Hey y’all! I’ve been getting a ton of keto related questions from readers so I thought I’d take the most common ones and put them into a little FAQ for easy retrieval! I plan on making this a running list and will add to it as needed!
No.1
Q: How do I start keto?
A: That’s a loaded question! First, I always refer people to my Keto 101 and Keto 102 posts. Once you have educated yourself on how keto works, what foods are keto friendly, then just jump in! It’s kind of like ripping off a band-aid or jumping into a cold pool! Your body will be in a little bit of shock at first but it eventually (and fairly quickly) gets used to it! The biggest thing to remember is DON’T GIVE IN TO YOUR CRAVINGS! The first week or so can be very hard to get over the mental hurdles but, if you keep your focus on your goals, you will get past it!
No. 2
Q: I did Atkins in the past. How is keto different?
A: The Atkins diet and keto are vary different! While Atkins is very low carb in the beginning phase, it is NOT designed to keep you in nutritional ketosis. Atkins allows many foods that are processed or high in sugar/carbs, which is strictly prohibited on a ketogenic diet. For an easy to read article on the differences between the two, click here!
No. 3
Q: What supplements do you take?
A: I am not a medical professional, so I highly suggest talking with your doctor before beginning any vitamin regimen. However, I have found that magnesium, potassium, and sodium are all minerals that are under absorbed by our bodies when eating keto. These are essentially electrolytes and important to the body. You can take in more electrolytes through vitamins or drinking electrolyte enhanced drinks (Powerade Zero or enhanced water). I do NOT support the use of exogenous ketones. It is not proven that more ketones equates to more weight loss. There are many products on the market these days that claim to make you a keto unicorn, but don’t buy into the gimmick! Your body will produce the ketones it needs. Be your own dang unicorn!
No. 4
Q: Should I count net carbs or total carbs?
A: Honestly, this is personal preference. A google search will yield varying opinions but again, I think you do what works best for you! When I first started keto, I thought it was really beneficial to count net carbs. The farther along I’ve gotten in my keto journey, the more I can see a benefit to counting total carbs, but I don’t have a preference over the two.
No. 5
Q: What does KCKO mean?
A: Keep calm and keto on!
No. 6
Q: Why can’t I have fruit on keto? Fruit is healthy!A: Yes, fruit is healthy! However, when broken down in the body it becomes glucose. As we all know, glucose is what we’re trying to avoid when we want to become fat adapted (aka burning FAT for energy instead of glucose). For that reason, fruit isn’t part of a ketogenic diet. If you MUST have some fruit, berries are the best option. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are the lowest carb option in the fruit family. Be sure to weigh/measure your portions and count your macros!
No. 7
Q: What does lazy keto mean?
A: Lazy keto refers to those who follow a ketogenic diet without counting/tracking macros. These people try to eat intuitively (listening to their body) while following keto diet “rules”. As with anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to this approach. In my opinion, I think lazy keto is better when you’ve mastered keto or met your goals. So many of us are incredibly unfamiliar with the macros on foods we eat every day. Who knew broccoli had so much protein?! Because of that alone, I highly recommend you track your food for at least 30 days as you learn to navigate calories, fat grams, protein grams, and carbohydrates. You’ll pick it up quickly and can then decide if you are ready for lazy keto!
Have a question that isn’t listed here? Shoot me an email or find me on Instagram @keto_in_pearls!
KCKO,Anna