I have had a lot of people ask me what I have been doing to lose weight. I wish I could tell them that I have been going to the gym every day or that I run 5 miles a day, but, I would be lying. I’m not one of those people…yet! I am working on that one though…. No, I tell them that I have been eating a Ketogenic Diet. I usually get a puzzled, glazed over look, and a “Good for you, I could never give up bread” probably the same thing you are thinking right now and quite honestly, the same thing I thought when I first heard about it. But, before you blow me off to go read something else, do me a favor, keep reading to see why I chose keto and why I say I’m a Keto Girl for Life. If it doesn’t speak to you, then you have my permission to leave, not that you actually need my permission, but, if this doesn’t speak to you then it’s not for you….I wrote this for the one it does speak to π
I began the Keto lifestyle almost 2 years ago and I have had great success with it. Not only did I lose weight (25 pounds) and drop a couple of sizes, (from a size 10 to a size 6) more importantly, it has helped me with some health issues that I had been experiencing for quite a few years due to Fibromyalgia. Before discovering Keto, I was miserable. I was in constant pain and began suffering from depression because of it. The doctor who diagnosed me, recommended that I take an antidepressant, which had been shown to help the symptoms of Fibro. So, being desperate, I agreed. I immediately regretted it. I felt like a zombie, emotionless, and tired….not to mention the havoc it wreaked on my sex life! My husband and I had only been married a year at that point, so that was not going to work for me!! I told my doctor I would rather be in pain than to feel like that and it honestly didn’t even help my pain.
I knew I had to find something else.
I had been hearing a little about the Ktogenic diet, but, just figured it was another low carb fad, similar to Atkins or South Beach. But, the more I researched (I research everything!) the more I realized that it was not the same at all. The science behind it really made sense to me, and I was reading a lot of stories of people like me with chronic pain and other common health issues, who were completely healing themselves with this diet. They were able to stop taking medications for blood pressure, cholestorol, diabetes, depression/anxiety and pain. So, I was definitely intrigued and decided to jump right in and give it a try.
I gave myself one month and went all in following it strictly! I stayed under 20 grams of carbs a day, which is what is recommended when first beginning. Especially if you want to lose some weight.
The first week was a little rough. My body was definitely detoxing from all the crap I had been feeding it for years. Sugars come in many forms, and are extremely toxic to the body, causing widespread inflammation which in turn causes so many health issues and diseases. It’s like a drug, it takes a hold of you and doesn’t want to let go. That’s why we crave it in all it’s forms. I had a weakness for savory snacks, like chips, which is still sugar ( your body doesn’t know the difference) It also takes a little time to get all of that out of your system, you go through withdrawal and it can be a little rough. My body had been used to its daily fix and was not happy! This is sometimes referred to as Keto Flu. But, after that first few days, I felt like a whole new person. My headaches were gone. My body aches were gone. My joints even felt better. I wasn’t exhausted, in fact, I had extra energy! I was so happy!! Especially because I was getting to eat bacon and butter and cheeses and heavy cream and I felt amazing! I think I even lost 8 pounds that first week.
So, I was sold and I haven’t looked back. It didn’t take my husband long to jump on board, once he saw how great I felt. Even though he had been working out regularly, (he IS one of those people) he saw immediate improvements in how his body was responding. He got more toned and defined, his belly shrunk, and he lost 30 pounds that first 2 months! It definitely makes it easier, when your partner is on board.
Don’t get me wrong…I have not been perfect with this. I am a bit of a lazy keto girl sometimes. I have had a lot of days where I don’t eat like I should, (and always regret it because I feel horrible) But, I just get back on the keto train every time I fall off. Because I know it works and is the only thing that has ever really helped me and made me feel amazing.
If you have read this far, thank you! If you don’t know what the heck I am talking about, then let me explain. The Ketogenic Diet is, in a nutshell, a High Fat, Moderate Protein, Low Carb diet, as opposed to the Atkins Diet, which is High Protien and almost NO Carbs. The focus with Keto is more on the right balance of fats, protiens, and carbs. Carbs are not the enemy!! We need carbs, we just need to make sure we are consuming the right carbs, as well as protiens and fats, in the right amounts.
