As someone who has struggled with their weight for at least 15 years, I was getting sick and tired of myself and the way I looked. At my heaviest, I was 99 kgs and that was depressing as fuck.
Each day I would wear baggier and baggier clothes to hide my weight, and each day I would feel worse about myself.
I know how to lose weight, but the thought of doing it was daunting. The thought of sacrificing food in order to lose weight just wasn’t something I was mentally prepared to do.
But I knew I had to do it – I knew I couldn’t function any longer at my current weight. Not my body. Not my mind.
I’ve calorie counted before, I’ve bought meal plans, and I’ve done weight watchers. Each time I’ve lost weight and each time I’ve put it back on – and I was sick of it.
I even contemplated hypnotism at one point.
However I knew the only way something was going to change, was if I actually did it myself. I needed to learn to make better choices in my life.
I’d been hearing about Keto for many years (my sister does it!), and it wasn’t until a close friend started and lost 14 kgs that I suddenly thought “what do I have to lose”.
If you want to know more about Keto, I’ve written a “What Is Keto” blog.
It was hard at first, to trust that eating a specific way (without a plan) was actually going to work; but I stuck to it, so it did. I joined a special Facebook group called Keto for Beginners Australia and just absorbed as much information as possible.
I was actually starting to learn about food the proper way.
I was learning what I was eating, and how to read labels.
I tracked everything I ate using My Fitness Pal, and slowly but surely the weight started to come off and I started feeling better about myself.
I felt clearer in my head, I was sleeping better, and I was learning to love myself.
It’s now been 90 days, so 3 months, and I’ve lost 11kgs. I still have another 10kgs to go but I am beyond happy of where I am at. And proud of myself for sticking to it.
For me, Keto isn’t hard to do. I am already gluten free (due to Coeliac Disease) so cutting out carbs wasn’t too bad.
It took me about 4 weeks for my body to fully adjust to the Keto way of eating, but I’m glad I stuck it out.
I do have some tips for you if you’re thinking of starting Keto:
DO NOT BUY A MEAL PLAN:
When you buy a meal plan, you’re relying on someone else (who doesn’t know you) to tell you what to eat. You learn nothing about yourself, or about food, by doing this.
JOIN A FACEBOOK GROUP:
I joined the Keto For Beginners – Australia Facebook group and this group changed my life. If you join it, you MUST read the “Announcement” post. It’s long, it’s in depth, and it’s worth it reading and taking all of the information in. I use this group daily to get the answers to any questions I have.
DON’T GET SCARED OF MACROS:
It can be overwhelming when you start, because you need to calculate how many carbs you can have, how much protein you can have, and how much fat you can have each day (as well as calories). Don’t freak out though – if you join that Facebook group I suggested above, they tell you EXACTLY how to do this. Follow the instructions.
TRACK YOUR FOOD:
Download an app like MyFitnessPal, or CalorieKing, or Carb Manager. TRACK YOUR FOOD. This is the only way to ensure you are eating enough during the day, and aren’t going over your calorie / carb / fat and protein allowance.
RESEARCH:
Google it all. Research what you’re doing and what to eat. Be an open book and learn as much as you can about this lifestyle change. Because it is something you will do for a very long time if you do it right – if you learn as much as you can, you will WANT to continue it.
TRUST YOURSELF:
Trust that you are able to do this. Trust that if you are eating at a calorie deficit (no matter what it is), you will lose weight.
If you have any questions feel free to ask me. I’m not an expert in any way, shape or form. I’m a Mum who has struggled with weight for a very long time and I feel like I’m finally getting a grasp of my issues.
To learn more about Keto, read my “What Is Keto” blog.
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