‘I Lost 145 Pounds On The Keto Diet And Never Felt Deprived’

From Women's Health

I always had issues overeating, but since I was an active kid who played sports, I was able to maintain a healthy weight throughout childhood.

That is-until an injury left me inactive and my eating habits caught up with me. Before I knew it, I weighed 260 pounds.

Then, I was hit with something devastating: My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the third time shortly after I graduated from nursing school. She opted out of chemotherapy and radiation, and when she passed away in 2016, I turned to food as comfort. I was 315 pounds at my heaviest in 2017.

A bridesmaid's dress fitting prompted me to make a change.

Two of my close friends were getting married, and I ordered my dress before trying it on. I ordered a few sizes smaller (a size 14) with hopes that it'd motivate me to lose a few pounds.

But I absolutely couldn't fit into it-the seamstress even told me I would need to buy another size 14 so she could sew the two together, essentially making it a size 28. I was mortified; I started my weight-loss journey right then and there.

At first, I followed the weight-loss advice I found online: exercise and eat a low-fat, low-calorie diet. I was trying to eat small meals three times per day, but I was so hungry. Then, a coworker mentioned that the ketogenic diet (a diet high in fat and low in carbs) had worked for her. That night, I did as much research on the keto diet as I could.

The keto diet was the best choice for me-I was floored that I wouldn't have to deprive myself.

I keep my carbs below 20 grams per day, and I eat enough fat that I feel focused and full from meal to meal. I've also incorporated intermittent fasting into my routine: I eat two meals per day, the first at 2 p.m. and the second at 6 p.m.

But honestly, the best part of the keto diet (other than weight loss) is that I've been able to re-incorporate some of my favorite foods (bacon, cheese, steak, chicken wings) into my eating plan, when I never thought I could eat those foods on a diet before. Here's what I typically eat in a day:

• Breakfast: 3 hard boiled eggs, 2 slices of bacon, and a half of an avocado

• Dinner:A chicken Caesar salad, a 7 oz ribeye steak with butter and sour cream

As I lost more weight, I started exercising again.

I was so heavy in the beginning of my weight-loss journey that all I could do was walk. Coming from an athletic background, I was so disappointed in how little I could do.

Still, I downloaded a "couch-to-5k" app and walked five or six days a week. Within the first month I felt comfortable enough to incorporate weight lifting into my regimen.

I went from walking to jogging, and I also incorporated the StairMaster and the elliptical. Eventually, I felt confident enough to join CrossFit. It's helped me get into the best shape I've ever been in, and I'm addicted to getting stronger. I also box and cycle to mix it up and challenge myself.

Once I lost 90 pounds, I created my Instagram account to help me maintain my motivation.

Here's the thing about Instagram: It made my weight-loss journey look quick and easy even though it wasn't. I literally cried through workouts. But as soon as I started posting my photos, I realized that the amount of support and encouragement I was getting was exactly what I needed to continue. I was motivating others, which motivated me! Sharing my journey was the best decision I've ever made.

I've lost 145 pounds so far, and for the first time in my life, dieting doesn't feel like deprivation. I feel the best I've ever felt.

I want women to know that they shouldn't be afraid to share their journeys-the highs and the lows. So many women are going through the exact same challenges with weight loss and we all benefit from each other.

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