To CheatDay or Not To CheatDay – That is the question

December 17, 2025January 5, 2026The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

pizza

If you’re on a diet, it’s probably a restrictive one. You’re sticking to your chosen plan, hoping for the same thing as everyone else, quick results that give you the motivation to keep going. The idea is to stay committed until you finally reach your goal.

In a previous post, I’m sure I explained why a diet isn’t a permanent solution. In fact, losing weight is secondary! The real goal is to make changes to your eating habits and activity level until they become a lifestyle. For example, take avocado, such a healthy food. It seems like a no-brainer to include it in your diet, right? Well, I don’t like avocados! But since I understand the benefits of this amazing fruit, I’m training my taste buds and slowly adding it to my meals. Now I can eat a quarter of an avocado without any problem. This way, you’re learning new choices that are good for you while letting go of the ones that aren’t.

Wait a second… all this talk and not a single mention of Cheat Day. Let’s dive into that now. A Cheat Day is simply a day when you indulge in foods that are outside your regular diet.

The question is… How important is it? Do we need it at all? Can it work for everybody?

First, who is it for? It’s for people who can use it as a reward system. For example, if you hit your 10-pound goal this month, you get to enjoy a cheat day with up to three slices (slices, not pies!) of your favorite pizza. If that’s something you can look forward to with excitement, then a Cheat Day of Pizza is perfect for you.

Can it be any kind of food? Let me give an example. I plan to schedule a Cheat Day with the same 10-pound goal, and my cheat food is donuts. WRONG! That’s not a good choice. Why? Because donuts were the junk food that pushed me over the edge, like drugs to a junkie, booze to an alcoholic, or cigarettes to a smoker. Plus, donuts are ranked among the worst foods on the planet. Unlike pizza, the toll on your body is just too high.

Not everyone needs or benefits from a cheat day. If you don’t miss foods that aren’t part of your diet and feel better sticking to healthier choices, just keep it up and move forward.

Ok, to finish this post, I will include something that I saw online in more than one place. The 5 Rules of a Cheat Day.

cheat-day

To be honest, I don’t like #4. I will stay with Cheat Days for very special occasions. Or better yet, if you don’t need a Cheat Day, better.

I will see you on the next post.

It’s not what you KNOW… It’s what you can PROVE in Court!

December 11, 2025December 27, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

isnotwhatyouknow

No matter how much fiction a movie contains, there’s always a chance to pick up real-life lessons or useful insights that teach valuable things about life. And if the iconic phrase at the top of this post doesn’t ring a bell, it’s from the movie “Law Abiding Citizen”.

In this movie, the main character is determined to see two criminals convicted for killing his wife and young daughter. The DA, personally handling the case, strikes a deal: the full penalty for one of the accused and a third-degree charge for the other. Meaning death row for one and at most five years for the other. Clyde (Gerard Butler), heartbroken and tearful, pleads for the chance to testify and convince the jury of what he witnessed. The DA warns him of the risks and insists this outcome is a victory. Clyde disagrees and keeps fighting to bring justice to both offenders. That’s when the DA delivers the memorable line: “It’s not what you know… it’s what you can prove in court!”

Enough about the movie! If you want to see more and find out what that phrase did to Clyde, go watch it. Now, let’s talk about how this relates to our weight loss goals.

I have a friend who is obese, like me, and finds losing weight very difficult, just as I do. He’s quite negative about fitness because he believes that for people like us, losing weight is far too hard and, more importantly, even if we manage to shed some pounds, we’ll soon gain it all back; possibly with extra weight on top of what we started. Although it’s a pessimistic way of thinking, I can’t help but see some truth in his opinion.

The fitness industry is living proof that my friend has a point. How many people do you know who start a diet to reach a goal, only for the pounds to return once the goal is met? As my friend noted, sometimes they come back with a vengeance.

What can we do? Are we doomed to this vicious cycle of losing weight and gain it all back again and again?

Here I have an idea that can be useful to people like us. And let me start by rephrasing our famous header:

IT’S NOT THE POUNDS THAT YOU LOSE, IT’S THE WEIGHT THAT YOU KEEP!

With that being said, let me tell you that it will be better to lose 10 pounds and keep them off that losing 20 pounds and gain them back in a couple of months.

Here’s the idea: imagine you lose 15 pounds in a month, no small feat, and now you’re at 200 pounds. Give yourself a couple of weeks to adjust to this new weight. During this time, keep a close eye on your 200 pounds, and if you notice a two-pound gain, take action to lose it and get back to your new base weight of 200 pounds.

