Find Balance and Enjoy Life with A Keto Lifestyle You Love

If you ever thought that living a keto lifestyle meant a life of misery and rules, this is the post you’ve been waiting for. Today, we’re taking a dive into how to build a low-carb life you love, including enjoying date nights, drinks with friends, and all the other good things life has to offer! 

Ever worry that committing to a low carb lifestyle means you’ll never, ever, ever be able to enjoy the weekend ever again? Does going low carb really mean that you have to give up all that’s good in the world—and good with food?

It’s kind of a sad and scary thought, isn’t it?

Thankfully, it’s also a false one! 

Today, we’re chatting with the season 11 MasterChef winner, Kelsey Murphy, about how to enjoy a keto lifestyle without sacrifice. If anyone knows how to appreciate food, it’s her, so she’s got plenty to say on this topic!

Meet Chef Kelsey Murphy

You probably have heard of Kelsey before, but let us refresh your memory. 

Yes, she was declared the winner of season 11 of MasterChef, which is incredibly impressive. 

She has now launched her career by opening Inspo by Chef Kelsey Murphy in Indianapolis. There’s also a second location inside Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. 

Chef Kelsey is well known for food that are ingredient-focused, letting freshness and color shine through on her plates.

But she is not only a chef. She is also a mom of three, a former physical therapist, and a fitness and wellness enthusiast. She also has a brand new cookbook coming out this summer called Kitchen Confidence. 

Kelsey says she loves teaching other women how you can achieve both wellness and enjoyment in your food, which is exactly what we’re going to be diving into today!

Kelsey had plenty of wisdom to share when it comes to crafting an enjoyable lifestyle no matter what you eat. Here are some of her top tips.

Recognize the Importance of Mindset in a Keto Lifestyle

Mindset is maybe the biggest way to set yourself up for success…or failure. It’s all in how you look at things!

For example, when Kelsey is cooking for high-end clients or catering a big private event, she always has one thought at the forefront of her mind: She wants to create food that she herself actually wants to eat.

For her, this means focusing on food that is healthy and appropriate for her lifestyle without sacrificing flavor or quality. 

Here are a few other helpful tips to keep your mindset on the right track.

Focus on Enjoying Your Food

In Kelsey’s opinion, one of the biggest mistakes people make when switching to a keto lifestyle is thinking they have to sacrifice something. 

She encourages low-carb adherents to focus on the opportunity they have to eat delicious things that are good for themselves and their bodies rather than think they are sacrificing something and being deprived.

Kelsey says she personally reminds herself that she isn’t doing herself justice, nor enjoying her food as much when she veers off track.

“Eventually, your brain just clicks…the more you tell yourself that, your brain just believes it. You automatically choose food at restaurants that align with those goals. You see other things on the menu that you used to think, like, oh, I wish I could have that. And you no longer even look at them,” she said.

Try a Gatherer Day

Another tactic she employs to boost her mindset surrounding food is to have what she calls a “gatherer day”. Rather than just viewing the grocery store as an annoying chore, make it an experience.

She encourages shoppers to grab a coffee and make gathering food a fun outing rather than drudgery. Then, when you get home, lay out your purchases and admire your bounty!

In short, just like we always say, your mindset can make or break your success! 

Stop Counting Calories

Kelsey says one of the things she encourages people to do immediately is stop counting calories. She instead recommends focusing on a single macro such as protein. 

“It makes it much more attainable,” Kelsey said. “ Stop focusing on the other things, just focus on the protein number and everything else will fall into place”. 

Want more info? Check out this post for more information on macros and how to track them the Thinlicous way: Why Macros and Carb Counting are Key to Weight Loss, Not Calories

Kelsey also encourages women to eat more fat to keep their hormones working properly. 

Focus on Building Muscle

Kelsey says she encourages people to get off the treadmill—literally and figuratively! Rather than spend time on the cardio loop, pick up weights and start lifting! 

She says this as a former cardio addict. She admits that she herself has had past seasons where she spent 60-90 minutes on the treadmill seven days a week. Now, however, she prefers to lift weights.

While cardio does burn some fat, she says it also burns carbohydrates, which your body simply replaces whenever you consume carbs. Weights, however, build lean muscle which, in turn, burn fat.

If lifting weights rather than focusing on cardio is new, Kelsey recommends giving weights a try for about a month. “It’s one of those things you have to set intention over,” she said. “You have to say you’ll give it a shot. It doesn’t mean you have to give up cardio, but that you change the ratio.”

She also points out that it is crucial to prioritize completing daily workouts (yes, even on the weekend!) not just for the calorie burn but as a form of self-care for your mental health. 

Give Yourself Freedom in Your Keto Lifestyle

Part of the struggle for those living a low-carb lifestyle is figuring out the right amount of moderation. Kelsey recommends choosing your non-negotiables and focusing on things you can control while still giving yourself freedom. 

Kelsey says that while it’s good to keep protein and carb intake in mind during the week, it’s also important to allow yourself some flexibility on the weekends or special occasions. This can look so many different ways, such as enjoying a glass of wine with your husband or having a special sweet treat without stressing about carbohydrates and sugar. 

Not every weekend meal should be a free for all, but Kelsey emphasizes enjoying the things that are truly worth the splurge.

Put another way, focus on eating on plan 95% of the time, but that 5% when you veer off course, make sure you enjoy it, and enjoy it without guilt! 

Next Steps

SO GOOD, right? We really just love Kelsey’s take on what it means to eat healthy and still live your life!

If you liked these tips, you’ll absolutely LOVE the podcast episode featuring Kelsey. Listen to the episode here! 

We’re big believers in creating a keto lifestyle you LOVE. That’s part of the reason Thinlicious was created—to help women hit their health goals without feeling deprived or miserable. 

Are if you’re ready to lose weight and get healthy for life without dieting, drugs or making yourself miserable, our brand new (and totally free!) on demand video training will help you understand why it’s been so hard and what do to about it.