Standard American Diet vs Ketogenic Diet by Joy Sypher

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Standard American Diet vs Ketogenic Diet

I used to consume a Standard American Diet that was filled with unhealthy foods and loaded with carbs. I ate around 520 grams of carbs and 3300 calories daily, which showed in my overall health and energy levels. It's no surprise that I didn't realize how high my daily carb intake was until I added it all up.

Oh, I tried weight loss programs with point systems and meetings, but that never worked for me. Calorie restriction eating plans left me feeling starved and deprived, leading me to give up after just one day. I tried the 3-day rice diet, cabbage soup diet, liquid meal replacement diet, and many others, but none of them worked.

My typical day looked like many others, I'm sure. On my way to work, I'd stop by the local overpriced but very popular coffee shop and get a large mocha iced blended coffee with a slice of pumpkin bread. Pumpkin is a vegetable, right?

* Large mocha iced blended coffee with a slice of pumpkin bread: 54g carbs, 370 calories (coffee); 61g carbs, 390 calories (pumpkin bread)

By mid-morning, I'd be hungry again. No wonder all I had was a slice of pumpkin bread, and it wasn't that big. I'd head to the break room and grab a donut, after all, I ate veggies for breakfast, so I deserved a treat. Knowing that the donut won't fill me up, I'd also get a granola bar from the vending machine and make a cup of coffee with four teaspoons of sugar and four teaspoons of powdered coffee creamer. I'm feeling really proud of my choices. Granola bars are healthy, even if mine has chocolate chips.

* Donut, granola bar, and coffee with sugar and creamer: 25g carbs, 190 calories (donut); 18g carbs, 132 calories (granola bar); 29g carbs, 165 calories (coffee)

Even with all the food I'd eaten, I'd be starving again, and it wasn't even noon. I'd struggle to push through, and right at noon, I'd rush to the nearest, very popular burger joint. This amounted to a whopping 212 total carbohydrates for a typical fast-food burger, fries and soda with 1480 calories.

I'd go back to work feeling full but always crashed by 3 pm. To get through the rest of the day, I'd have a bottled mocha-flavored coffee beverage with a candy bar.

* Bottled mocha coffee beverage and candy bar: 33g carbs, 180 calories (coffee); 23g carbs, 216 calories (candy bar)

For dinner, we would have homemade favorites such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes or mac and cheese with chicken nuggets, always making sure we had vegetables like canned corn. Dinner averaged 550-650 calories and 65-80 carbs.

Little did I know that this diet was wreaking havoc on my body.

I didn't know about insulin resistance or its symptoms at the time, but I always felt hungry and had stomach pains unless I was eating. It took me a while to realize that my diet was the root of all my health problems.

Now, I've switched to a low-carb, keto, whole-food diet that has helped me lose weight and regain my energy. I've learned to make better choices and prioritize my health. The key is to be mindful of what you're eating and make small changes that add up over time. It's never too late to make a change for the better.

Through a low-carb, high-fat diet, I was able to stabilize my blood sugar levels, lose weight, and feel more energized than ever before. I now teach others how to do the same. By eating under 20g total carbs, I help my clients achieve their health and weight loss goals, all while enjoying delicious, satisfying meals that leave them feeling full and satisfied. So, say goodbye to the Standard American Diet and hello to a healthier, happier you with keto. Whether you want to lose weight, improve your energy levels, or just feel better overall, a low-carb, whole-food diet could be the key to unlocking your health and wellness goals.

If you are stuck, need help losing weight, want to learn how to reverse Type 2 Diabetes, book a free chat with one of our health coaches. For more info go to kendo-keto.com

Written by Joy Sypher
Published May 13th, 2023

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