Debating going Keto
hclay25
Posts: 32 Member
I’ve been considering a Keto diet and wonder what other people think. I just don’t know if I can do it for longevity. Any comments would be appreciated.
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Replies
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It isn't necessary for anything except maybe epilepsy, and even that diet is different than the fad keto diets. Are the foods involved things you would enjoy eating?15
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From what I’ve read it sounds like I wouldn’t enjoy it much that is why I ask if it’s effective or not?2
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I’ve been considering a Keto diet and wonder what other people think. I just don’t know if I can do it for longevity. Any comments would be appreciated.
if you cant do it for the rest of your life then maybe its not the way of eating for you. is there any reason why you want to do this over other ways of eating? health issues? etc?8 -
From what I’ve read it sounds like I wouldn’t enjoy it much that is why I ask if it’s effective or not?
It works the same way any diet works: by reducing the number of calories you eat. Some people manage to eat too many calories, and so the diet is not effective for them.
If you do try keto, have a back up plan, so that if you say "I can't take this anymore" you go on to the back up plan, rather than falling back to old habits.13 -
I’ve just read lots of people having success over it. That’s the only reason I would consider it. I don’t have any medical issues or reasons to try it really.5
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I’ve just read lots of people having success over it. That’s the only reason I would consider it. I don’t have any medical issues or reasons to try it really.
they have success because for them it may keep them in a calorie deficit and from over eating. any way of eating is only successful if it helps you stick to your goals whether it be weight loss/gain/maintenance. keto isnt sustainable for everyone either. if you can give up most of your carbs and mainly eat meats and veggies, then sure go for it. all you need is a calorie deficit to lose weight.Ive lost weight and I dont do keto. I did try it for 2 months and it was not for me.9 -
I’ve just read lots of people having success over it. That’s the only reason I would consider it. I don’t have any medical issues or reasons to try it really.
They have success because it’s helping them to create and maintain a caloric deficit. There’s no magic behind it, it’s essentiall just a tool. If it’s not something you can maintain or wouldn’t enjoy then don’t do it. Losing weight and keeping it off is all about creating habits that can be sustained long term.
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You might like it, you might not. Try it and find out.
Overall, the long term success rate for keto isn't better or worse than a diet where carbohydrates aren't restricted. Since it's still all about calories.5 -
Make a list of foods that are super low in net carbs and ask yourself if you can eat only those foods for the rest of your life. If not, I wouldn't bother with it.
I had several issues with it, but the food itself was one of the biggest.6 -
I’ve been considering a Keto diet and wonder what other people think. I just don’t know if I can do it for longevity. Any comments would be appreciated.From what I’ve read it sounds like I wouldn’t enjoy it much that is why I ask if it’s effective or not?
These should clearly answer your question. There is nothing magic about keto and studies show it is no more effective with weight loss long term than higher carb diets. If you can not sustain any way of eating long term then don't even bother starting because maintaining any weight loss is a life long journey.
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I’ve just read lots of people having success over it. That’s the only reason I would consider it. I don’t have any medical issues or reasons to try it really.
This lady who calls herself Anish used to be fat, then she took up hiking the PCT and AT. Now she's skinny as a rail. A friend of a friend lost 40 pounds hiking the PCT and he literally ate as much as he could, sometimes lunch was a box of crackers and a jar of peanut butter. Basically, everybody who hikes a 2,000+ mile trail in one go carrying their food and shelter on their back always has success with weight loss, usually too much success.
If you're not going to walk 40 miles a day every day to lose weight, I'd say giving up almost all carbs and flavoring your coffee with butter sounds more extreme. And a lot less enjoyable.10 -
I've been keto for a year. I've lost 129 lbs so far. It's not just about losing weight on keto. You lose the inflammation due to the processed foods. You gain a clear cognitive mind, more energy, overall improvement in the way you feel. I'm strict keto meaning ingredients are the most important thing. I have not missed out or felt deprived of any food.