I truly believe that after two weeks of fine-tuning, you’ll be ready to set, achieve, and maintain another weight loss goal.

Good Luck!

Spot Reduction? No, there is no such thing!

November 18, 2025November 23, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

spotreduction

You might not be familiar with the term “spot reduction,” but I’m sure plenty of people still believe it’s possible, even today. Maybe even you!

Spot reduction is a fitness myth claiming that exercising a specific area can reduce fat in just that part of the body. For example, if someone has belly fat, they might believe doing lots of crunches will target and burn fat in that area. This idea was hugely popular in the fitness industry during the 80s, so much so that many industry icons, built part of their fame by promoting the spot reduction myth.

tonylittle

Tony Little, remember him? The fitness celebrity who called himself “America’s Best Trainer” was famous for promoting spot reduction workouts. His program, “Target Training,” was a massive hit. I even had the tapes. What can I say… back in the 80s, the theory seemed perfectly logical.

You’re probably wondering two things: First, if spot reduction is a myth, why are crunches still recommended? And second, if spot reduction isn’t real, then how do you actually lose fat?

To answer the first and part of the second question, crunches are still a great exercise for building strong abs. If your goal is to have washboard abs in the future, you’ll need to strengthen your abdominal muscles and reduce body fat, so those muscles become visible. That’s why crunches remain a solid choice. Just remember, there’s a right and wrong way to do them, so be sure to research proper form to avoid injury.

For our second question, fat is reduced evenly across the body through a combination of exercise, a proper diet, and adequate rest. As simple and amazing as it may sound, that’s the winning formula. Here at TheHetaBlog, we’ll be talking about this a lot.

Now, please, pay attention (especially if you are very fat or obese):
DO NOT, let me say that again, DO NOT START A HEAVY WORKOUT TRAINING WITHOUT MEDICAL SUPERVISION. This is your life we are talking about. Do the right thing and check your condition first and choose your training later. If you are too out of shape, probably it will be something simple like walking, but let’s someone who understand the condition of your body do the call.

So, there you have it! You can’t lose fat in just one spot, just like you can’t lower the water level from only one corner of a pool by scooping water out there. The water level will drop across the whole pool, just like fat loss happens throughout your entire body.

Now that you know, the next time that you see someone talking about “spot reduction” or just saying something like “I got these exercises that will take away the fat from insert spot here“, do that person a favor and teach him.

Or better yet… Say to look for the answer here at http://www.thehetablog.com 🙂

Ok, I screw up… Now what?

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

I have to admit it, I was feeling low and gave in to temptation. 😦
Knowing that ice cream is packed with sugar, it’s a tough setback for a diet like the Ketogenic Diet, especially at the start.

The first question is, “What do you do?” and the answer is simple… YOU STOP! And don’t say it’s obvious, because for people like us, it’s not. It wasn’t logic that led you to break your diet, so why assume it will be logic that gets you back on track?

It’s pretty common to feel guilty after indulging in the forbidden fruit, uh, I mean, food. Just as common is the “What the hell, I’ll start again tomorrow” mindset. Avoid falling into that trap. When something goes wrong, don’t make it worse; learn from the experience and move forward. If you notice your car has a flat tire before heading to the office, what do you do? You fix the tire and get on your way! You don’t pull out a knife, and slash the other three tires, right? But that’s essentially what you’re doing when you eat something you weren’t supposed to and decide to ruin the rest of the day.

Wait a minute! What about the learning part? Pay attention to the things that tripped you up. You were feeling a bit down (defenses low), and you walked right past that place selling your favorite “sin food.” Next thing you know, you’re stuffing your face. So, if I’m feeling down, I won’t go there, or I won’t go there alone. This is just a small example. You’ve got the key to your own control, use it!

Don’t feel bad for breaking your diet; feel good about the lesson you learned. However, in the case of Keto, breaking the diet with sugary foods can have significant consequences. The first is that you’ll fall out of Ketosis, and it might take a few days to get back on track.

That’s tough news, but I want to let you know that I have a plan to bounce back quickly. Stay tuned for more details in the next post! 🙂

Monitoring Our Weight Loss Plan – PART II

October 30, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

Yes, this post builds on the previous one, and while this type of monitoring might not be useful for other weight loss programs, we can’t deny that when following “Keto,” keeping track of our level of “Ketosis” is crucial.

I went with the “Keto Mojo Blood Monitor,” and as I mentioned earlier, it functions just like a standard glucose monitor. Simply load the device with the blue ketone reader strip, prick your finger, collect a small drop of blood on the tip of the strip, and wait for the results.

