Keto Dieting

Story by Julie Archer • Photos by Michelle Rojano

Following a strict diet can be difficult and it requires a lot of dedication. This is about more than weight loss, it is about putting good things into your body. I am not a professional dietitian in any way, this is just my personal journey. If you would like more updates about my experience follow @ julie_archer on instagram. 


What is Keto?
   The Ketogenic Diet has become a popular lifestyle in the U.S. To explain what keto means in the simplest way, it is a diet that is high in fats and low in carbohydrates. The average person on a keto diet will have 70 percent of their calories come from fat, 25 percent come from protein and only 5 percent come from carbohydrates. The name for calculating these is called macros.
   The Ketogenic Diet gets its name because of the science behind the diet. Our bodies naturally burn their energy through carbohydrates. If a body is not receiving enough carbs, it goes into a state called “ketosis,” meaning that the body is burning fat as its main source of energy. This is why the diet is effective for weight loss. 
   Why I Chose This Diet
   I have been researching this diet for some time now, but I did not want to do it alone. There are people who are loving this lifestyle choice and they love the effectiveness of the diet. My parents decided they were going to do 60 days of keto, so I decided to join them. People who have been on this diet are satisfied with the results that they have. Kaylee Brogan has been on Keto for several months.
   “Keto has been an easy and effective eating style to follow. It’s the tastiest diet I’ve ever been on and I am seeing great results,” she said. My Body Struggles
   There are a lot of reasons I decided to go on this diet. My weight has been a constant struggle for me ever since I was young. I recently found out I have thyroid issues and a hormone imbalance, which can contribute to weight gain. These two main reasons are what pushed me over the edge to start taking my diet seriously and start making lifestyle changes.
My New Routine
   I am eating three meals a day and still learning about the amount of food I should be eating. During my first two days of eating keto, I was not getting enough food without even realizing it. I was always hungry. On my third day, I started adding more food to my meals, while still sticking to my proper calorie count and macros, and I felt so much better. My fullness lasts a lot longer and the diet is getting easier the longer I do it.
How I Keep Track
   I use the Keto app on my iPhone and it helps me keep track of what I am putting into my body. I can put in all of the food that I eat and it helps me keep track of my macros. I do not think I would be able to keep track of what I eat in a day without the app.
 A Learning Experience
   I know now I am going to learn something new every day. It has been a process of listening to my body and figuring out what it needs. I am not an expert. I catch myself looking up things about the diet several times a day, even though I did a lot of research prior to starting it.
Want to Try It?
   If anyone is interested in beginning  this diet, I recommend doing a lot of prior research. Be prepared; this is not easy. Be sure to meal prep because this diet requires more cooking and it gets tiring. 
   For more information, visit ketohq.com.