Source:-gqindia.com
In the last couple of years, one of the biggest buzzwords in the fitness industry and weight loss forums is keto. We are sure you’ve also heard some of your friends or family members bragging about following a keto diet on a family soiree or at the buffet section of a party and wondered what exactly is this ‘keto diet’? And how is it helping you lose weight if it is allowing you to consume 70 per cent fat as part of your meals?
Well, a keto diet (also known as the ketogenic diet) is a special diet plan that ensures you are eating foods that are high in fat (about 70 per cent), moderate in protein (about 25 per cent) and extremely low in carbohydrates (about 5 per cent). The main purpose of this diet is to help your body achieve the state of ketosis. When in ketosis, your body is constantly burning fat, and at a rate higher than any other diet plan will be able to help you achieve. You can read more about the Keto diet’s merits and demerits here.
But does it actually work? For 25-year-old Luvkesh Chanchlani it did. Chanchlani tells us that at his highest, he weighed a whopping 145 kgs and after trying almost every diet plan available and failing at all of them, he was available to shed 50 kgs in 7 months by following a proper keto diet plan (created specifically for his body type) and working out daily.
“I tried a lot of diet plans and even changed multiple gyms and trainers to lose weight but wasn’t successful at all till I switched to a keto diet. Within 7 months of following a keto plan and working out regularly (6 days/week) I trimmed from 145 kgs to 95 kgs,” he says. “Without sacrificing on chicken, cheese and butter — the three things that I love very dearly,” he adds.
What to eat if you are following a Keto Diet?
While the keto diet needs to be tweaked a little bit for every individual, Chanchlani says that the common keto diet plan consists of chicken, eggs, cottage cheese, cheese, mutton and salads. “My keto diet plan for weight loss started with eating 4 meals a day with varied quantity of food, which was also changed every 45 days.”
Which exercises to follow to lose weight if you’re on a Keto Diet?
“As per my body type and diet plan, I was required to workout 6 days a week to tone my body, and due to busy schedule, I could only go to the gym at 10 pm in the nights and indulge cardio (every alternate day) and weight training. When I started working out, I could only do reps of 5 of most exercises, but now, I can do 100 reps of certain exercises. Notably, even while just doing 5 reps and eating right, I was able to lose 6-7 kgs in the first month itself. The initial weight loss gave me a lot of confidence to keep going on.”
QUICK READ: 5 myths you need to know about the ketogenic diet
How to maintain the weight you’ve lost after a drastic body transformation ?
“I have been able to maintain my weight by continuing with both my keto diet and gym routine.”
Any tips for someone who’s trying to lose weight?
“Finding the correct diet for your body type is the key to weight loss as diet is the most important factor.”
Disclaimer: The diet and workout routines shared by the respondents may or may not be approved by diet and fitneTss experts. GQ India doesn’t encourage or endorse the weight loss tips & tricks shared by the person in the article. Please consult an authorised medical professional before following any specific diet or workout routine mentioned above.