This was my result for last Friday.

If your level is below 0.5, it means you’re not in “Nutritional Ketosis.” If that’s the case, don’t worry; just stick to the protocol. Get your carbs only from the list of approved vegetables, include your protein, and focus on consuming plenty of healthy fats.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Keto Mojo comes with blood glucose strips, and when you measure both glucose and ketones, the device can provide a reading called the GKI. This index is gaining recognition as a more valuable metric to monitor since it factors in your blood glucose levels.

How often should you measure? Don’t do it too often, twice a week or even once a week is enough. Another good time to measure is if you think you’ve eaten something that might have knocked you out of ketosis. But remember, if you stick to the protocol, you’ll soon notice other signs of being in ketosis, with the lack of hunger being the easiest to recognize.

On our next post, we will continue with other steps in weight monitoring.

See you there!

Monitoring Our Weight Loss Plan – PART I

October 26, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

While many nutrition experts claim that a diet plan should come naturally without special monitoring, I have to disagree. Especially if you have a history of consuming unhealthy food for years and, like me, are obese. In the case of following the Keto Diet protocol, as we are, monitoring becomes even more crucial.

That’s why the next three posts will focus on the topic, “Monitoring Our Weight Plan.”

How can you tell if you’re on the right track to achieving the benefits of the Ketogenic Diet?

The answer is: When you spend most of your time in nutritional ketosis. This metabolic state is quite fragile, especially in the early stages, which is why monitoring is crucial.

What is Nutritional Ketosis? This metabolic state happens when carbohydrate intake is sufficiently low, prompting the liver to convert fats into ketones, which are then used as a source of energy.

Given that definition, the goal of measuring is to determine whether we are in nutritional ketosis and to what extent.

The three most important methods for measuring our ketones are:

Urine Ketone Strips: A cheap and easy way to check ketones, though less reliable, involves using urine test strips. You simply urinate on the strip, ensuring the test area comes into contact with your urine stream. Afterward, wait a few seconds and compare the strip’s color with a chart to determine the results. The issue with this method is that it measures ketones being excreted. While this works early on when your body isn’t using ketones heavily, the results may become less accurate as you start using more ketones as fuel.

Ketone Breath Analyzers: If you’re familiar with the Alcohol Meter used by the police, then you already understand the science behind this Keto monitoring tool. It’s a more accurate method compared to “Keto Urine Strips” and is the least invasive of the three methods. However, the results can be influenced by a recent meal or your hydration level. To use the monitor, simply breathe into the mouthpiece, and it provides a result based on the acetone level (a byproduct of Keto) in your breath.

Ketone Blood Meters: Think of this device as similar to a standard glucose meter, but instead of glucose-detecting strips, it uses ones designed to measure ketone bodies. This is widely considered the gold standard for keto measurement. A good device often doubles as a ketone and glucose monitor, and some even combine the two readings to calculate an index of ketone effectiveness. While a blood reader is typically less expensive than a quality breath analyzer, the cost of strips can add up to the solution cost over time.

My final recommendation for a measurement method is to skip the urine strips and opt directly for the blood meter or the breath analyzer.

In my next post, I’ll share the results you can get with the Keto Mojo Reader.
Until the next time! 🙂

Today you are allowed to “Eat/Say Goodbye” to some type of food

October 19, 2025October 19, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

fastfood

Wait a minute… Are you actually suggesting we eat something off protocol today!?

Let me put it this way… I am a junk food regular, Diet Coke addict and a sworn salad hater that is about to embark in a journey into the unknown starting tomorrow. So, YES, I want to say goodbye to some of my regular food, the same way that I would say goodbye to a friend. Only time will tell if that long-lost friend ends up badmouthing me, revealing that he was not such a good friend after all.

With that being said, excuse yourself today and eat away some of what has been until now your favorite food, because tomorrow, they will be gone. No harm done today, just savor the moment.

Happy forbidden meal!

Supermarket list for Keto

October 16, 2025October 16, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

ketosuper

Ok, it’s time to get ready! We must visit the Supermarket and get our food. I know that you are wondering what to get. Well, we know that we must get food for our Macro groups. So let me break it down in that same order, by Macros:

FATS

Avocado
Nuts (Macadamia, Pecans, Brazil Nut)
Butter (look for grass-fed cows)
Olive Oil
Cheese (Fatty type)
Coconut Oil

PROTEIN

Chicken
Beef
Salmon
Sardines
Tuna
Eggs
Bacon

CARBS

Cauliflower
Broccoli
Spinach
Kale

And what to DRINK?

