Starting a keto diet is not always easy, especially when you’re first starting out. There are so many things it can be difficult to keep up with everything. Many people quit because they felt overwhelmed by all of the things they needed to learn and understand. Don’t let this deter you though as following these top tips will make it easier to achieve your goals
Drink plenty of water, especially as you enter the ketogenic diet and you experience ‘keto flu.’ As your body transitions to a state of ketosis, it will likely feel dehydrated at times. Drinking plenty of water will help to keep you hydrated without making you feel bloated or weighed down.
Add salt. Too often salt gets a bad rap for other health issues, but your body requires a certain amount of salt to function properly. When your body is in ketosis, you’re going to lose a lot more salt when you go to the bathroom so make sure you supplement it properly or an electrolyte imbalance may occur.
Count your ketones. Of course, you’re going to want to keep track of just how far along the path of ketosis you are (so it helps to know your numbers). Ketone and blood-glucose sticks help keep track of where you are in the process – what more can we say? It just takes a few drops of blood from your fingertip and boom, you’re done! And the best part is they’re very practical and easy on the wallet.
Decreased stress will be beneficial to you in the long run. One of the health benefits it entails is that your body produces only what sugar it needs more efficiently. This will come in handy when looking to get yourself into ketosis, which essentially means having the body use fat rather than carbs as fuel. Stress can eventually push anyone off track and this is why reducing it is something you should not ignore. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything, we suggest taking some time for yourself – even if it’s only after working hours! Those precious minutes a day are what’s going to make all the difference for your success!
Don’t create an imbalance in your system by neglecting to get a good night’s rest. It is extremely important that you follow a regular sleep schedule so as to avoid fatigue and heal faster from the previous day’s work. Do something relaxing like listen to music, meditate, or read books before you head off to bed. Though we all want more hours in the day, try not to stay up too late either – it’s important to get quality sleep rather than packing in a lot of hours for no particular reason.
If you ask the average person what kind of exercises would be good for a person to lose weight, they’ll tell you things like running or using various strength training machines. Now these are not bad answers but, what if you controlled all variables such that your body wanted to lose fat by itself without any additional help? Well if this is what you were looking for then we have some good news: studies have shown over and over that interval sprinting is ten times better than long-distance cardio because it generates a greater release of growth hormone in your body which helps employ ketone bodies to burn more fat!
Batch cook and plan your menus to reduce the stress of having to think about what you will be eating day-to-day. Trying to figure it out as you go is too stressful and draining – so take some time out of your day to make a plan for tomorrow. Once you have a clear vision of all that’s on the agenda leave yourself plenty of time to get everything ready over the weekend ideally by batch cooking then go shopping and stick it in the fridge for when you need it! You’ll love how much easier it is not spending time thinking about what you’re going to eat, which will also save a shed load of cash. It only takes once or twice being late back from work just before dinner, rushing around trying to find something quick but healthy or takeaway but expensive and unhealthy that you realize planning it all out ahead of time makes life so much easier!
It’s important to pay attention to your diet when trying to lose weight or maintain a certain weight. One way to naturally increase the level of ketosis in your bloodstream is by making sure you eat at least one meal a day that is low-carb and high fat. Even if you don’t have time for a full low-carb meal (which can sometimes be hard with all of your other responsibilities), adding some coconut oil, chia seeds, or grass-fed butter into any other ones you do make will still help give you the extra boost you need on occasion!
A food scale is a nifty investment! Instead of counting calories and carbs, just weigh your portion sizes with a food scale. It’s easier to manage portions this way and much more accurate since the calculations can vary depending on how you measure. We suggest always standing when we tell you to stand as opposed to sitting or lying down whenever instructions say so — unless one is in the company for long periods of time without regularly being given rest breaks.
Pay attention to what you put in your body because it’s very important. MCT oil is what keeps your body functioning properly – and exogenous ketones will help by keeping you in ketosis even if you might slip up and eat something that isn’t on the diet plan.
If you’re on a Keto diet and find yourself in need of some motivation or encouragement, look no further than these essential tips that give you an overview of what to expect as well as how to stay on track when it comes to your own goals. Not only will using these tools help keep you inspired but they’ll prove to you just how much easier it actually is than you once thought possible!
