The Dirty Keto Diet

“How are your feet, Mom?” Diane asked her mother, Char Dickte, with concern in her voice.

Char sighed, explaining that the nerve pain caused by her pre-diabetes had turned into a burning sensation that made her feet unbearable to deal with.

“I can’t even get my shoes on anymore,” she admitted. “I barely leave the house.”

Char, a retiree in Arizona, hung up the phone and felt a wave of sadness. Unable to get comfortable no matter how she shifted on the couch, she reflected on how her health had spiraled.

At 71 years old and 279 pounds, the pain in her feet wasn’t her only issue.

She had battled lymphoma, undergone knee replacements, and struggled with fibromyalgia and alarmingly high blood pressure. Instead of enjoying the company of her 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was confined to her couch.

A question lingered in her mind, Is it too late for me to change?

Motivated by the thought, Char turned to her laptop and searched “pre-diabetic neuropathy,” which was causing her foot problems.

She was shocked by the overwhelming results and spent hours reading articles and joining Facebook support groups.

While scrolling, she discovered a recurring solution she hadn’t considered before: eating changes. A term caught her attention repeatedly—keto.

The posts highlighted how this diet could ease or even eliminate neuropathy symptoms, lower blood sugar levels, and help shed stubborn pounds.

Char felt a flicker of hope, but it was quickly overshadowed by memories of numerous diet failures over the years.

From coffee fasts to low-fat diets and shakes, every attempt resulted in regaining the lost weight and more.

Her weight had increased so much over the years that she could no longer cross her arms. Still, as she read, she realized keto was different.

Unlike her previous calorie-focused diets, keto emphasized cutting sugar and starch. “Maybe this could help me feel better,” she thought to herself.

What is the “Dirty Keto” Diet?

Char’s research led her to an easier version of the keto diet called “dirty keto.”

This simplified approach required no strict tracking, fancy recipes, or detailed meal planning. Instead, she would need to eliminate sugar and starch while focusing on low-carb foods of her choice. Char realized she didn’t even need to go out shopping to try it.

The following morning, she started with bacon and eggs for breakfast, tuna salad for lunch, and chicken with broccoli for dinner, making potatoes for her husband.

The simplicity of the meals surprised her, but what surprised her even more was how her hunger felt reduced.

By the end of the week, her mood and energy levels had improved, her home glucose monitor showed near-normal sugar levels, and she had lost 12 pounds effortlessly. “That was the easiest weight I’ve ever lost!” she thought, smiling.

Encouraged, Char began reading nutrition labels at the grocery store. She swapped sugar-filled salad dressings and pasta sauces for healthier options and enjoyed the thrill of adding butter and cream, foods she once thought were off-limits.

After a few weeks, navigating the supermarket became second nature. Even better, her feet hurt less, a victory she shared excitedly with her daughter, Diane.

How Does “Dirty Keto” Work?

The “dirty keto” diet focuses on reducing sugar and carbohydrates while allowing you to enjoy indulgent, low-carb foods like pork rinds, cream, nut flours, and even bunless fast food burgers without guilt.

According to Dr. Ken Berry, a leading advocate for keto, reducing carbs forces the body to switch from burning sugar to burning fat, producing an efficient fuel called ketones.

This process not only causes weight loss of up to 19 pounds per week but also addresses health problems tied to high blood sugar.

Over time, excessive carbohydrate consumption can make insulin less effective at controlling blood sugar, resulting in its storage in belly fat.

Cutting carbs reverses this process, and studies show that keto dieters lose three times more abdominal fat than those on traditional diets.

Char’s Transformation on Dirty Keto

Char stuck with dirty keto, allowing herself convenience foods, restaurant meals, and fun snacks like pork rinds without counting calories or stressing about the scale.

Her progress didn’t stall once; in fact, she lost 80 pounds within six months. One day, stepping out of the shower, she caught an unexpected sight of her toes.

“I couldn’t believe it—I hadn’t seen them in years!” she laughed. Her blood pressure normalized soon after, eliminating the need for medication.

By the end of her first year on dirty keto, Char had shed 134 pounds. At 74 years old, she has maintained her weight loss and health improvements, enjoying life to the fullest.

Her message to anyone considering a change? “Give dirty keto a try, even if you’re in pain. Taking care of yourself works wonders!”

How to Start the Dirty Keto Diet

If Char’s story resonates with you, here’s how you can try dirty keto yourself:

• Focus on Low-Carb Foods: Skip sugar and starchy foods. Instead, prioritize proteins, healthy fats, and non-starchy vegetables.
  
  
• Convenient Options: Use nut flour, zero-carb sweeteners, and pre-packaged keto-friendly foods to make the transition easier.
  
  
• Listen to Your Body: Eat only when you’re hungry and stop when you start to feel satisfied.
  
  

For more tips, recipes, and tools to get started, visit DirtyLazyKeto.com. As always, consult with your doctor before starting any new diet.

Sample Meals on Dirty Keto:

• Breakfast: A keto bagel topped with butter, cheese, eggs, and bacon.
  
  
• Snack: Sour cream dip seasoned with no-sugar-added spice blends, served with non-starchy vegetable slices.
  
  
• Dinner: Grilled steak with olive oil-roasted veggies and riced cauliflower flavored with butter and lemon.
  
  

By following these simple steps, you too can experience the life-changing benefits of the dirty keto diet.

Source: firstforwomen

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.