Coffe
Tea
Lots of WATER!

While we want to get creative with all these ingredients. There are a couple of rules that if you follow the process will be a lot better.

Salad First! A Salad is something that can’t miss your new eating plan. In fact, I want it to be that it should be the first thing to it. And no, I am not contradicting myself since I know that salad is part of the Carbs group, but this is the difference between empty carbs and healthy dense food as your carbs, quite a difference. We can use Olive Oil as dressing and get our carbs more aligned with our Fat goals.
Fatty Protein better than lean protein: Don’t trim your steak, cook it with its natural fat and even at a little of butter to it. In Keto, protein shouldn’t be a lot, but protein with fat is adding to the hardest part of this diet protocol, that is “Eat Enough Fat”.
Be sure to add the fatty part of your meal. I didn’t like Avocados, but now that I see how this superfood can add up to any diet, it is part of my eating plan. So, if you are even eating salad from a restaurant, ask if they can add Avocado. That will be a great PLUS.

Well, the starting point is coming (the 20th) so get that food ready, go to your preferred Supermarket and get all your food, you are starting Keto en just 5 days!!!

Dirty Keto vs Clean Keto

October 11, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

By now, most of us know that the Keto diet emphasizes high fat, moderate protein, and very low carbohydrates, right?
But here’s a better question: what kind of fats, proteins, and carbs should we be eating?

If you walk into a fast-food restaurant and order a bun less burger, are you technically following the Keto diet?

The short answer is “Yes”. This is what is called “Dirty Keto” meaning that while you are following the rules of the keto diet, you are not choosing the best ingredients. You might lose weight with Dirty Keto but trust me, it can come at the expense of other important health markers.

Think about it, do you want your Keto dinner to be highly processed junk food? Of course not!!

Now imagine instead a juicy steak paired with a fresh organic salad.
That’s Clean Keto, the kind your body will thank you for.

Now let me give you a few examples of Clean Keto food for each of the Macro Nutrient Groups:

FATS

Olive oil
Avocado oil
Macadamia oil
Coconut oil
Butter
Ghee
Cream cheese
Avocados

CARBS

Spinach
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Peppers
Lettuce
Kale
Broccoli
Cabbage
Eggplant
Zucchini
Garlic
Onions
Cauliflower
Celery
Blackberries
Blueberries

PROTEINS

Bacon (yes, bacon)
Eggs
Cheese
Chicken
Turkey
Pork
Salami
Cod fish
Sardines
Salmon
Liver
Hummus
Tofu

As you get more comfortable with Keto, you’ll naturally build your own go-to list of clean, satisfying foods. You’ll see, you’re going to get good at this!

See you on the next post! 🙂

So how does this “Keto” diet works?

October 7, 2025October 7, 2025The Heta AkiraLeave a comment

To begin this journey, you need to set aside everything you think you know about nutrition. After all, who would have believed that a diet built on 75% fat could be “good”?
But here’s the thing: that’s exactly what we’re working with and getting.

This is a diet built on 75% fats, 25% protein, and about 5% carbohydrates. Yes, hitting those macronutrient ratios is challenging, but it’s precisely how we’ll direct your body into the fat‑burning metabolic state known as ketosis.

One non‑negotiable rule: no cheat meals, no cheat days. Stray from this, and you’ll get kicked out of that magical fat‑burning zone. What is worse, it might take five days or more to return to ketosis. That is, unless you’ve become fat adapted. A level that you achieved only after months of perseverance into the protocol. At that point, slipping slightly won’t derail you so badly. It is better however to early on, stick to the rules.

How “Keto” Works

Normally, your body runs on glucose, which comes from carbohydrates. But when carbs are scarce for a long time, the body switches to other kind of fuel, ketones. Ketones are created by our liver, and they come from fat. This is without doubt one of the cleverest survival mechanisms we have.

Now let us think about it this way: when you run low on glucose, your body signals you to eat more carbs. But when your fuel is fat (especially if you’ve got excess stored), those hunger signals basically disappear. As unlike glucose (that you can only store a very small amount) you won’t feel hunger because your body will be in auto-eating mode from a pool of very dense energy source, your body fat. That being said, one of the clearest signs you’re in ketosis are: reduced cravings, reduced hunger, even when you’re eating less.

You might wonder: How long does it take to get into ketosis? That depends on how well or “damaged” your metabolic system is. For someone who’s overweight or obese, it’s entirely possible to enter ketosis in a week or more. Of course, only as long as you stick strictly to the plan and avoid anything that might pull you out.

Yes, I know… you are getting excited already.

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