Does your new year's resolution look like mission impossible at the end of January?

If you’re reading this blog at around the time that it was released, then all of us at Low Carb Emporium wish you a happy new year.  

Whether you overdid it over the festive season or battled through trying to eat cleanly, no doubt you started the year with all the right intentions: eat better, exercise more, feel amazing. And then very quickly life gets back in the way - you’re back at work, the kids are still on school holidays and you just can stomach the idea of another lettuce wrap (and it’s only been 4 weeks!). 

So let’s discuss keto (that’s why you’re reading this, isn’t it?). Despite it being the “it diet” for the past several years, most people don’t really understand what it is and how make it a sustainable part of their lifestyle. While the keto diet is often looked to as a quick fix to fit into that dress for some event, it really is so much more and for a growing number of people a real sustainable lifestyle. 

As always, this isn’t health or nutritional advice of any sort. You should always speak to a relevant healthcare professional before embarking on any major nutritional or lifestyle changes, but here’s some good info to get things started.  

So what is the keto diet? A Keto Diet, also known as a Ketogenic Diet or a Low Carb Diet or a LCHF (low carb high fat) diet is a way of eating where the majority of the nutrition that is usually derived from carbohydrates is substituted with fats. Hence the name: Low Carb / High Fat.

Once you restrict carbohydrate intake (the primary source of fuel in a typical diet) the body starts using fat as the source of energy – either from the diet or from fat stored in the body... hence people shed their excess stored fat.

People restricting their carbohydrate intake typically do so in either a strict manner or with a more relaxed approach. As a rough guide, people following a ketogenic diet strictly will have up to 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. People following a moderate low carbohydrate diet will consume up to the 50 grams of carbohydrates per day. While this sounds daunting, it is actually easier than it appears. There are no shortage or recipes, ingredients and packaged foods to make this journey not only attainable but also a delicious experience.

Rather than recreate some of the amazing work produced by reputable sites on line, we invite you to read more about the ins and outs of keto, recipes and other useful resources directly from these reputable sources. Please enjoy exploring the following (we certainly did):

• Low Carb Down Under
• Diet Doctor
• The Noakes Foundation

When we started eating a low carb diet, choices were pretty slim – that’s actually why we stared the Low Carb Emporium. People starting to eat a low carb or keto diet today are spoilt for choice. Any category you can imaging has a low carb option such as snacks, confectionery, chocolate, baked goods, condiments, pasta alternatives and much more. Your options need only be limited by imagination.

Which brings us back to that daunting New Year’s Resolution which may start looking like it will be picked up again next January… it need not be that onerous. Once you sink your teeth into some of the delicious low carb foods (literally) that are now available you will see that this can be incorporated into a long term life-style approach where you can enjoy a low carb version of all your favourite foods.

Here's to a great new year.