Have you decided to go on a keto diet to lose some weight? Well, you’re not alone. The keto diet has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason.
It can be an effective way to shed those extra pounds and improve your overall health. However, like any diet, there are some common mistakes that people make when starting keto. In this blog post, we’ll be discussing the top 5 keto mistakes people make and how to avoid them.
Related: Stay Fueled and Focused with These Easy Keto Snack Ideas for Work or School
Top 5 Keto Mistakes
1. Not Eating Enough Fat
One of the biggest misconceptions about the keto diet is that it’s all about eating a lot of protein. While protein is an important part of the diet, it’s not the main focus. The main focus of the keto diet is actually fat. In fact, you should be getting around 70-75% of your daily calories from fat. This might seem like a lot, but it’s necessary to get your body into a state of ketosis, where it’s burning fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.
To avoid this mistake, make sure you’re eating plenty of healthy fats like avocado, nuts, seeds, and coconut oil. Don’t be afraid to add a little extra butter or olive oil to your meals to make sure you’re getting enough fat.
2: Not Drinking Enough Water
Water is essential for any diet, but it’s especially important on the keto diet. When you’re in ketosis, your body is producing ketones, which can be dehydrating. That’s why it’s important to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and avoid any negative side effects.
To avoid this mistake, make sure you’re drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. You can also add some flavor to your water with lemon, lime, or cucumber slices to make it more enjoyable to drink.
3: Eating Too Many Carbs
One of the most important aspects of the keto diet is keeping your carbohydrate intake low. When you eat too many carbs, your body will start burning them for fuel instead of fat, which can kick you out of ketosis and slow down your weight loss progress.
To avoid this mistake, make sure you’re tracking your carb intake and keeping it under 50 grams per day. Stick to low-carb vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower, and avoid high-carb foods like bread, pasta, and sugar.
4: Not Getting Enough Electrolytes
When you’re on the keto diet, you’re likely to experience a shift in your body’s electrolyte balance. Electrolytes are essential minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium that help regulate your body’s fluid balance, muscle function, and more. When you’re in ketosis, your body excretes more electrolytes through urine, which can lead to imbalances and negative side effects like fatigue, muscle cramps, and headaches.
To avoid this mistake, make sure you’re getting enough electrolytes in your diet. You can do this by adding salt to your meals, eating potassium-rich foods like avocado and spinach, and taking a magnesium supplement.
5: Giving Up Too Soon
Finally, one of the biggest mistakes people make on the keto diet is giving up too soon. While the keto diet can be challenging, especially in the beginning, it’s important to stick with it to see results. It can take several weeks for your body to fully adapt to ketosis and for you to start seeing weight loss progress.
To avoid this mistake, make sure you have a support system in place to help you stay motivated. This could be a friend or family member who is also on the keto diet, a supportive online community, or a coach or nutritionist who can answer your questions and provide guidance.
Keto-friendly Helpers to Avoid Keto Mistakes
Additionally, if you’re looking to up your Keto game, check out some of these amazing helpers:
- Ketogenic Diet and Intermittent Fasting for Beginners: A Complete Guide to the Keto Fasting Lifestyle
- KETO-MOJO Blood Ketone and Glucose Testing Kit
- Quest Nutrition Tortilla Style Protein Chips
- V2 KETOSCAN Mini Breath Ketone Meter
- Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener
- Perfect Keto Collagen Powder
These helpers will help you stay on track and make your Keto journey even more enjoyable. Happy eating!