Here in Alberta, Canada, the snow has finally melted and the sun is shining longer and longer. Birds are breaking the silence of the cold winter days and the promise of spring is looming just around the corner. This year, the renewing energy of spring has hit me in a very different way. This year, I jump into Spring with a new sense of direction. A direction of growth and confidence that I had lacked for many years. You may be wondering at this point, what does this have to do with keto? Well if it hadn’t been that turning point 9 months ago today, I truly believe I wouldn’t be celebrating the change of seasons with such an incredibly positive attitude. Let me fill you in on a quick update of my journey and a few of the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
I really wish I knew about this way of eating A LOT sooner
My mind is baffled when it comes to what we’ve been taught about food or the lack of understanding the ways in which we are able fuel our bodies. In the last 9 months, I have come to so many realizations about food. By changing the main fuel for my body from glucose to fat, the benefits of mental clarity continue and my physical appearance has significantly changed. However, more importantly, I am just starting to uncover, from a professional stand point, that the root cause of most disease lies in insulin resistance, which is directly effected by our diet.
Free from binging and guilt free eating
I didn’t realize how I was completely imprisoned by previous eating habits. Constantly being governed by the extreme bouncing of blood sugars led to an array of devastatingly terrible binging and weight gain. Since going keto, I can actually feel my body’s needs. I eat when I’m hungry, and don’t if I’m not. I don’t and have never restricted my caloric intake, I have never forced myself to not eat and I have not once binged in the last 9 months. The freedom I have found with having a trusting relationship with food has spilled over into all facets of my life. My energy is always constant, no ups and downs of blood sugars, and no out of this world cravings for sugar or carbs. For this reason alone, I will never go back to my previous eating style.
Anxiety has simply vanished, freeing me to focus on the things that matter most.
No one knows anxiety and low moods like me. I have always been that high achieving perfectionist, even if the goal was completely unattainable. Over years of living this way, the mental exhaustion and downfall of things not turning out how I had imagined started taking its toll in the form of anxiety, panic and self torture. There were times where I couldn’t leave the house last year. Not because of a phobia of going out in the world but because I didn’t know if I could keep my panic and anxieties in check if one more thing went awry. I can officially say, that despite having stressful situations arise or being faced with a disappointing outcome of an endeavor, I have not once felt the panic or anxiety that I had felt before going keto. Believe it or not, I can honestly say I have freed myself from the freezing effects of my anxiety simply by changing my diet.
Watch out Energizer Bunny, I might give you a run for your money!
Oh the energy! I cannot find words to quite explain how I feel. I am able to beautifully soar through my day without the multiple crashes and deep exhaustion I had once felt before I went keto. From the moment I wake, to the minute I lay my head on my pillow, the energy is abundant. By switching the main fuel of my body to fat, the energy experienced is so balanced. No ups or downs. No mid afternoon lull. It is clean and enduring. I am able to confidently take on new ventures, rise up to fulfill my duties as a mom and still have the energy to keep a good grasp of the household responsibilities. Before keto, I was seriously struggling to keep up. I was sick and tired of being so totally tired and exhausted and all the negative emotions attached to never feeling like I could finish anything. This new found energy has given me a much more positive outlook in life and has enabled me to let go of the endless guilt of not being able to get all the things I wanted done.
Help! I’m shrinking out of my clothes
From the beginning of my keto journey, I was focused on regaining energy and mental clarity and figured I could lose a few pounds just by feeling better and finding time to focus on my physical appearance. Well, let me share with you a little secret. By eating nearly 2200 calories per day, 80% of my calories coming from fat, 15% coming from protein and 5% from carb, it may be a bit shocking to hear my biggest complaint to my Mom and husband….”my clothes don’t fit!” My wardrobe is constantly going from fitting perfectly to hanging off of me in a not-so-nice baggy kind of way. Since the beginning of August 2016, I’ve roughly lost 80 lbs and a whopping 10-12 dress sizes. Shocked? I still catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and find myself seeing glimpses of my 16 year old body. I don’t necessarily have a weight goal and nor do I live by the numbers on the scale. I figure my body will find its happy weight naturally and be easily maintained.
I have found a way of eating that works for me. It’s the easiest change I’ve ever done and the benefits are so abundant that I really don’t think I’ll ever entertain another eating style. If you are wanting more information about keto or wondering if keto might be something you want to try, I’m always around. Feel free to contact me anytime.