Sweet Excuses

Hello there! It has been a minute since I last filled you guys in on our journey with Keto and weight loss.

Over the Summer we had many slip-ups, mostly due to summertime foods: s'mores and tasty restaurants while camping, anniversary spoils and lots of fresh fruit!

But as I look ahead to the Holidays coming up, and they'll be here before we know it, it has me concerned I will make the same excuses to divulge in the delicious festive treats I am so accustomed to eating during the most wonderful time of the year!

I saw myself, easily, slipping back into habits that don't work out well for me in the end. I think we all have a fear of missing out and my stomach says "eat the sugar while you can" but my brain says, what about all the things we just learned, what about what that sugar will do in the long run??

Here's the tricky part, I have still managed to lose some weight over the Summer. It has been in small bits, but for the most part I'm still tracking downwards on the scale, and that is all great, every loss is a win in this case, right? Except, if you remember I am not using our Keto as a diet or weight loss plan. I am using Keto as a lifestyle! I'm trying to remain focused on eliminating toxic and harmful ingredients from my diet, not to look skinny. I'm trying to use this time in our lives to develop healthy habits, so that when children do come along we can educate them about what we put into our bodies and why.

Let's look at it another way. If you decided to cleanse your life from toxic chemicals, you get rid of plastic containers and bags, switch over to using cloth napkins and towels, eliminate toxic household cleaners and soaps and switch over to using clean products. You do this to prevent you and your family from potentially getting cancer or other harmful diseases and to help the environment. Chances are you aren't doing it to look "prettier," or "thinner," you are doing it to prolong your life and feel good on the inside, you're doing it to better the way you live, and that's exactly what this Keto journey has been for us.

It seems that food is a bit trickier to handle, especially with 28 years of eating a certain way! Psychologically it feels harder and I think it has to be because it's a little more work to eat better. It feels overwhelming to start fresh, to change your mindset and to learn that the food industry hides harmful ingredients inside big confusing scientific names on the nutrition labels. But maybe we are used to living in a culture that runs on fumes! Everything is delivered to us fast, we live for fast food, and for frozen meals because it's less work for us. We live in an impatient and "too busy" culture. We worry that we aren't spending enough time with our kids, so we opt for the fast food option. But why not involve your kids in the food making process? Being together in the kitchen, teaching them useful skills while still bonding with them.

I think we've been wired to thrive in the instant gratification. And so, when the weight doesn't melt immediately we figure "what's the point, in trying so hard?" Even worse is the "I look thin and still eat junk, so why change my habits?" I truly believe that what we eat matters, regardless of what our scale tells us or our measuring tape adds up to or even how physically active we are, though that is important for other reasons.

I believe that clean food can taste good, and that it can save lives! So as I look ahead at Halloween candy, Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas goodies, I look at healthier options, that taste just as delicious. I will be sharing some of our favorite treats and meals for the Holiday season once we get closer and show you how delicious and easy simple switches can be to improve your own health!