As I got ready for a Christmas party in 2018 I had my meltdown. Nothing fit. I had been lying to myself that I wasn’t getting bigger and bigger. I had been working out but eating fast food and bad food and the working out wasn’t working. I was lying to myself.
From Christmas 2018 to New Years I did research online and found ruled.me and began my keto lifestyle change on January 4, 2019. I have lost 52 pounds, gone from a size 14 to a 4 and I feel amazing. I’m in the best shape of my life thanks to my personal trainer and thanks to keto. I haven’t had a cheat day yet and don’t plan on it. It’s not worth giving up how great I feel and how keto has changed my life.
1. What tactics did you employ to help you get to your goal? What did you find helped you get to your goals best?
Tactics: pictures and measurements. My husband advised as well as lots of online reading told me to take pictures and measurements. I didn’t at first think it would make a difference. But on those days/weeks when the scale wasn’t moving and I wanted to give up, I would look at my file of measurements on my phone or my monthly progress pictures and realize I was making progress.
That non-scale victory here and there was very motivating. I had never done progress measurements and pictures on other diets. And when I had scale stalls or upticks I’d quit. Not this time. It was motivating to have a visual.
2. What is the most impactful change you’ve made to your diet and why do you feel it’s been the most important?
I went head first from day 1. I stopped cold turkey on bread pasta soda and sweets. Not letting myself have just a taste for fear of a backslide. I went full speed ahead. If I really wanted weight loss and health this time I had to fully commit. So I have not had a piece of bread, a cracker, a bite of pasta etc since January 4, 2019. And, I don’t miss it. I don’t miss the bloated feeling after eating those items. I filled my plate with other things. And the high-fat items filled me up. I wasn’t hungry.
3. What is the best single piece of advice you can give to someone that is just starting out?
PATIENCE. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. They don’t declare a marathon winner at mile 5. They wait until the full 26.2. You have to be patient. Patient with the scale, patient with your body. It’s a lifestyle change. I’m 43 years old. I had 42 years of habits. It takes time to break them.
4. How do you feel your life is now that you’re at your goal?
I’m so much happier. I feel so much better. I’m more confident. I don’t dread getting dressed every day. I have a whole new wardrobe and I love to shop now. I used to HATE shopping. My family notices I have more energy and that I’m happier and more confident.
5. What do you consider the biggest change in your day-to-day life?
The biggest change: I don’t plan my day around what I’m eating next. I don’t have a food focus anymore. I eat to live as opposed to live to eat. I plan my day around a workout. It’s a complete change in my ideology.
6. What did you do to find support throughout your journey?
My husband. He was my rock. He was there every single day to be a cheerleader. I couldn’t have done it without him. Anytime I’d mention a craving (rarely probably) he’d always say “it wasn’t that good. It’s not worth it. Look at you. Look how far you’ve come. You can do it”
Also: your Instagram at ruled.me and other keto Instagrams with people’s stories and pictures. Highly motivating.
7. What do you currently do to manage your day-to-day diet?
I use my fitness pal and a Fitbit. I weigh and measure most everything I eat. I did 100% when I first started and now know portion control by sight and don’t have to weight and measure as much. But I use those apps religiously.
8. What is your favorite keto recipe from www.ruled.me that’s become a staple?
I LOVE the buffalo chicken soup. It’s a staple for me. I make that when I know family menus aren’t going to be keto-friendly and I LOVE buffalo chicken and this soup is perfect. So I make it a lot. It’s been a staple for me for a year now. I could make it with my eyes closed.
9. If there is one thing that you could do differently during your journey, what would it be and why?
One thing differently: I would have more outwardly shared my journey. I don’t post about it on social media and I don’t write about it. In hindsight, other people having shared is how I got through the year. It changed my life. I could have done that for someone else.
