At the end of the year, I realized I had been so busy with being a Mom, wife, friend and employee that I had let myself go. I didn’t like how I felt or how I looked and decided I would go into the new year putting myself care first.
I found out about keto through a Paleo Facebook group and haven’t looked back. I started at almost 300 pounds and in 2 years have lost 145 pounds. After those 2 years, I started lifting weights to help with building muscle and loose skin. I started using Instagram as a way to keep a record of my progress and find other people who also are using Keto to change their lives.
I use Myfitnesspal to track my macros and keep me on track. Keto has had amazing results with my depression also. I don’t find myself having mood swings anymore. I don’t feel like I’m not in control of my own mind and body. I love that I am now a healthy example for my children and can run and play with them. Keto is truly a life saver for me.
1. What tactics did you employ to help you get to your goal? What did you find helped you get to your goals best?
For me it started as a way to lose weight. I set small goals for myself weekly instead of one big goal. It helped me to appreciate and notice that a pound was a pound. The first month I started slowly limiting my carbs.
Instead of a whole sandwich I did open face sandwiches, instead of a whole plate of pasta I did a spoon of pasta and a larger side salad. The second month I stopped all bread, pasta, sweets, soda. All of it.
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 stopped buying processed foods! I try to cook with fresh foods. Feed my body REAL food. I feel this is most important for me because it is sustainable and had made me realize the things I was putting in my body I had no clue what they were.
3. What is the best single piece of advice you can give to someone that is just starting out?
Set small realistic goals for YOU.
4. How do you feel your life is now that you’re at your goal?
Personally I know my life is so much better. I am actually living my life instead of just partaking in it. I have a great relationship with food. I eat to nourish my body, not because I’m bored, or depressed. I have mental clarity I have never had in my life.
I wake up with a ready for the day mindset vs being sluggish and lazy. All of my close friends tell me often how much I’ve changed and how happy they are for me.
5. What do you consider the biggest change in your day-to-day life?
Planning my meals. I know what I will be eating for my meals instead of just winging it or eating pizza for the 3rd time in a week.
6. What did you do to find support throughout your journey?
At first my friends or family really understood or supported keto. They saw me as starving myself because of instead of pizza I was having wings and a salad on pizza nights. So I turned to Facebook groups and instagram accounts. A lot of people were so helpful with advice and plateaus.
7. What do you currently do to manage your day-to-day diet?
Honestly I have gotten so used to what I enjoy eating on keto I just make up small meals and enjoy them. I am at a point where I don’t feel the need to log every meal and can enjoy outings with family and friends without researching what I can eat at that particular restaurant because I am comfortable with knowing what I have had there before.
8. What is your favorite keto recipe from www.ruled.me that’s become a staple?
Omg the Tomato Asigo Soup hands down is my favorite. I made it the first time last winter and it was better than any soup I’d ever had. I make it at least once a month in the colder months and put it in mason jars in the fridge for an easy grab and go meal.
9. If there is one thing that you could do differently during your journey, what would it be and why?
I would have realized earlier on that “cheat” meals shouldn’t be a reward for eating healthy.
