Christina Oman Overcame Her Carb Addiction While Losing Almost 100 Lbs
Age: 43
Starting Weight: 261
Current Weight: 170
How long have you been following a ketogenic diet? 7 years
What is your favorite keto meal? Bacon and eggs
Why did you start keto?
I reached my top weight and rock bottom moment and I knew I had to try one more time. I had done every diet out there without success. I began to research bariatric surgery and one article recommended that post-surgery, people should follow a ketogenic diet. I Googled ketogenic diet and the rest is history.
What was the hardest part of keto and how did you overcome it?
Realizing I couldn’t do what naturally lean people do, just have one thing over the weekend and not gain 5lbs overnight or trigger a carb binge was really hard. Getting used to not eating what I wanted, only what I needed for health. Telling myself that this is a prescription diet for the rest of my life was key. Understanding that my metabolic syndrome was just in remission, not cured, also helped my mindset. I must stay keto for life to make sure I stay healthy and at a healthy body weight.
Biggest changes in your day-to-day life?
Steady energy throughout the day and not needing to eat every 2 hours. Being able to comfortably skip a meal when there is nothing appropriate to eat.
Best tip for newbies?
Perfection is the blocker of success. It doesn’t need to be perfect to work. If you try to get it all correct at the start, you will get demotivated when you inevitably make a mistake. I have never been perfect but it works well enough when you do it mostly right.
If there is one thing that you could tell yourself when first getting started, what would it be and why?
That carb addiction is a real problem and that if you feel panicked about giving up whatever carb you love, it’s a good sign that you have carb addiction. There are two types of people: moderators and abstainers. Just like an alcoholic can’t have 0 alcohol beer, a carb addict shouldn’t try to replicate carb treats with keto equivalents. You will overeat them and make carb cravings worse. Just go cold turkey, and the cravings go away.
Anything you would like to add about your story? Please do!
Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Your weight loss might be fast or slow but the most important thing is your health and healing. We have been sold the dream of a magic pill by weight loss marketing but it doesn’t exist. Slow and steady will always get you over the finish line.
