As a Personal Trainer,
with over 16 years experience, I get THAT question a LOT recently...and my
answer is "you need to check it out, to see if it looks like something you
could stick with, and think could work for YOU, and I offer a few links to help
them get started! And if they're interested, I share MY story...
HERE'S MY 'PERSONAL STORY':
Over the Winter of 2018-2019 I did a lot of thinking about 'why' it seemed, the vast majority of my clients couldn't/didn't reach or maintain the health and weight-loss goals they were striving for, LONG TERM?
Were they just 'lazy'? Were they just not 'committed' enough? Did I somehow not give them enough/'right' information to reach their goals? NONE of that rang true to me!!
My Personal Training Education (in 2005, and is still the 'standard') for 'Nutrition' was based on the traditional 'calories in-calories out', 'exercise/move more- eat less' theory, that most 'Professionals' (including Doctors, Dietitians, Fitness Certifying Agencies, Etc) use...ALL based, on what turns out to be, VERY weak (at best) 'research' done OVER 50 years ago!!
If this stuff actually worked, why were folks STILL just loading on more and more fat, and getting less and less healthy??
That's when I stumbled on "The Ketogenic Diet"...and the more research I read (and continue to read), and personal stories I saw, I thought 'THIS might just be what I'm looking for'!!
"Keto", as it is called by the 'believers', is basically based on converting your body from depending on 'sugar' or 'high-glycemic carbs' (think bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, etc) for fuel and switching the bodies' system over to burning fat for fuel! The 'science' behind it is based mostly on the 'insulin-response' to carbohydrates....and insulin's' JOB is as the 'FAT STORAGE HORMONE'...which converts excess 'carbs' to fat and stores them AS WELL AS PREVENTS 'BODY FAT' FROM BEING RELEASED!!
Sounded good in theory...but is it 'doable/sustainable' for the 'average person' (ME), I asked myself?
Only one way to find out is to try it out for/on myself!
I was already in 'pretty good' condition (weighed in at 180, body fat was at 18%...and the only 'med' I was on was a 2.5mg (tiny) blood pressure med that my Doc said was probably due to genetics...and was already pretty much off of 'sugar', but still eating some pretty high-carb foods like pastas, breads, rice, potatoes, beans, fruits, etc.
Around the first of March, this year, I cleaned out the fridge and cupboards of the 'high-carb' foods and began shooting for the recommended 20 gm or less total carbs per day that most research was recommending (though, I have to admit, I NEVER 'counted' a single carb...but I WAS aware of the carb contents in my food choices!). (HOWEVER, IT IS VERY HELPFUL (A 'MUST' REALLY) TO PLAN AHEAD AND HAVE SOME FOODS 'PREPPED' TO PREVENT JUST GRABBING SOMETHING, AND THROWING YOUR PROGRESS IN REVERSE!!)
I managed to get pretty consistent, pretty fast (especially, as I said, I'd been pretty much off 'sugar' for a while already, and didn't have to 'detox' from that), as I found the recommended foods delicious, satisfying, filling, and really pretty simple, once I got my head wrapped around what choices would work for 'my goals', and which would not!
I was really NOT expecting much of a change for myself physically, as I my main goal was to learn enough to share with others who WERE 'struggling with weight and health issues'!
However, after about 3 months, my Doc took me totally off the BP Meds as they were no longer needed...I had dropped 15 pounds, and reduced my BodyFat to 13% (this is in the 'elite athlete' range), maintained ALL my muscle/strength! I had 'blood-work' done this week, and EVERYTHING looks the best it has EVER, include 'cholesterol' numbers!)...ALL WITHOUT COUNTING A SINGLE CALORIE, OR SPENDING AN 'EXTRA' MINUTE IN THE GYM (though I did still maintain my previous hour and half, 3 days per week workout regimen)!!
Again, I'm eating delicious food...eating all I 'want'...and have found (and continue to find) great 'low carb' desert/treat/main course replacements for those foods you might miss!!
It is NOT (nor should it be considered) a 'DIET', it IS a 'LIFESTYLE' change!!
