It's been awhile since I have posted and I had gotten out of the routine of writing, but it continually has been on my mind. Like when you get out any routine, it's not hard to get back started! I had even written topics on my phone for blog posts, but I think trying to figure my password and the location of my blog just felt like too much work. I know, sad, huh?! But I have finally gotten back to it, especially from the persuasion and support of my husband! He made it easy for me to get back to it! Okay, now that's out of the way, let's get to the topic I really want to talk about!
So for the past couple of months, I have been eating a Ketogenic Diet. Like everyone knows, whenever someone says "diet" it usually means "not for long." So I guess I would like to change it to Ketogenic eating :) I had learned about this way of eating through a colleague and was apprehensive at first. I was thinking here is "another diet." But I thought i would give it shot.
To sum up the ketogenic diet, basically your consumption of food revolves around MACROS: including mainly eating healthy fats, moderate protein, and very little carbohydrates. I looked up content online about lists of foods to eat, which I have bookmarked on my phone. I have checked out numerous ketogenic cookbooks which have given me ideas for meal options as well. There is even a cookbook for desserts that even my kids enjoy and they can be a tough crowd to please! For further education, I even read Dr. Mercola's book, "Fat for Fuel." While the biology and science was dry and over my head, the information about what to eat and why was very informative.
Another aspect that I learned about the ketogenic diet is intermittent fasting, which Dr. Mercola also talks about in the book. I learned of intermittent first through my husband, who had been eating once meal a day a number of years before. (Don't say I NEVER gave you props!) Dr. Mercola describes different ways to perform fasting, but what I have been able to do and what works for me is eating one meal a day, 5 days a week. Since you are eating more healthy fats, you stay fuller longer so I don't feel "hangry" during the day. I did though have to build up to that. I started out just eating lunch and dinner and then slowly incorporating just to eating dinner. As Dr. Mercola put it, "Don't eat less, eat less often!" Like with ANYTHING NEW, it can be hard at first, but overtime my body adjusted!
Since I have been on this new way of eating, I have lost weight, which I did notice pretty quickly into the process. My clothes fit better, which is nice since I don't feel like I have a muffin top anymore or as much! I have been sleeping better and have more energy including taking care of my two kids, being a loving wife, working full time, and starting a new business. With the intermittent fasting, I have saved time on meal preparation and able to spend money on quality of food including grass fed, pasture raised, organic food without feeling that I'm breaking the bank.
A few things that I had a epiphany about since this way of eating is that there so many diets out there. People say that you have to eat three meals a day and that you can't skip breakfast. Even the approved food pyramid says different things, but I say research it, try it and see if it works for you! So far this has worked for me! Not to say that I'm so strict about it! No way! Life is too short! There are a lot of people on this diet, that calculate and track their macros and make sure there in "ketosis," but I'm not that hard core. As long as I generally eat mostly fats, moderate proteins, and minimal carbohydrates and incorporate intermittent fasting during the week, I'm ALL GOOD! Do YOU!