Down 80 lbs since discovering keto and ruled.me. Keto helped me go from a life of being obese to finally hitting the “normal” category for weight. I literally am the weight I was in 5th grade. FIFTH! I’ve been overweight my entire life!
Not only have I lost the weight, but I have found huge relief from joint issues and burning pain that used to be my morning norm. No longer!
I was able to sustain a lower-carb diet all through my last and final pregnancy and it was the easiest pregnancy ever. I was walking miles a day until the day I gave birth. I have so much energy! And feel like now I can be the mom my kids need me to be and can also set a great example of health for them as well.
Thank you, Ruled.me for being my go-to for all things keto.
1. What tactics did you employ to help you get to your goal? What did you find helped you get to your goals best?
I started slow. The first thing I did was cut out all gluten, grains, and sugars. And armed with a new meal plan, just made meals along those lines. No counting calories, carbs or macros – just focused on making meals that cut out the bad stuff. As I got that part of the lifestyle down, I began to count carbs and get a little more exact, and then finally figured out my macros and had new targets to aim for.
For me, this eased me into the lifestyle without all the pressures early on of getting it ‘just right’. Before I started counting anything, I lost my first 25lbs. And when I did make the switch to full-on keto, I didn’t experience any of the keto-flu type symptoms.
I didn’t exercise initially, either. When I started getting more energy, the exercise came naturally. I wanted to be out and about, taking nice long walks, and then later eased into running. Only because I FELT SO GOOD. It was just another natural step in the journey.
2. What is the most impactful change you’ve made to your diet and why do you feel it’s been the most important?
Cutting gluten. The more I research, the more I realize it’s just not good for anyone. I was really moved by reading “Wheat Belly” and the effects of gluten on the body. For the inflammation in my joints and the symptoms I was experiencing, I’m convinced gluten is at the heart of most of it.
3. What is the best single piece of advice you can give to someone that is just starting out?
You don’t have to do it all at once! It is totally okay to ease into it. Change one thing, and go from there.
4. How do you feel your life is now that you’re at your goal?
I have more energy than I could have imagined. I love myself. I love how I look and don’t feel at all vain acknowledging that! I am in the best shape of my life and I’m literally the size I would have been in elementary school.
5. What do you consider the biggest change in your day-to-day life?
Self-love.
6. What did you do to find support throughout your journey?
Being a part of different health communities has been crucial – friends in the Lose It App to keep me accountable to logging my food, my instafam in Instagram all on the same keto journey, the different keto groups in Facebook, and co-workers in my office that are doing keto with me. I’m also apart of a spiritual group called “Take Back Your Temple” which has been a huge part of my journey – addressing the emotional reasons we turn to food in the first place, techniques to address night time munchies, etc. This group has given me inner strength to not turn back to my lifetime of terrible eating patterns.
7. What do you currently do to manage your day-to-day diet?
I still log my food every single day. I’m at 676 days of logging. I check into Instagram once a day. And I am constantly reading research and books on the topic of keto and low carb so that it’s a fresh topic in my mind.
8. What is your favorite keto recipe from www.ruled.me that’s become a staple?
Nacho Chicken Casserole – hands down!! We make this all the time!
9. If there is one thing that you could do differently during your journey, what would it be and why?
I wouldn’t change a thing. I love how it all played out in a nice easy transition.