If you think you've tried 'everything'....do your own research, or let me help guide through the process, to see if this might just be the solution YOU'VE been looking for!!
HERE'S MY 'PERSONAL STORY':
Over the Winter of 2018-2019 I did a lot of thinking about 'why' it seemed, the vast majority of my clients couldn't/didn't reach or maintain the health and weight-loss goals they were striving for, LONG TERM?
Were they just 'lazy'? Were they just not 'committed' enough? Did I somehow not give them enough/'right' information to reach their goals? NONE of that rang true to me!!
My Personal Training Education (in 2005, and is still the 'standard') for 'Nutrition' was based on the traditional 'calories in-calories out', 'exercise/move more- eat less' theory, that most 'Professionals' (including Doctors, Dietitians, Fitness Certifying Agencies, Etc) use...ALL based, on what turns out to be, VERY weak (at best) 'research' done OVER 50 years ago!!
If this stuff actually worked, why were folks STILL just loading on more and more fat, and getting less and less healthy??
That's when I stumbled on "The Ketogenic Diet"...and the more research I read (and continue to read), and personal stories I saw, I thought 'THIS might just be what I'm looking for'!!
"Keto", as it is called by the 'believers', is basically based on converting your body from depending on 'sugar' or 'high-glycemic carbs' (think bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, etc) for fuel and switching the bodies' system over to burning fat for fuel! The 'science' behind it is based mostly on the 'insulin-response' to carbohydrates....and insulin's' JOB is as the 'FAT STORAGE HORMONE'...which converts excess 'carbs' to fat and stores them AS WELL AS PREVENTS 'BODY FAT' FROM BEING RELEASED!!
Sounded good in theory...but is it 'doable/sustainable' for the 'average person' (ME), I asked myself?
Only one way to find out is to try it out for/on myself!
I was already in 'pretty good' condition (weighed in at 180, body fat was at 18%...and the only 'med' I was on was a 2.5mg (tiny) blood pressure med that my Doc said was probably due to genetics...and was already pretty much off of 'sugar', but still eating some pretty high-carb foods like pastas, breads, rice, potatoes, beans, fruits, etc.
Around the first of March, this year, I cleaned out the fridge and cupboards of the 'high-carb' foods and began shooting for the recommended 20 gm or less total carbs per day that most research was recommending (though, I have to admit, I NEVER 'counted' a single carb...but I WAS aware of the carb contents in my food choices!). (HOWEVER, IT IS VERY HELPFUL (A 'MUST' REALLY) TO PLAN AHEAD AND HAVE SOME FOODS 'PREPPED' TO PREVENT JUST GRABBING SOMETHING, AND THROWING YOUR PROGRESS IN REVERSE!!)
I managed to get pretty consistent, pretty fast (especially, as I said, I'd been pretty much off 'sugar' for a while already, and didn't have to 'detox' from that), as I found the recommended foods delicious, satisfying, filling, and really pretty simple, once I got my head wrapped around what choices would work for 'my goals', and which would not!
I was really NOT expecting much of a change for myself physically, as I my main goal was to learn enough to share with others who WERE 'struggling with weight and health issues'!
However, after about 3 months, my Doc took me totally off the BP Meds as they were no longer needed...I had dropped 15 pounds, and reduced my BodyFat to 13% (this is in the 'elite athlete' range), maintained ALL my muscle/strength! I had 'blood-work' done this week, and EVERYTHING looks the best it has EVER, include 'cholesterol' numbers!)...ALL WITHOUT COUNTING A SINGLE CALORIE, OR SPENDING AN 'EXTRA' MINUTE IN THE GYM (though I did still maintain my previous hour and half, 3 days per week workout regimen)!!
Again, I'm eating delicious food...eating all I 'want'...and have found (and continue to find) great 'low carb' desert/treat/main course replacements for those foods you might miss!!
It is NOT (nor should it be considered) a 'DIET', it IS a 'LIFESTYLE' change!!
If you think you've tried 'everything'....do your own research, or let me help guide through the process, to see if this might just be the solution YOU'VE been looking for!!
