"Keto? That's the diet where you can eat unlimited bacon, right?! Awesome! Wait... you're vegan. You can't eat bacon... Why would you go keto?" Almost every time I told somebody I had gone keto, that was their general reply. To be honest, I don't fault them for this response. I never really understood keto before I made the decision to pursue it. I was like most of America, thinking keto was science talk for, "Unlimited Bacon" and couldn't possibly be healthy or sustainable. And, while I know most keto-ers are avid bacon fans, from what I've read, most also understand that they cannot eat "unlimited" bacon if they are truly following keto. Keto involves following a diet of specific macros (veryyyyy specific macros!), and I'm sorry if I'm bursting any bubbles here, but those macros will not be withheld by all-you-can-eat bacon (unless of course your bacon tolerance is very minimal, then maybe...). All bacon aside, I REALLY never thought I would be able to remain vegan AND do keto. But alas, here I am, eight weeks later, thriving on a vegan keto diet. "Thriving" is definitely the key word here. Because I've tried about every possible diet before, none of which had lasting success past about the two week mark (or, when I went "no sugar" and could only eat radishes and celery. No joke. That lasted about three days before my students commented on my grouchiness and suggested that maybe I eat something else... They were right. That was definitely not a "win"). It may have been because of all these failed diet attempts (and/or my keto misconceptions) that when my brother and sister-in-law tried to tell me about their success with low-carb, I all but scoffed and rolled my eyes (sorry, Jeff and Kate!). There were too many foods to cut out, too many rules to follow (I see now the irony of this statement, coming from someone who has been vegan for over a decade and exclusively ate radishes and celery for three days...). But I was already vegan. I had already tried raw vegan. I had tried gluten free vegan. All of these required weeks of research and hours of recipe searching and meal-prepping. I didn't know if I could take one more diet that would promise results only to let me down in the end. And I needed results. I was desperate for results. Not necessarily just weight loss, either (though I was desperate to lose the 15 pounds I had gained in the last year...). I needed energy. I needed improved health. I needed something that would end my gut-wrenching (no pun intended) digestive pain. I had been battling these symptoms for years (hence my never-ending miracle diet quest...). Since before I can remember (which isn't saying much if you know my memory span...) I have been a sick child. I was born early with jaundice and the fun never ceased from there. I have had countless ear infections and bouts with strep throat. I have had mono and bronchitis (at the same time, in fact). I was diagnosed with chronic-fatigue at 20 when I couldn't stop sleeping (upwards of 17 hours a day). I even came down with shingles in college! SHINGLES! In my 20's! It was like my immune system had a hit out on me! I had been tested for Celiac Disease, Thyroid Disorders, MS, Lupus... You name it and I probably had had the blood test for it. Doctors started just writing me off because they couldn't find a source of my fatigue and pain. I think they probably though I had Munchausen Syndrome with all the office visits with no definitive diagnosis. But believe me, I was just as frustrated as they were. All they could tell me was that I had a "non-specific auto-immune disorder" (which I think is medical talk for shrugging their shoulders...). Over the years, some of my symptoms began to subside after I went vegan in 2006 (I had been vegetarian since 2002 or 2003, so it wasn't a huge leap- I'll discuss that in a later blog, I promise) but I was still constantly tired and still had an everlasting (and excruciating) stomachache. Veganism did help, but it wasn't my miracle cure. There was still something going on that needed to be fixed. Then, after some blood work last year, I did find that while my iron levels were fine, my ferritin levels were LOW, so once I started taking Iron, B12 and D, my energy levels DEFINITELY went up. I didn't need to drink a cup of coffee just to get the energy to drive to Starbucks to get a bigger cup of coffee (yes, that was my routine...). But, still, there was something missing. As I mentioned, during the same time I was getting my vitamin levels all squared away, I had gained 15 pounds! I never gained the freshmen 15 (going vegan might have helped with that!) but I had gained the "Late 20's 15" and I DID NOT LIKE IT! My clothes no longer fit. I was wearing dresses most days because my pants uncomfortably cut into me. I was constantly bloated and uncomfortable in my own skin. And yes, I was asked a few times if I was in the early stages of pregnancy.... Yep... So, when a person very near and dear to me decided to go keto and shared his successes with me, I figured what harm could one more diet attempt do? He had lost weight quickly and, while my ultimate goal was improved overall health, I also wanted to lose weight quickly. But vegan... and keto...? How could I make those two worlds merge? They are seemingly fundamentally different. One encourages high fat, moderate protein and low-carb, while the other is naturally lower in fat, lower to moderate in protein and HIGH IN CARBS. How would I manage to remain vegan (a non-negotiable) but also do Keto...? I had the motivation, but not the plan of action. I tried to Google Vegan+Keto, but