep things under control during the holidays,’ then almost immediately commenced shoveling. At that point, I would look to the start of the new year, which would hatch a new me. Magical thinking. Both eating foods that didn’t serve me well and giving myself leave to continue doing so until after Auld Lang Syne had been sung were poor choices.
We have the power to change our behavior right now: one moment, one decision, one mouthful at a time.
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, or ‘#keto’ diet. 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!
