Join Now Subscribe to Newsletter Member Portal
  • About Us
    • Blog
    • News
    • Community
    • Careers
    • Mobile App
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Membership
    • Join Now
    • Free Pass
    • FAQs
    • Club Procedures
    • Guidelines
    • Referral Program
    • Member Login
    • Corporate Wellness
      • Wellness Solutions
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Partnership Request
  • Programs
    • Group Fitness
    • Mind & Body
    • Cycling
    • AmFam U
    • Silver Sneakers
    • Aquatics
      • Swim Club
      • Swim Lessons
      • Aquatics Classes
    • Youth Fitness
    • American Red Cross Training
      • American Red Cross CPR/AED Training in Virginia
      • American Red Cross CPR/AED Instructor Training in Virginia
      • American Red Cross Swim Instructor Training in Virginia
      • American Red Cross Lifeguard Training in Virginia
      • American Red Cross Lifeguarding Review for Recertification in Virginia
      • American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor Review in Virginia
      • American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training in Virginia
    • Adult Sports Leagues
      • Adult Sports Registration
  • Schedules
    • Chester
    • Colonial Heights
    • Fredericksburg
    • Mechanicsville
    • Midlothian
    • Short Pump
    • Swift Creek
    • Virginia Center Commons
    • Williamsburg
  • Training
    • Personal Training
    • Fusion
    • Small Group Training
    • Success Stories
    • ICan Stories
  • Amenities
    • KidZone
    • Cardio Training
    • Circuit Training
    • Strength Training
    • Indoor Track
    • Metabolic Testing
    • InBody Composition
    • Cafe
    • Birthday Parties
  • Locations
    • Chester
    • Colonial Heights
    • Fredericksburg
    • Mechanicsville
    • Midlothian
    • Short Pump
    • Swift Creek
    • Virginia Center Commons
    • Williamsburg
  • Contact Us
    • Club Procedures
    • FAQs
  • Join Now
  • Member Portal
  • September 30, 2020

 I Couldn’t “Out-Exercise” My Bad Eating Habits. 

Written by Mande Rimel 

As long as I can remember, I’ve dealt with reactive hypoglycemia but didn’t know what it was until about 10 years ago. When I eat carbs, my blood sugar spikes and my body floods with too much insulin. Then the insulin takes too much sugar from my blood and leaves me feeling lethargic for hours. I’ve searched, my entire adult life, for a balance of nutrition that works for my body. 

I’ve tried many different diets/nutrition plans. In my early 20’s I wanted to lose weight and literally starved my body of necessary nutrition. I gave veganism a try (for seven years!). In my mid-thirties I decided to compete in bodybuilding, so I started counting macros and tried several different meal plans from several coaches. Every one of these nutrition plans left me starving, cranky and craving carbs! 

I’ve always eaten fairly healthy but I’m a true carb addict! Carbs are like a drug to me. Pizza has always been my favorite food and peanut butter M&M’s are my kryptonite. I could NOT just have a few, it was the entire bag or until I was too sick to eat the rest. Anyone relate? 

I truly thought that I could out-exercise my bad eating habits. But the weight always crept back up and I’d have to change things up in the kitchen again. It was an exhausting roller coaster ride, both emotionally and physically. Obesity runs in my family and my mother passed away at age 58 due to her unhealthy lifestyle. 

 About a year and a half ago, my husband and I decided to try Keto to help with his Type 2 Diabetes. I was willing to do anything to help him stabilize his blood sugar. When we started, we both dropped fat quickly and maintained our muscle mass! That totally debunked everything I was ever taught about needing carbs to build muscle. We learned that once we took out the carbs, our bodies started to use fat as fuel more efficiently. 

We took a Disney trip with our kids in the summer of 2019 and totally fell off our Keto plan. When we got home we just couldn’t seem to get back off the carbs. My husband was still in the mindset that his body had to have carbs to build muscle and he kept finding articles that reinforced exactly that. He now admits that it was mostly because he wasn’t ready to give carbs up. 