Also the way of eating is not hard or complicated. I thought that at first too, but quickly learned it's is pretty simple. Bottom line for me I will never go back to a western diet. I will stay keto going forward.43 -
shawnberger wrote: »I've been keto for a year. I've lost 129 lbs so far. It's not just about losing weight on keto. You lose the inflammation due to the processed foods. You gain a clear cognitive mind, more energy, overall improvement in the way you feel. I'm strict keto meaning ingredients are the most important thing. I have not missed out or felt deprived of any food.
Also the way of eating is not hard or complicated. I thought that at first too, but quickly learned it's is pretty simple. Bottom line for me I will never go back to a western diet. I will stay keto going forward.
How do you know all of that isn't just from your weight loss in general?
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shawnberger wrote: »I've been keto for a year. I've lost 129 lbs so far. It's not just about losing weight on keto. You lose the inflammation due to the processed foods. You gain a clear cognitive mind, more energy, overall improvement in the way you feel. I'm strict keto meaning ingredients are the most important thing. I have not missed out or felt deprived of any food.
Also the way of eating is not hard or complicated. I thought that at first too, but quickly learned it's is pretty simple. Bottom line for me I will never go back to a western diet. I will stay keto going forward.
for you it may have done that, for me it caused me inflammation(I have RA), I was lethargic and my mind was awful .my short term memory went to hell and I never had an issue before and dont now. I was on it 2 months and it wasnt keto flu because I did research and made sure to prevent the keto flu before I started. my health was literally going down the drain and I was very close to having hubby take me to the ER because I felt like my body was shutting down. he told me I needed to stop keto and see what happens, I did and things improved again and went back to normal(well what is normal for me) I lost no more weight on keto than any other way of eating.
weight loss in and of itself can cause an improvement in health issues as well. I also eat processed foods and they do not cause me any inflammation at all ,not even my RA17 -
The "good" diets have a couple things in common - "real" food (e.g., chicken or beans and not fast-food burgers, strawberries and not candy, whole-grain breads or natural starches like potatoes and not poptarts, etc.) and lots and lots of veggies (which are low in calories and high in fiber and nutrition). But some people cannot bear the thought of giving up meat and may in fact need the extra protein, while others would rather stop all meat as long as they don't have to give up potatoes. So you will find some people do really well on keto or paleo while others do really well on vegan diets. They sound like "opposites", but they aren't - they are just opposite the standard American diet. Both emphasize whole foods and lots of veggies and both result in a caloric deficit - it's just that keto/paleo cut out the excess carbs and vegan cuts out the excess protein.
I did really well on a vegan diet many years back (pregnancy made me gain the weight back and 6 years later here I am again.). Loved it and was happy thinking I would never eat meat again. But my husband couldn't get enough calories on it and got sick. I had to go back to preparing him meats. I have a friend who LOVES her keto diet - she is thin and fit and will never go back to lots of breads (she "carb cycles", though - so she does have some days that allow her the breads.).
You have to find what works for you. Don't be afraid to give it a try and switch to something else if you hate it. And in fact - what works for you "now" might not work forever. I cannot consider going back to a vegan diet now - I no longer have the time necessary to prepare the food (it takes a LOT of veggies and fruits and starches to get enough calories when you cut out all meat and dairy. It's easier to slow-cook meat.). And I'm a bread baker who will never give up carbs. So instead, I'm trying to figure out a more balanced approach. I don't have it yet - but I will find it. Hopefully soon, since my motivation is terrible. LOL
And so will you. Do your research, don't fall for "gimmicks" but do listen to the advice that all reputable diets have in common, log your calories, and figure out how to eat more veggies (I FAIL at this. going to keep trying). And if you want, give keto a try.
I will say this, though - no major diet change will make a huge difference in a few days. Commit to the change for a month before you decide if it does or doesn't work for you. And as another commenter mentioned - have a plan B. If you find keto just isn't for you after a well-researched and committed attempt, have another approach ready to try in month two.11 -
Like any diet, if you don't adhere to it, weight regain is a high possibility. Changing HABITUAL EATING patterns with foods you actually like to eat, is a much better way to address the issue.I’ve been considering a Keto diet and wonder what other people think. I just don’t know if I can do it for longevity. Any comments would be appreciated.
