Like many Baby Boomers and older adults, I’m curious about a lot of fitness and diet programs. After all, there’s something new and exciting all the time! And the food plan that’s getting all the attention now is the keto diet. In fact, I’m giving a two-hour presentation about this regimen in November through the California State University, San Marcos, Osher program.
I met some of the attendees for the upcoming event recently, and several asked me if I’ve tried the diet. My first reaction was “of course not.” Then I realized I could give a much better talk if I could draw on personal experience.
So…my husband and I are giving the keto (ketogenic) diet a test drive for one month. We’re on day #7.
What is the keto diet?
The ketogenic diet has been around for almost a hundred years. It was first popularized as a well-documented program to help children with epilepsy.
A keto diet is high in fat, low in carbohydrates, and moderate in protein (the typical American diet is relatively high in carbohydrates, low in fat, with moderate protein). Because we primarily use carbs for energy, this program forces the body to burn fats instead. As a result, evidence shows that keto diets can be effective for weight loss, reduction of heart disease risk factors, and type 2 diabetes.
- What do I like about it?
–I don’t have to watch my calories.
–I don’t have to worry about fat intake (I can add heavy cream to my coffee). - What makes me uneasy about it?
–I’m cutting out entire groups of nutritious foods—fruits and whole grains.
–I’m eating a high-fat diet. It’s going to be high in saturated fats, also.
–I’m falling back on meats for satisfying foods that don’t have any carbs (mind you, we were practically vegetarian a week ago).
–I will eventually return to my regular eating habits; what will happen to any progress I might make during the next few weeks? If I lose weight, will I quickly regain it? Time will tell.
If you’ve seen any of my past 180+ blogs, read my book, or attended my presentations, you know I recommend a plant-based diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and moderate amounts of lean protein sources and low-fat dairy foods. I grew up as a dietitian in a time when we told patients to limit egg consumption to only two per week.
So jumping into the keto world has created a real sense of cognitive dissonance. It just seems wrong, like I’m sleeping with the enemy! But we’re committed to 31 days of keto.
In preparation of the program, my husband and I both had health parameters measured (lab work, body weight, waist circumference).
I’ll keep you all posted as to progress, so stay tuned!
For information about the best food plan for your fitness journey, give me a call!
We can discuss some practical tips and discover if any of my programs or classes are a good fit for you.
If you’d like to schedule that call with me, just CLICK THIS LINK, and let me know in the message that you would like a 1-on-1 call with me right away and I will be in touch to schedule that – oh, and leave me your phone number in there too since email is not as reliable as it used to be! Thanks.
Lisa Teresi Harris is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer and author of the book Building Your Enduring Fitness. A certified Geri-Fit Instructor, she helps Boomers and seniors to regain and keep muscle strength, mobility, and energy.
Contact Lisa to inquire about a customized, in-home fitness program for you or a loved one.