I was a size 22 and I broke my ankle walking… you would think that would be enough to wake me up, but it wasn’t. I was in a rush one morning and went to walk down some deep steps at home made from rock and went straight down to the bottom. I kept falling over doing basic activities. I am also a preprimary teacher and I spend most of my day on the floor with my students. I couldn’t get up without pulling myself up. It was exhausting. I needed something to change.
I had tried every diet under the sun and I was always hungry on all of them until keto! I jumped right into the keto way of eating. I was always a huge carb eater, and that included bread, pasta, cereals, grains and especially sugar. The first two weeks were difficult, like a junkie withdrawing from her drug of choice. I had vivid dreams where I felt like I was floating above my bed, going to the toilet was a different experience, and no one could even tell I was losing weight because I had so much to lose.
I look at it more scientifically than ever before. It was difficult to get into ketosis so I didn’t want to come out of it. That was my main goal, staying under 20g of carbs and staying in ketosis. It worked. I am now a size 12-14 and 45 kg lighter. I’ve been doing keto for two years now and I haven’t looked back. I’ve got a wonderful new partner, I’m active and I don’t fall down anymore.
1. What tactics did you employ to help you get to your goal? What did you find helped you get to your goals best?
I read everything I can for knowledge on the keto subject. I read other people’s successes, I listen to podcasts, YouTube, I read books, and I joined support groups, though I didn’t always listen to their advice because I never took cheat days. I don’t believe I can ever do them, as I know myself.
I haven’t reached my goal yet! I’m still a work in progress. In fact I don’t think we ever really reach our goal. I say that because health should be our goal, and when I have said to myself that I have reached my goal, in the past I allowed bad habits to creep back in and lose what I’ve been working so hard to get. When I say to people no, sorry, I can’t eat that, I say I’m keto. I consider it like I’m saying I’m vegetarian or vegan.
2. What is the most impactful change you’ve made to your diet and why do you feel it’s been the most important?
Losing sugar from my diet has been huge. I think I was completely addicted to sugar. I never had an off button for hunger. My taste buds have changed so much, and what I used to think tasted terrible now tastes amazing. For instance, I’ve gone from Moscato wine to cab sav! When I make keto treats, sometimes non keto friends try them and they don’t think they are sweet enough, or they don’t like the taste, whereas I love them and don’t understand what they are talking about. I love to make keto chocolate cake and cheesecake sometimes for special occasions, and if no one wants to eat it I’m happy because there is more for me for later.
3. What is the best single piece of advice you can give to someone that is just starting out?
Track your food, track your food, track your food! When I stop losing weight it’s because I’m not tracking my food. I tracked my food from day one for over a year and made sure I read everything I could to feel empowered about this way of eating. There is so much information out there now about keto, so you have to sift through it. Also, don’t believe in health bars or magic potions. All you need is real food!
4. How do you feel your life is now that you’re at your goal?
My life has completely changed, which was a massive part of my goal. I used food as a crutch as I was in a relationship that didn’t satisfy so many of my needs, so I ate instead. When I finally ended the relationship it took a long time to be ready to fix myself, as I felt unworthy of love. So I sat on my couch for a year waiting to be confident enough to start dating. Not long after, I met an amazing man who makes me feel so special every day. He lives a very different lifestyle to mine, which involves eating out a lot and very fine dining too! He is so supportive though, and has taught me not to be afraid to ask for things that I need, like cream in my coffee, or can I please have salad instead of potato with my steak.
5. What do you consider the biggest change in your day-to-day life?
My biggest change would be takeaway food. I definitely cook more. I have found some options I can eat in takeaway, but generally I can make them myself. I go through drive-thrus all the time though, as I have a 14 year old and a 12 year old and have to cook carb based meals for them all the time, and I have a fridge and pantry full of food they eat but I don’t even see as being an option for me. Because I’m keto! So I definitely cook more, but I’m a basic cook and never really do anything overly special. I’m happy with meat and salad. Also, I eat a lot of eggs!
6. What did you do to find support throughout your journey?
My support has come from family and friends joining in. Two of my best friends started the journey with me… they are not as strict as I am, but they mostly make keto choices for their everyday lives now. So cheese platters always have seed crackers on them now with our red wine.
7. What do you currently do to manage your day-to-day diet?
Mostly I make sure my fridge is stocked with food I can eat. I always have eggs, avocado, salad, cream, bacon, frozen berries, almond meal, cheese and cream cheese in my fridge daily. I still look up recipes when I get bored. I try not to imitate food too much as I get disappointed when they don’t taste the same as before, but the more my taste buds are used to keto food, the easier it is to try different recipes and be successful. One thing I love to make is keto bagels, it makes me feel like I’m having something similar to bread. I don’t make them all the time though, as I’m not great with portion control because they are so yummy when they come out of the oven.
8. What is your favorite keto recipe from www.ruled.me that’s become a staple?
I love to eat pepperoni pizza. It makes me feel like I can eat what others are eating. We have pizza nights sometimes and I can join in…
9. If there is one thing that you could do differently during your journey, what would it be and why?
Hmmm, I’m not sure, as I’m so happy with my results so far and encourage anyone to join in. I guess I would have had the words at the beginning to explain to people what it means to be in ketosis and why fat is not bad for you. I got a lot of funny looks when I tried to explain it to them, but the proof is in the pudding…
