Although summer has come to an end, I hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful, hot months with friends and family!

We had lots of beach time and lots of quality family time, but now we are ready for the school year to start (as I’m sure many of you are too).

Throughout the summer, people have been asking me and my husband how he is losing weight, and what exactly he is doing. He really does look so great, and I could not be prouder of him. That was the main reason for this blog post—to share his success, and to share what is working for him.

I hope this helps others on their own journey. Cheers!

xoxo NBC

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Q&A with Jeff Clarke, my amazing hubby on his wellness journey (50 lbs lighter, but stronger than ever)!

Q: When did you start this journey, and how much weight have you lost so far?
A: I started this on May 1st, 2017, and I have lost approximately 50 lbs so far. I’m pretty psyched!

Q: Why did you chose a Keto diet and intermittent fasting?
A: I was introduced to the Chalene Johnson Diet Beta Test Program last spring through Instagram. I followed Chalene from the Beachbody world because I have used some of their workouts on demand. As part of Chalene’s program, we were exposed to dietary ketosis, and we also experimented with intermittent fasting.

Q: How much research did you do before making this decision?
A: I had to do a lot of research due to my auto-immune issues. I was diagnosed 25 years ago with hypothyroidism, so I had to look into how a Keto diet and intermittent fasting would impact my condition. I was pleasantly surprised that it can be beneficial for people like me with hypothyroidism.
** I suggest you also do your own research before jumping into any new diet. I also highly recommend you speak to your physician if you have auto-immune issues before you decide if this is the right path for you.

Q: Since you don’t eat breakfast anymore, why did you decide to do Bulletproof Coffee?
A: During this process, I encountered the Bulletproof Coffee and the Bulletproof diet. I follow Dave Asprey on social media. I found that with Bulletproof coffee, I would be able to extend my fasting window with the help of the coffee. I’ve come to realize that healthy fats are extremely satisfying. It’s a great way to start your day.

Q: What exactly do you put into your Bulletproof Coffee?
A: I use grass-fed ghee and Dave Asprey’s Bulletproof brain octane oil. Both of these products can be found on-line and also at Whole Foods. I know that other people use other brands of MCT oil and / or coconut oil.

Q: What does Keto lifestyle mean?
A: Keto is short for dietary ketosis. Dietary ketosis is a metabolic state which is reached by eating a high-fat/low carb diet. The premise is that your body burns fat, rather than burning glucose from carbohydrates.

Q: What is your typical eating window? And, is the schedule flexible?
A: I typically eat my first meal around 2pm. I typically eat my last meal around 8pm. I entertain often for business and I travel often for business, so this is flexible of course. With anything in life, in order for this to work, it must be somewhat flexible.

Q: What would your typical lunch be?
A: Wild caught salmon with sauteed broccoli with avocado and olive oil. Or, I often get a salad with salmon on top.

Q: What would your typical dinner be?
A: Some sort of grass-fed organic protein (i.e. beef, pork, chicken) with sautéed cruciferous vegetables (i.e cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy, etc.).

Q: What about snacks?
A: My favorite snacks are olives, nuts, and cheese.

Q: What about exercising? How many days a week do you exercise, and for how long?
A: Surprisingly, I am not exercising anymore than I did before I lost the weight. I exercise 3-4 times a week for about an hour.

Q: What about alcohol? Have you been able to drink during this?
A: Yes! I have not changed too much there. Plus, during summer,  I wanted to keep having fun! But in this process, I am now gluten-free (just like our daughter) so I have now given up beer. What I have learned is the best alcohol to drink with this lifestyle is light distilled alcohol (i.e. vodka, rum, etc.) because of the low sugar/low carbohydrate content. I have also given up sugar-filled mixers like tonic. I typically order a vodka soda now, instead of a vodka tonic.

Q: Since you have autoimmune issues, is the Keto diet and intermittent fasting okay?
A: According to my doctor, it’s alright. I have tremendous energy and I feel great, plus my blood work has been improving. Since this process began, I have started to see a functional medicine physician rather than my traditional endocrinologist. My new doctor has been an enormous help with this.

Q: What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned along the way during your wellness journey?
A: I have concluded that a low fat/high carb diet is extremely unhealthy, and probably a large cause for the Type 2 diabetes epidemic in our country. Refined sugars, oils and flours are highly processed and they’re unnatural for the human dietary system. What’s best for our systems in my opinion is healthy fats and vegetables found in “real food”— nothing boxed or bagged. Also, eggs and grass-fed butter are actually good for us, while soy bean oil, canola oil, and corn oil are not good for us.

Q: Who do you follow now on Instagram to learn more about this new regime?
A: Mark Sisson, founder of @PrimalKitchenFoods; his Insta handle is @marksissonprimal. Leanne Vogel, author of “The Keto Diet Book”; her Insta handle is @healthfulpursuit. Chalene Johnson, creator of Diet Beta Test; her Insta handle is @chalenejohnson.

Q: Who do you listen to via podcast now to learn more?
A: “Bulletproof Radio” podcast, “Fitness Confidential” podcast, “Primal Blueprint” podcast, “Ulitimate Health” podcast, “The Keto Diet” podcast.

Q: How are you feeling since you’ve started this lifestyle?
A: I feel fantastic! I know that sounds cliché, but I have tried many other diets in the past, and while I have had success on those, the weight has come back. This is the first time that I feel so optimistic about keeping the weight off. Plus, my wife says she thinks I look hot now! #winning

Q: Once you’ve reached your weight loss goal, will you go back to eating 3 meals a day? Or, is this your new lifestyle?
A: I’d like to lose about 10 more pounds. But this is my new lifestyle! There is no reason to eat if you are not hungry, and I am still getting the needed nutrition eating the 2 meals over a 6-hour period. I am not going back!

Q: What’s the one thing you wish someone had told you before you started that you can share with our followers today?
A: I wish I had not spent the last 20 years focusing on calorie reduction and/or low-fat diets to lose weight because the Keto lifestyle is much more effective and sustainable. Keep calm and KETO on!