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Fatty_Nuff wrote: »You might like it, you might not. Try it and find out.
Overall, the long term success rate for keto isn't better or worse than a diet where carbohydrates aren't restricted. Since it's still all about calories.
Your dog is so cute!!2 -
shawnberger wrote: »I've been keto for a year. I've lost 129 lbs so far. It's not just about losing weight on keto. You lose the inflammation due to the processed foods. You gain a clear cognitive mind, more energy, overall improvement in the way you feel. I'm strict keto meaning ingredients are the most important thing. I have not missed out or felt deprived of any food.
Also the way of eating is not hard or complicated. I thought that at first too, but quickly learned it's is pretty simple. Bottom line for me I will never go back to a western diet. I will stay keto going forward.
Imagine what Einstein could have come up with if he'd gone keto!16 -
NorthCascades wrote: »shawnberger wrote: »I've been keto for a year. I've lost 129 lbs so far. It's not just about losing weight on keto. You lose the inflammation due to the processed foods. You gain a clear cognitive mind, more energy, overall improvement in the way you feel. I'm strict keto meaning ingredients are the most important thing. I have not missed out or felt deprived of any food.
Also the way of eating is not hard or complicated. I thought that at first too, but quickly learned it's is pretty simple. Bottom line for me I will never go back to a western diet. I will stay keto going forward.
Imagine what Einstein could have come up with if he'd gone keto!
True - if you really feel like you have brain fog, you need to talk to a doctor. Meanwhile, if you want to lose weight, you need to eat in a calorie deficit. Keto or not (why anyone who doesn't have epilepsy would do that boggles my mind), it's about calories not "unprocessed foods", a lack of sugar, a ton of fat, a lack of carbs, meat or lack thereof, strawberries instead of candy (how about strawberries and candy), and so on.11 -
News out of the UK today pushing the importance of fibre, which may be lacking in a keto diet.3
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I’ve just read lots of people having success over it. That’s the only reason I would consider it. I don’t have any medical issues or reasons to try it really.
You definitely get results with it. But once you go back to your regular eating habits you will gain it all back. I would do IIFYM instead (google it). I did keto for a month and was miserable. I really enjoy carbs. My current plan allows me 150g!!! Keto was like 50 or something. I lost 6lbs in a month (I'm small so this is a lot) and gained back 6 plus 2 lol.4 -
I’ve been considering a Keto diet and wonder what other people think. I just don’t know if I can do it for longevity. Any comments would be appreciated.
If that way of eating does not appeal to you, then it's probably not a good choice for you even if other people have success with it. They are successful because it works for them, and would likely be unsuccessful with another approach that does not.
Please do not worry about "longevity" when looking at a way of eating. The tools for managing weight center around controlling your intake, and if you have those tools, you can apply them to many different ways of eating. Very few people eat the same way over the long term, as our diets can change with our circumstances. Focus on what's working now and the tools that are helping you get there. With diets like keto, the tool isn't the type of food or carb count, it's eating foods you like and enjoy and eliminating or limiting foods you don't really care about or which can cause you to overeat. You can do that regardless of what way of eating you choose.2 -
I’ve been considering a Keto diet and wonder what other people think. I just don’t know if I can do it for longevity. Any comments would be appreciated.
Take a look at keto diet meal plans available online and the rules to follow to see if it will work for you. I personally know someone who lost 100+ lbs in under 2 years thanks to the keto diet. For me, it would not work as I could not reduce my carbs consumption by that much. Like others have said (and what I am finally accepting) is that, to lose weight, you need to be at a caloric deficit. Once you accept this simple truth, you can tweak your diet to your liking while still losing weight and not feel like your are going without.6 -
All diets work or don't work based on 1 singular factor - Do they (you) create and maintain a calorie deficit. Period. End of debate.
If a diet helps you create a calorie deficit, then it will work. If it doesn't, then it won't.
