The number one question we are asked about our weight loss and our commitment to the keto lifestyle is, “How do I get started?” This is a five part series that answers that question. Part 1 is about finding your motivation. For Bill and I, the motivation was his health. He was told that he needed to do keto or face the rest of his life (shortened life) with medical issues. Part 2 talks about the research we did to discover how we wanted to get started on keto and Part 3 is about how you can prepare for going on keto. Now, Part 4 is about getting started and actually doing it. Now, the series finale, Part 5, is about the benefits of keto you can expect to enjoy.
The Benefits of Keto In the First Few Weeks
Once you get through the first few weeks, your withdrawal from carbs and sugar will subside and you will start feeling the benefits of being in ketosis. The number one benefit to me was having energy again. When you are in ketosis, your body burns fat at a pretty regular pace. You don’t experience the highs and lows of blood sugar, because your body is not producing much insulin.
It’s just a slow, consistent burn. I used to feel the 2:30 slump in a big way. I’d be at work, sitting at my desk, and feel like I was going to drift off to sleep if I didn’t get up and walk around. I don’t feel that way anymore. Now, I get up and walk around because I have the energy to do so!
Weight Loss Is A Thing
I’d be lying if I said that the weight loss wasn’t a benefit. I think it’s important to love your body for what it is and what it does for you. However, it is also nice to buy size medium clothes and not worry about whether I’m going to fit into a chair. What was a big learning for me was to keep track of my measurements, not my weight. My weight is lower than it has been since I was a teenager, and that’s great. But it fluctuates with things like hormone levels.
The problem with being stuck on weight as a measurement of success is that if it goes up, you feel like you are failing. My weight started to creep back up and I was a mess! Was I doing something wrong? What was happening? Was I going to be back to 240 pounds before I knew it? No, I was just starting to experience menopause symptoms.
My hormones went a bit haywire, and now things have evened out again. I’m still up from what I was 6 months ago, but I’m still feeling good and my clothes still fit. I needed to chill out and let my body do what it needed to do.
My Favourite Benefits of Keto
One of my favourite benefits is that you continue to enjoy good food. Is there anything better than fresh vegetables cooked and then slathered with butter? Maybe those same vegetables slathered in cheese sauce. The food tastes so good because fat equals flavour.
Who needs sugar when you can eat fat? I’ve never understood people who say that keto is not sustainable because it’s too restrictive. Have they tried our recipes? Obviously not!
So, once you feel all the benefits, you will know why we consider this a lifestyle, not a diet. We feel good as our body uses the anti-inflammatory agents in ketones to heal itself. We have the energy to live each day to the fullest. And, we look good while we do it.
There is one catch to living a life of keto. You’ll get lots of questions. “How did you do it?” “How do you feel?” “Is it safe?” “Is it healthy?” “You get to eat that?!?” Be patient and appreciate the fact that they want to be doing what you are doing. Maybe you can help them find their motivation and help them become healthy too.
Wendy
