We’ve come across a few health professionals who are not fans of keto. Fair enough, there isn’t as much long-term research on keto as some other ways of eating. It must drive them nuts though when our blood work comes back time after time with perfect numbers. What drives me nuts is when health professionals say keto isn’t healthy. I always ask, it isn’t healthy compared to what? So, I thought I should do a series of blogs that compare keto to some of the top ways we eat as North Americans. This week we look at peer support weight loss groups vs. keto.
Keto for weight loss
Keto uses fat to create energy rather than carbs. A basic keto diet takes in 75% of its calories from fat, 5% from carbs, and 20% from protein. The carbs you do take in, when you do strict keto, are from vegetables and low-carb fruit (like berries). On a strict keto diet, you eat very little in the way of processed foods – it’s mostly fresh foods.
Examples of Peer Support Groups for Weight Loss
The most famous peer support weight loss group is probably Weight Watchers. Celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey, have signed up and showcased their success publicly. Weight Watchers uses a point system for food. You get an individualized plan, based on your habits, your goals, and your current weight. Each food has points calculated on their fiber, fat and calories. Most famously, Weight Watchers offers peer support, available in-person or through online forums.
Jenny Craig is another pretty famous peer support program for weight loss. With this program, you buy access to support, but also their pre-packaged foods. As you lose weight, you gradually start cooking for yourself again.
Why Peer Support Weight Loss Groups are Helpful
It’s well documented that if your close peers and family are obese, you are also more likely to be obese. Can it go the other way as well? It seems likely that it does. Addictions organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous have used peer support programs for years. Overeaters Anonymous is an organization that combines food and peer support, although it doesn’t focus so much on weight loss as healthy coping skills. But, it does show how important shared experiences and support can be.
One of the reasons I think this blog has been successful is because Bill and I have a lived experience of being obese and we lost a lot of weight, becoming healthier. When I used to go to nutritionists or try these programs, I’d become frustrated when the person giving me advice had no idea what it was like to be overweight. Sure, they had the expertise, but they didn’t know what my life was like as someone who was obese.
The Pitfalls of Peer Support Weight Loss Groups
Like I said, the people I would go to for advice had the expertise. They had the knowledge of what we should eat and shouldn’t eat. That’s not something you necessarily get from a peer, especially someone who is overweight themselves. There needs to be a balance between knowing the information and lived experience.
The main pitfall of peer support weight loss groups that are commercial is that you have to pay for it. If a program is going to set up a peer support component, it’s definitely not free. For most weight loss programs, it seems that the more support you opt for, the more expensive it becomes.
Do We Think Peer Support Weight Loss Groups Work?
I definitely think peer support can have a place in your weight loss journey, I just don’t think you need to pay for it. Bill and I support each other, and it has made a positive difference…this time. But other times, we started out supporting each other and as we fell off the wagon, we dragged the other one with us. The fact that Bill needs to stay on keto keeps us both on track. I could stray off keto, but then I’d feel guilty, so I don’t.
I remember growing up and women in my community would go to their weekly “weight in” with their Weight Watchers group. Then, they’d go somewhere for coffee and a “treat” – whether they lost or not. Food is an important part of our social lives, but supporting each other to be healthy is a bit of a different thing. We can lift each other up, but we can also unintentionally drag each other down.
Peer Support and Keto
There’s really no reason why keto can’t do it’s own peer support weight loss group. We have thought about having a peer support forum on our website. Unfortunately, in today’s online society, we have people who are very negative and bring others down. There have robots who insert advertisements and nay-sayers who spew “fake news.” Bill and I are also clear that we are not experts. We are just sharing what worked for us. Who are we to moderate an online support group? And, we don’t believe you should have to pay to follow us and our ideas.
So, find someone who has done their research and is willing to support you through your journey. But, also be clear about your goals and your motivation to get healthy. The best peer support you can have is your inner voice telling you that you can do this!
Wendy
