Sunday, July 31, 2016

18 days and counting.

I started the Ketogenic Diet 18 days ago, and I don't see a time when I won't be living this lifestyle. The last 18 days have been a time when I am starting to learn and listen to my body and what works best for me. I know that this may not be for everyone. I took a lot of time to research this scientific diet, and the effects have been wonderful for me.
There are times when it is difficult, however there is so much freedom from eating this way.
I am able to enjoy almost all the foods I already love, and I am beginning to learn how to cook in a different way.
I have definitely gotten out of the Keto Flu stage and I have better clarity and energy.
Going out for lunch or dinner has been a challenge, but it is also a way for me to take my struggles with food and deal with them face on.

What some people don't understand, that being overweight, it isn't just about making poor food choices, however it is about how food is used more than exercise to fight depression or anxiety.
It has taken me many years to use better tools to combat depression and anxiety.

When my dad passed away I became SEVERELY depressed. I drank a lot. I ate a lot. I didn't sleep a lot. I didn't know what to do and I had never felt so alone in my life.
While I did have a lot of people who loved me, there wasn't anything that was going to fill that void I felt after losing my dad.

Now, almost 5 years later, I know have the tools to combat depression. Working out and spending time outdoors has really helped.


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Chronicle's of the change toward Ketosis.

Over the last months, I have been struggling again to lose weight and have the energy to do anything more than exist. This is not me. After being hurt at work almost 3 months ago, I am nowbes back to a place where I can physically begin to continue on my weight loss journey.


Recently I found a fellow blogger who began the Ketogenic Diet. I have been intrigued. I got a book by Kristen Mancinelli, called the Ketogenic diet. It has been very informative about what this new way of eating looks like, but also the science behind it.  Understanding the science has made this decision very easy for me.

I am going to follow the ketogenic diet for the next 30 days completely. Once I see how this has changed my life, then I am going to make a decision on whether or not to continue.


July 13, 2016 I made the decision to try to Ketogenic Diet. I am now on day 5 and I am loving it. I am hoping it is safe to say that I have had a very mild case of the Keto flu.
The Keto flu is what happens in your body when you begin to transition between a carb burning metabolism and a fat burning metabolism. I have experienced some fatigue, nausea, extreme exhaustion, and muscle cramps (these were the worst). Besides these symptoms, I haven't felt too bad. I also love the freedom of this new lifestyle. Over the last few days I have spent time with friends and haven't felt the "oh, no we can't go there, I can't eat anything there". I HATE THAT. I don't like the restrictions that many of the other types of diets I have tried have placed on me. With the keto diet I am able to eat the foods I enjoy, and receive the benefits that I have been looking for.

I have had to be very creative when cooking, but I LOVE TO BE CREATIVE. When I began my weight loss journey a few years ago, I discovered that I actually LOVED to cook. I learned new ways to make a lot of the same dishes that I liked, but healthier.

This became freeing for me. Now, 5 days ago, I began to look at pintrest and find other ways to make my favorite food ketogenic. So far, I haven't been disappointed.

The other day, I went with some of my girlfriends to the mall, and we went to this new shake place. Now, at this point I was on day 2, I had no idea the impact that just 2 days would have on my body. I took one bite of Maxwell's shake and it was so sweet I wanted to spit it out. That is not normal for me. I love milkshakes, and sweet things, and there is my problem.

Sugar is my mortal enemy. I love carbs, and sweets, and tend to eat emotionally at times. An interesting piece of information is that I was on my period (TMI) and didn't have 1 single craving!! That is truly amazing. Prior to this change I would have eaten everything in sight, but now I haven't.

If anyone has ever been on any type of diet, the one thing that everyone struggles with is HUNGER!! Who likes to be hungry? NOT ME.
I can honestly say that I am never hungry now. Yesterday, after walking around Disneyland for about 6 hours we were going to get dinner and I wasn't hungry, and couldn't see spending money on food I wasn't going to eat. About 2 hours later I went and got a chicken cobb salad, and was very happy, and satisfied. I don't need to eat to excess now. I am full, and satisfied for hours, longer than I have been on any other diet. I Love THAT!!

One thing I am having to get used to is that I don't have to eat every 2-3 hours. I can eat when I am hungry and that is that. This is also so freeing.
Today I brought my food to church and ate "breakfast" around 10am. I wasn't really hungry but I knew that was going to be the only time I could sit and enjoy my food during my very busy morning at church.

I am very pleased with how this transition is going, and can't wait to see what the next 25 days have in store for me.