It’s so hard to believe that 2018 is done. So much as gone on in 2018. I started the year with gallbladder surgery. It was a much needed surgery. Almost immediately after surgery, I felt relief for the first time in months. Fast forward a few months…I dislocated my knee and that escalated into me needing knee surgery. Right before that surgery, I decided to switch to Weight Watchers. I figured that would be an easier diet to follow while recovering. After a short three month vacation on Weight Watchers, I decided to get back on Keto.

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Back on Keto

While I enjoyed the extra carbs on the Weight Watcher diet, it became abundantly clear that my body did not like the extra carbs. Sure I lost a little weight, but my hands felt swollen, my stomach felt bloated and that brain fog feeling I said goodbye to when I first started the Keto diet, was back. After eating WAY too many cookies at Thanksgiving, I started thinking about going back to the Keto diet. Everyone told me to wait until January 1st. Figured it would be easier for me to get through the holidays, but I couldn’t wait that long. About one week before Christmas, I was back on Keto.

The first time around on Keto, I lost 90 lbs! My husband lost 125 lbs! Throughout the course of 2018 and my multiple surgeries, I did gain about 12 lbs back. Besides the weight loss and total body transformation, my blood work is now perfect and I am no longer on any daily medications. Best of all, in 2018, I got to update my drivers license picture!

How to Get Started

First things first, you need to understand what the Keto diet actually is. In a nutshell, with the Keto diet, you focus on your macros (fat, protein and carbs). You eat a higher fat, moderate protein, low carb diet. Instead of your body relying on carbs to fuel it, you switch to burning fat. Figuring out your appropriate macros for you is super easy. I really like the “Keto calculator” from Ruled.Me. If you are unsure what your body fat percentage is and you do not have a caliper, then Ruled.Me has a link to comparison pictures for you to quickly figure out your body fat percentage.

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Once you have your macros figured out, you need to use an app to track everything. The first time around, I used My Fitness Pal. However, I was finding that things were not scanning in correctly or the things people entered into the app were not always accurate. Now I use an app called Carb Manager. It is available both on Android and iOS. I like the look and functionality of the Carb Manager app. The night thing is, unlike My Fitness Pal, you really don’t need the premium version of the app to be successful with it! Though, I will say, the premium version of Carb Manager has a lot of delicious recipes that I find very worth it!

Favorite Keto Recipes

I have to say, being back on Keto is making me remember how much I loved this lifestyle. Not only do I feel amazing (no bloating, no brain fog, etc), but the food is just delicious! Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Cheesy Jalapeno Stuffed Chicken Breast

Spicy Sausage Egg Muffins

The Best Pot Roast Recipe EVER!

Bacon Wrapped Smokies

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Creamed Spinach

Chorizo Chicken Soup

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fat Bombs

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Fat Bombs

Easy Homemade Gummy Bears

My goal, now that I am back on Keto (besides losing the last remaining weight and being able to say I lost over 100 lbs) is to post a new Keto recipe a few times a month. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to get instant updates when I post a new recipe!

Keto Diet Tips

In the beginning, as you get into Ketosis (burning fat for energy instead of glucose), you may experience “Keto Flu”. Ride it out. Trust me. You will feel like crap and you may even want to gravitate to the “carb comfort foods”. Don’t do it! Drink lots of water, keep your electrolytes up, and know that this period will be over in a few days. Some things I do to help with Keto flu are:

• Drink Powerade Zero (isn’t 100% Keto, but it’s Keto enough for me)
• Drink chicken broth (the added sodium is necessary to help with those electrolyte imbalance)
• Add in a Magnesium Supplement

Once you’ve been on the Keto diet for a couple weeks, you will notice something amazing. You no longer crave foods. It takes a bit longer for the psychological part to pass. You know, that part where you think you need something, but you really don’t. It could be something as simple as you are watching a show and you always have XYZ while you watch that show. It’s not that you need that item or that you even want it, but your habit is that you do. Good news is, if you stick to the Keto diet, you will start to form new habits. Or…better yet…you will realize that food becomes a means to fuel your body and that hold that food has on you will no longer be there. It’s such an amazing feeling!

As always, if you have any questions, or you just want a little support, message me! I am happy to help, if I can!