As we are now well into the New Year, my heart is full of new hopes, and new dreams. I’m ready to make changes in my life that are better for my personal health and well being. One of the goals that I’ve set for myself is a 40 day Keto challenge, which I began on 1/7/19.
My hope is to treat my body with the respect it deserves, and part of that is shedding the unnecessary pounds that have been holding me back.
What is the Keto Diet?
The Keto diet is a low carb diet much like the Atkins, South Beach, and Paleo diets. But where it differs from normal diets, however, is that on a normal low carb diet the main macronutrient is protein. In the Keto diet, the focus is on fat. The idea is to force the liver into producing ketone bodies, which come from the fat stored in your body.
The only way for this process—called ketosis—to happen is to deplete your body of sugars. That means for the most part removing carbs, and since protein can slow down the ketosis process, protein as well. When you switch your calorie source to fat (as much as 90% of the calories you take in) you make sugar less available to your body.
It is harder for your body to burn calories from fat in comparison to calories from sugar, hastening weight loss. In a meta-analysis that examined 13 different studies, the Keto diet was found to be highly effective in weight loss, as compared to low fat diets within a control group.
Weight loss isn’t the only benefit this diet provides. Studies have also shown that the Keto diet is good for:
Reducing behavioral symptoms of autism
Reducing seizures in children with seizure disorders
May improve blood sugar levels of type 2 diabetes patients
Put all this together and you have a diet with powerful healing capabilities.
The Keto diet isn’t right for everyone however. Because the Keto diet requires your liver to work harder, it isn’t recommended for people who have liver problems. There is also a small increase in the chance of kidney stones, so if you are prone to them this diet may not be a good option.
As with any diet, ask your doctor before changing your diet and exercise routine.
How is it Working?
I’m currently 3 weeks into the Keto diet and feel amazing. I lost 7 lbs in the first two weeks, in combination with yoga and elliptical training 5+ days a week. So far I have had no cravings, more energy, and I sleep better at night.
Early on I decided to allow myself a “cheat day” once every 10 days, but I felt so sick after my last one that I feel reluctant to do so again. While I can’t promise myself that I won’t have something off the menu this next cheat day, the fact that I’m even considering skipping it is a pleasant surprise.
I know that the Keto diet is working for me, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it helps reshape my body, and give me the better health that I need.
© Monique Stephanie 