Losing weight can be challenging, and many people are increasingly turning to the keto diet to hit their goals more quickly. The keto diet is known for its high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating pattern, which can help you lose weight fast and keep it off if you stick to it. The keto diet has become popular over the last decade. It involves eliminating most carbs and consuming large amounts of protein and fat. This can help reverse type 2 diabetes, reduce inflammation and improve cholesterol levels. But before you jump in, it’s helpful to put a plan together first. Following this beginner’s guide on starting the keto diet will give you all the tools needed for success.
Keto Diet Foods
The keto diet is a high fat, low carb, and moderate protein diet that is fairly similar to other diets such as the Atkins or Paleo. Keto diet foods are rich in fats like butter, olive oil, avocado oil, and nuts. They are also high in proteins like meat and eggs.
However, you should avoid processed meats since they contain nitrates that can harm your health if consumed over a long period. The best meats include chicken thighs instead of breasts because they’re cheaper and have less saturated fat.
If you’re on a budget, try eating more ground turkey instead of beef. This allows you to save money while still getting plenty of protein from your food choices each day. It keeps hunger at bay much longer than if all those calories come from carbohydrates alone.
Keto Diet Meal Plan
The Keto Diet is an advanced form of the Paleo diet. This meal plan aims to keep your body in ketosis, which means you are burning stored body fat for energy.
You’ll want to focus on whole foods as much as possible for breakfast and lunch.
For dinner, there are many recipes available online or in any cookbook. For example:
• Steak with Broccoli
• Chicken Salad (without dressing)
Consider Macros and Track Their Intake
Macros, short for “macronutrients” (or large nutrients), are the nutrients your body needs in large amounts. These include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Macros make up the building blocks of your body. They provide energy and fuel every cell in your body with oxygen and nourishment to function efficiently.
Macronutrients are categorized into three groups: carbohydrates (carbs), fats, and proteins. By tracking these macros daily, you can ensure that you’re getting enough of them to meet your dietary needs.
Keto Grocery List
Going keto can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Most importantly, if you’re prepared and know what you can eat. If you don’t, the first few weeks of your diet will be full of confusion and frustration. If you plan to start a keto diet program, follow a keto meal plan for beginners. The guide has a list that will guide you through starting a ketogenic diet. The list will help you start a ketogenic diet by suggesting the foods to avoid and foods to eat in moderation. In moderation means something different for everyone. For example, if someone says they only eat carbs at night, then maybe eating carbs in moderation would mean eating them only at dinner.
Starting a New Diet
Starting a new diet can be challenging but easier with a plan. The first step to starting the keto diet is planning your meals and snacks for the week ahead. This way, you won’t have to worry about what to eat or where to get your next meal if you’re between grocery trips.
The second step is tracking your progress with an app like MyFitnessPal or Lose It!. These apps are great for tracking macros (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) and calories. They also allow you to set weight loss or muscle gain/loss goals. They can provide accurate data based on how much energy was consumed versus how much energy was burned off through exercise during that period.
Always make sure that your meals have enough protein. It would help if you had protein to build strong muscles while losing fat; therefore, having enough protein will help ensure this happens effectively without creating any muscle imbalance issues later on down the road when things start getting difficult again due to lack of nutrition on one side versus too much nutrition on another side which ends up working against itself causing problems further down the road.
Conclusion
If you’re ready to start the keto diet, the first step is to find a plan that will work for you. Whether tracking your macros or following an online meal plan, it’s important to have a clear strategy before you start. If you need help figuring out what works best for you, check out our guide on choosing a keto diet plan.
