Since I started sharing my weight-loss journey, several friends have hit me up about it. I definitely have plans to share everything here on my blog, but for starters, I think putting things in perspective is most important.

First of All...

Let me preface — I am no weight-loss expert. I’m just a regular dude with a weight problem, and after 16 years, I finally found one thing that works for me.

You will never hear me preach that keto is the one single miracle diet that will solve the weight problems of everyone on the world. There are hundreds of ways to lose weight. Many will work for you in the short-term, but really, you only need to find one way that truly works for you to change your life forever.

There are a lot of "experts" out there who will preach how their way is the one and only way. “YOU GOTTA WANT IT. YOU GOTTA BE STRONG. YOU GOTTA COMMIT.”

My problem with that is it implies that if you don’t commit to their specific method, then you are weak. And that’s bullshit.

A lot of my friends have found success with boot camps and meal prepping. Based on my experience with running, high school football, wrestling, I know I’d lose motivation in a boot camp after a few weeks. And as a foodie, I can only handle so much back-to-back meals of grilled chicken & veggies. I’ve tried both and found they are not sustainable for me.

Dozens of Factors, Hundreds of Solutions

The reality is, there are countless ways to lose weight. And there are just as many factors that’ll affect your success with any weight-loss plan. Here’s a bunch of them:

• Age — Metabolism slows down considerably when you hit 30. If you’re under 30, START NOW, while your skin still has elasticity.
• Sex — Women naturally have more bodyfat than men.
• Appetite & Eating Habits — The conventional eating plan is three regular meals with snacks in between. But some people live off five small meals per day. Others get by with one giant meal. I personally get by with a small breakfast, a nice big tasty lunch, and a shake for dinner.
• Allergies
• Personal Tastes — Some people are happy with grilled chicken, steak, or fish for every meal of every day. Others, like me, will get bored very quickly.
• Motivation Style — Some people are well-disciplined and won’t stop until they achieve their goals. I’m process-driven and only stay motivated as long as I’m having fun.
• Body Type — Are you an ectomorph, mesomorph, or endomorph?
• Family History of Health Problems — Obviously, if your doctor has warned you of certain dietary restrictions, some diets may end up harming you.
• Work/Life Balance — If you’re constantly on-the-go and/or work 60+ hours per week, your healthy food options will be limited compared to someone who only works 40 hours/week.
• Food Budget — Cooking at home saves a lot of money but takes a lot of time. Eating out or ordering healthy prepped meals saves time but costs a lot of money.
• Social Life — Personally, I’ve found this to be hardest. It’s so easy to cave in when everyone around you is enjoying food & drinks you miss, especially at a restaurant/party that isn’t particularly diet-friendly.

Everyone’s body is different and everyone’s lifestyle is different. Therefore, everyone’s ideal weight-loss solution will be different too.

How I Started

For me, Keto started as a three-week experiment. I never hyped it up in my mind like, “TOMORROW WILL BE THE TURNING POINT OF MY LIFE.” I didn't take any "before" selfies. I didn't even do much research on it. I just looked at keto food porn and thought to myself, "Dude, I think I can do that."

Not gonna lie, the first week was HARD, especially when I was dealing with the “keto flu”.

But my body adjusted, and I started losing one pound every two days for three weeks straight. It forced me to get creative with my eating habits, which actually became a fun challenge. Weighing myself every morning and doing cooking experiments in the kitchen became highlights of my day.

Change Your Life One Experiment At a Time

So for anyone getting started, especially those who think, “I CANNOT GIVE UP BREAD OR RICE,” just experiment for three weeks. That's it. I'm not asking for a life-long commitment; it's just few short weeks. After three weeks, you’ll have an idea of how realistic/sustainable this lifestyle change will be for you. At the end of it, you’ll just have to be honest with yourself, “How long can I see myself doing this?”

If it’s not sustainable, your subconsious will start looking for excuses. “Oh, it’s a little too hot to run today.” “Oh, my ankle is a little sore.” “Oh, my butt hurts cuz that girl didn’t text me back, I’ll start again next week.”

If you find a little too hard, that’s perfectly okay. It does not mean you are weak or a failure. Don’t let anyone — especially yourself — make you feel that way. It was just one experiment of many you'll go through while you figure out your body.

Eventually, you’ll figure something out. And when you do, you'll know it because it won’t feel like work. It won’t feel like you’re constantly testing your willpower. It won't feel like a daunting commitment or obligation.

It will be fun. And that's the only motivation you'll need to change your life forever.