I started keto back in 2017. I had tried so many fad diets before with only short term success and I could never break into the weight range I wanted, especially after having 2 babies. With Keto, the array of purported health benefits in addition to weight loss had me intrigued and I started my research into what the lifestyle would entail. Keto seemed feasible in the long term and it went against so many conventional ideas of what was considered healthy; I had to try it! 
Adopting a Keto lifestyle has greatly impacted my weight loss journey by allowing me to reach not only my weight loss goals, but other health goals too. It was the perfect catalyst in motivating me to get into fitness and being more active since it significantly reduced inflammation in my body. I would no longer wake up with back aches and I’d have more energy throughout the day.

How do you find the motivation to keep going, even on tough days and who/what are your biggest motivators?  What I love about keto is the results come fairly quickly. Seeing the weight loss and feeling the positive effects of cutting out gluten, grains, and sugar motivate me to keep going. Now that my children are a bit older, I like setting that example of making healthy choices and not being seen constantly snacking or eating sugary treats in front of them since kids often emulate their parents’ behaviors. There are tough days where stress has me thinking of certain carby comfort foods, but the great thing about keto is there are always keto alternatives that I can usually whip up since I love cooking and baking. 

My favorite vitamin bounty product has to be the Tune Your Keto Multivitamin. It was like the last piece of the puzzle in my keto lifestyle. I really feel like it’s the perfect support and fills in any nutritional gaps to help me feel my best. 

Another great one that has helped me is the Meal for Keto because I have busy mornings where I just want to take something with me to  have in the car and that shake works perfectly because I just mix it up in my shaker bottle with unsweetened almond milk and a dash of cinnamon and I’m out the door. 

Finally, I have to mention the Get into Keto bhb ketone drink because it’s like a secret weapon in helping me get back on track the next day after a cheat meal or if I need a boost of energy to get in a morning workout. 

First and foremost for me is just being prepared whether it’s having the fridge stocked with Keto foods or bringing some with me while out and about because it’s those times where I don’t have access to keto friendly foods that I am tempted to go off track. I’ll even bring my own food/dessert to a party sometimes if I’m being strict. Also, since I’m the only one in my family that is following keto, it can be a challenge to not give in and just eat that spaghetti or the pizza they ordered, but planning meals in a way that works for me and them makes a huge difference.  So for example, I would use shirataki noodles with the spaghetti sauce for myself or make my own keto pizza using my mini waffle maker. 

Second, for the last year, I’ve been doing cycles of carnivore eating every 2-3 months, which is eating just animal foods/products for short periods time, usually 1-2 weeks, before going back to keto.  Since this way of eating is practically zero carbs, it really helps me get back on track by resetting my metabolism and getting me past a stall or plateau. It’s been a great way to curb my keto sweet tooth as well because it stops the cravings. 

Third, the only way I can stay on track with my fitness is if I get it done in the morning. So I will have my coffee or aforementioned ketone drink and go walk my dog as a warm up and then do a 20 min session on my exercise bike followed by some light weight lifting. I walk my dog everyday, but I combine that with the rest of the routine 3-5 times a week. 

I do feel that one should be able to indulge once in a while. I just feel life is too short to pass up on something you might really want or miss. With that said, I try to be very selective on which occasions I allow that to happen because there have been times it took me more than a few days to get back on track.  I try to be mindful and ask myself if it’s worth it and a lot of times the answer is no and I’ve been able to pass up so many things I never thought I could by doing that. If the answer is yes, however,  I don’t let myself feel guilty about it afterwards. Most of the time I’m able to hop back on track the next day. 

Actually, my biggest mistake did not happen in the beginning because I jumped into it very prepared having done my research and was very strict with tracking and working out. My biggest mistake and resulting huge setback came at the beginning of the pandemic during lockdown. I came down with some mild nausea and stomach upset and thought some bread would help settle my stomach. My symptoms only lasted a day, but I made the mistake of letting myself get carried away with cravings since we were now having to stock up on foods to last the coming weeks.  There were now certain non-keto foods in the house that normally wouldn’t have been there. I was also stressed out due to the overall uncertainty of the situation so I convinced myself to “take a break”. That break lasted 2 months and I gained 20 lbs. All my hard work over the previous years had quickly gone down the drain. After having to buy larger sized clothing I swore I’d never go back to and seeing the effects on my body, skin, and hormones, I finally snapped out of it and restarted keto.  It took over 5 months to lose the extra weight, but I was proud of myself for not letting that 20 lbs turn into much more. 

What words of advice do you have for anyone who is trying to change their lives? My advice when it comes to any change in your life is to do your research and know your “why” and then commit fully. Don’t expect a quick fix. It’s important to start off on the right foot and set yourself up for success! I researched online, read books, followed Keto bloggers, and joined online support groups about the keto lifestyle before starting and I think that was a key to my success and why I’m still following the lifestyle 4 years later.

I am happy to connect on Instagram. @ifitsketoieato  

I am motivated and inspired by so many in the keto community so I hope to do the same for others.