So I tried Ketogenic Diet – Prologue

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Sharing your life with a talented nutritionist is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because she can tell you how to eat better. A curse, because she can tell you how to eat better, too. I come from a far away land where food isn’t categorized as complex carbohydrates or nutrient-dense, more as “yummy”.

Yet, I have to concede to her, drop my weapons, admit the obvious. Years of sedentary lifestyle and carelessness about my diet have worn me down. It is not hopeless ! No. There is ways to turn it around, by changing habits, and aiming for a better quality of life. 

Today is the first day of my ketogenic adventure. I am going to follow her advices blindly, re-engineer my meals and lift myself from this so comfortable computer chair for some outdoor activities. ‘How hard can it be’, I asked ? Not sure I was prepared for the answer.

The battle plan

From my understanding, not being an expert myself, the idea is to remove most, if not all of sugar intake, to force the body into using fat as a source of energy. ‘It sounds brilliant on paper’, I thought, as I enjoy the occasional chocolate bar or carbonated unhealthy drink, but could totally live without it. Oh, how wrong I was…

The list of my new diet-conscious enemies wouldn’t stop growing. And for a brief moment, I had doubts. 

cat, funny, goofy face
No Sugar ? Why Though ?

Once the junk food was eliminated, I realized it was just a beginning. A non-exhaustive list of the things I have to bid farewell to include, pasta and potatoes, rice, bread (if my ancestors see this, forgive me), most of the fruits, be aware of carrots and tomatoes sugar content … 

But wait. Alcohol results in the fermentation, total or partial, of sugar … Right ? My eyebrows arched at the thought, the delicate fragrance of vanilla and banana of a well aged rum, materializing out of thin air to tease my nostrils. 

I see it as a necessary sacrifice. Further than the pleasure of sipping a glass of St-Emilion, on the horizon, far away, I can see it. The goal to achieve, the promised land. A change, but for the best.

Not all clouds are grey

Of course, leaving behind all those delicious treats come with advantages. Or it wouldn’t be worth it. Other than a general increase and consistency in my levels of energy through the day, a regulation of my voracious appetite, and all those health benefits, it was a peek at my new diet that finally convinced me. Yes, in case it wasn’t obvious yet, I love gastronomy.

Like a kid on Christmas Day opening eagerly his presents, my eyes were shinier than stars when my better half presented me the Book. A compendium of recipes in which one can find, the “Breakfast Lasagna”, “Bacon Wrapped Feta” and other “Chicken Avocado Roulade”.

Yes. Avocado will become my best friend, a chance I absolutely love it. And cheese, oh .. Without bread, admitted, but it sounds manageable. In the end, what I was anticipating as a complete deprivation of food appears on a much different light, now.

horizontal, pan, weigh
It is all about finding balance

When I heard about diets in the past, I was always picturing this gloomy plate, with two wrinkled, steamed vegetables and the depressed human being behind it.

After all, the word “diet” is not associated with mourning. It is just a change of habits. Listening to your body, instead of attempting to make it obey your commands. 

And by doing that, the relationship you have with your lifelong flesh vessel, can only be strengthened.

Conclusion

As I am writing those words now, I have near me a bowl half filled with plain yogurt and sparse wild berries. It is a first step, I know the road is long and manifold temptations await on each curves. Somehow, I really feel like this is a right path. I have never really cared about nutrition, but it was thoroughly explained to me, and it does make sense.

Not only I have the desire to correct my life habits, it is a bit of a scientific experiment too. This is one of the reasons I decided to document my adventure, the effects this drastic change will have on my body and psyche. A way to add the last brick to my motivation, already well built up by my entourage.

I will see you next week for a first appraisal. Meanwhile, I am going to craft a fake idol out of soda cans and cookies packaging, and sacrifice-recycle it on the altar of Nutrition, as a protection against sushi craving.

4 thoughts on “So I tried Ketogenic Diet – Prologue”

  1. Really enjoyed the reading so far.
    It will be worth it.
    You should post pictures of your progress. Pictures of what you are eating would also help.
    🙂

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