Keto What?

What the heck even is Keto?

I've been getting so many questions about the Keto diet, why I'm on it, how I like it, what I can eat, etc. I took a vote on my instagram and all of you wanted me to create a Keto blog series. So, here you are! I am going to share everything I have learned about Keto and my experience with it over the next couple of weeks. 

Let's start basic. Keto is short for ketogenic and ketosis. Naturally, your body burns your glucose and carb intake for energy. With the Keto diet, your body will burn your fat intake for energy (consequently causing you to lose weight), which is the state of ketosis. Typically, it takes two to seven days to get your body into ketosis, so it's important to be strict with yourself especially in the beginning stages in order to actually get your body to shift into ketosis. Honestly, this diet really requires you to be strict throughout because as soon as you start introducing carbs and sugars again while in ketosis, your body will start to burn that first leaving you with all of your fat intake. That's obviously not what you want if you're trying to lose weight on this diet. The Keto diet is high (healthy) fats, moderate protein, low carbs and sugar. Your healthy fats can be bacon (yes, bacon!), avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, etc. 

Let me be clear (because I've been getting a lot of slack for this) -- I do not think I'm big. I can't even believe I have to defend myself for this in the first place lol. I am not doing this diet because I think I'm fat or too big, etc. Within the last couple of years, I have gained 22lbs. Regardless of your weight, 22lbs of weight gain is a lot for anyone. Everybody (especially women) want to feel comfortable in their own skin and body and it never makes you feel good to have to go shopping to buy bigger clothes because nothing in your closet fits. 

I have touched on this before on my instagram, but for those of you that don't know, I was a competitive gymnast for almost half of my life. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and still had an eight-pack; I was working out heavy for HOURS a week. Obviously, I was never concerned about what I was eating or how it would affect my body as an adult. After I retired from gymnastics, I continued eating as if I was still a gymnast. Clearly my eight-pack wasn't going to last through all of my bowls of pasta and In-N-Out, which I proudly became a frequent customer. I never had a problem with how to work out. I had a problem with how to eat healthy. I've tried "eating healthy," diets on diets on diets, "changing my lifestyle," whatever. Nothing really worked. 

I was introduced to the Keto diet and it made sense for me (at least temporarily until I lost the weight). I cut out the sugars, the carbs, the crap and dropped five pounds in my first two weeks. If that isn't motivation, I don't know what else is. I, naively, didn't realize how much my eating habits were hurting me. I am an avid tea drinker, pouring tonssss of sugar into each cup. I eat a lot of sushi, which, in theory, is healthy, but with that, I was eating a lot of rice in these rolls. Thinking I was eating "healthy," I would allow myself to have In-N-Out for dinner when my boyfriend suggested it. But let's really look at that. In one day, I was taking in loads of sugar, rice, fries, bread, soda and most likely a milkshake because ... why not. I "deserved it." It adds up. 

I wasn't educated in nutrition and that is what keeps weight off. You can workout every single day, but if you're eating crap all day, your workouts don't mean a thing. I see this all the time -- girls that work out faithfully, but post their breakfast sandwich, donut and latte after their workout. Ummmm? I wanted to be educated in nutrition so I can confidently make better choices as to what I put in my body. That is also a big reason why I chose Keto. I have learned SO much. I can't wait to share it all with you.

I'm not saying Keto is the easiest thing to do -- especially if you're a carbaholic like me. I will definitely go into detail about my experience with the Keto flu, my struggles, what I eat in a day and all that jazz in posts to come. I just wanted to give you an overview of what it is and why I am doing it. I am happy to answer questions as we go along in this blog series. Just drop me  a line in the comments section below.