#LiterallyNoIdea About the "Keto" Thing

As I am writing this blog, I am watching the Series of Unfortunate Events, eating my Beef Cup Noodles (that you're not supposed to microwave?! #literallynoidea), and sipping my iced Americano with light cream. I look around my room and I see a can of Almond Roca from Christmas, a bag of Reese's from Valentine's Day and chocolates I received as a gift from one of my dancers. There's a beer bottle in the trash can and a bottle opener on my desk. Several coffee cups decorate the counter space around my room and my "Wine o'clock" canvas is hanging by my window.

I just got back from taking a friend home after she had a short procedure done. On the way to her house, she told me she's lost about 15 lbs in 2.5 weeks; when I asked her what she was doing, she just said, "Keto!"

This a word I've heard several times in the past year. Friends on Facebook rave about it. Several of the direct sales companies like itworks and Thrive talk about it with use of their products. There are hundreds if not thousands of results if you search for "keto" on Facebook; support groups, info pages, hashtags, you name it. With something with so much buzz, I think naturally people start to ask questions.

I posted on Facebook and asked my friends how many of them are on the keto diet; out of the 30 people who commented or messaged me, 8 people are on it now, 10 know someone on the diet, 2 tried it but didn't like it and 2 aren't on it but like the idea. Results people shared with me included they noticed more energy, losing anywhere from 15 to 40 pounds, losing the dreaded "back fat," and dropping from a size 26 to a size 16 in a little over a year! Not to mention, Vinny from #JerseyShore is now being called the #ketoguido and he looks great and so much happier! And hey, if an Italian can cut carbs, anybody can. P.S. Follow @ketoguido on Instagram!

So, it's popular. But what is it? I think this infographic from www.myketokitchen.com sums it up well!

Every time someone has tried to sell me on this diet, the convo usually goes something like this: "If you want to lose weight, you should do keto! I can have all the bacon and butter I want and cut all my carbs. I lose weight like crazy!" After looking into all the info available about keto today, that's not necessarily true.

According to this article in Kettle & Fire, the way that the ketogenic diet works (called "keto" for short) is you actually train your body to run off of fats instead of carbs and glucose by cutting your carb intake and sending your body into what is called "ketosis," a natural metabolic state that the body enters when it is burning fat for energy instead of the sugars we usually fuel our bodies with. After looking into several sources, generally the rule of thumb is your diet should consist of 5% carbs, 25% proteins, and 70% fats. With that said, it is good to note there are "good" and "bad" fats; for example, you wouldn't want to fill your fat count for the day with cupcakes, bread, or crackers. Instead, you can fill it with "keto-approved" fats, like avocados, nuts or bacon (just not a pound of it at a time). So, just like everything else in life: you can't just have it all... all the time.

I'm really curious to see what it's like, ketosis that is. Most people have said they felt super groggy, grumpy even, the first couple weeks as their body is adjusting to the new lifestyle which totally makes sense. Many people have mentioned the "keto flu" as well; basically, feel like crap and even may experience a little nausea. But after this phase passes, your bloating disappears and you have crazy amounts of energy and weight loss out the ying yang.

So! Here goes nothing. I'm going to give it a try. I am going to vlog each day (starting tomorrow with shopping) and document each step of my journey. I plan on doing this for two weeks to track my progress and upload the finished vlog with my opinions/things I've learned/how I feel/progress on April 27. I'm not quite comfortable enough to share my weight at this point but I will keep track of pounds lost.

Also, side note rant: I have tried a few different diets but I was at a different point in my life. Each time I start a diet, I'm usually at a low in my life: a breakup, bad day when I just can't seem to win, rude people getting to me, etc. I figure I can start a diet/workout plan/new life/sacrifice to the gods to get this brand new life because I so desperately need it. For some, I'm sure that motivates you to continue to get better, to grow as a person. For me? It just makes me really pick myself apart. "I hate this part of my body." "I've lost 10 pounds but if I lose 10 more, I'll be happy." "He doesn't like me because I'm not 140 pounds." This negative energy tends to flow through me the entire time I'm on a diet or new workout plan. I refuse to revert back to my old ways. I refuse to tear myself down to bring myself up. I refuse to hate myself because I spent too many years doing it already.

This go-round I am going to focus on the feeling inside, the healthy life that will be coming out of this change (assuming I stick with it). I'm not doing it strictly to lose weight. Keto has several other health benefits, including improving heart health, improving your cognitive... whatever, brain power #literallynoidea, and gives you more energy. I'm excited to do this for future me today; not because I want to see any less of a person staring back at me in the mirror. I love me. I love who I am and a number on the scale doesn't define that. #rantover

So, here's to trying keto to go from #literallynoidea to #kindasomeidea for your beautiful people.

Cheers!

Oh. P.S. No alcohol on keto (except clear liquor in moderation). #goodbyecraftbeer :(