LC versus Ketosis

Twibbly

For the past week, I've been eating about 20% carbs (70g), 57% fat (88g), and 23% protein (82g). The week before was 10% (30g), 61% (84g), and 29% (90g). I'm averaging 1200-1400 calories per day. In my 15 days of behaving (ie, not eating things that I react to), I'm down 9 pounds, and having a bunch of other good side effects and I've stuck to it.

I've read a million and 2 things on the benefits of ketosis, LCHF, etc., so I know the standard answers to the benefits of ketosis.

What I'm looking for now is personal experience dropping from a low amount of carbs (as in, the 30-70g range I seem to be hanging out in) down to full on keto (keeping under 40g per day) and staying there. I'm talking total carbs, not net.

So, question time.
What went well doing that?
What went wonky?
If I'm doing well at my current levels, would there be any good reason for me to lower the carbs more, or should I just try to keep them at more consistent levels?

FIT_Goat

I originally tried to just eat under 100g of carbs and a [mostly] paleo style. I found that my food cravings and intake didn't really respond to that level. I lost very little weight and found it pretty difficult. Dropping from there to keto levels (20g or under) really helped a lot with my cravings. I wasn't constantly bordering on losing control, plus I couldn't find reasons to make excuses for some sweet treat or something.

Pretty much everything went well for me. My weight went in the right direction. My hunger was well moderated. My energy and activity levels were awesome.

I guess the fact that I turned into a morning person is something that went wonky. It was weird to not be able to sleep past 6am, let alone 9-10.

If you're doing well at the current levels, don't change anything. It's only when people aren't happy and are not getting results that I recommend going lower. If you're getting results and feel good, there's no reason to change anything.

Twibbly

The cravings are pretty much gone (for the first week or so, I wanted Fritos and bean dip SO bad). My energy is mostly stable, and I'm no longer completely crashing at 9pm (but I'm still in bed with the lights out at 10 most nights). Eating is mostly paleo (except sushi has rice, and it's a once-in-a-while treat), only sweeteners are in the protein powder I put in my coffee in the morning, and that's just stevia.

This is literally the longest I've actually stuck to any WOE outside of a CRAP diet.

When I go see my doc, it will have been about 30 days. I suppose I should just keep doing what I'm doing until then, maybe try to level out my carbs a bit instead of having 40g swings, and see what he has to say.

wabmester

I've found no difference. Both levels are ketogenic, but the lower level will get you there more quickly due to quicker glycogen depletion. Both levels suppress hunger for me, and that appears to be the main benefit of ketosis.

The main difference is that the higher level is much easier to maintain and gives me greater flexibility in what I eat, but I don't always need that flexibility, so sometimes I naturally drop to the lower level.

KnitOrMiss

Well? As Goat said, cravings leveled out. Mental clarity was quicker to surface. I found that I could hear my body's hunger signals clearer. I went from 35-50 total carbs (I only count net with veggies) to 15-20 total carbs.

Wonky? Only wonky thing I noticed that managing my hydration takes a little more effort.

I find keto levels (20-30 grams total carbs) is easier to manage because there isn't as much "play" room, so I don't have to worry about food choices as much.

I would say as long as you don't notice an appreciable difference in your carb level days (I find that veggie carbs - the high fiber ones - not like potatoes - don't affect me as negatively as fruit or grains or sugar), I would not worry about it at all unless it directly affects blood sugar or something. I would consider it part of the natural wax and wane of calories and your body's rhythms and such.