I just dove head first in the Ketogenic Diet, or should I say lifestyle. I don’t like the word diet, it sounds so restricting. I have researched and read countless articles on Paleo, Mediterranean, Atkins, and of course the Ketogenic. The hardest to maintain, but most effective at fat loss is the ketogenic in my opinion, so that is what I have chosen.
I won’t get into the particulars of the diet, you can get information about it online or a good book is The Complete Ketogenic Diet for Beginners. The basic premise is you are eating the majority of calories from saturated “good” fats, moderate protein and extremely little to no carbs. WHAT?!? No bread, pasta or potatoes? Yes that’s right! Nobody said this was going to be easy. I LOVE carbs!
So how to start, cut carbs cold turkey or gradual elimination? I tried cold turkey and I don’t think anyone liked me much. I fell off the wagon quickly. So I drastically reduced but didn’t eliminate them. I was down to 100 grams of carbs per day. To count macros, Lose It is a great app, check it out! After about a week at 100 grams, I dialed it in to about 30 and below most days. I have been here for about 2 weeks. My headaches are gone, my cravings are gone for the most part, and I don’t feel bloated. I have to learn to drink more water as keto has a tendency to dehydrate me.
I eat pizza and burgers. I scrape the “pizza” off the crust and I pitch the hamburger buns. It is working for me. In this short time have I missed fries, pasta and the occasional candy bar? You bet I have. I look in the mirror and that craving goes away. I have a goal.
This is of course in the infant stages. I have not yet seen drastic weight loss or body composition change but I am hopeful it will happen. The important thing now is to maintain discipline and venture on.
Stay tuned for more on my keto journey…