Candace Oates Shares Her Secrets to Long-Term Keto Weight Loss and Maintenance
Name: Candace Oates
Age: 43
Starting Weight: 324
Current Weight: 171
How long have you been following a ketogenic diet? 17 years
What is your favorite keto meal? Keto pepperoni pizza with salad
Why did you start keto?
I was 25 years old, 324lbs, high blood pressure, diabetic, high cholesterol, had PCOS, endometriosis, and didn’t know I was 6.5 months pregnant with my son due to my size. I needed to lose weight to have a healthier pregnancy and longevity for my son.
What was the hardest part of keto and how did you overcome it?
Detoxing from simple carbohydrates/sugars was absolutely miserable for me. I kept slipping into awful food choices every couple of days to stop the “keto flu.” I decided to get through 1 week without cheating. Little did I know the symptoms only lasted 3 days! If I would have stayed strong the first time, I could have saved myself a month of yo-yo misery! I drank chicken broth and lots of water to help with the symptoms. If you have a very high simple carbohydrate/sugary diet, take a week to decrease the intake instead of going cold turkey. The shock can be a lot for your body.
Biggest changes in your day to day life?
I prepare for my day and weeks to ensure I always have low carb foods available. I look at restaurant food menus macros prior to going out to eat and know exactly what I will eat when I go. I will quickly suggest a different restaurant if there aren’t any good low-carb options on the menu. I food prep when I know my week will be super slammed.
Best tip for newbies?
Stay away from social activities for at least 21 days when you first start eating low carb. There is an adjustment curve and friends/family can willingly or unwillingly try to sway you to not eat low carb because they don’t understand your new lifestyle. You need to get a good handle on what works for you before you try to go to social events.
If there is one thing that you could tell yourself when first getting started, what would it be and why?
Join Facebook groups, follow other Instagram people who follow your lifestyle, read blogs, read websites and keep a constant motivational support crew around you. Most of your support comes from people and communities who don’t know you. Support helps tremendously! You don’t have to be alone or feel alone!
Anything you would like to add about your story?
In order for me to personally be successful at this lifestyle, I have to remain primarily “food sober.” There are certain foods that trigger me that I must forever stay away from. If I eat a trigger food, that 1 day of poor choices can easily become a month of spiraling out of control and massive weight gain. It only takes a month to gain a lot of weight only to spend 3-6 months getting that weight off. I have been on my journey for 17 years and I am speaking from my personal experiences.
If keto has made a difference in your life, whether through weight loss or by improving your health, our readers would love to hear about it. Tell us about your keto journey! And follow Ketogeniccom on Instagram to see more keto transformation stories and keto community spotlights.
