Last week was mentally crazy for me because my family has been dealing with long-standing and new health issues. It has been a week and I am now processing that I weigh 118 and have lost 38 pounds at this point. I will keep it going and see how far I can go on Keto for a year. I have made this much progress in months and I am so touched to hear from you that you are getting encouraged by my story. Thank you so much for inspiring me and I am going to do my best to share the most effective and positive tips and tricks with you.
One of my dear friends is starting her journey and it always reminds me of when I started this past labor day. I fasted in the morning and we were planning to meet with family for a barbeque and I really didn't know what was going to be served. I knew there would be meat at the very least, so I made up my mind not to be tempted by anything else that day. This journey begins with a start and a very determined one at that because the temptation is always there. So I ended up eating jalapeno poppers, meat, green beans, and olives until I was full. Here is where things become interesting because we are taught to eat, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our society is completely built around that concept, and we don't focus enough on just eating when were hungry. Well, that night I didn't eat dinner because I wasn't hungry, which was so weird to me, and is a mindset I still have.
It has been difficult for me at times to not have meals with my family because they are everything to me, but only eating when I am hungry is very effective, especially on keto. It still blows my mind that my family can be eating things that I would crave so badly in the beginning. I just enjoy the smell of those things now, especially fries. So this is my new normal, fasting every day, working out daily, eating less than 20 net carbs per day, and eating only when I am hungry are the keys to my success. I would say that simplicity is also key here because there is so much information out there, and you have to find out what works for you. I plan to stay on a low-carb diet indefinitely, not just because of the results but mainly because of the way I feel. Living this lifestyle has made me more knowledgeable about the foods I put into my body.
It is not just the sugar, & carbs to pay attention to; it is the types of oils and chemicals that are put into foods. I am on a mission to eat at home more making foods from scratch and keeping them low-carb. I like cooking and it is interesting to make things low-carb. I am so grateful for the people who make keto & low carb content on social media. They inspire me to pretty much make everything and the only thing I have not been able to replace is french fries. I have tried turnips, jicama, and rutabaga so far and they all suck. I have been coating onions and chicken with arrowroot flour and chicharron bread crumbs to make air-fried chicken and onion rings. I also have mastered wings in the air frier so I am making progress.
I was talking with my sister yesterday and she brought up a good point that I think should be shared. When you are on any kind of restrictive diet please don't make other people feel guilty about what they are eating. I don't think we intend to make people feel bad because they are eating things we have cut out. I am guilty of it because I make comments sometimes to my family and I am going to stop that today. We all have free will and no one should be manipulating others about food. My journey is meant to encourage you not manipulate you into a keto or low-carb lifestyle. I am just sharing what has worked for me. In the end, it is your choice whether or not you want to lose weight and there is no judgment here. This lifestyle works for a lot of people including me and I am here to help.
Now that I am close to my target weight of 115, which is what I weighed in high school I am going to continue doing this for a year. I get asked a lot about things I miss and it would be fruit and potatoes. I may carb cycle after that time. I don't know if it is worth it at this point because I feel great in ketosis, and worked so hard to get here. Either way, you will know and please keep sharing your feedback with me.
