Woman who lost over 100 pounds shares favorite keto-friendly recipes (2024)

Courtney Smith credits a diagnosis of pre-diabetes with changing the course of her life.

Smith, 40, of Houston, was motivated by the diagnosis two years ago to overhaul her lifestyle. She has since lost 105 pounds.

"I went into my kitchen and threw away all of the things that were bad for me," Smith told "Good Morning America" of how she started her weight loss journey. "I hit the ground running."

Smith credits the ketogenic, or keto, diet, which calls for cutting carbohydrates and eating more fat and protein, with spurring her weight loss.

"Within three to four weeks, I noticed that I was losing weight and I felt motivated to keep going," she said. "I thought to myself, this is something that could work. This is something I can see myself doing long term."

Smith, who works in the insurance industry, travels frequently for work and would rely on quick foods like pizza, burgers, potato chips and French fries to fuel her.

Now she focuses on eating healthy fats, proteins and vegetables, limiting her carbohydrates and listening intuitively to her body.

"I'll have Bulletproof coffee in the morning and lunch is a protein like a chicken breast and some broccoli and cheese and a deviled egg," Smith said. "Dinner would be like a rib-eye and a big salad."

"I focus on what I can have instead of what I can't have," she said.

Smith turned to Instagram for motivation as she was trying to lose weight. She now has her own Instagram following of more than 3,000 who turn to her for motivation and recipe ideas.

"I thought not only will it hold me accountable but it will inspire other people to get motivated and want to lose weight," she said of sharing her weight loss on Instagram. "I get so many wonderful notes and messages from people."

Now at age 40, Smith says she has more energy and is in better health, including no longer being pre-diabetic.

Of all the things she has learned in her two-year weight loss journey, Smith boiled them down to these nine things she wants other people hoping to change their lives to know.

1. "Everybody’s journey is their own and no two journeys will be their own."

2. "You have to make your mind up to be ready."

3. "Just start one day at a time. Each day is a new day."

4. "Do your research and find out what lifestyle or diet works for you."

5. "Be mindful and intentional with the way that you’re shopping and the food that you’re bringing home. Make a list and stick to the list."

6. "Plan and prep your meals."

7. "Drink water like it’s your job."

8. "Don't starve yourself. If you’re hungry, eat. When I started, I wasn’t eating enough. When I realized that I don’t have to do this, I can eat and enjoy food, that’s when it started to click for me."

9. "Don’t beat yourself up if you do fall off the wagon. Tomorrow is a new day, give yourself some grace."

Smith's weight loss has changed her cooking, too. Coming from a tradition of Southern cooking, Smith focuses on finding ways to make the meals she grew up with low carb.

Here are two of her favorite recipes she has made keto-friendly.

Maple bacon doughnuts

Ingredients:
Swerve vanilla cake mix
1 stick butter
5 T Swerve (or another low-sugar brand) powdered sugar
5 T Swerve (or another low-sugar brand) brown sugar
1 T vanilla extract
1 T heavy cream
Crumbled bacon for topping

Icing directions
Melt one stick of butter.

Add five tablespoons of Swerve powdered sugar and five tablespoons of Swerve brown sugar.

Mix well and stir in one tablespoon of heavy cream and one tablespoon vanilla extract.

Add one tablespoon of sugar-free maple syrup.

Doughnut directions:
Prepare Swerve vanilla cake mix per instructions on packaging (I substituted almond milk for water and butter for oil).

Grease doughnut molds with cooking spray.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Timing may be different depending on your oven.

Let cool and then add icing and crumbled bacon. (Pre-bake bacon in 375 degree oven for 22 minutes).

Taco stuffed peppers

Ingredients:
Bell peppers
Ground turkey or beef
Taco seasoning
Garlic powder
Himalayan pink salt
1 can tomatoes
1/2 block cream cheese
Shredded cheese for topping

Directions:
Season ground turkey or beef with onion powder, garlic powder, Himalayan pink salt, pepper and taco seasoning.

Sauté/brown the meat for 15 to 20 minutes.

Add a can of tomatoes and a let simmer.

Add half a block of cream cheese.

Stir mixture until combined.

Scoop mixture into bell pepper halves. Top with shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Recipes reprinted with permission from Courtney Smith.

Editor's note: This story was originally published on May 13, 2020.

