I can confirm it. After about 10 weeks of Keto dieting, I hit my target weight. I lost 16 pounds, weighing in at 174 now, just beneath my target. I am convinced that if you commit to it, you can do it too!
Now, is it easy? No! Is it worth it? In my opinion, yes! Here is a look back at my journey to date:
After the wonderfully tasty meal I discussed before that was carbohydrate joy, my wife and I hit the Keto lifestyle hard. We fasted intermittently from about 7pm to somewhere between noon and 3 pm every single day. This was not as difficult as it might sound. If you take to heart the biggest hunger spike in the morning is simply a spike in cortisol (the body’s typical stress hormone that rises every morning), you can mind-over-matter your way through this. I consumed a calorie free electrolyte drink every morning before my coffee. I recommend Dr. Berg’s electrolytes (no affiliate). Then I would have coffee, regularly with a splash of heavy cream. This process really helped me through the fasting. By the end of the first week, it was no big deal to wait through the morning to eat. And I had no fuzzy brain or struggle with fatigue through that process.
By far, the most challenging part of the journey was the end of the first week. I encountered the Keto fog, a phenomenon commonly discussed as the body transitions from primarily burning glucose to ketosis. I felt lethargic, drowsy, and devoid of motivation for approximately a day and a half. Anticipating this phase, as my wife had already experienced it days before, I found myself in a similar state of discomfort. There were discussions about abandoning our goal in exchange for a comforting cinnamon roll or a slice of fresh sourdough. Yet, we persevered. The initial significant weight loss experienced in the first week truly acted as a beacon of hope during this trying period.
The Keto fog passed, and I continued with the new lifestyle.
Eventually I could wait until 2 or 3 o’clock each afternoon to eat my first meal of the day. I would precede this with my greens drink (nameless, but if you reach out, I will recommend it). Lunch meals typically consisted of a large salad with some type of protein, olive oil, and cheese. I ate until I was satisfied. This process was accompanied by moderate physical work most weeks in some fashion. My job requires a fair bit of driving, but allows me to move my body regularly too.
Dinners took a little time to figure out, but we have settled on some delicious meals that are Keto friendly. These included basil pesto grilled chicken, romaine lettuce tacos with guacamole and salsa, spaghetti squash with meat sauce, homemade grilled steak, and homemade beef and pork sausage. We consumed large amounts of cheese and salad with these meals.
In tracking macros, I discovered that I could cut my carbs below 25grams pretty consistently and eat fewer calories than I typically would. I would still feel full at the end of each meal.
While my body craved desperately to eat later in the evening after dinner (old habits of snacking) or to include something with flour or sugar, my wife and I encouraged each other to prevail week upon week.
The most revolutionary item we discovered was the Keto fat bomb. This is pure joy in an ongoing landscape of fats and greens. Basically, it is a ball containing loads of peanut butter and cocoa powder with a little Keto friendly sweetener. I highly recommend this treat, as we would consume between 2 and 4 some days in an effort to stay strong. They were very satisfying! Add this if you really struggle with cravings during the day!
Week by week, the weight continued to melt away until I reached my goal. It feels highly rewarding to accomplish something difficult like this. If you want to lose weight, feel physically better, or achieve an accomplishment of which you can be proud, I highly recommend giving the keto diet your best effort.
Will it be difficult? Yes!
But in the words of a moderately famous philosopher, “Hard… is Good.” Doing difficult things, aiming upwards, accomplishing something provides direction and meaning in life. So don’t just do this to improve your physical situation. Do it because it is good for your mental and emotional situation too! Best wishes in your journey! I will be back soon to share more of my thoughts, maybe some recipes, and other ideas that I feel may benefit you.
Until then, best wishes on your journey!
Keto Life in Colorado 
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