Dieting hard, yet the scale won’t budge? This can be very disheartening for the effort we put in to lose weight, especially when it feels like you do everything right...and the scale does move – but in the wrong direction!
What to do in these cases of “stubborn” fat?
The best solution is often the ketogenic diet.
If you've been wondering how to lose weight, there's a good chance you've come across the term "keto" already. Low carb diets are frequently promoted as the best way to lose weight fast and burn belly fat. They don't require any questionable quick weight loss pills or supplements, and they encourage you to eat foods that other diets would force you to avoid. The ketogenic diet does pose its own set of challenges, however, which is why it's recommended to consult with a medial weight loss professional before undertaking it. The experts here at Texas Weight Loss have provided some beginner tips below for your benefit as well. Reach out to our team to learn more or set up a consultation in the Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, TX area.
No hunger, No cravings, No belly fat…
You can have it all. The Ketogenic diet allows you to enjoy delicious meals, lose weight fast, yet feel incredible energy
But there’s a catch: Doing Keto the right way on your own is tough!
You won’t get results unless you avoid these 7 major Keto diet mistakes
If you want to lose unwanted fat fast (and keep it off), keep reading. What you are about to read will determine whether you will succeed on Keto or not.
Mistake #1: Rushing into Keto
Surely, you’ve heard of the stories: Yes, the Keto diet can melt 20lbs per month or even more if you’re doing it right.
Thousands of men and women over the world have used this eating strategy. It’s proven, and the results speak for themselves. People transform completely, losing flabby arms, big thighs, and stubborn belly fat quickly.
But before you get too excited, be careful. You can actually end up worse than you were before.
According to health & wellness expert Dr. Alexander H. Blackwell, “Keto is a very knowledge-based diet.”
“Rushing in without a plan is short-sighted as it will most likely fail,” Alexander says.
If you rush in without a plan, here’s what might happen:
Instead, Dr. Alexander recommends a professional, custom plan based on your body type, age, and eating preferences.
“Look for support and ideas on how to manage the diet correctly,” he says. “Your health is the number one priority. Invest in it now so you could save money in the future.”
Mistake #2: Not getting enough B vitamins
Have you reduced carbs and then felt tired? Not enough Vitamin B might be the reason why.
“B vitamins are mostly found in whole grains,” explains Alexander. “Lacking them can make you feel tired, lower your energy levels and slow down your weight loss progress.”
Fortunately, you can still get plenty of B vitamins from keto-friendly foods. You just need to eat the right keto foods.
Here are our favorite options: Meat, eggs, and dairy products. Combine with seeds and nuts and dark, leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli for a more complete nutritional profile.
What to do if you still feel tired? Talk to your doctor about taking a B vitamin supplement to boost your energy levels.
Mistake #3: Eating too many carbs
The big secret behind why the ketogenic diet works so powerfully at any age is ketosis.
Ketosis is an intense, fat-burning state. Instead of using carbohydrates for energy, our body starts to use our fat as fuel. This can double our results.
But to enter ketosis, we need to limit carbs.
And here’s the problem. “Many people don’t realize how many carbs are in common, healthy foods,” says Dr. Alexander H. Blackwell.
Eating too much fruit is a common example. You think you do a great job, but actually, block yourself from entering ketosis. Keep reading to see how to avoid such mistakes.
The recommended carb intake is around 5% of our total calories. Finding this carb reduction tough when first getting started on the Keto diet is normal.
However, it is essential if we want to reach and maintain Ketosis. That is the only way to start burning 20lbs every month.
And thankfully, things get easier after the first week or two because our body starts to adapt. Do not give up early.
Mistake #4: Eating too much protein
Protein is great for you, but too much protein can cause problems too.
“When our body digests protein, it converts a small amount to glucose,” says Dr. Alexander, which can then slow down your body’s ability to go into ketosis, he adds.
That’s because glucose is a sugar, and sugar is a carb.
Instead of using the keto diet as an excuse to eat as much bacon and steak as you would like, remember that your main goal on keto is enjoying healthy fats.
Thankfully, that includes delicious foods like nut butter, olive oil, and avocados.
So, remember to have some form of healthy fat with every meal, and keep your protein intake in check.
Mistake #5: Not eating enough fiber
There is a lot of fiber in fruits and whole grains. But you cannot have much of these on the Ketogenic diet.
So, you need to be extra careful to get a nice amount of fiber during the day.
According to Dr. Alexander, “Fiber is essential to help regulate digestion, hunger and fullness cues. It helps provide long-lasting energy and a steady blood glucose level.”
In other words, fiber is critical. If you do not eat enough, you may feel hungry, overeat, and ruin your hard work.
The recommended approach is to eat more vegetables. All leafy greens are great. Follow this simple rule: The darker the color, the better.
Do not like eating vegetables all the time? Consider trying fiber supplements to refresh your body.
Mistake #6: Leptin Resistance
Leptin is a powerful fat-controlling hormone.
It sends a signal to your brain that says, “you’re full,” so you know when to stop eating. If your body produces leptin properly, your appetite will be in check.
But when your body produces too much leptin, your brain stops receiving the signal.
So, you don’t feel full easily. This causes overeating and eventually excessive weight gain. How to avoid that? Fix the underlying root causes of leptin resistance:
One of the many benefits of Keto is that it can help fix leptin resistance. That’s because it consists of whole foods.
“Healthy sources of protein, fat, and fiber are proven to help improve sleep, decrease sugar pangs, and combat snacking habits.”
Mistake #7: The Google Curse
With a bit of light research on Google, you will find thousands of keto weight loss transformations. The proof is everywhere, and it is easy to get excited.
Many people read a few articles, note a few keto recipes, then try to get started on their own.
But this is a dangerous mistake. Just knowing you need to reduce carbs is not enough. Often, the meals you find online are good by themselves yet may cause nutritional imbalances when combined.
Don’t start the keto diet without help if you don’t know the answers to questions like these:
How can you help answer these questions and lose weight fast with keto?
The Solution to Not Losing Weight
The solution is a personalized keto diet that takes your age, physical shape, and medical conditions into consideration.
If you’re eating strategy is fine-tuned to your body, you will experience a dramatic transformation.
You will lose weight quickly and keep it off because you will experience less hunger, fewer cravings, and loss of control.
If you follow a personalized Keto meal plan, this will not only happen quickly. It also will be pretty easy.
If you want to know more about the Keto diet and whether or not it is right for you, talk to the weight loss diet experts at Texas Weight Loss. We know you might be interested in quick weight loss that helps you burn belly fat fast, but are the methods for quick weight loss the best way to lose weight? Our experts can discuss healthy medical weight loss methods for you, letting you know how to lose weight in the best fashion for your body and health. If you're in Auston, TX; San Antonio, TX; or Houston, TX; contact Dr. Sleiman and Texas Weight Loss to ask about the pluses and minuses of the Keto diet, as well as weight loss pills, weight loss supplements, Semaglutide injections, Tirzepatide injections, and other ways to lose weight fast.