Woman who lost over 100 pounds shares favorite keto-friendly recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to losing weight on keto? ›

To maximize weight loss on a ketogenic diet, get adequate sleep, reduce stress, be more active and consume whole, nutritious, low-carb foods whenever possible.

Can I lose 100 pounds on keto? ›

I started the keto diet in 2018, and within a year, I was able to lose over 120 pounds. Although the diet clearly worked, it made me obsessed with tracking calories and carbs.

How much weight can you lose in 1 week on keto? ›

1 Week. The great news is, you'll start to see the weight drop off straight away - in the first week of going Keto. Anywhere between 2-10lbs of weight loss can be expected after 1 week. This is an incredible amount, however it isn't due to losing fat, but rather water!

Why do people lose so much weight on keto? ›

Your body breaks the carbohydrates down into glucose and then uses the glucose as fuel. Your liver stores the rest and releases it as needed. When your carb intake is very low, these glucose stores drain down. Since your body doesn't have enough carbs to burn for energy, it burns fat instead.

How did Kelly Clarkson lose all her weight? ›

During an interview with “The View” host Whoopi Goldberg on Monday's “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Clarkson admitted to taking a weight loss drug to lose weight. In January, Clarkson told People magazine that diet and exercise helped her slim down. She made no mention of weight loss drugs.

What foods can you eat unlimited amounts of on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

Will one potato ruin keto? ›

For context, the glycemic index of a potato is nearly three times that of a slice of plain old white bread. This is definitely not a good thing for low carb and keto dieters. So, this begs the question – can potatoes EVER fit in as part of a low carb or keto diet? We're going to be totally honest here: Not really, no.

How many pounds can you lose in 30 days on keto? ›

Individuals on a keto diet can lose an average of 10-12 pounds in their first month if they stay consistent with the diet and maintain a calorie deficit. However, weight loss can vary depending on starting weight, age, and activity level. At first, there may be a quick drop in weight, but it's mainly due to water loss.

What is lady lazy keto? ›

A lazy keto diet only requires someone to limit their carbohydrates to 10% or less of their daily calories. This approach means that a person does not need to track their fat and protein intake. Some people use keto diets to lose weight or reduce their body fat.

Is peanut butter keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

How to speed up weight loss in ketosis? ›

To trigger fat-burning, focus on adopting a low-carb diet, which helps your body switch from glucose to stored fats for energy. Intermittent fasting also promotes this transition by allowing insulin levels to drop during fasting periods.

What alcohol can you drink on keto? ›

Many low carb alcohol options are available if you follow a keto diet. For instance, pure forms of alcohol like whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, and vodka are all completely free of carbs. You can drink them straight or combine them with low carb mixers for more flavor.

What is the 30 30 30 rule for weight loss? ›

The 30-30-30 rule is a weight loss method that involves eating 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, followed by 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise. Beyond these steps, the method doesn't involve any other rules, restrictions or counting calories.

How much water should I drink on keto? ›

How Much Water Should You Drink on Keto? Rule of thumb states a person should divide their body weight in half and drink that many ounces of water daily. For example, if someone weighs 160 pounds, they'll need to take in 80 ounces of water a day.

Where do you lose weight first on keto? ›

However, it has been reported that keto diet weight loss can cause more belly fat loss than a standard low-fat diet. One study found that people following a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet lost more fat in the trunk area than those following a low-fat diet.

How can I speed up weight loss on keto? ›

If you do try a keto diet to jump-start weight reduction, choose healthier sources of fat and protein, such as olive oil, avocados, and nuts (almonds, walnuts). But after a few weeks, switch to a reduced-calorie Mediterranean-style diet and increase your physical activity.

How much weight can you lose in a month on keto? ›

How Much Weight Can You Lose in a Month on Keto? Individuals on a keto diet can lose an average of 10-12 pounds in their first month if they stay consistent with the diet and maintain a calorie deficit. However, weight loss can vary depending on starting weight, age, and activity level.

How do I maximize my fat burn on keto? ›

When you work out in a fasted state, it helps drive up your ketone levels, which in turn, helps you burn fat at a faster pace. Increasing Your Healthy Fat Intake: Eating a lot of healthy fats can boost your ketone levels and in turn achieve ketosis.

References

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