This is an unusual blogpost for me. I NEVER write about DIETS, but I find that as a hairstylist I am ALWAYS talking about them, so here it goes.
I've been watching from the sidelines as many of friends (both real life & social media) transform their lives and get HEALTHY. I was inspired by one post where my gf said: "Just start." Simple words, but hit me at the right time.
As a Mama to a daughter that requires physical assistance, I have felt more back aches + hip pains the last few months. As a hairstylist I have joint aches in my wrists and fingers. It's like it just hit me that I am NOT getting any younger and Finley isn't getting any lighter. I HAVE TO be healthy & STRONG for her and her future younger brother. (If you didn't already know, we are in the adoption process again!)
My husband, Josh, is a pretty heathy guy. He has always strayed away from Carbs and Sugar and works out at the gym regularly (insert eye roll, I know). I came home talking about this Keto diet I kept hearing about and he was all, "THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU!" Let me preface this by saying- I listen to and value my husband's words 100%, BUT I do, in-fact, need to hear things LIKE 3 TIMES in order for it to absorb into my crazy-mama brain. He then had me watch this.
Josh is a regular viewer of the Joe Rogan Podcast, if you're an avid reader of our blog then you might have deja vu- because Joe is also how we first came to research stem cells for Fin.
What peaked my interest most was, ALL OF THE PROVEN health benefits of this "diet" and interimittent fasting. I would love to get Fin on this one day- I believe it could be beneficial to her Cerebral Palsy, but Lord knows homegirl can't quit the cheese crackers cold turkey. (They are the Annie's ones though, so that makes me feel better. LOL.)
I wanna be transparent about this, because I have tried ALL THE "DIETS" & yoyo'd with the best of them. I got up to 160 pounds when I was grieving both my Dad and the news of our infertility. It was about a 30-pound gain. Food became my comfort (and wine, there was lots of wine.)
My wedding weight was 127lb. (I bet I got down to 124 on the honeymoon my in-laws gifted to us, lots of hiking and not so much eating- Hawaii is expensive and we were broke). I lost 20 pounds using the very unhealthy HCG regimen- I cried myself to sleep many nights from hunger + truly tortured myself. All that, and I remember STILL not being happy with my weight then. Don't we all struggle with this though?! I see these pictures and I would kill to look like that "pudgy", size-4 girl again!
I have set my mind to hit my goal weight of 125 lbs. Using good ol' "diet & exercise." I am 5'5 so I think it's realistic, but it SOUNDS NUTS to me. Let's be real, I would like to just step on the scale and SEE a 1 followed by a 2 again.
We started the oh-so trendy ketogenic diet on March 4th and I am LOVING IT. I wanted to FEEL better, the last few years I have struggled with acid in my stomach after meals & headaches every few days. I didn't realize this was a problem really, until the symptoms stopped. Now I feel great and am down 9 pounds. It's been 18 days and I have found a groove!
Since I started posting about the diet on my @prive_christina Instagram account, I have received so many of the same questions. I wanted to formulate a little "start up" checklist for those lost on where to begin. Hope this kicks you off so you can start ASAP!
SOME TIPS FOR STARTING KETO:
1. WATCH THIS:
2. GET YO BUTT TO THE GROCERY STORE.
Let google be your guide if you are questioning something. I use it every day. NOTE: the REALER the food, the better. HERE is a "BASIC FOOD RULES" list. OBVIOUSLY all the foods in existence are not listed, this is JUST A GUIDE. It's great for beginners. As you get to know your body and you dive more into keto- you'll find what works for you and what doesn't.
Here are some of my Typical WEEKLY Grocery LIST staples:
- Raw nuts
- avocados
- eggs
- bacon
- grass fed butter
- heavy whipping cream
- TONS of veggies. The greener the better.
- coconut oil
- ground beef/meat
- cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese
- cinnamon
- pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 less fat cream cheese
3. BUY KETO TEST STRIPS.
Ketones are produced when the body burns fat for energy or fuel. They are also produced when you lose weight or if there is not enough insulin to help your body use sugar for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the blood. Since the body is unable to use glucose for energy, it breaks down fat instead.
4. DOWNLOAD A KETO APP.
If you've watched the videos- you heard about MACROS.
Macronutrients are molecules that our bodies use to create energy for themselves – primarily fat, protein and carbs. They are found in all foods in varying amounts, measured in grams (g) on the nutrition labels.
- Fat provides 9 calories per gram
- Protein provides 4 calories per gram
- Carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram
This will help keep your MACROS on track.
and calories for weight loss.
5. BUY MCT Oil for your COFFEE.
We add two tablespoons to our coffee daily- it helps give you energy! My cousin even swears its helped her hair & skin! “MCTs” are medium-chain triglycerides, a form of saturated fatty acid that has numerous health benefits, ranging from improved cognitive function to better weight management. ... We now know that ideally MCT oils like coconut oil should actually be consumed every day.
Medium-chain fatty acids are capable of helping you:
- Maintain a healthy weight — since they both make you feel full
- Specifically reduce stored body fat — since they also raise your metabolic function
- Have more energy
- Think more clearly
- Experience better digestion
- Balance hormone levels
- Improve your mood
- Fight bacterial infection and viruses
- Absorb fat-soluble nutrients from various foods
WE LIKE THIS ONE:
6. GET READY TO FAST.
Part of what makes this process work is the fact that your body is now producing KETONES and burning your body fat as fuel. Intermittent fasting is crucial for experiencing all the benefits of a ketogenic diet. 14-16 hours in a fasting state is ideal. SO KETO COFFEE will keep you going! Once you're in ketosis, you will notice you're not as hungry. We try not to eat after 7pm and then we try not to eat our first meal until Noon.
7. Take Before Pics and Weigh Yourself.
I know this is hard, trust me. Let it motivate you though! TIP: Do It NAKED and the same time every morning after you pee :). If you have health conditions, consult with your doctor about beginning this lifestyle.
8. FOLLOW INSPIRATION ACCOUNTS.
MY FAVE
TRY THE CHEESECAKE!
Honestly, the best thing to do is, JUST START! You'll learn a lot as you go and figure out what your tolerance levels are. If you watch all of the videos in this post you won't have too many unanswered questions. I will definitely keep y'all updated on this HEALTH JOURNEY.
Hugs+Loves,
Christina