Starting Ketogenic Diet

Some things I've learned while following a Ketogenic diet;
Start simply: especially in the first few weeks, it is more important to get your carbs under 20 grams/net and to help you get your cravings under control. Counting calories is less important at first when you're learning how to eat. Carbs are a limit not to go over, Protein is a goal to be met and you should eat fat to keep you satisfied. Many people find that after a few weeks they are naturally eating less because they are more satisfied and may not need to count calories to maintain a deficit. I like to count calories because I've been in the habit for a long time, although my measuring is not as exact as it used to be.

If you are craving sweets, eat something salty and high fat. Enjoy something decadent that you wouldn't have eaten while low fat/low calorie and you will feel satisfied faster and stay on plan.

ELECTROLYTES ARE NOT AN OPTION!!!! A ketogenic diet is naturally diuretic and you will be flushing out vital sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium along with all of the water you're no longer holding onto. Headaches, dizziness, nausea and muscle cramps are just a few of the symptoms of electrolyte imbalance. You may need about 3500-5000mg of sodium per day while on Keto. Eat plenty of whole foods, especially leafy greens and avocado for potassium and try a magnesium citrate supplement. Drinking pickle juice is a great way to stop an electrolyte headache in it's tracks!

Pintrest and YouTube have some great resources to find recipes and tips but don't stress about making complicated replacements to your old comfort foods. One of the ways that Keto works for me is by getting me out of my old habits, I am breaking my cycle of eating just for the fun of it or out of habit and eating when I am hungry and need nourishment. I do try to make sure that what I eat always tastes good, of course, but it's less of an event for the most part.