If a diet helps you maintain a calorie deficit, and is sustainable over a relatively long period of time, then it's worth doing. If it doesn't/isn't, then it's not.10 -
I’ve just read lots of people having success over it. That’s the only reason I would consider it. I don’t have any medical issues or reasons to try it really.
Is this because you are not feeling successful with your current plan/way of eating?
Remember - you have also read TONS Of stories of people who have successfully lost weight WITHOUT doing KETO we just don't all post the name our methods
If you don't have a medical reason and don't plan to stick to it long term i don't see the point of these fad diets.
This doesn't mean you can't try keto meals and snacks.2 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »shawnberger wrote: »I've been keto for a year. I've lost 129 lbs so far. It's not just about losing weight on keto. You lose the inflammation due to the processed foods. You gain a clear cognitive mind, more energy, overall improvement in the way you feel. I'm strict keto meaning ingredients are the most important thing. I have not missed out or felt deprived of any food.
Also the way of eating is not hard or complicated. I thought that at first too, but quickly learned it's is pretty simple. Bottom line for me I will never go back to a western diet. I will stay keto going forward.
for you it may have done that, for me it caused me inflammation(I have RA), I was lethargic and my mind was awful .my short term memory went to hell and I never had an issue before and dont now. I was on it 2 months and it wasnt keto flu because I did research and made sure to prevent the keto flu before I started. my health was literally going down the drain and I was very close to having hubby take me to the ER because I felt like my body was shutting down. he told me I needed to stop keto and see what happens, I did and things improved again and went back to normal(well what is normal for me) I lost no more weight on keto than any other way of eating.
weight loss in and of itself can cause an improvement in health issues as well. I also eat processed foods and they do not cause me any inflammation at all ,not even my RA
That's so interesting! I have RA and have had significant improvement with my RA. It's amazing how different bodies are.0 -
I’ve just read lots of people having success over it. That’s the only reason I would consider it. I don’t have any medical issues or reasons to try it really.
Here's my opinion - many of those people "having success" aren't really being successful. Now, before I get woo'ed to death let me explain. In my real life, face to face, workplace Keto is all the rage right now. A number of coworkers will do the following:
#1 Enthusiastically begin a Keto diet.
#2 Maintain diet for a couple of weeks and experience a large number drop on the scale. (They often do not understand it is water loss - they just see the scale move.
#3 They proclaim their success loudly and evangelize about the merits of Keto.
#4 Week three they start cheating because they can't sustain the restrictions of the diet.
#5 They gain weight back.
#6 They still proclaim the merits of the diet and just blame themselves for their lack of willpower.
#7 They end up back where they started.
Let me be clear - I have no issue with Keto as a way of eating. My point is to say that in some cases the "success" we hear about is not true success because the individuals do not maintain the weight loss. There are folks here on MFP that understand what they are doing and have genuine success following a Keto way of eating. My concern is that if you are already worried about sustaining this way of eating then Keto may not be for you.
In the end it is always about maintaining a calorie deficit in order to lose weight. That is entirely possible without having to follow a specific way of eating. So if you want an opinion, look at some of the Keto meal plans. Ask yourself if you think you'll be happy eating that way for an extended period of time. Decide how you will maintain a deficit if you don't like Keto as a way of eating.
Best of luck to you.20 -
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hmmm... I think I will choose the calorie deficit diet LOL7
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LOL @ the Keto haters... there sure are lot's of them. Keto has extremely good benefits for some, no so much for others. If you're sensitive processed carbs, like me, then Keto may work. However, I don't eliminate all carbs. I still eat sweet potatoes, sometimes bananas for breakfast... but in general I don't eat a lot of carbs. Nor do I shun them.
For me, any meal plan that eliminates sugar and processed food (especially wheat) is going to be a 1,000x better than what typical people eat everyday.
Also, if you are monitoring your calories and sticking to a daily budget, you'll soon learn to regret eating food high in processed carbs, because they are packed with calories and you'll still be starving afterwards.
It's crazy how many people treat their chosen "Diet Plan" like a religion and immediately go into attack mode if they feel it's being questioned.
Relax people, eat good food, get some exercise and enjoy the life benefits.22
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