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As a busy person, the ketogenic lifestyle may seem like something that is impossible to maintain. After all, you barely have time to stay on top of your work and family commitments – how can you possibly find the time to focus on your diet?
The truth is, with a few simple adjustments, it is possible to embrace the ketogenic lifestyle and reap its many health benefits even when you’re short on time. In this article we will look at some of the ways that busy people can follow a keto diet successfully, as well as provide some case examples of those who have already made it work for them.
Check this out: 5 Keto-Friendly Lunches you can Take to Work
What Is The Ketogenic Lifestyle?
First things first: what exactly is a ketogenic lifestyle? This type of diet has become increasingly popular in recent years and is based around very low-carbohydrate eating. It encourages people to consume large amounts of fat while cutting out almost all carbs from their meals. By doing so, it allows the body to enter into a state known as ‘ketosis’ – whereby it begins burning stored fat instead of glucose for energy.
In addition to helping people lose weight quickly and efficiently, there are numerous other health benefits associated with following a keto lifestyle such as reducing inflammation and raising levels of good cholesterol (HDL). It has also been linked with improved mental clarity and cognitive function.
How Can Busy People Stay Keto?
For busy people who don’t have much free time available for meal planning or cooking elaborate dishes every night, following a keto diet can seem daunting. However, there are some practical steps that anyone can take in order to make sure they stick with it even when life gets hectic:
- Meal Prep: I can’t stress the importance of this. Taking an hour or two each week to plan out meals ahead of time can save both time and money in the long run. By prepping food ahead of time and having everything ready in portions for each day, you can quickly grab what you need without spending too much effort on cooking each night after work or running errands during lunchtime. You’ll need a good number of sealable food storage boxes, and room in your fridge and/or freezer. Believe me, every minute spent prepping will pay you back later in the week.
- Use Convenient Ingredients: There are plenty of convenient ingredients available these days which make adhering to this dietary restriction much easier; think canned tuna, pre-cooked meats like chicken sausages or bacon, frozen vegetables etc. These items all contain minimal carbs but still allow you to get enough protein and healthy fats throughout your day without having to spend hours preparing complicated dishes from scratch every night.
- Don’t Skimp On Sleep: One common mistake that many busy people make is sacrificing sleep in order to fit more into their days – however this isn’t conducive towards maintaining optimal health (or sticking with any dietary restrictions!). Aim for 8 hours per night where possible and adjust your schedule if necessary in order to ensure you get enough restorative shut eye each evening; otherwise fatigue could set in which makes following any kind of eating plan much harder than it needs be!
Case Examples Of Successful Keto Lifestyles For Busy People
There are plenty of inspiring stories out there demonstrating how even those leading hectic lives can still manage to stay true to their commitment towards living an healthier lifestyle through following the principles outlined above – here are just three examples:
- Emma – Emma juggles her full-time job as an accountant alongside her side business selling handmade jewelry online whilst also trying her best at being a wife and mother too! Despite this stacked schedule she still finds ways incorporate healthy eating into her routine by meal prepping once per week so she always has nutritious snacks prepared at hand whenever hunger strikes throughout her busy days plus making sure she puts aside enough time for quality restorative sleep every single night too!
- Simon – Simon runs his own auto repair shop during the day before heading home afterwards where he spends time caring for his elderly parents plus helping raise his teenage daughter who plays competitive sport most evenings too! His approach towards maintaining his nutrition involves taking advantage of convenient ingredients such as nuts & seeds that require little effort beyond opening up packets whilst trying not skip out on sleep whenever possible either; which helps him keep his energy levels topped up whilst ensuring he sticks within his calorie goals easily too!
- Kim – Kim works long hours managing several different projects simultaneously yet still takes care when it comes down selecting what she eats everyday; opting for high fat foods such as avocados & cheese plus lean proteins including eggs & fish which all help fuel her mind & body sufficiently despite her demanding daily demands upon them! She also tries her best not overindulge after stressful days by staying active instead such as going swimming or playing badminton; allowing herself some space from work related pressures whilst keeping fit simultaneously too!
Conclusion
As these three case studies demonstrate, living an active yet healthy lifestyle via embracing the principles behind the ketogenic diet doesn’t have mean sacrificing valuable free time or missing out on important social occasions either; rather it just requires making small changes here & there alongside remaining committed towards achieving one’s overall dietary goals no matter how busy life becomes along journey towards them!
