1. NOT TRACKING MACROS-

One of the biggest mistakes starting off is NOT tracking your macros. I know right, what are macros and why do I need to track them?? Macros are short for Macronutrients and it basically gives us the run down of what we need daily in terms of calories, fat, net carbs, protein, etc to help us either maintain or be in a deficit for losing weight. Kind of like when you count your calories except here we also focus on carbs/protein/fat. The reason why it can be a major mistake initially is that calories/macros add up, FAST. We might be enjoying our bulletproof coffee or breakfast and not realize how much we are consuming and BOOM 20 net carbs already done. With the help of trackers like MyFitnessPal and Carb Manager, we are able to see and monitor our daily intake easily! The cool thing about these applications is that they might already have some items logged into their system and/or scan a barcode to input items, SO simple. If I can say anything however is keep an eye on that heavy cream. Most applications don't count it as 1 net but there are always traces of carbs in this product. I suggest monitoring as 0.5 carbs to be safe!

2. TOO MANY KETO TREATS-

We all love a good piece of cake or cookies here and there, I know I do! But we have to remember that even though it is keto, it doesn't mean it is the best for you all of the time, especially when you are trying to be in a deficit. With all the new keto products available more than ever, it's easy to only eat ice cream and chocolate brownies. But we have to remember, our bodies should be getting their carbs from non-starchy items like vegetables to help keep us balanced. When we overdo it on keto sweets, it can be harder in our journey overall because we still crave sugary items like we did when we were non keto. Enjoy your low carb chocolate but make it a once a week type of snack versus something daily. It's a treat so lets make it that!

3. WATCH YOUR DAIRY INTAKE-

One of the best thing about the ketogenic diet is that you can consume dairy! It brings a creaminess to dishes along with necessary fats we enjoy. I personally can have dairy as long as it is in moderation. The mistake a lot of people can make is once again.. overdoing it. Dairy can add up in macros and some can even become sensitive over time to it in this lifestyle. Bloating, discomfort, and weight gain are signs of a sensitivity of most milk products. But when it is tracked, we are able to still be successful in losing weight. Everything done moderately is key. One thing when you even stall or plateau is removing dairy ALL together. It kind of flushes out your system and allows you to jump start out of your stall back into losing weight more easily than before.

4. FORGETTING ELECTROLYTES AND MINERALS-

This is an interesting one because I had no clue about it going into this lifestyle. People always say they should have electrolytes but why? Do I really need them? Well the answer is simple, YES. When you're on a low carb diet, your body naturally releases electrolytes and minerals. If something is getting released, we need to replenish it right? Electrolytes help stabilize us as we decrease our carb intake. It can be a little tough in the beginning transition. We can develop Keto flu and just overall aches and even fatigue. I personally take KetoBeam which helps me feel AMAZING overall! I feel energized, super hydrated and not depleted whatsoever. I'm able to give my body the minerals and nutrients it needs to keep going effortlessly!

5. SWEETENERS CAN STALL YOUR JOURNEY-

In the low carb lifestyle, we have to really try and find the best substitutions for sugar because let's face it, it's a big no no here! Sugar will increase your blood glucose and can kick you out of ketosis which is what we are definitely trying to avoid. And even though we have "sugar free options'', alot of these will contain maltitol (just as bad as real sugar), dextrose, maltodextrin, and other sugar alcohols that are no good for you. So in turn, we do have many great options like stevia, monk fruit, erythritol, and allulose that help create amazing dishes and keep us steady without being tempted for the real thing. However like dairy, some can become very sensitive to sweeteners as well and cause a stall or plateau. We need to keep in mind, our body should focus more on less sugary items even if it's keto. The more sugary, the bigger the craving to continue eating treats. Everything again in moderation. If you feel like you've been stalling and noticing an abundance with keto sweeteners, cut those out and see how it changes for you!