- I lost 40 pounds a year on the ketogenic diet, but then I wanted to quit.
- I used “Maintenance Keto” to stop without regaining weight.
- Maintenance keto is a period of time to increase the number of carbohydrates and reduce fat consumption.
When i started
Ketogenic diet
I was the heaviest person ever.
By the end of 12 months, I had lost 40 pounds. The ketogenic diet was easier than I expected, and I was always tired of eating my favorite foods.
Weight loss was my first goal, but a year later I became unrecognizable and started losing curves. My dilemma was how to not regain weight if I quit keto.
So, when my body feels healthy and strong, I consult with a nutrition expert to gradually increase the number of carbs to reduce fat consumption and in the transition from following a strict ketogenic diet. We have started a version of “Maintenance Keto”.
Some people choose to continue using keto-friendly foods, but green vegetables increase carbs. Others decide to take food out of the keto and stick to less than 50 grams of carbs. Some people use this period to move to an unrestricted, fully balanced macrobiotic.
It worked for me, but it’s important to note that the ketogenic diet isn’t ideal for everyone and can be risky. These are the steps I took in a network of professionals while listening to my body. It is important to consult your doctor before making major dietary changes.
I used 6 months of maintenance to move away from my diet so that I could maintain a healthy weight
The transition is because I was following Cleanketo (a version of the diet that focuses on supplying monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats to macrofat counts, most of which are fish, avocados, seeds, etc.) I think it was easy.
Instead of living on a convenient macro number to increase fat intake, I listened to my body, balanced healthy fat with carbohydrates from vegetables, and supplemented my daily food intake. ..
In the first few months of keto maintenance, I started increasing the number of carbs.
In strict keto, my carb count was 20-30 grams per day (mainly from green vegetables). In the first month of maintenance keto, we increased our carbohydrate intake to 45-50 grams daily and reduced our fat intake to close the gap. I kept the protein intake and the food menu the same.
I focused on eating more green vegetables while minimizing the addition of extra healthy fat to my diet. I still cooked in oil and ate fatty pieces of meat, but cut off fat bombs or extra avocados and nuts.
For 2-4 months, I was consuming about 50-60 grams of carbohydrates a day. We also tried fruits and vegetables that are high in carbohydrates, such as pumpkins and carrots.
In the 5th and 6th months of maintenance, I stopped counting macros and started opening my diet to more foods, including a few dairy products.I started to follow
Paleo diet
Consists of meat, nuts, seeds, healthy oils, and produce (including most fruits and vegetables).
From the 6th month, I started eating the foods I ate before Keto and saw how they interact with my body.
For example, a year and a half after sugar-free, the first bite of a traditional milk chocolate bar with sugar cane sugar tasted terribly sweet. I couldn’t believe I ate sugar for such a long time without seeing how sweet it was. My favorite food was always potatoes, but when I ate it 18 months later, it tasted dull at first and my heart ached.
In the sixth month, I took in elements of keto, pareo, and my taste and aversion to new foods and made them my own. I also learned why I felt better after eating and why I felt full and tired.
Overall, Maintenance Keto worked for me and my lifestyle
After taking Keto for 12 months and maintenance Keto for 6 months, I lost 40 pounds and fell in love with my feelings with peace of mind (apart from my body image).
Between 5 and 6 months I gained a few pounds. But for the next two years, my weight usually stayed in the same 5 pound range. As someone who can consistently fluctuate £ 5 a day, I couldn’t believe it.
At that point, my body was exactly where it wanted.