Real Women Keto Diet Success Stories

“My current favorite is stuffed peppers with ground beef and melted mozzarella. And low-carb desserts are key! They kept me from feeling deprived. I used resources like keto cookbooks from authors Carolyn Ketchum and Maria Emmerich, as well as the Facebook page Ketogains, for inspiration.” —Allison Caggia, 41, lost 25 pounds in six months

“In the past, diets have left me crazy-hungry. Now, I maintain a caloric deficit, but I do it while making sure I have enough fat, protein, and fiber, which keeps me satiated. For protein intake, I’ve found that 50 to 80 grams a day is the sweet spot that really gives me energy and keeps me full between meals.” —Esther Crawford, lost 41 pounds in five months

“I build my diet around foods I really like: caesar salads, cheese, and chicken wings. I stopped feeling guilty for eating them (which I did in the past because they’re high-fat), and now I actually take pleasure in the food I’m eating. The best part is that my intense cravings have pretty much stopped.” —Joanna Wilcox, 33, lost 60 pounds in a year

“Connecting on Instagram with others who are doing keto kept me motivated. It also helped me think about keto as a long-term healthy lifestyle choice, rather than a temporary diet for weight loss.” —Sarah Williams, 25, lost 29 pounds in a year

“I was always able to find low-carb alternatives everything I really wanted to eat—from bread to cupcakes to candy. I just googled the word ‘keto’ and then the food I wanted the low-carb version of. I may have had to do actually bake my own cupcakes instead of eating store-bought, but that made me look at treats as just that: an indulgence for a special occasion, not something to eat every day.” —Stephanie Lincoln, 38, lost 120 pounds in one year