I’ve started keto three times in my life and have lost weight successfully each time. I didn’t have a problem staying with it once I got past the first couple of weeks because my cravings disappeared and I was inspired by the weight loss. My biggest problem was going on vacation & allowing myself to eat anything, or allowing myself a ‘treat day’, which turned into a ‘treat six months’ and about 50 pounds gained.
These ‘allowances’ usually came after many months on keto because I thought I could handle eating some carbs for a while and just stop eating them when I was ready, like turning off a switch. I can’t. :/
Here’s what has worked for me this time:
—Decide. Decide that you do not eat sugar, grains, etc. and do not negotiate with yourself over it.
Think of it like this: Do you have to negotiate with yourself to not rob a bank every time you walk in one? Probably not. Why? Because you are not a bank robber. Period.
In the same way decide that keto is the way you will live, that it is what your body needs to feel and be healthy and energetic. Period. Do not negotiate. Decide.
— Make it a habit. Sometimes it takes longer to make things a habit, and I’m sure each person is different, but perhaps if you could stick it out for, say 6 months, it would be an ingrained habit and you wouldn’t be as tempted to do that negotiating (“I’ll just rob one bank – what can that hurt, right?”).
—Take it one day at a time. Promise yourself one more day, then do that day. When that day is done, see if you can make it just ONE MORE DAY. Anyone can stick to an eating plan for ONE DAY.
— Keep reading books about health and fitness, or listening to audiobooks. I listen to audiobooks a lot, and a lot of them are health-related. They remind me why I made this decision, of the health benefits beyond losing weight. My reading list.
— Poison. When you see a bag of sugar or a doughnut or piece of cake or loaf of bread, envision it with a skull and cross bones on it.
I know some people out there are gonna go crazy over this, but honestly, to me, sugar/flour are poison. I need to treat them like poison, and it helps me to envision that emblazoned on those foods/packages.
— Set goals. Not so much scale goes, as fitness goals like be able to run a 5k or improve your time, or lift XX pounds or walk five miles.
I like to set goals using old clothes that I want to fit back into like this. Once you set the goals, take pictures, make it visual, and share it with the world! My goals.
— Make sure you don’t get hungry - EVER. Eat plenty of fats. Have snacks available that are keto-friendly. If you feel a craving, eat things that are high in fat to help sate it.
Of all these, I really think the most important one is to DECIDE who you are gonna be. Maybe it would help to make a list of the things that being fit and healthy would bring to your life, the WHY! Look at your parents or other older relatives, are they suffering from illnesses that you could avoid? Do you have children that you would like to be able to play with or do you plan on having children one day? You really need to find the WHY and have it meaningful to your life, then decide to be that person.
I think this is true of any fitness journey, not just keto, and only you can do that.
Good luck. I hope some of this helped. {hugs}
