Stephanie lost more than 75 pounds in 6 months and hasn’t looked back, but there are some things she wishes she’d known before starting keto.
One of my favorite parts about blogging is getting to meet other bloggers and readers from all over the world. In just a short time, I’ve met some of the most inspiring people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. There’s this incredible lady named Stephanie from New York City. It’s her story that caught my attention.
After getting married, I developed a love for food and the weight I gained from it. I was married to a man who was also overweight, but he would always tell me that I was beautiful and that he couldn’t imagine me anything else but healthy. He would always compliment me on my weight loss, but whenever he did, I would always ask him how he knew I was losing weight. After a while, I stopped asking and instead I began to take pictures of my progress. I had to take the pictures because I was afraid to show him my real self, because that was not how I wanted him to see me. So, when I lost the weight, I became comfortable being myself again. I liked the person that I saw in the
Keto is a way of life, not just a diet!
We are delighted to be able to share the tale of a Stepani pendant with you. She’s been on the keto diet for nearly a year and just celebrated a 75-pound weight loss. Her incredible tale is so moving and uplifting that we believe you will be genuinely touched by it.
What drew you to keto in the first place?
Since I was a youngster, I’ve struggled with my weight and tried every diet imaginable. I dropped 30 pounds and gained 40 pounds as a result. I sat on the sidelines, 305 pounds, watching my life pass me by. I couldn’t fit on the roller coaster, my stomach was constantly slamming against the table in restaurant booths, and I was terrified every time I couldn’t fit in the seat.
I used to feel terrible because I felt like my now-20-year-old daughter was losing out on so many opportunities and experiences since I was restricted in what I could do with her due of her weight. My daughter begged my husband to stop purchasing sweets and junk food in April of this year because she fears I may die within the next three years. My lovely husband has always been kind and has never commented on my weight, but he has shown worry about my daughter’s worries.
I was stunned, humiliated, wounded, and heartbroken. I’d always wanted to lose weight, but I’d failed so many times before that I wasn’t expecting another setback, but then I saw a photo on Facebook that transformed my life. My buddy and her husband followed a ketogenic diet and often posted pictures of their triumphs and achievements on social media. She told me about some of her activities, and I joined in!
I believed I was going to die for the first three weeks because I had such terrible ketonic illness that I actually fell and sobbed because I couldn’t walk on the ground. But I had already suffered so much, and I didn’t want to quit up and fail once again. My husband’s chiropractor is a West Virginia bodybuilder who has been in ketosis for more than three years. When I spoke with him, he corrected me and explained how to do it correctly. His counsel altered my life forever, and I’ve never looked back!
What was the most appealing aspect of the ketogenic diet?
I’ve dropped more than 75 pounds, and each day brings fresh and fascinating discoveries. I always brought clothing that I had left behind because I believed I may wear them again or, if they were larger items, because I figured I might need them at some point. This time, though, I donated five bags of my old, large clothing. Instead of shopping in the big sizes area, I may now shop in the regular portion of the store. I went from a size 24 to a size 16 in jeans, achieving half of my objective.
All of this is to indicate that I am just one of millions of individuals who have regained control of their life due to keto. We first mistook it for a diet, but as the weeks pass, we realize that it may really become a way of life. If we adhere to a diet and consume carbohydrates again, we’ll wind ourselves back where we started, purchasing clothing in large sizes. I’m not saying I’ll never eat an apple or a baked potato again, but this is the exception rather than the norm.
Much more gratifying than a slice of cake is the sensation I get when I can go up the stairs without becoming out of breath. One of the best things about losing weight is that I seldom get hungry. As a result, I learnt to eat to live rather than live to eat. What began as a desperate effort to keep my baby alive has evolved into a pleasure to live again and appreciate everything that life has to offer.
I believed I was on a rigorous keto diet for months, but it turned out I was on a dirt keto diet. I don’t mind consuming pre-made processed cheese or processed meals because I want to be able to do it for the rest of my life, and rigorous keto was too restricted for me to maintain for long.
Do you keep track of your macros, calories, and other stats?
I track my macros and calories using Carb Manager. I don’t eat more than 20 grams of net carbohydrates and 1200 calories each day.
I practice intermittent fasting because it’s my natural method of eating, not because it’s advised for keto. I’ve been like this since I was in college, and I’m now 52 years old. I’ve never been a fan of breakfast, and I seldom make it to lunch without being hungry, so I usually don’t eat until about 5 or 7 p.m. In reality, I do 18/6 to 20/4 IF on most days.
What do you eat on a daily basis?
I typically don’t eat anything until supper since I’m on an intermittent fasting diet, and then I have meat, salad, and vegetables. After supper, I sometimes nibble a bit later. I like cooking, so I have keto sweets on hand at all times, and I really enjoy creating fat bombs. I also have taco meat, hard-boiled eggs, and egg muffins on hand since they are simple to grab and transport. Potato salad (made using cauliflower instead of potatoes) is a favorite of mine.
What motivates you to remain on track?
In the beginning, the keto diet Facebook groups helped me remain on track. I spent the whole day gazing at the progress pictures and telling myself, “I want it.”
My friends began to notice that I was losing weight after approximately three months and began to inquire. Some of them even joined me on my ketogenic diet. My husband and kid are among the almost 20 friends and family members that have adopted the keto diet.
I don’t want to cheat on my keto diet, but having all of these individuals depend on me to help them solve their issues helps me remain on track. If I continue to be successful, I believe it will assist others in staying on course and achieving their objectives!
What advise would you offer to someone who is just starting out on a keto diet or is having trouble sticking to it?
I would encourage anybody who is having trouble with this to take it one serving and one day at a time, particularly at the start of the trip. It will be simpler to remain on track once you begin to see results. No meal can compare to the joy of purchasing new clothing when your old ones are breaking apart. Try to locate a buddy with whom you can walk this path and maybe swap recipes or go trekking with.
Don’t let the hiccups get you down; sometimes our bodies simply need to catch up. Even when I was in a rut, I continued to lose inches. Make a strategy and get back to work if you cheat. I’ve only cheated three times in nine months – on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day – and it wasn’t worth it; I simply felt terrible afterwards.
We need to refocus our thoughts, and if you don’t, you’ll find yourself falling back into bad eating patterns over and over again. This way of life is about establishing a new normal, and the longer you stick with it and experience the benefits, the simpler it becomes to understand that cheating isn’t worth it.
Keto is a hidden treasure, a fountain of youth, and a secret I’d want to share with the rest of the world. For individuals who are ostracized because of their weight, life may be very difficult. I’ve never had a high-carb dinner that has brought me as much joy as the one I’ve had since starting the keto diet.
So be positive! You’ll get there, day by day, pound by pound. You reclaim your life, and you are deserving of it!
Stephanie, I congratulate you!
Thank you for taking the time to share your keto cooking experience with us and the rest of our community! We assist you in achieving your objectives and maintaining a better, healthier lifestyle. We’ve been inspired by you! ❤️
** Stephanie has worked hard and has succeeded in losing over 75 pounds! Below, you will find some tips that she used to successfully lose weight and keep it off! **. Read more about how long to lose 80 pounds on keto diet and let us know what you think.
