Why Being on a Diet Isn’t Always About Sacrificing Food You Love
Every year, a new diet fad crops up and if you are like most of us, you rush to the local bookstore to get your copy of that New York Times Bestselling Book. Unfortunately, most of those diets are just that, fads. They come, and they go like the wind. However, there is one diet which has actually been around since time immemorial, and that is the keto diet.
Believe it or not, our earliest ancestors lived on the keto diet and thrived. So then, what is the keto diet and how does it let us eat ‘most’ of the foods we love without sacrificing that pleasurable sensation of biting into an absolutely delicious piece of pork roast? There are even some fast food options so that you don’t need to forego a visit with friends to Mickey D’s or Burger King!
The Basics of the Keto Diet
While there’s more to it than just this, it’s really all about giving up carbs, but mind you, not all carbs! Mostly, you will not be eating potatoes, breads, grains, sugar and some fruits. There are fruits you can eat which have a low glycemic impact such as blackberries and raspberries. You will not be eating sugar but there are sweeteners you can use such as stevia and monk fruit which are notoriously low-carb.
However, it doesn’t stop there. The whole purpose of the keto diet is to put your body into ketosis by limiting yourself in the beginning to 35 grams a day. From there you can work your way up by about 5 grams of carbs at a time but always knowing you should be using your ketone meter. If you are still in ketosis daily, you are doing well.
Protein Bars: Tasty Treats That Can Help with Weight Loss
Supplements are great for supporting the keto diet, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to watch what you eat. Maintaining a healthy diet, including getting enough protein, can be challenging, especially if you are busy and on the go. Protein bars can be a great option, just make sure you choose healthy ones with high amounts of healthy fats added. You can find a good list of keto-friendly protein bars over at Human Food Bar.
When Eating Out
Sometimes you are just dying for a charbroiled Burger King bacon cheeseburger. That isn’t going to be a problem as long as you order it without the bun and condiments. You may not be old enough to remember the iconic BK commercial, but their original slogan was “Have it your way,” meaning you could “hold the pickle, hold the lettuces, special orders won’t upset us.” And, so the jingle went.
The same holds true for McDonald’s however, as long as you stay away from the bun and ketchup, you’ll be doing well. Also, you cannot have the French fries. Even so, if you do happen to sneak a tiny one off your friend’s value meal, you probably won’t send yourself out of ketosis, if you only sneak one!
Living in Ketosis Heaven
Unless you live primarily on carbs, this is one diet that isn’t all about sacrificing all the foods you love. No, you can’t have potatoes or other tubers, but you can have a nice tasty salad with Caesar or ranch dressing. You can eat all the butter you want, as long as it isn’t slathered on a thick slab of bread or a baked potato.
Well, maybe you won’t want to eat a pound of butter at a sitting, but the point is made. Stay away from refined sugars and a small list of foods that are high in sugar and you will be able to eat your way into ketosis heaven. See, dieting isn’t all that bad after all – is it?
