As I am sure you are aware, Kendall and I embarked on a health journey in April of this year. We included our husbands and dove head first into a very fad-diet called Keto. We didn’t agree with the typical Keto methods of gut-bombs, greasy bacon, and butter dense foods. Instead we opted for a more clean version of Keto called Mediterranean style Keto.
*see Kendall and Shari’s original post here.
That is where we began. But the last five months have been a journey to say the least, we have learned so much about food, our bodies, and what we’ve been programmed to believe. I hope this post inspires you, educates you, and makes you want to take a stand for your own health. The shocking (but not really that shocking) reality is that we are set up in our culture and society to fail at taking initiative for our own health. Processed foods line our grocery aisles, we stop at drive thru restaurants to be more efficient as we go about our day, we don’t prioritize our health, we are trained to have our health be an afterthought, and we believe that if we accomplish some great weight loss that it is something we are expected to effortlessly maintain. As someone who has been anti-diet and enjoys good food, I have played into those cultural norms for too long and my health has suffered as a result.
This summer hasn’t been easy on our clean Keto journeys. Kendall had a revolving door of guests in her home and I (Shari) have been away from my home the majority of the past two months traveling for work and with family. Look- we aren’t complaining… the reality is that having back-to-back guests and trips is hard to juggle while also trying to take ownership of your own health and health goals, whatever they may be. Kendall and I both agreed that we would go easy on ourselves but not lose sight of our health in the process. We both have indulged, enjoyed, and discovered new food in the past five months. But mostly we have kept our communication open and have ended up breaking down a few myths that we have been trained to believe.
What we’ve learned:
There have been quite a few myths that we’ve had to de-bunk for ourselves and anyone asking us about “Keto”. Keto isn’t just for weight loss. However, switching over to fat-burning does make the fat and bloat come off. Speaking of fat, a lot of people say that you have to eat butter and bacon when on Keto but that isn’t the fat that is helpful for fueling your body. We recommend fat from avocados, wild-caught fish, grass-fed organic meat, pasture-raised organic eggs, raw aged cheeses, nuts and seeds, nut butters, grass-fed butter/ghee, olives, coconuts, dark chocolate, and healthy oils. You don’t have to be scared of fats like our low-fat culture has tried to project on us. Instead use those fats to fuel your brain and body. THEN guess what? BONUS! They keep you fuller longer. This is another great side effect that leads me into my next point.
When you eat organic proteins, veggies, and good fat you end up getting full quickly. You no longer have to “finish everything on your plate” because you most likely won’t be able to. I repeat, your body will feel full. I used to give my leftovers to my husband but even he says, “No I am full, I can’t even finish my own.” Despite what we have been taught, we CAN have leftovers and moderation is key to optimal health.
One of my favorite side effects of going Keto was the end of my sugar cravings! Yes, the END OF SUGAR CRAVINGS (yelling it for the people in the back). I no longer look at ice cream and want, no, NEED it. I’ve regained the power to say NO to sweets because I quite simply don’t want them or crave them. I pay close attention to how food makes me feel. Recently I was at my parents and my mom made a blueberry peach pie with homemade ice cream. You better believe I had a slice and a scoop. I didn’t crave it or need it, but I chose to indulge in it and it tasted lovely. I didn’t overeat and I felt fine afterwards but I really paid attention to my body and how it was feeling. There are simply some things I can’t eat, like beans. I will instantly feel bloated but Kendall can eat beans with no issues. Ultimately, be aware of your body and how you react to food. The goal should be to fuel and nourish your body, not treat it like a garbage can.
Lastly, I have learned a lot about what it means to be in Ketosis. At the beginning of Keto, I was in ketosis which means I kept my carbs extremely low so that my body would burn through its glucose storage and switch over to burning fat. However, I eventually phased out of ketosis because I incorporated more carbs here or there and my glucose storage was higher. I don’t test to see if I am in Ketosis anymore. I pay attention to how I feel based on the food that I am eating and focus on keeping my sugar and carbs “low”. It isn’t a perfect science and I believe we naturally cycle in and out of ketosis if we are eating what is in season like our ancestors did before us. Read Keto Diet by Dr. Josh Axe to learn more about Ketosis and why it isn’t necessary to be in all the time.
Shari’s progress photos:
A friend told me a few days into Keto that I should take a photo to help me track my progress visually. I wasn’t a huge before and after person but for my own records I agreed that it might be nice to have some progress images. I am so thankful I took her advice and took pictures whenever I thought about it. I could see the bloat decreasing, I could see my body firming, and my clothes loosening. I don’t share these progress photos to amaze you or make you feel inferior. I share them to encourage you to seek non-scale accomplishments. Please note: Kendall didn’t take photos but has seen a significant change in her body both on the scale, her measurements, and in toning up (thanks in part to her also working out about 5 days a week). In all the photos I am wearing the same workout tank top and leggings (from left to right April 2021, June 2021, July 2021, September 2021).
Next steps:
As we deviate away from “Keto”, Kendall and I both are invested in our own health, staying consistent with less sugar and carbs, eating whole nourishing foods, and finding more clean ingredients. Personally, I am going to start trying to cut our seed oils because *news flash* they aren’t good for us! I’m also finding ways to increase my protein levels because I just found out how much protein I should be eating to support my lean body mass. Each of us are different in that area. I’m also learning what I have intolerances to, getting my blood work done, and going against the societal norm to prioritize my body and my health because…
No one is going to put your health first but YOU!
We hope you have enjoyed our update. Although this post was written by Shari it was edited by Kendall, just like this entire blog it is the best of both of us. We would love to chat, feel free to find us on Instagram @thesaltyexchange or email us thesaltyexchange@gmail.com.
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