I didn’t just start a ketogenic diet. I went to the doctor first. I had questions about what a high fat diet would do to me. I wanted to know if I would clog my arteries or give myself a heart attack. For those of you who don’t know, a ketogenic, or keto diet is high in fat, moderate in protein and very low in carbohydrates and those carbohydrates come from leafy green vegetables. My doctor explained several important components of a ketogenic diet as well as the short-term and long-term health benefits and the potential for me to have success on the diet where other plans had not worked for me. What I love about this doctor is that he takes an internal approach. He specializes in functional medicine, so before any recommendations, he wanted to know what was going on for my body internally and ordered blood work. I found out I was in the pre-diabetes stage, had high levels of inflammation and thyroid issues. I had acne, soreness, and I felt very tired overall. I didn’t feel good.
After having this important conversation with my doctor, I decided that I would give the keto diet a try and have a follow up appointment in 2-3 months. At that same time, I also started a workout plan. I was determined to have a different outcome than all the other times before. I was no stranger to losing 60 pounds and gaining it all back. Fitness had to become a part of my life and the way I wanted to live, to become the best version of myself. The things I chose to put into my body became a reflection of my own self-worth and how I would take care of and honor myself. It was about discipline and self-love. My body had always reflected my internal emotions and I needed to work on healing that part of me as well. Going to the gym was about building physical strength but also mental toughness. Some days, those exercises were hard. Who am I kidding? In the beginning, all those days were hard! Sometimes I wished there were more faces like mine in the gym. I think fitness is something often overlooked in our community. I didn’t live in a place where there were black-owned fitness clubs. An important part of healing is knowing that we can prioritize our bodies and our health.
It was slow going at first, but once my body adjusted to burning fat, pounds melted off me. My skin cleared up and I noticed I began to feel a lot better. I could do more at the gym in my workouts. At that follow up appointment with my doctor, not only did I have visible weight loss, I was able to lower my blood sugar, decrease the inflammation in my body and get my thyroid issues under control. I was feeling better than I had ever felt in my life with more energy than I knew what to do with, I was excited for my own progress and the results I was seeing and I never felt deprived of my keto diet. There are so many recipes and online groups for keto diets and lifestyles, I never got bored and I could find substitutes for foods I loved. As someone with a sweet tooth, that has been important to me. I literally was the fat kid who loves cake. I found a keto friendly ice cream and several recipes for keto cake and paired together, they hit the spot. Many other dishes are rich and filling with what feels like unlimited options.
I’ve had great success on keto, even during this pandemic. I can’t say I didn’t binge on foods in the midst of uncertainty, I just did it with keto-friendly foods. Maintaining my weight has been easy, even with my gym closed. I am proud of myself for sticking with both keto and the gym, over a year later. It has been an amazing journey and the changes to working out because of COVID-19 and the rise of online fitness programs. One of the best black-owned fitness clubs I have discovered is in New York. It is a weight loss program totally online with a growing community. It’s nice to see faces that look like yours on the journey to health and wellness. In our expanded virtual fitness world, the best fitness program in New York is available worldwide. This is the oldest I have ever been and the best I have ever felt in my life. I am proof that the keto diet does work, and hard work pays off. The biggest downside? Letting go of some of my favorite clothes. The upside? Buying new clothes in a smaller size and looking and feeling great from the inside out.
