Starting Keto? Here’s how to find self-motivation to succeed
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by Agne V.
- Last update on August 13, 2022
Do you know the feeling?
You want to improve your health, but sometimes you wonder how to commit to daily action?
Waking up early, swimming, stopping eating “junk” food, choosing healthy fats, planning and cooking low-carb meals, having the patience to read food labels, buying only Keto snacks, etc.
What do these activities have in common?
You might think you should do all of those things to reach your health goals. But it seems you can’t make it happen consistently because you miss self-motivation. Right? How to motivate yourself to start Keto?
Since I began a Ketogenic diet 3 years ago, I’ve also had a motivation-demotivation mindset about Keto.
I explored different ways of encouragement. I’ve racked my brain to realize why Ketogenic Lifestyle feels so hard. And finally, I found a stable self-motivation to continue this precious way of living.
Want to know how you can set your brain for Keto success and how to stay on Keto?
1. Plant A Powerful Mindset
Every achievement, big or small, begins in your mind. - Mary Kay Ash
Starting a new way of eating without a strong reason why you want to do it is like sailing without a rudder.
The boat might lose its stability during a windstorm. The boat may capsize and sink.
So, if you want to reach your destination safely and smoothly, and keep staying strong on Keto, determine why it’s worth going Keto. Take a look at some examples:
- I want to get slimmer so I can wear any dress and bikini I want. This gives me the confidence I am looking for.
- I want to manage a chronic condition I got so I can reduce or finally get rid of the medications I took all my life. This replaces my tiredness to energy increase.
- I want to decrease sugar cravings so I can avoid my mood swings. This gives me clearer skin too.
- I want to become mentally sharp so I can increase my productivity at work. Who doesn’t want to earn more?
Is your inner why powerful enough to bring you through stormy weather?
*yep*
Now you can imagine a “future you”: feeling light, shining like a bright star and having tons of energy. If your vision gave you butterflies in your stomach, you chose an inspiring reason to follow Keto journey.
Now let’s turn your vision into reality by taking action!
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2. Use 5 Seconds Rule
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao Tzu
When you set goals or find the inner reason why you want to be mentally sharp (get slimmer, manage a chronic condition, decrease sugar cravings) you have an intention of something that you want to change about your life.
Your decision to become healthier and slimmer gives an order to your brain to do what you said. But here is a secret trick.
You need to develop the skill of knowing how to hear that inner wisdom (strong why) and act on it physically in 5 seconds window.
5-4-3-2-1 Enter that cold swimming pool.
5-4-3-2-1 Make your fat bombs instead of grabbing “Snickers”.
5-4-3-2-1 Say “No” to random snacks and have your own Keto snacks on the go.
Because knowing what to do will never be enough. You need to find the inner power to stand up and DO IT RIGHT NOW.
If you don’t move within 5 seconds your brain will kill the idea you had and will put you into procrastination.
I got 5 seconds idea from author Mel Robbins. She reminds me that we need to stop waiting to FEEL like doing the things we know we should do and simply remember that we are always one decision away from a completely different life.
Maybe this inspirational video by Mel will move your inner blocks and help you to adapt to the Keto Lifestyle smoothly!? Give it a try;-)
3. Add A Commitment, Empowered With New Beliefs
You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear. - Sammy Davis Jr.
Have you ever committed to counting the macronutrients you need to consume daily? And always have a backup plan when sugar cravings sneak?
How did you do that?
During the first months on Keto, I’ve often failed to keep up with my promises. Whether it was to going to bed earlier, studying Italian more, or reading food labels carefully, I struggled to keep my good resolutions.
Why it’s so hard to do the little things that we know would improve our lives?
Let’s face it.
Improving any skill is a huge energy-consuming effort. And our brain, at the back of our minds, unconsciously, gives a feeling that baby steps will not bring us to the destination we want. That inherent fear always whispers “It’s useless to do it” and finally leaves us frozen.
But you can break this chain of procrastination with a dash of awareness. Here are the 4 steps to do it:
- Once you recognize a limiting thought, such as “My family says Keto is dangerous and gives only short-term results”, STOP FOR A MINUTE.
- Acknowledge it. IS IT TRUE? Or your brain wants to protect you from possible “dangers” or potential success? Or your family is missing a point about Keto and you hold their truth as yours? Introduce them to your sources, let them read basics about Keto and watch movies together.
- Replace that limiting belief with a more empowering one, such as “Daily movement and following the Keto diet heals my body 24 hours, and this way of eating is scientifically proven, so I want to strive to feel energetic, enhance my mental clarity, reduce my waistline, even though my family doesn’t agree with it.” TRY AS MANY NEW BELIEFS AS they serve you in committing to daily action.
P.S. I fought a lot with my boyfriend about going Keto. But I shaped such a powerful mindset about this way of eating, that now he just needs to accept it. I don’t want to sacrifice my well-being because another person has a different point of view.
- Start acting like the new belief is true. It may take time to do it. But your inner WHY is so strong, that it naturally will partner with a new empowering belief.
Now you are set. The new strong attitudes will help you to commit to activities you need to do daily for better well-being, in this case adapting to Keto Lifestyle.
Having a strong mindset and taking action to keep your motivation boat moving forward is crucial. Adding a commitment sail will bring a propulsive force towards the direction you progress. Enjoy the journey even if it’s wavy.
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Start Keto Diet (Lifestyle) Today
You already collected a lot of information about the Keto diet for sure. Do you?
Now it’s time to plant a strong mindset for success, take action and repeat it until you succeed.
Are you ready?
Determine your pure inner reason you want to start Keto. What result do you want to obtain?
Make a first physical step. Buy low-carb food or any other step related to starting low-carb eating.
Reshape your beliefs and commit to doing all necessary activities for your well-being, even if your brain secretly says “There is no point”.
Build your self-motivation boat with a sail that will pass the strongest storms. Enjoy your wavy but smooth journey!
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Agne Valu-e
After Agne started the low-carb diet in 2019, she felt lighter, energetic and experienced sharp mental clarity. Therefore, sustaining the Keto diet became a powerful health tool she uses today to hack her biology. Agne’s mission is to inspire you to turn a temporary Keto diet into an entertaining Keto Lifestyle.