Oh Ketosis, how we love you! It’s the dream state we want our body to be in to achieve the most results. Let’s dive a little further into this process, how to maintain it and why keto will become a new way of life for you, and you’ll never look back!
Simply put, Ketosis is the name for the continuous metabolic process of burning fat as a source of energy. Once carbohydrates are cut from the diet, the body stops relying on glucose as its principal energy source. Instead, it gets to work on burning stored fats. A one way ticket to shedding those pesky pounds!
This process allows for a buildup of the three key fatty acids found in fat, acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone (brain exploding emoji). These acids are called “Ketones” within the body, and are made in the liver from the breakdown of fats. Usually this process occurs overnight or in periods of dieting or fasting. Ketones are the better alternative source of energy to power our brains and body versus sugars found in carbohydrates (the devil emoji) that over time can lead to insulin resistance.
Why is ketosis so important? And what’s wrong with burning glucose?
Having the body function through the state of ketosis lets your system burn its stored fat, which is the key to achieving weight loss. Yay! Normally when the body relies on glucose from carbohydrates as its main energy source, it takes a lot longer to burn fat. This is because many carbs contain excessive amounts of sugar. It slows down the metabolic process and can be harder to maintain steady weight loss progress.
But the benefits of ketosis don’t stop there. Ketosis can also assist in balancing blood sugar levels, mental clarity, and more energy for physical movement. I don’t know about y’all, but sign me up for all of the above!
How do you know if you’re in ketosis?
The most accurate way of knowing your body is in ketosis is to test your ketones using a blood-testing meter or a breathalyzer. You’re in ketosis once your ketone levels are at or above 0.5 mmol/L. However, there is a much more affordable (and needle-free!) alternative, using urine test strips that can be found on Amazon. (See link below) These color coded indicators can detect the ketone levels in your body easily, quickly and accurately. This will help keep you motivated and accountable, by being able to physically track progress!
Of course within your body you will physically feel some changes. I’m not gonna sugar coat it, initially they may not be pretty! Like anything in life, the things worth having don’t always come easily, some experience dehydration, a little stomach upset, fatigue and bad breath. (See our article on keto flu!) But don’t worry, there are some small remedies to aid these symptoms but the positive benefits include weight loss and improved concentration! So although the transition can be tough, hopefully the benefits will outweigh the costs and side effects!
How do you maintain ketosis?
The key is sticking strictly to your diet. You can download a full list of the foods you can have here. I found making the change to Keto with one of my besties was very helpful. We were able to support and encourage one another. And let’s be real, this way there’s more accountability than going it alone. Perform regular testing to check your progress. The keto diet is a big lifestyle change, but we promise you it will be worth it and we’re here to support you all the way. You got this!
