Look better and feel better | Keto Lifestyle

You might know this already if you follow my Instagram Stories. If not, I’m here to share that Pete and I have been on the Keto lifestyle since mid-September. Why? In all honesty, Pete wanted to lose weight and in order for that to happen I have to do the research, discover a plan that will work for us and implement it. And I am always trying to lose the same 10 pounds that never seem to permanently get off my body. UGH – anyone else have this problem? Let me tell you how the Keto lifestyle has helped me look better and feel better. Simply put – Why Keto Works!

First and most importantly, before starting any new eating, diet, exercise or lifestyle plan, please consult with your doctor. What is KETO? “Ketogenic” is a term for a low-carb diet (like the Atkins diet). The idea is for you to get more calories from fat and protein and much less from carbohydrates. Take a look at these bmi scales that can help you obtain your dream body and keep motivated.

You cut back most on the carbs that are easy to digest, like sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread. A ketogenic diet may help you lose more weight in the first three to six months than some other diets. This may be because it takes more calories to change fat into energy than it does to change carbs into energy. Basically, you are eating a high fat diet and your body is having to work hard to convert the fat and use it for energy. I quickly lost 6 pounds and have easily kept it off. Now I am working to get the final 4 pounds off! I’m happy to report that Pete is down 18 pounds and still going. We use these test strips to see if we are stying on track.

The first 3-4 days are the hardest and I’m not going to lie, the “Keto flu” is a real thing. I felt ill and had absolutely no energy for a solid three days. I also had a dull headache each day. But after three days, I felt like a new person! This is a long haul commitment and that’s why I refer to it as a Keto lifestyle and not a diet. I feel so much better, have endless energy and I’m never bloated or have digestion problems. Since adapting to the Keto lifestyle, I don’t feel hunger pains when it gets close to mealtime. I’ve also learned to increase my water intake and to make fat bombs to help increase my fat intake. They also help with any type of sugar craving you might have. Some of my favorite recipes are pinned to my Keto board in Pinterest.

There are several tips that have really helped me navigate this lifestyle adoption. Most of these came from my followers on social media ad they have proven to be lifesavers. Keto Connect is a great website by a couple who live the Keto lifestyle. I ordered their cookbook too. Snacks from Quest Nutrition have been a lifesaver, especially when traveling. I pack the protein bars (birthday cake and chocolate chip cookie dough are my favorites) and protein cookies for trips/snacks. I’ve traveled to Disney World and Charleston both while navigating Keto and it’s totally doable. You just have to plan ahead. I always have a Quest Nutrition protein bar in my handbag.  I am linking you to all of my essentials below that have helped me with this lifestyle. I will say, to stay on 20 Net carbs or less per day, it’s best to make all of your food and eat meals at home. To stay on track, I use the KETO app. You will quickly become aware that carbs are in everything. When purchasing any item, you are looking for low NET CARBS on labels.

Quest Nutrition is my favorite company when it comes to finding Keto snack options. All of their products minimize total net carbs and grams of sugar, while still being complete proteins. Quest Nutrition only uses sweeteners that are not metabolized by the body, so you get an amazing taste without spiking your blood sugar. They are always doing research to create products with the most metabolic advantage so you can look better AND feel better. And just to reiterate… they taste amazing! So let’s dive into some of my favorite Quest Nutrition snacks.

You can never go wrong with the Quest Nutrition Protein Bars. With at least 20g of protein and 15g of fiber in every bar, these bars are perfect for an on-the-go and filling snack. And the best part? They are all under 200 calories! Talk about a win. Another plus is that there are so many tasty flavor options for whatever craving you have. From blueberry muffin to birthday cake, you can find a flavor for any occasion.

Another product that I love is the Quest Protein Cookie. Ok y’all, these cookies only have 1g of sugar! They totally satisfy my cookie cravings without ruining my diet. They each have around 15g of protein and 10g of fiber at only 250 calories. Who knew you could have a yummy AND healthy cookie? The flavor options are chocolate chip, peanut butter, double chocolate chip and peanut butter chocolate chip.

Quest Nutrition doesn’t just have sweet snacks, they also have salty snacks! Quest Nutrition protein chips are an absolute must-try. The chips have less than 5g of net carbs and around 20g of protein in every bag. Just add salsa (be careful about sugar – read the label) to their Loaded Taco or Chili Lime flavor and you have yourself a savory and satisfying snack! Like the bars, the chips come in a wide assortment of flavors.

Have you tried the Keto lifestyle? I would love to hear about your Keto journey – please leave a comment below and give me your tips. We can all learn from each other.

xoxo – Tanya

Photo: Audrie Dollins

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