'I Learned About The Keto Diet From YouTube Videos—And I Lost 55 Pounds In A Year'

I remember doing Pilates with my mom and then lying in bed every night doing sit-ups in the hopes that I would be skinny like all of the other girls. This was the start of a very long and unhealthy journey of eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Looking back now, it makes me sad to think that even as a child I struggled with these complex issues.

I struggled into my teens. When I was 19, I was in a very unhealthy relationship. We moved in together, and to make a long story short, things ended up getting worseand I was not in a good place food-wise. We ate out and drank alcohol almost every night. I turned to food to deal with every emotion, and I realized I had binge eating disorder .

Given that I was in an extremely dark place, I knew I had to make a change before things got worse.

In December of 2014, I packed up my things and moved back into my moms house. This was the start of my first (out of many) weight loss attempts.

That first attempt, I lost a lot of weight. But I had been doing an hour of cardio five days a week and only drinking meal replacement shakes. A huge no-no. As soon as I stopped doing those things, I gained all of the weight (plus some) back.

I never thought I would be able to find a diet that I would be able to make a lifestyle until I found the keto diet .

I discovered keto through a girl I was following on YouTube who had amazing weight-loss success with it, and at that point I was willing to try anything. The keto diet really works for me because I feel full for way longer due to the high amount of fat I eat throughout the day.

One of my biggest problems with so-called diets is that I feel like I can never get full, and this is the first eating plan I actually felt satisfied on. You dont even feel like youre on a diet with all the yummy foods and keto-friendly meals you can eat.

Heres what I typically eat in a day:

Breakfast: Bulletproof coffee! I cant start my mornings without coffee.
Lunch: Chicken and bacon lettuce wraps topped with ranch dressing and some cheddar cheese.
Snacks: Pepperoni. Or, the brand Knutri just came out with keto-friendly bars and they are *so* good. I have one almost every day.
Dinner: Chicken wings. I just bought an air fryer and, omg, if youve never air fried chicken wings, you must ASAP. Throw a little buffalo sauce on them with a side of ranch, and youll be in heaven.
Dessert: Im not a huge dessert person, but when Im craving something sweet I usually have some Killer Creamery ice cream.

My exercise routine has definitely changed throughout my journey.

When I first started I was working out about three days a week, weight lifting and doing HIIT workouts all in my moms basement. Now I work out five to six days a week.

I still lift weights (its my favorite type of exercise), but I also do cardio at least two to three days a week as well. Its crazy how much your body can change over time. Working out is definitely a form of therapy for me.

Ive lost a little over 55 pounds in a year.

I want other women to know that nothing is impossible. For the majority of my life I was uncomfortable in my own skin, and my self-confidence was nonexistent. I thought that was normal. I thought thats how I was going to spend the rest of my life.

My weight loss journey didnt just help me physically, it helped me mentally as well. Reminder to anyone who needs to hear this: Youre a strong badass babe who can do *anything* you put your mind to.

Before I started my weight-loss journey, I wish I wouldve known that its okay to make mistakes.

Its okay to have a special meal, its okay to skip a workout, and its okay to veer away from your diet. For so long I was so scared to do any of that because I was worried I would gain all the weight back.

I missed out on going out with friends and family because I didnt want to eat or drink something that wasnt keto-friendly. Take it from me: Its okay to still experience life, eat yummy food, and just enjoy yourself every once in awhile. The most important thing is that you go back to your healthy routine the next day. It's all about balance.