Can You Keto on Vacation??

How to Keto on Vacation

Well, hopefully someone will have a magic pill to give us the resolve to do it. 😊 But, in all seriousness, the more I Keto, the better I get at it. I travel quite a bit with my husband. Typically, I just determine I’m not going to concern myself with the program and jump back on when I get home. The reality of that? It’s much harder than just staying on it while vacationing!

I’m a foodie! A lot of my travel fun is finding those little gems in the area I’m visiting. Sometimes there are specialty foods or great recipes the area is known for. That is where the hard decisions come in. How much will it affect the experience?

Let me give you a perfect example from this weekend. We visited the Taos Pueblo. The local Indian Pueblos are known for their fry bread. I made the decision early on that I was going to have some fry bread. I knew it would more than likely throw me out of ketosis, so I decided I would also have a margarita the same day. 😋

Let’s talk about that drinking. Many of us like to have some drinks while on vacation. Can I do that on Keto? Absolutely!  Pure spirits have 0 carbs! What you have to watch out for are those mixers. Obviously stay away from the fruity mixes. The biggest area most mess up is thinking there are no carbs in tonic water. WRONG! Tonic water is full of sugar, so you have to avoid that. Instead order your spirit with soda water and a lemon or lime. 0 carbs. But, there’s another issue that comes with drinking alcohol and Keto. Many of us have sluggish livers. All the years of sugar and wrong fat abuse have done some damage. But it’s damage that can be repaired by the Keto diet. So be careful with the alcohol as it can set back the liver cleansing. Nurse that one drink alllll night!

I’m no expert. I’m just experiencing like you. I have victories. I have set backs. But the most important decision I make every time is to continue on in what I’ve been called. 1 year. Giving it my best. Giving it my all. 

Keto on...

1 week down...51 to go...Keto on!!

As I sit on my lanai…in JULY no doubt…bacon in the oven, coffee next to me, I’m musing over this past week. My first week back into full-on keto. So go ahead and ask me…how was it? How are you? I know I could give you all the positive, it’s so amazing, love this way of eating vibes. And even though it is somewhat true, I’m going to lay it out as it is. But read to the end..that’s where the good news is!

Any time you decide to change your unhealthy habits, it’s never easy. If someone tells you it’s the easiest thing they’ve ever done, they are either 1. lying or 2. not really making a change. Adapting to a keto lifestyle can be a challenge. My body craved sugar! My mind loved sugar! But it is poison to the body. So, when you go off it, the body must purge the poison!

This week consisted of headaches, body aches, fatigue and even some nausea. Sound like the flu?? Well, in a small way it is. The flu is your body reacting to a virus that has attacked it. It’s doing what it can to help eliminate it. When the body can’t quite do the work on its own, we head to a doctor and get some meds to help. Keto flu is similar in that the body is trying to get rid of what’s attacked it. The sugar, the carbs, the chemicals. But, instead of going to the doc for a prescription, go to the right foods to medicate.

Seven days into it and I must say, I feel so much better! Heck, I felt better after day 1. Sugar does not make your body feel better, it makes your mind feel better – temporarily. My stomach does not feel bloated, my joints are not AS achy. These are the things I must remember and focus on as the days get tough.

Scott left yesterday afternoon. Those are the hard times for me. Times in the house alone. Lonely. Bored. Food as my friend. In order to fight a battle, one must be prepared!

1. Don’t have ANY junk in your house! It makes it easier for me to resist, but I’ve been known to get in the car and go find what I want
2. Have options ready! I had cookie dough fat bombs ready to go and they knocked those wicked thoughts right out of my body! That 7-8 o’clock time when all I can think about is popcorn and cookies! 1 fat bomb. 2 bites. All it took.  

So, be prepared to fight the battle. Be prepared for a little pain, taking a few punches, getting a few bruises. But be battle ready. Have your weapons laid out. Food prepped. Meals planned. And most importantly consistent prayers to the Commander. God wants you to live your best life, your healthiest life. Don’t leave Him out of the journey.

Now for the good news. First 7 days – 5 pounds and 3 inches lost!! I know it’s week 1 and most of that is water, but I’ll take it! I also know it’s more about keeping my health, keeping my youth and living my best. Knowing I accomplished that this week is gold!! Until next Monday my friends….keto on!!!

How Will I Feel in a Year??

Often, we don’t like to put ourselves “out there.” If we keep our goals and struggles to ourselves, then when we fail, only we know. But, unless you are an extremely self-motivated person, I’d say that doesn’t work for you. I know it doesn’t work for me.  So as I embark on this 1 year journey, I’d love to take you with me.  Selfishly, it’s to help me and keep me motivated, but I hope it helps motivate you to step into a lifestyle of health. These “Monday Musings” will be used just for that.

“It’s get healthy to lose weight, not lose weight to get healthy.” – Dr. Eric Berg

Those are the words for my motivation at this point. I’m now 54 years old. Officially in my MID 50’s. It sneaks up on you! I still remember my late 40’s and how I kept telling myself I was going to lose weight and get in shape before I turned 50. I think at 49 ½ I started trying to put that into action. The problem was I didn’t really know what to do. I tried the typical “diet” plan, started walking and eventually “running”. Did I lose some weight? Sure. Did I lose a lot? Nope. Did I secure a lifestyle? Not even close. So, I ended up right back to where I started!

I’d heard about keto several years back, even toyed around with trying it, but never fully embraced it. Then the beginning of this year, a cousin introduced me to Dr. Berg. He has many short videos that are a wealth of information. So, I jumped on the keto wagon. I had a goal – Haiti. I needed to shed some pounds and inches and feel better before I went to live on a boat for a week! It was amazing! I felt so much better. I was losing some pounds, losing more inches. Joint pain was going away, injured neck pain was much less, more energy, just over all felt better.

Then I passed the goal and failed to set the next one. I had some pizza. I had some donuts. My “crack” addiction came right back. So, this is where you come into my life. Where I tell you my goals and you hold me accountable – if you choose to accept the challenge. I have 1 year until I am 55 years old. The world has made that the official age of old. Retirement communities, restaurant discounts, AARP… I want to hit that age in the best shape of my life! Sure, I’d love to lose a few pounds, but more than that I want to be healthy.

If you would like to embark on the journey with me, I’d love to have you. I’d encourage you to first find Dr. Berg on YouTube and start at the beginning of his videos. Then google Naomi Whittle and read up on her info on Autophagy: Intermittent Fasting and Protein Cycling (IFPC).

https://www.naomiwhittel.com/autophagy-intermittent-fasting-protein-cycling-ifpc/ That’s what I’m studying now and adding to my lifestyle. And, if you feel real adventurous, watch “The Magic Pill” on YouTube or Netflix. It just might change your life!

Thanks for being here with me. Whether you join me on the keto venture, or just read and encourage me, I’m glad you’re here.

Here’s to the next year of health!!