I hope you enjoyed yourself just as much as I did over the holiday season. Family, friends and a whole lot of food! It’s almost impossible to not have gained a few pounds over the last few weeks, and I don't blame you! With so many parties and delicious options it’s very easy to lose track of how much you’re actually eating, or weight your gaining for that matter. Which may lead many of you to be in the exact same spot I am today. Looking for a new diet for this brand new year to cut down this extra 10 pounds I gained (could be more, I still have some leftovers in the fridge ;)). I’ve done plenty of research to find the diet that would work most effectively, and quickly for me and stumbled across plenty of options. One that stuck out to me very early on was the Keto diet. I had heard about its growing popularity across the country but never really looked into what it was or what it’s possible benefits are. What I discovered was that the Keto diet is perfect for my goals of weight loss. But how? 

The keto diet is based around transforming the way your body creates fuel for itself. Typically your body gathers its energy from carbs and sugar from your diet. For the keto diet you’re specifically looking to remove both of those things from your diet, almost entirely. This depletes your stored glucose (also known as glycogen) and your blood sugar and insulin levels will begin to decrease (Awesome for diabetics!). Your body will naturally start to look for an alternate source of fuel to power you through your everyday life. This is where you can turn your body into a fat-burning machine by adopting the keto diet. With no fuel from carbs or sugars, your body will turn to its fat deposits to fuel itself, or a process known as ketosis. In ketosis you’re retraining your body to find other, more valuable sources of energy to fuel you through your day, while also burning fat in your body like you never have before. This often leads to very quick and effective weight loss to help you hit those new goals.

A big worry for many who consider starting a keto diet is if they are cutting all the carbs out of their diet wont they always be hungry? Won't they be lacking energy to get through their day? The high-fat focus of the diet is more satiating, which means you’ll get fuller faster and stay fuller longer throughout your day. One of the reasons people love keto is because they don’t feel hungry or deprived like they would with most other diets, even though they’re actively consuming fewer calories. Keto has gained its cult-like following for this exact reason: it makes you feel fantastic both mentally and physically. Fat burning is just one of the many benefits of ketosis that improves overall health and makes it an effective tool for weight loss. Taking on the keto diet is known to increase energy levels, both physical and mental, that can lead to having fewer cravings, lowering caloric intake, helping with self-control and inducing more physical activity. 

Aside from being amazing for weight loss, pushing your body into ketosis has some additional benefits for your long term health. Aside from being great for fat burning, helping with both mental and physical energy, and helping quench your hunger it can help with some more serious conditions. Ketosis can lead to steady blood sugar levels from little to no intake of refined carbs making ketosis beneficial for many people with diabetes looking to keep their insulin levels down (make sure to consult your primary physician regarding specifics). The keto diet is also known to lower both your triglycerides and cholesterol levels, which will help you avoid heart disease!

Although the keto diets is known for its weight loss ‘magic’, the keto diet requires accurate and diligent tracking and adjustment to work effectively. You cannot just add foods with more ‘healthy’ fats in them into your diet and expect results. The transition from your old eating habits to that of keto will not be an easy transition (get ready to leave behind PBH Paleo desserts and start adding our PBH keto desserts!).  It will take some time for you to fully adjust, but don't be deterred! You will need a balance of the right macros, realistic goal setting and tracking to get you closer to achieving your weight loss goals. You won't be able to hit your goals without being focused and committed to your new diets restrictions. It’s important to keep this focus strong to help get you to where you want to be! 

I know first hand how difficult it can be to have to give up some of the foods you’re so used to eating through your old diet. I miss donuts badly! Although the keto diet is often seen as your typical diet full of restrictions, there’s a lot to play with that are within the parameters of keto that can still aid you in reaching ketosis and burning that fat. I know if you’ve taken on the keto diet you’ve been missing out on desserts specifically, as it’s so difficult to find keto desserts that fit well with the typical required macros. Thankfully, here at PBH foods we can help you with your transition into the world of fat, without leaving your favorite desserts behind. We found the perfect niche here with keto desserts that help you stay well within your daily macros, while also making them absolutely delicious!  Click here to view our entire line of delicious keto desserts that can be delivered right to your door!