You want to lose weight fast because there is something coming up that you want to look good for. But you haven't given yourself enough time to do it the old fashioned way.
You want to feel confident in the way you look and have every right to do so. So what is a quick fix for your problem? Of course, it is the keto diet.
What is the keto diet?
The ketogenic diet is when the body receives little to no carbs forcing it to get it's energy from fat storage. The number is 50 grams of carbohydrates or less a day for the body to become ketogenic. The theory is that you can eat any foods high in fat and protein and still lose weight, as long as the daily carbs intake is less than 50 grams.
​It's a simple straight forward solution that works for many people and is a much better alternative than starving yourself, which I mentioned in my previous article actually makes you gain more fat (link to article, How Starving Yourself Actually Increases Body Fat).
However, as great of a solution this may seem to be, most people get it wrong. Let me start by saying the keto diet it is a very hard diet to maintain. Therefore, it is not a long term solution for most people. One may become easily irritated due to the lack of carbohydrates, which are the body's preferred source of fuel. As a result, when someone comes off this diet, they will eat foods that are high in sugar as a "treat" for their "accomplishment", or just because they are craving sugar. This is where the problem occurs.
Keto done right
Remember, carbohydrates are the body's favourite energy source. When you deprive the body of carbohydrates for prolonged period of time, and then re-introduce them back, the body will try to store as much of it as possible, as fat. As a result, you blow up like a balloon and went through this highly unpleasant, and irritating diet, to end up looking worse than you did before you started it.
So can someone prevent this from happening? I mean at some point one has to eat carbs because they can't be avoided forever. The answer comes from the glycemic index. The glycemic index provides a measure of how quickly blood sugar levels rise after eating a particular type of food relative to the consumption of pure glucose which is set at 100. Simply put, a higher value means that the body will absorb the carbs in that food quicker resulting in the rapid weight gain. Therefore, re-introduce the carbohydrates slowly starting with foods low on the glycemic index and slowly move up day by day.
Foods low on the glycemic index include:
Low fat yogurt (sweetened), peanuts, cherries, grapefruit, chocolate milk, fat free milk, whole wheat spaghetti, apples, pears, ravioli and kidney beans.
Cautions
There are a few things to keep in mind before starting a keto diet. When stored fat is broken down, ketones are produced. However, having a high level of ketones will cause ketoacidosis which may become fatal if not monitored. Although it is more common in diabetics, it does not mean that non diabetics are immune to it,
It's always a good idea to consult a doctor or registered dietician for advice on whether or not a ketogenic diet is right for you, because it isn't for everyone.
What are some fat burning foods?
Whole grains - requires double the amount of calories to digest than refined sugar
Lean Meats - 30% of the calories in meat are required to break it down during digestion
Low fat dairy products
Green tea
Lentils
Hot peppers
Oatmeal
Almonds and other nuts - eat 24 almonds a day to satisfy hunger without overloading on calories
Olive oil
Berries
Eggs
Beans and legumes
Fish
Green vegetables
Peanut butter
Avocados
Parmigiano reggiano cheese
Some tips
Keep your daily calorie intake 500 calories below your maintenance amount. How much is your maintenance amount? Use the calculator below that is found on UltimateFatBurner.com
Add weight lifting to your workout routine to preserve muscle and boost metabolism while dieting
DO NOT STARVE YOURSELF
Stay away from sugary foods and pop
Drink some carbonated water to suppress your appetite