-100 lbs in 1 yr - with pics!!

Today is my 1 yr ketoversary. It's been an amazing journey so far, and I'm quite pleased with my success. I'm officially down 100 lbs exactly! I honestly thought 100 lbs was such a pie in the sky ideal that I'd never make it, and yet here I am. And I'm still going strong!

I've been overweight and obese for almost my entire adult life. I've tried many diets and exercise programs to try to lose weight over the years. For one reason or another they've all failed - mostly because I couldn't stick with them. Eating keto is sustainable for me, and frankly it's the tastiest diet I've ever been on.

I first heard of the ketogenic diet from my sister, and was inspired by her success. I am the type to research EVERYTHING, and spent about 4 months doing so before starting for myself. In fact, I decided in the middle of the day on Tuesday, 27 June 2017 to start the keto diet. I'd already finished lunch, but from that moment on I ate very low carb and high fat. I stumbled a bit at first, but soon got into a groove. You don't have to wait for a Monday, or even the beginning of the month to start!

I know not everyone subscribes to keto, and that's totally okay. The trick is to find something that works well for you, and for what ails you. Keto was the perfect fit for me and my situation. If it doesn't work for you, keep searching for something that does. I will never push my way of eating on anyone. If someone's interested, then great! If not, we can happily continue with our own things and still get along.

I lost most of my weight in the first 6 months. The last 6 months have seen much slower losses. I'm still chugging along, and will continue to do so to get to my goals.

Today, I feel SO much better than at this time last year. Most of my chronic pain is gone. I'm not forced out of bed because my back is aching in the morning. I now naturally get up earlier anyway, but it's a good thing. I have TONS more energy and have begun hiking and bicycling weekly.

One of the best NSVs is that I'm not hot all the time. I thought I was just one of those people who would ALWAYS be hot, no matter the ambient temperature. Losing weight and getting my blood sugar under control has really helped my body regulate its temperature. I'm not constantly sweating and red faced. I can go outside in the summer without feeling like I'm going to die of heat exhaustion.

My life is better in so many ways, and I'm so grateful to have begun and stuck with keto. It's truly been a life saver for me. I'm off all of my diabetes medications, including insulin. My A1C is still improving, and my Dr is thrilled with my results.

I'm also grateful for my support system. My friends and family have been hugely supportive. My best friend tells me that I've been so successful because I'm so stubborn, but in a good way. LOL! I'll take it! It's true that I've stuck with this for longer than anything else I've tried over the years. I plan to keep it up indefinitely. The online support has also been wonderful, and so helpful as I navigate this new way of life. Thank you everyone!

If you've stuck with me this far, thank you for reading. You, too, can reach your goals! Find what works for you, and stick with it!