Keto is more than a hype for me, it’s my favorite way of eating. I guess I’m not the only one who feels this way, because many people around the world are loving the Keto diet. Eating Keto can be a challenge though and it can seem like a lot to deal with. Honestly, it sometimes really is. It’s not some diet you follow for a short period, it’s a lifestyle! That means it’s going to take a while to get used to it and incorporate it into your life. That’s why I’m sharing my Keto tips for beginners to help you find your way, let’s go!
Lower your carbs in stages
My first tip is to lower your carb intake in stages. Most people on a ‘regular diet’ eat more carbs than needed, that’s why they’re often overweight. If you suddenly lower your carb intake to 20 to 50 grams of carbs per day, coming from 200 to 400 grams, you might experience some ‘withdrawals symptoms.’ And those can be very unpleasant and unnecessary. I personally started by tracking my carb intake on normal diet first. I used the free version of the My fitness pal app to do so.
This gave me the insight I needed, because I didn’t really understand where most of the unnecessary carbs in my diet came from. After tracking my normal diet for a week or two, I saw that I was around 300 to 400 grams of carbs per day. Yup, that’s a lot! And the carbs mostly came from foods I thought were healthy, but they really weren’t. In week three I started losing the unnecessary carbs and I brought my carb intake down to 100 grams per day. In week four I started with eating 20 to 50 grams of carbs per day, making the transition to Keto very easy. I really recommend this method to help your body and mindset ease into it.
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Don’t spend too much money on food and gadgets
I’m one of those people who thinks I need to buy a bunch of new products to get started. I couldn’t be more wrong! This is why one of my most important Keto tips for beginners is to not spend too much money on food. Especially when you’re just starting out. It’s a good idea to work with what you have and see if you like eating Keto style first. Besides, you don’t need supplements, shakes, oils and ketone sticks to successfully eat Keto style. Most of the time, those items are created to make someone else a lot of money.
Keto is all about eating less carbs, which means you’ll be buying less things you don’t really need. This is going to help you save money, which you can later invest in high quality ingredients if you want. You see, eating Keto means not eating out all the time. You’ll stop buying prepackaged food, snacks and candy. You will be cooking more yourself and most dishes will be pretty simple and easy. So don’t buy into the hype (too much), and just focus on getting your carbs and mindset right first.
Don’t chase the Ketosis state
Oh man, I can’t tell you how much the ‘I’m I in Ketosis yet!?’ comments bother me. Most people seem to think that eating Keto style is all about being in Ketosis. Or that being in Ketosis is the only way you can lose weight. It is not! Ketosis is the state your body gets in when your body switches from using carbs to using fat as fuel. And yes, that can feel super refreshing and good. But it’s also really hard to constantly be in Ketosis and in my opinion, it’s not the state you should strive to be in constantly.
You see, eating Keto style without being in Ketosis all the time, will help you lose weight regardless. Think about it: When you stop eating too many carbs, often coming from sugary foods and treats, you’ll lose weight anyway. People who are not on the Keto diet, but restrict calories or sugar, lose weight too. So, let’s not get it twisted! Yes, being in Ketosis can feel fantastic and it’s cool to experience. But Keto is not about being in Ketosis all the time. It’s a way of eating, a lifestyle if you will and it’s not a law. Eating Keto will help you lose weight and eat healthier anyway.
It’s a lifestyle, not a law
You often hear me say that Keto is a lifestyle, it’s not a law. Meaning that it doesn’t make sense to constantly stress yourself out when you eat more than 20 grams of carbs per day. Don’t worry about getting kicked out of Ketosis or getting fat after having a snack. It’s normal to crave a cookie, a snack or something with a lot of carbs. It’s okay to have a day in the week where you enjoy the foods you love, even if they’re not Keto proof. It’s all about balance and having a healthy mindset about food. That’s more important than following a diet!
The best way in my opinion, is to see the Keto diet as a lifestyle. Meaning it should be something that comes natural to you. It also means that you still can enjoy higher carb foods. I don’t think Keto should scare you or make you feel anxious about eating foods with more carbs. We live in a world where high carb foods are everywhere. You’re bound to eat those hamburgers and fries, or that delicious brownie. Do it and enjoy it! You can get back on Keto the next day and don’t worry, you won’t get fat or unhealthy overnight. You’re missing the point of a healthy way of eating, if you worry about whatever it is you eat all the time.
I hope my Keto tips for beginners helped you out in any way, shape or form. I have a lot more tips for the Keto diet on my blog, like my Keto grocery lists. I also have a three-day meal plan you can follow. My main point of my articles about Keto, is to make sure you don’t go overboard. It’s just a way of eating, it’s not a law. Find your own way within the Keto diet, listen to your body and make sure you ask your doctor for help if necessary.
Stay healthy,
Kaya-Quintana
P.S. Subscribe to my Youtube channel for more Keto tips and tricks.
