Keto: Just Say No

The noun form of the word "diet" has two meanings:

1. 1.

   the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.
2. 2.

   a special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons.
3. 
   

More often that not, when we hear the term we often are referring to the latter of the two. Over the years on my health living journey, I have researched or even tried various "diets" (definition #2). The one diet that really got me second guessing all of the information from the internet and what "they" say.  (Who are the elusive "they" anyhow?) After a lot of research and prompting from friends, I tried keto before my wedding last year. After a stint of hardcore keto (bullet proof coffee, sub 20 g of carbs a day, moderate protein, high fat, and even going so far as to log my vitamins) and peeing on a lot of keto sticks, I stepped on the scale. 

Within 1 month I had gained 5 lb. Aside from the weight gain, through out the month of keto I physically felt terrible. My reflux had returned, after it had subsided in 2012 after I nixed gluten from my diet (definition #1 :) ). I didn't feel healthy. You know that feeling when you eat something really greasy and that grease might as well be seeping out of your pores? Yeah, that's how I constantly felt. That's the best way to describe it!

I then decided to step back and evaluate popular fad diets. Aside from my experience with keto, I firmly believe keto is a fad diet with major long term health ramifications. How can aiming to eat 150g of fat a day be healthy? How can one think that eating blueberries will make them fat?

God created foods such as apples, blueberries, sweet potatoes, chicken, etc all for our nourishment as human beings. We often times act as though our brains know more than our bodies - our bodies that were designed so intricately to function in ways that our brains still can't even begin to understand. So, how arrogant or foolish are we to think that our bodies don't know anything and we need to trick them?

Your body was designed to take in food for sustenance and to function properly. As you step away from "diets" (definition #2), you should start to listen to the needs, signals, hunger, etc from your body. It will tell you when you need to eat and what you need to eat. Now, if your mouth is wanting twinkies every meal, then that is not nourishment. You can choose wise foods, while not following unhealthy diets. 

Body Image, Tips, and a giveaway!

If you're reading this, then don't expect me to have some incredible insight in to the topic of body image. This post is simply my rambling thoughts - fueled by some green tea and coffee. Clearly my caffeine is caffeinated today. :)

One of my lifelong friends has joined me on my fitness journey, and with that have come some very thoughtful conversations about fitness and all that it entails. First, I have to tell you that I've been friends with this girl since 6th grade! I'm 30-something, so that is a LONG time! We help keep each other accountable, helping each other reach our goals. One conversation the other day got my wheels turning. We were talking about body image and how it affects the way we think. I think pretty much everyone has had to deal with body image, as no one is perfect. I've noticed with myself that even when the scale goes down, the mirror and my thoughts don't see it. I'm not saying I have "body dis morphia" or anything like that. I am saying that it's simply hard to break the "fat girl" mindset. I'm sorry if that's a blunt term for it, but it's just the truth. In my head, I'm still a girl walking around in a size 12. When in all actuality, I'm just a girl walking around in a size 6.  I think it takes a lot of time for the mind to catch up with what the physical body does with respect to size and weight. For much of my life I was overweight, so I think it became ingrained in me. It was just a part of who I am, sadly. It will take time to truly see myself the way I am, the way God made me, and to break the mold of what has been ingrained in me.

I don't think that weight on the scale is a great judge or indicator of our health/image, as this can vary HUGELY! Depending on water weight, what's in your stomach,  and even whether you've gone to the bathroom or not can all be reflected during your weigh-in. It can be disheartening when you suddenly see a weight "gain." Always remember that you'd have to consume an extra 3,500 calories to gain a pound. It is unlikely that the bag of popcorn you had the movies last night literally made you gain 2 pounds (which would be 7000 calories!). It is more likely that the excess sodium in that popcorn is making you hold on to extra water.

All in all, as long as you are consistent with your nutrition and exercising regularly then you have NOTHING to worry about. You can't compare your progress to someone else. Comparison only hurts - either you or someone else. When you compare yourself, you're either making you feel less than someone else, or making yourself feel better than another person for their shortcomings. It's never good! Focus on yourself, your body, your health, your nutrition, and your fitness. You WILL get to your goal. Just be patient with your body. It takes a time to undo the effects of unhealthy habits and diet. Your body will adjust to your new lifestyle. Just love your body

Helpful tips
I am a fan of consistent weigh-ins for accountability-sake. For me, it helps me be more in-tuned with my body and makes me see how different foods affect me. Also, it's good to keep me in check so I don't stray. I weigh-in almost daily. Some people prefer a weekly weigh-in, to see the bigger losses, while others prefer daily.

I am also a fan of taking progress pics. It's hard to really see your own progress, since weight loss isn't overnight! It takes time, and the small changes can be harder to notice. I try to take progress pics every 30 days or so. That has been such a huge help for me so I can compare side-by-side over the past month or more. It really helps me see my progress and how my body  is changing! It really helps instill that since of pride in all of my hard work!

I have also learned to embrace measuring. I haven't measured much in the past, as I am a perfectionist and I worry I'm "doing it wrong." But, honestly it helps a lot! I'm not only able to see my own progress with my fitness journey, but I can also have a little bit of affirmation trying to ascertain what size I wear thanks to those little "sizing guides." Considering sizing can differ between brands, it's nice to get that "hey, I really do wear this!" It makes my heart smile. :)


Giveaway!

Now, for the giveaway. This isn't one sponsored by me, but it's from the AWESOME Jane.com. There are some awesome prizes and a lot of chances to win. There are three prizes - 1 bike, 1 $1000 gift card for amazon, and 1 $1000 gift card to Sephora. Awesome, right! You can enter here using this link.