By Keto Chow Co-Founders Chris and Miriam Bair

When we started on our keto journey nine years ago, we had no idea where that journey would lead us. We certainly never anticipated being where we are now, that’s for sure! However, we’ve learned a lot as we’ve committed to living a healthier lifestyle.

Sometimes people who are just beginning their own keto journey ask us what we wish we knew at the beginning of ours. We’ve come up with one powerful principle and a handful of helpful tips to help answer that question.

Lifestyle vs. Diet

Miriam recently finished reading the book “Atomic Habits.” In this bestseller, author James Clear teaches a profound principle that has been life-changing for us as we’ve worked to make keto a lifestyle rather than just diet: the key to building lasting habits is creating a new identity.

When we first decided to follow a keto diet, we would focus on what we couldn’t have—carbs and sugars. Sure, there was plenty to like—bacon is great, isn’t it? But when we talked about what we were doing, it was often centered on what we were giving up.

Even two years into choosing keto, Miriam found herself grabbing fries at a fast food drive-in, or sneaking a Snickers. But making a mental shift about our identity has been a game-changer.

It’s not that we can’t have potatoes, or a candy bar, or a plate of pasta. It’s that we simply choose not to eat them. That’s who we are; we are people who eat healthy. We changed our identity.

Here’s a few other keto tips that have made a difference for us:

Remember the salt thing

Electrolytes such as salt and potassium are important, and your body needs those. Sometimes people who start a keto diet experience what has been called the keto flu. It won’t last long, and you can alleviate the symptoms by drinking plenty of water and eating more salty foods such as bacon, olives, and pickles, or by making sure to add some extra electrolytes to whatever you’re drinking.

Find your tribe

We are lucky because we are both committed to living healthy, so we’re working together to make that happen. That doesn’t happen for everyone. Some of our children follow a keto lifestyle while others don’t. You can find incredible support and encouragement when you’re part of a community of people who are focused on being healthy.

Create a community of people who will be there for you. If your immediate family members are part of that community, that’s great. But if not, look for others to provide that support. Check out our Keto Chow Support Group on Facebook to find a whole group of people who share your commitment to keto.

Plan for success

There are a few things you can do to help you succeed as you begin your keto journey. For instance, we don’t even buy things that don’t align with our keto food plan; bread and pasta never make it in the house.

We primarily shop the perimeter of the grocery store because that’s where the healthier stuff, like produce and meat, is almost always located. When we go to family parties or social events, we bring our own food unless we know that there will be keto-friendly options on the table.

Create new memories

It’s surprising how many memories we have that are connected to food. For instance, every time Miriam was pregnant and we went in for our first ultrasound, we would celebrate by getting French fries at Red Robin, so there were a lot of emotions connected to that restaurant chain. We found that going to completely new restaurants and creating new memories helped us make that mental switch.

Look forward to deliciousness

Your taste or palate changes when you eat healthy. Miriam used to think Pop-Tarts® were the best thing in the world, but now they taste like cardboard. While many people don’t think a zucchini is sweet, when we have a fresh zucchini from our garden, that’s the word that comes to mind.

And Chris thinks the texture and flavor of raspberries make for the best treat in the world. Salads, nuts, meats—they all take on incredibly delicious flavors when you’re eating natural, unprocessed foods.

In Conclusion

We hope these tips will help you along your journey just like they’ve helped us. Keto has changed our lives, and we know it will change yours—in ways you can’t even imagine.

Looking for a low-carb meal to keep you full?

Then check out Keto Chow! Keto Chow is a keto shake with 1/3 of your daily recommended nutrients. And the best part? It only takes seconds to make! Choose from over 30 flavors.

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What We Wish We Knew When Starting Keto

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