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We’re a few weeks into the lock-down associated with the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, and maybe it’s time we all start thinking about how to use these “Stay At Home Orders” to our advantage. We all know that starting a new diet is always hard, but can our current circumstances make it easier to start a Keto Diet?
Can you start a Keto Diet during a quarantine? Yes, you can begin a ketogenic diet during the coronavirus pandemic, but doing so will be much easier than normal for some people, while for others starting keto now will be nearly impossible. So, how do you know if you are a person who should consider starting a keto diet during this Covid-19 crisis?
To decide if starting a keto diet during your Coronavirus Social Distancing makes sense for you, you first need to think about three aspects of your ‘normal’ life as compared to the ‘new normal’ that we’re all facing.
- Were you a Social Eater before?
- Do you have reliable access to food during the pandemic?
- Would a challenge help get your mind off of Covid-19?
Now let’s dig into the details.
Were You A Social Eater Before The Pandemic?
I consider social eaters those who schedule their social time around food and that, sadly, includes most of us.
Did you regularly go out to dinner for date night or girls night?
Did you regularly host dinner parties?
Was going out to the bar for drinks and burgers a regular event that you looked forward to?
Did you ever go to the movies without getting a jumbo drink and a barrel of popcorn?
If the answer to any of these questions is “YES”, then you were/are a social eater. And as much as we might miss our social eating days, having them off the table as an option will make changing your eating habits so much easier, which means that this might be a great time for you to start a Keto Diet.
Imagine how much easier it’s going to be to start a new diet when you don’t have friends calling and asking you to come out for margaritas and Mexican food every Friday night.
For once, you will have at least a month to let your new habits take hold before you are faced with the temptation of ‘dinner with friends’.
This is could be the ultimate dream moment to change your eating habits.
Do You Have Reliable Access to Food During The Pandimic?
Let’s just be honest here. If you’re worried about what you’re going to be eating later today, limiting your choices by starting a new diet makes ZERO sense.
If you don’t have access to grocery stores, either locally or online, that have a decent supply of food then you should not worry about changing your diet during this pandemic.
Likewise, if you don’t have the means to be picky about what you are eating right now, then now is not the time to consider starting a diet.
Seriously, if you are worried about money right now then this is not the time to start a new diet. There will be time for self-improvement later. Don’t add any more stress to your life right now.
If you have reasonably reliable food supplies and income (or savings) but are struggling with the stress of the situation we all find ourselves in, you might be on the fence about starting a Keto diet.
On one hand, making a big change can be stressful. If this is you, then it’s ok to wait and start Keto at a less stressful time.
On the other hand, a challenge could be just what you need to take your mind off it!
Would A Challenge Take Your Mind Off of The Covid-19 Crisis?
If you are like me, you’ve begun to limit your time watching the news.
It’s just all too much. I’m really ok having just a few hours a day without someone telling me this is some scary sh*t we’re all facing. Sometimes I just need something else to think about…which is honestly why I’m writing this article right now.
I like to keep my mind occupied and I like a distraction; and maybe I need both a little more right now.
If this sounds like you, then maybe the stress of this coronavirus pandemic is the perfect time to start a new ketogenic diet!
Starting a Keto Diet takes some research to understand the details. It takes some focus to master. So why not now when you’re stuck at home and need a distraction from the fear and stress that we get hammered with daily?
Are You Sick or Really Stressed?
If you are sick, you should not start a new diet. Instead, focus on getting better and protecting those around you.
If you’re really stressed, starting a diet is going to be hard. Many of us comfort eat when we’re stressed, and that’s not going to help you change your eating habits.
And stress will slow down any weight loss that a new way of eating might trigger. If you’re ok knowing that your new way of eating is improving your health, even though you’re not seeing changes on the scale, then this might be an okay time to try keto.
If you are focused on the scales, then you probably shouldn’t start keto right now. Not only will you be dealing with the stress of the “Stay-At-Home” Orders, but you’ll also be adding the stress of a new way of eating.
However, like we discussed above, maybe the challenge of a new way of eating is just what you need to lower your stress about this situation we are all trapped in.
Only you can decide how starting a keto diet now might affect your stress level.
Conclusion About Starting A Keto Diet During This Covid-19 Quarantine
For some people, this will be perfect time to start a Keto Diet, and for others it couldn’t be a worse time.
We all have a lot of stress in our life right now and it really comes down to if your stress is overwhelming or not. If you already have too much on your plate, then don’t even consider starting a Ketogenic Diet during this pandemic. That would be nuts!
However, if you’re in a safe and secure space where your worries about Covid-19 are limited, then you might really want to think about starting your ketogenic diet during this pandemic. Without the social pressure to socially eat, this might be a unique and powerful time to change your eating habits forever.
And, if you decide to start keto in these challenging times, take a closer look at my No Cook Keto Meal Plan. I designed it to be the easiest way to start a ketogenic diet, and as an added bonus most of the ingredients in these super easy mix-microwave-eat recipes are readily available even during this coronavirus lockdown and are either shelf-stable or freezer items.
Now matter how chill you are about this scary situation, if you decide to start a Keto Diet now, perhaps you should keep it as simple as possible and then work on upgrading your new way of eating as life returns to normal in the coming months.
Be safe and be well,
~Angela
I’ve been in Ketosis for six weeks and I’ve only lost five pounds and that was in the first 10 days. How can I be in Ketosis and stop losing weight?
Tricia – Ketosis by itself is not what causes weight loss. What it does is give your body the most effective mechanism for fat burning and appetite reduction. When you’re producing ketones, your appetite should naturally decrease, making it easier to eat less, so your body burns your stored fat for fuel. If you started out eating very high fat (like I suggest everyone does to help get their body into ketosis), try taking your fat consumption down a little. Now that you’re in ketosis, you don’t need as much dietary fat. Then your body can burn what it’s holding onto.
That being said, there may be other factors at play. Stress, lack of sleep, hormone disruption and so much more can play into whether your body is ready to let go of its extra fat stores. Weight loss is a side effect of health, and you may need to look at more of what’s effecting your body than just what you are eating.