Getting Started With The Keto Diet

Choosing to follow a low carb lifestyle can seem daunting at first. You want me to give up whattttt? But the Keto diet really isn’t about giving anything up, it’s about fueling our bodies for exercise and living a longer, healthier life.

Getting started with Keto is pretty simple once you break it down, and I have tons of recipes to help you get started!

Easy Keto Getting Started Guide

I have tried many diets over the years, but I have been most successful with the keto diet. I feel better, my skin is more clear and cravings once I get going arent bad at all.

Keto is less of a diet and more of a lifestyle change.

We are conditioned as Americans to grab quick (unhealthy meals) and to eat everything on our plate, causing us to overeat.

Keto helps to reverse some of those bad behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. Plus you can eat almost as much bacon as you want!

What is Keto?

You can ask 10 people what the keto diet is, and you will probably get ten versions of the same answer. In basic terms, keto is a low carb, high fat, moderate protein diet.

The majority of your calories are going to come from fat and protein rather than carbohydrates.

The number of carbs your body needs to achieve ketosis depends on a few factors. There isn’t really a “magic” number of carbs that will work for everyone, so we worry about macros instead of just carb count. 70-80% of your daily intake should be fats, while 20-25% will be proteins, leaving 5-10% for carbohydrates.

Because there is no one exact sign to know if your body is in ketosis, I recommend these ketone testing strips.

Helpful resource: Keto Macro Calculator

Your body will reach ketosis within ten days. Some reach ketosis within a day or two while others take a full ten days. Factors include metabolism, age, activity level, and macros.

With Keto, you’ll ditch the soda, sugar-laden desserts, and real bread… but you’ll gain so much more (and I don’t mean weight!).

webMD explains the ketogenic diet in detail if you’d like to read more.

Note: I’ll be using Keto/low carb interchangeably throughout this post.

Why Ketosis?

Once your body is in ketosis, you’re burning fat instead of carbs. This leads to weight loss. While in ketosis, your body makes ketones and uses them for fuel.

Unlike other diets, especially low-calorie ones, you won’t feel sluggish and exhausted from lack of fuel in your body. The first few weeks may be rough, but once you get past the slump you’ll be good to go.

Is Keto Restrictive?

Yes, Keto can be seen as restrictive if you’re used to stuffing your face with fast food and sugary drinks, but once you get started you’ll see why so many people rave about it. After a week or two, you’ll also start seeing your own success, which will motivate you to stick with it!

You can even eat garlic bread on the keto diet. That’s one reason I call it a lifestyle, instead of an actual diet that you quit before seeing any results. Keto gets most people results pretty quickly.

Some have reported losing 10 pounds or more during their first week. With Keto, you’re mixing your eating habits up a lot and in most cases you’re flipping your body on its head because you’re going to give up sugar (for the most part).

Americans, in general, consume far too much sugar, so it can be an adjustment period for the first few weeks… but don’t give up!

Keto Sugar Substitutes

There are so many suitable sugar substitutes, I wrote an entire article on it.

Sweeteners must:

• be low/no carb
• be low glycemic
• be sugar-free
• taste good

I love Stevia because it tastes sweet enough to make my desserts taste dessert-y, without adding carbs and calories. You can use Stevia in place of sugar when you’re baking, creating drinks and cocktails, and more.

Low Carb and Other Diets

You can live a low carb lifestyle while following other diets, such as Weight Watchers. It is a little difficult to combine two eating styles, but there are benefits to doing so. Learn more about combining keto with other diets:

Low Carb Weight Watchers
Intermittent Fasting and Keto
Keto + Paleo

Low Carb Meal Planning

Free Low Carb Meal Plan from Low Carb Nomad
Kasey’s Keto Meal Plans from Kasey Trenum
Keto Lifestyle Meal Plans from Midget Momma

Easy Low Carb Breakfasts

Low Carb Breakfast Casserole
Instant Pot Egg Bites
Air Fryer Baked Avocado Egg

Easy Low Carb Dinners

Low Carb Pot Roast
Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
Pizza Low Carb Stuffed Peppers
Low Carb Cheeseburger Casserole
Air Fried Chicken Wings
Beef and Broccoli Skillet
Low Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll-Ups
Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup

Easy Low Carb Desserts

Berries + Low Carb Whipped Cream
Low Carb No Churn Ice Cream
Low Carb Peanut Butter Cups
Keto Cream Cheese Brownies
Mini Keto Chocolate Cakes
Chocolate Pudding

Easy Low Carb Appetizers

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Keto Tortilla Chips and Shrimp Dip
Low Carb Pizza

Cauliflower Pizza Crust With Tomato Spinach and Feta
Cauliflower Tots
Zucchini Chips

Tasty Low Carb Alcoholic Drinks

Tequila, rum, vodka, and some other alcohols are zero carbs. This means you can make low carb and keto friendly cocktails as long as you watch the mix-ins. Use Stevia or Splenda instead of sugar, and check out Crystal Light for flavor options.
Keto Mojito
Skinny Margarita

All About Keto

The bottom line when it comes to living a Keto lifestyle is: watch your carb intake, stop relying on sugar at every turn and get some physical exercise in. You’ll lose weight, feel great, and your waistline will thank you! If you have questions you need to be answered before trying this low carb diet, leave them in the comments below and I’ll answer them!