Keto-Aid : An Electrolyte Drink For Keto Dieters

Have you ever heard of the Keto-flu? Well, I have. I had read and read about it before starting a Ketogenic Diet. For those who don't know what it is, here is a good definition:

Keto-flu: A flu-like feeling that some experience when adapting to the ketogenic process, can be a combination of symptoms. Headaches, nausea, brain fog, fatigue, muscle cramping.

A lot of things happen in your body simultaneously when changing from using glucose for energy to using fat. To avoid some of the negative side effects it is recommended that you supplement your nutrition plan with an electrolyte formula. I had read this, article after article. And somehow I STILL DIDN'T GET IT. It's like when people hear you, but don't comprehend what you're saying... until it's too late!

A few days into my diet change, and several workouts later, my muscles were burning! Like the day after a good workout. Just sore. Realllly sore and almost cramping. They didn't get better, they were getting worse. I didn't understand!

And then it clicked. I needed Electrolytes. They are essential to your body for it to function correctly. Also, they help you not feel like pure death while adjusting. After downing about 24oz of this in 30 minutes, my legs felt miraculously better! I continued drinking throughout the day and within 24 hours my calf cramps had vanished. See you later, Keto-flu.

So was born Keto-Aid!!! I am currently taking a pill form of Magnesium, which is one of the crucial supplements for Low-Carb High-Fat consumers. There are recipes that incorporate Magnesium into the drink mixture. This recipe will only provide you with Potassium and Sodium. I drink this daily to consume my recommended supplement intake.

Keto-Aid

Prep Time: 10 min
Servings: 2-3

Ingredients:
3 cups of Water
1 Drink Additive (I use Mio)
1 Tbs Stevia (or other approved sweetener)
1/4 tsp Salt-Lite (or more, for taste)
1 slice of Lemon

Directions:
1. Fill jar with water
2. Add your desired amount of flavor additive (I use about 3-4 squirts of Mio)
3. Add your Stevia
4. Squeeze your lemon slice into the container
5. Slowly add the Salt-Lite to your drink mixture. I taste-test as I go, to make sure I don't add too much!
6. Shake or stir until well combined. You may have a few pieces of lemon pulp, but that'll be okay!

Notes: I enjoy using Salt-Lite because it offers you both sodium and potassium. Two birds, one drink. Feel free to adjust the amount of salt used. Everyone's taste buds are different - I personally enjoy adding a larger amount! Have fun with recipes and adjust them to your liking. That's when the fun really starts :) I hope you enjoy this drink. Thank you.

Per 8 oz: 97g Sodium, 117g Potassium (if you use 1/4 tsp per 3 cups of Water, adjust accordingly)

( It's Working! ) I'm Loving The Keto-Life

Ketogenic Diet & Body Fat Percentages

Alright, guys! I'm 100% on board. After only 1 week of this new way of eating I have lost 3.2lbs and 0.8% body fat. I know what you're saying... "Woah slow your horses there cowgirl, that's not a lot." Well, for me it is. I have battled with seeing the same numbers on my scale for a year. So, to see them immediately start to move in encouraging for me. Below is a graph from my Garmin Connect home page, that connects to my Garmin Smart Scale. It measures my weight, body fat, BMI, and multiple other useful metrics.

Ketogenic Body Fat Percentage Tracking

Before I started this Ketogenic diet I was not on a high-carb high-fat Standard American Diet. I've always watched what I ate and kept a close rein on my calories. Therefore, the transition for my body was not as difficult. Some people go through some severe side-effects but I was lucky enough not to! 

My goal for the future: I would like to lose body fat while maintaining my muscle mass. Once I get down to a comfortable body fat percentage, I will focus primarily on building muscle. I have tried once within the last year to build muscle. I stuck to the previous program for 5 weeks. That program required me to be in the gym up to 3 hours almost every day. It was not sustainable. And for that much time, I wasn't seeing the results I wanted. This time I will stick to these guidelines: My weight routine will be done outside of a gym, either at home or at my local park. I will only spend up to 1 hr per weight session. 

I will have a booty like Beyonce. Just give me some, and some fat to eat :)