there were NOT a whole lot of resources out there (except reddit. THANK YOU REDDITERS for discussing vegan keto. You gave me the final push I needed to make it happen.) Thankfully I had been vegan long enough that I knew a LOT about veganism to be able to make it merge with keto. So I used the suggested keto calculator and set my macros to 20g net carbs or less, 75g protein and 100g fat. And, using reddit and my keto friends and family as my vegan keto parachute I took the leap and started vegan keto May 16, 2016. I was over 140 pounds. (I couldn't even bring myself to step on a scale to get the exact weight because I was so disappointed in myself. But the last time I weighed myself I was 138 or 139 and I hadn't exactly slowed down on eating...) This was the highest I had been in well over a decade and a half. Since 8th grade, I think... I will give more details about my progress in a subsequent blog, but I am happy to report that in the last 8 weeks I have moved from that 140+ range down to 126.0, as of this morning. But the weight loss isn't everything. I feel like I can focus better. I have more energy. I am happier. I am not starving every two hours. I am not bloated. My stomach pains are GONE! G-O-N-E!!! I feel like myself again! My clothes fit (and some are too big even!). I am a keto believer. But, there is no finish line in life when it comes to "dieting" or lifestyle changes. I cannot say "wow, this was a great 8 weeks. I'm cured! Back to vegan mac and cheese!" (Oh how I miss vegan mac and cheese...). This is just the beginning of a journey. A long journey. A forever journey, perhaps. So, since I couldn't find anything on vegan keto when I began, but have had a lot of questions from others who want to try vegan keto since, I decided to start this blog and invite you all on my journey with me. I do want to make one thing clear to anybody reading this right now (all 3 of you, I'm sure haha): I AM NOT A VEGAN KETO EXPERT! This is my disclaimer! I am a keto rookie (I am a vegan veteran/expert, however, haha!)! What I say here has worked for me, but I cannot guarantee you will get the exact same results. We are all different. What's the warning they always use on those diet products.... "THIS PRODUCT NOT INTENDED TO TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE"? Yea, that! In other words, do not hold me legally responsible for any decisions you make as a result of reading this blog, haha. BUT, while I might not be a vegan keto expert, I am a vegan keto CHEERLEADER! I wholeheartedly believe in the vegan keto diet and plan to continue it as long as it is safe and healthy for me. (the keto part, that is. Veganism will ALWAYS be a part of my life. I will NEVER go back to non-veganism.) So, as I make my way through this journey, I am going to share my favorite vegan keto recipes, my progress (and set-backs) and try to include a lot of research of the pros and cons of keto so you, too, can make your most informed decision possible. But if after reading this, you're ready to give vegan keto a try (yay you!), I recommend the keto calculator, and heading over to reddit and reading everything they say about keto, vegetarian keto, vegan keto, etc. It's a BIG lifestyle change, but one that I can honestly say I have not once in the last 8 weeks regretted. If you want more regular updates, please feel free to follow me on IG: Vegan_Keto_Madi Thanks for reading! -Vegan Keto Madi
8 Comments
Juan O
7/7/2016 09:44:56 pm
So I have read this very enlightening story of your incredible journey! Being non vegan and doing keto I myself found it hard to do but thanks to your help I kept on track. I cannot imagine being vegan and keto!! I wish you the best in your journey and for all vegan keto fiends that read and learn from each other! Thank you for sharing a tiny glimps of your world with us.
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Anna Daniels
7/19/2016 08:49:22 pm
Where do you suggest I look for info on the just straight up keto diet?
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Karina
7/26/2017 01:13:01 pm
Thank you so much for this great post ❤ I can relate to so much of your background with being sick for most of your life. I have started keto already but with a few animal products but I'm feeling so guilty I want to go back to being vegan - now I can see I can do both yaaayyy! Wish me luck!
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Annais
8/9/2017 06:54:43 pm
Im interested in being vegan keto. I have done the Keto diet and it was amazing but I want to elimiythe meat. Are there any good books you recommend?
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Debi
10/27/2017 06:42:51 am
OMGosh.....I just stumbled on to you and I am hooked. I just looked at Dr. Fung’s book and am again “hooked”. I’ll be following closely!!
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Dee
5/19/2018 11:55:03 am
Hi! There's a lot we have in common. Maybe one thing that we don't have in common is that I don't claim to be a vegan expert as I'VE GOTTEN FATTER ON A VEGAN DIET!! Am disgusted with myself.
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Erin Mangold
6/26/2018 11:59:26 pm
Thank you so much for your story, i have been wanting to do keto for years but it seemed impossible since i was a vegan/plant based! im so excited to hear it worked with a fellow vegan, and gives me the last push i need to just go for it! Thank you!
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About MeI have been carb-loving vegan for over a decade, but carbs stopped loving me as I approached 30... Archives |