➤ Clear Your Pantry
We’re sure you have plenty of willpower, but there is no need to confront a kitchen filled with tempting sugars and carbohydrates. Make a clean sweep and pack the offending items in a box. Then donate the loot to a needy neighbor or a soup kitchen. They will appreciate your gesture, and you are on your way to a keto lifestyle. If you have family, try to get them involved. If they refuse to refrain from eating carbs and sugar, at least insist they do so away from home. It’s a fair request.
➤ Weigh Yourself
The keto diet does not require you to live by the tyranny of the scale. As a matter of fact, as you build up healthy muscles, you might notice a slight initial gain. That’s great, so don’t worry.
You should, however, have an idea of what your starting point is. If you opted for the keto diet solely to lose weight, you’ll be able to track your progress. But don’t become a slave to the scale. The occasional weigh-in, perhaps once a week, is enough
➤ What About Your Favorite Meals?
Perhaps the very thought of giving up your favorite foods has prevented you from getting started on the keto way of life. Relax. The truth is, for every dish that you love and can’t live without (yes, that includes cheesecake and mashed potatoes!), you can easily find a low-carb substitute that is just as tasty. Incorporating food swaps is very helpful when you need to curb a specific craving.
➤ Always Stay Hydrated
The keto diet tends to lower your insulin level, so your kidneys may be excreting more liquid than usual. Be sure to drink plenty of water.
➤ Condiments Can Be the Enemy
Don’t assume condiments don’t count on a diet. On the keto diet, they most certainly do. Ketchup is filled with sugar. Not all salad dressings are equal. Read the label, and never opt for the “fat-free” version. They have merely substituted sugar for fat.
Ordering salads when eating out is one of your best options, but beware of the dressing that the restaurant serves. Either ask about the ingredients, or better, bring your own salad dressing. Don’t hesitate to do that, even in a posh eatery where the Maître d’ might become spastic at the sight of you pulling salad dressing out of your bag.
➤ Friends and Family Can Be Annoying – Bless Their Hearts
Those nearest and dearest to you may not always understand what you are doing. When eating as a group, they may put subtle pressure on you to “just try a bite,” or “one slice of cake won’t kill you.” Or worse, “but I cooked it especially for you!”
It will take resolve to stick to your diet. It may help to fill up on keto-friendly snacks before you sit down and eat. Enjoy some nuts, an avocado, or just a leg of chicken before you eat, and you will be less tempted.
➤ Celebrate!
Celebratory occasions, especially if you’re the guest of honor, can be a huge hurdle. When the gang at the office or your parents enter a room with a cake yelling “Surprise!” on your birthday, it’s hard to refuse. So, try being a bit sneaky, instead.
By all means gush over the offering. You are expected to do that. You can even help cut slices. Then, discover a sudden and irresistible urge for coffee, which you verbalize loudly and clearly. Gently remove yourself from the center of activity to get coffee for yourself and anyone else. By the time anyone notices, hopefully they’ve missed the fact that you haven’t eaten anything.
➤ Eating Out On Keto
Use the guides provided in this program for tips on what foods to eat when eating out.