Keto Diet
This is not my normal fashion blog post, but I really wanted to share my thoughts and impressions of the KETO diet. I did a video about my experience here in case you missed it.
About the KETO Diet
If you don’t know anything about the KETO diet, you can find more in-depth, scientific articles about how the diet works with a quick Google search. But, the main concept of KETO is to eliminate all sugars and most carbohydrates. By eating fewer carbs, your body will stop fueling itself on carbs/sugar… and turn to fat for fuel. It’s a state called Ketosis.
I came across KETO when I was looking for ways to get rid of the 7+ pounds I have gained recently. There are a LOT of avid KETO supporters and testimonials of how it is changing lives.
If you want to know more about my KETO diet experience, you can watch my video here or just click/tap play in the box above.
My Thoughts
I want to give you the straight scoop as well as the pro’s and con’s. This is MY experience. Everybody is different. I know that many of you LOVE KETO.
PROS: Over the course of three months, I felt great! I was totally satiated. I had amazing energy. I slept like a champ. I also felt clearer. The puffiness and bloating were non-existent. I lost 7 pounds and was back down to my fighting weight.
CONS: Trying to stay in Ketosis was TOUGH! I basically had to consume fewer than 20 grams of carbohydrates per day, which I tracked with KETO strips (peeing on a stick) and an app called Carb Manager. Once you dive in, you’ll discover how hard this is. The KETO Flu is a legit thing and seemed never-ending. I felt sluggish, tired and awful for at least a week. I also got SOOOOO sick of all the foods. I am certain that if I enjoyed cooking, I could have been more creative with the meals. There are a ton of recipes online, but alas, I detest cooking so I was eating eggs, more eggs, and even more eggs… I am only now (six + months later) able to entertain touching eggs. I also ate a LOT of meat and cheese. Bottom line, I got bored with the food choices. And, when I went off KETO and starting eating some carbs again, I gained the weight back immediately. Like within a week or two. (Of note: I was not eating heavy, starchy carbs like bread, pasta or potatoes.)
Intermittent Fasting
All that said, I think it was an awesome experiment and it was EYE opening in terms of how much sugar I was consuming. I think that information is invaluable and I’m using it to modify my diet now. I am currently doing Intermittent Fasting where I don’t eat anything (including cream in my coffee) until 12pm and finish eating around 8pm. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes. Intermittent Fasting or IF is pretty much what I’ve done my whole life, except I always used coffee creamer. I’ve never been a huge breakfast eater.
I’m also trying out a new exercise program that feels quite gentle and lovely called P.Volve. So far, I’m noticing major changes in my butt (more lifted and toned) and seeing a few new lines come out in my stomach. It hasn’t been great for weight loss so I’m adding hiking and walking 3 times per week to the mix.
You can read more about P.Volve here.
KETO Recipes
For those that love KETO, I wanted to share a couple of my favorite recipes from the diet.
Vanilla Fat Bomb
I am a sugar addict! I LOVE sugar so giving up sugar was pretty hard. I always allowed myself one small sweet treat at the end of the day. While I was on KETO, that treat was the Vanilla Fat Bomb. You make them using a sugar substitute called Xylitol or Swerve. It tastes creamy and delicious, satisfies those sugar cravings and will keep you full the entire night! I also liked Choc Zero bars.
I used these trays for the fat bombs.
BulletProof Coffee
It’s ironic, the one thing I was the most skeptical about, BulletProof Coffee, turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the KETO diet. I LOVED my coffee with the butter, collagen and MCT oil and it REALLY fills you up! Now… I add collagen and MCT oil to a decaf coffee at lunchtime now because of the Intermittent Fasting. I am currently skipping the butter.
My favorite collagen powder is this one by Vital Proteins. If Vital Proteins isn’t available, this one was my backup. The collagen powder improves hair, skin, and nails. My hair is definitely shinier.
The key is BLENDING the ingredients in a Nutribullet. I used this one from Amazon and it made my coffee creamy and frothy in seconds. While traveling, I brought this milk frother. It doesn’t work as well as the Nutribullet, but it was fine for travel.
More LifeStyle Favorites
5 Simple Habits That Can Help Change Your Life here.
10 Strategies to Help… When You Feel Overwhelmed, Sad or Depressed here.
Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to receive some awesome freebies.
Please share YOUR experience with KETO below. We would love to hear from you!!