Now, I could go into why keto works and the science behind it and the do’s and don’ts, but, I am not an expert and there is plenty of information out there already, it’s been done to death. (and I would bore myself if I really went into it) If you do want to know more about it, however, I recommend Googling “Keto for Beginners” and you will have a plethora of different websites to choose from. The only thing I will tell you right now, is that if you are looking for a way to lose weight fairly effortlessly, where you won’t feel hungry or deprived, something you can actually stick to forever, and that will probably heal a lot of what ails you. (It even fixed my blood sugar issues) and a diet where you get to eat bacon and cheese and butter! Then you really should give it a try.
Here, I will simplify it for you. Just avoid the following things…everything else is free game!
AVOID
- ALL fast foods (I know sometimes it will happen, but, ask for a bunless burger or a get a salad, a lot of restaurants are offering lower carb menus now)
- Highly processed foods (I stay away from all the middle aisles of the grocery store)
- Sodas (diet and regular) I know this is a hard one for a lot of people, but, trust me….once you kick it, you won’t miss it.
- Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (I use stevia and just keep packets in my purse or car)
- Sugar of any kind
- Bread of any kind
- Pasta
- Rice
- Flour and products made from flour
- Potatoes (sweet and white)
- High
I know you are probably shaking your head and cussing at me right now at the thought of giving up some of those things, I totally get it! (Bread was a tough one for me, I can easily eat an entire basket of those rolls at Texas Roadhouse) But ya’ll, I promise you, if you don’t give in, it won’t take you long to not even miss them! Plus, think of all the foods that are still left on the table (see what I did there?) I mean, steak and bacon and turkey legs and bacon and sausages and bacon and Seafood and bacon and chicken and did I mention bacon? You get the point. I mean, any kind of meat you want, you can have. Now, that doesn’t mean you can have as much meat as you want…we still have to practice some self control for goodness sakes! But, you will feel full faster and stay fuller, so you won’t want to over eat anyway. That’s a bonus!
If you aren’t a meat eater, there are Vegetarian options as well. I don’t really know much about that though, because I am a total carnivore. But, I do know there are a lot of sites with how to eat vegetarian keto. Also, if you are a coffee lover or like to partake in adult beverages from time to time, those are totally acceptable as well, as long as they aren’t sugary drinks. Liquor, wine, beer are totally fine, you just have to mind the carb count, especially at first.
See? You don’t have to give up everything you love! Anyway…..Don’t think of it as things you are giving up, think of it as things you are choosing to no longer slowly kill yourself with. There, that should help put it into perspective! I’m only kidding. Sorta. π
Still with me? Awesome!
Because you are still here and because I am a very nice person, (most of the time) who is passionate about this, who also loves to help others….and because I have had quite a few friends ask me to….. I am going to be sharing my weekly meal plans along with recipes and tips with you. I will be putting them together for my husband and I each week anyway, so why not? Also, it will help keep me focused and accountable as well π
Now….I double dog dare you to give it a try…give it 1 month, thats only 4 weeks. You can do that! And I mean… really give it a month, not just a few days and then go order a Big Mac and give up!! You deserve better than that. If you do go eat a Big Mac, don’t beat yourself up, just get right back to keto!! If 2 weeks is more reasonble to you, then do 2 weeks! Then just 2 more! π If you don’t give in, you will stop craving the crap and your body will thank you by giving you more energy, sleeping better, hurting less, and healing itself. You’ll probably even lose weight, if weight is an issue for you. You deserve to feel good and be healthy just as much as anyone else. I believe in you and so should you.
Look for the first weeks menus soon…hopefully beginning tomorrow, that way you can go ahead and get started next week!
Now you have no excuses. π
See you soon!
~Cas
She Is Saved 