When followed correctly, the keto diet can provide a lot of great benefits. However, did you know there are a lot of mistakes you can make when following this type of diet plan?
Here, we’ll look at some of the most common mistakes people make with the keto diet and how they can be avoided.
Restricting Your Diet Too Quickly
When you’re ready to get started on the keto diet, it’s common to throw yourself into right away. This means that you’ll typically go from eating a comforting diet packed full of pasta and sandwiches, to suddenly consuming just 20g of carbs per day. This is a real shock to your body that can result in a lot of unpleasant side effects.
The key to succeeding with the keto diet is to start to reduce your carbohydrate consumption slowly. Lead up to starting the diet so that the body has a chance to get used to consuming fewer carbs. This will really help to reduce those nasty side effects, making it easier to adjust.
Not Eating the Right Type of Fats
When you see that the keto diet allows you to eat mostly fats, you may think that means ANY fat. It doesn’t. What it does mean, is that you can eat healthy fats, not saturated fats.
So, if you start out eating fatty burgers and junk food, you’re not going to see any results. Instead, you need to be focusing on fats such as those found in avocado and coconut oils, as well as grass-fed meat.
Failing to Drink Enough Water
Did you know you’re also supposed to drink a lot of water on the keto diet? Keeping yourself hydrated is important with any diet plan. However, when you’re following a diet which burns fats for energy rather than carbohydrates, you’re going to need even more water than you would in a standard diet.
Carbohydrates store water in the body. So, if you don’t have enough of them, the body is going to get dehydrated pretty quickly.
Limiting Your Vegetable and Fruit Consumption Too Much
When you’re focusing on high fat intake, it’s easy to forget about vegetables. While they do take up just a small portion of your diet, you should still ensure you’re getting enough to gain the nutritional benefits. Just focus on non-starchy veggies and fruits such as berries. You should be eating around 1-3 portions of veggies twice each day on the keto diet.
Failing to Prepare for the Side Effects
While not everyone experiences the same level of side effects on the keto diet, it’s good to be prepared. In the first few days you can expect to suffer with lightheadedness, fatigue and even keto flu. These side effects can be difficult to handle, so you’re going to want to ensure you prepare yourself.
Plan your meals to include energy-boosting ingredients and arrange to take it easier for a few days while the body adjusts.
These are some of the most common keto diet mistakes you can make. By planning ahead and understanding the mistakes, you’ll find it easier to avoid them and instead reap the benefits the diet provides.