In June 2020 we decided to give Keto another try. Within the first week I was already feeling better and less bloated. I had forgotten how good I felt when we tried Keto in 2019! My blood sugar wasn’t crashing every time I ate and I could get so much more done throughout the day. Because I was feeling so good, I decided to completely divorce carbs! A few times my husband asked me when we were going to have a “cheat meal.” I kept telling him that I just couldn’t. I knew it would only take one bite and I’d be a hooked on carbs again. 

I started searching for Keto dessert recipes (because…sweets!). In my research, I came across the holy grail of all Keto recipe sites, Gnom-Gnom.com. There is a recipe for just about anything and every one we’ve tried has turned out amazing! I was able to make keto brownies that made my heart skip a beat! Then cookies, banana bread, pumpkin bread, carrot cake, pizza and even pasta!! For us, this has been the key to maintaining a Keto lifestyle. 

After a month of ditching the carbs, my husband has maintained normal ranges for his blood sugar levels and (under his doctor’s orders) he stopped his diabetic medication! He’s lost a total of 20 pounds so far while maintaining his muscle mass. I’ve lost 10 pounds and put on some muscle! But the most important thing for me is that I feel so free. I’m more alert and energetic without the carb fog. I’m so happy knowing that my husband is living his best and healthiest life, with me, because we have finally found something that works for us both. 

DISCLAMIER: A Keto diet may not be for everyone. This site and its authors do not claim to cure, prevent, diagnose, or treat any nutrition-related disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing your diet or medications or beginning any exercise routine.

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on email
Email
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on email
Email
Mande Rimel

As a Personal Trainer & Group Fitness Instructor at American Family Fitness, Williamsburg, Mandee’s favorite class to teach is POWER because it’s meticulously programmed to train not only your muscles to be stronger but your entire body to move better. Mandee’s favorite things to do are weight training and learning about nutrition specifically on how our bodies use the food we eat and how food causes different hormonal reactions in our bodies. 

3 Moves Your Core Will Love

3 Moves Your Core Will Love

What do you think when you hear the word “core” in relation to exercise? Maybe you envision someone with flawless 6-pack abs who got them

Read More »
8 Reasons We Love the KidZone

8 Reasons Why We Love the KidZone

You love your child and want the best for them in all areas of their life, including their education, health, and socialization. And we know

Read More »
Fall in Love with Free Weights

Fall in Love with Free Weights

Is there a machine at the gym that you just LOVE? Cardio or weight machine, it doesn’t matter — you may have eyes for that

Read More »
« Previous Next »

geraldinechapman

Follow Us on Social

Facebook-f
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
Linkedin
Pinterest

Weekly Fitness Tip

Recent Blog Posts

3 Moves Your Core Will Love

3 Moves Your Core Will Love

Read More »
8 Reasons We Love the KidZone

8 Reasons Why We Love the KidZone

Read More »
Fall in Love with Free Weights

Fall in Love with Free Weights

Read More »
AFF Mechanicsville Exterior

Moments Make Memories in Mechanicsville

Read More »
Member Guest Pass

Working out is always better with a workout buddy! Now you can bring a friend to workout with you using a Member Guest Pass. See Welcome Desk or a Membership Advisor for details.

Sign up for our Newsletter

Stay connected with us through our monthly newsletter to get the latest news, updates, fitness tips and more.

Find a Club Near you!
use my current location
-or-

Follow Us On Social Media

Check out our other convenient locations

  • Home
  • Chester
  • Colonial Heights
  • Fredericksburg
  • Mechanicsville
  • Midlothian
  • Short Pump
  • Swift Creek
  • Virginia Center Commons
  • Williamsburg

© 2018 Copyright American Family Fitness. All rights reserved.

Get the latest updates to AFF’s temporary procedures, guidelines and hours of operations.

LEARN MORE