'After Discovering Keto And The Trainerize App, I Finally Stopped Overeating And Lost 51 Lbs.'

From Women's Health

My name is Alex Beach (@theketobeach), I’m 26, and I live in Georgetown, South Carolina. At almost 200 pounds, and after a miscarriage, I decided to change my eating habits and give the keto diet a try. I lost 51 pounds in the process—and I couldn't be happier.

You know how people say that if you’re in a toxic relationship, even when loved ones tell you to leave it, you won’t until you’re ready? Well, that’s how my relationship used to be with emotional eating.

It all started a few months after I had my son in December 2017. I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and not taking care of myself. I ate everything I could get my hands on and couldn't find the motivation to work out.

In September 2018, I found out I was pregnant again, but I had a miscarriage two weeks later. I was devastated. But my troubles didn't stop there. I learned the miscarriage was incomplete and had to have a dilation and currettage (D&C) on December 3, 2018, the day before my son’s first birthday.

When I woke up from the D&C procedure, I decided that each day moving forward would be different for me.

I made a promise to put my health first. I wanted to take control of my life in the most positive way I knew how: by prioritizing my health. For both my sweet baby Henry, and my angel that was no longer with us, I wanted to rid myself of all of my bad eating habits and be a healthier and happier version of myself.

So I did some research and decided to try the keto diet.

For some people, keto can be overwhelming and restrictive. But it's actually the simplicity of the diet that hooked me.

Keto can feel restrictive because the diet requires you to track pretty specific macros (you eat a high amount of fat, a moderate amount of protein, and few carbs). This means you have to eat many ingredients (like sugar and grains) in extreme moderation or small portions.

But I actually enjoy cooking with just five ingredients or less. And I love that I can be in and out of the kitchen in such a short time. I find all of my keto recipes on Pinterest and Instagram. If it’s quick and simple, I’ll cook it! I also drink tons of water. My mood has also improved significantly since doing keto, because my energy levels are so much higher than before. And so is my self esteem. I feel like there’s nothing I can’t take on now.

Here's what I eat in a typical day:

• Breakfast: An egg, bacon, sausage, and cheese scramble with black coffee

• Lunch: Keto Chow shake or a salad loaded with meat and cheese

• Snack: Slim Jim’s, slimfast fat bombs, or cheese sticks

• Dinner: Meat, cheese, and veggies

I also found a workout that actually works for me.

Before starting keto, I never exercised. I just couldn't find the motivation. I was using food to fuel my emotions and had absolutely no desire to change my body. But now I've found an easy-to-use app called Trainerize that allows me to follow along with several workouts by Morgan Morgan, an incredible fitness instructor from Charleston, South Carolina. I pay monthly for Morgan's plan which she updates weekly with new workouts and exercises. Anyone can sign up for her plan through the app and she'll individualize the workouts just for you.

I've lost over 50 pounds and learned an important lesson about myself along the way.

Most of my life, I've spent too much time comparing myself to others. But you can't do that when you're trying to lose weight. It will only discourage you. And so I've tried to be less critical of my progress as I move along. Now, I'm just focused on being as healthy as I possibly can be, for myself and my family.

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