I ditched calorie counting and started Keto and started losing inches and pounds.

DonnaL1959

My problem on regular, calorie-reduced diets is that I was always hungry! The more bread, pasta and rice I ate, the more I wanted. When I cut those out or way back, I felt deprived. I've been on Keto for 2 weeks now. I am down 3 pounds - which is huge for me - since losing any weight is a real struggle. The most important thing is that I am NOT hungry between meals and I'm not craving anything! I feel like this is doable for the long term. I feel great (no Keto flu). Slow and steady weight loss by seriously reducing carbs is going to do it for me. I feel the difference on this plan. I even have more energy to exercise more. I am losing bloat & inches around my waist. I also got an improved fasting glucose test result back yesterday. Yay! While this isn't for everyone, those of you who are struggling like I was may want to give it a try.

missysippy930

Finding what works for each of us is key to losing weight, so congratulations on finding what works for you. I wish you continued success.
However, this is, basically, a calorie counting site and no matter how the weight is lost, it’s always because we are eating less calories than our bodies burn, no matter what plan we follow. How we achieve our goals is a very individual choice.

NovusDies

If a person is struggling it makes sense to try a variety of ideas until one seems to work.

My only word of caution on ditching logging is that it has only been 2 weeks. Keto works by eliminating so many carbs that you end up in a deficit. However, calories have a bad habit of creeping up and if you eventually replace those carb calories you may need to log again.

Good luck.

rondavis436

Welcome to Keto, I've been doing Keto for over two years. Keto is not a diet it's a life style. Congratulations on lousing weight wait until you are six months down the road, you will be amazed.

amusedmonkey

I know how amazing it feels to finally find an easier way to diet, but it's also good to manage your expectations. Fast loss first few weeks on keto is to be expected because you're dropping water weight. It may or may not mean you have lost actual weight. Keep at it, since you seem to feel better on it, but be aware that it still is about calories in the end. If you find yourself stalling you may want to go back to logging your calories while doing keto. You don't have to choose one of the other, you can do both if needed.

MikePTY

I hate to burst your bubble on this, but it is very common in the beginning of Keto to lose water weight due to your body depleting your glycogen stores, which are carbs stored with water in your body. So you are way too early to evaluate any sort of success with the diet.

Losing actual (fat) weight on Keto functions the same way as it does on any other diet. If you eat at a calorie deficit, you will lose weight. If not, you will not. If you find that you fill fuller on Keto at the same number of calories vs other ways of eating, then it may be a good choice for you. But if you are not counting, how do you know? You may br eating more calories than you did on your other diet, which is why you are feeling fuller. Many Ketoers still calorie count, since at the end of the day, calorie restriction is the only way to lose weight.

hesn92

Good luck. I'm glad you're enjoying it, and I hope it works for you.

nighthawk584

Hey, if you believe KETO is the answer, by all means go for it. That being said, you still have to be at a calorie deficit to lose weight. CICO still counts and will always count. Simple math no matter what FAD diet.

HoneyBadger302

I find it amusing how many people say they are doing keto but not counting any calories - in order to ensure you are in ketosis, you have to weigh and measure everything, VERY precisely, in order to ensure you aren't going over on carbs/net carbs. I've talked to a few people who did keto, and stayed in their calorie range, and it was a very restrictive way of eating for them.

I'm only doing low-carb (to see if it helps with TBI symptoms), and while I'm pretty satisfied and not particularly hungry on it (making it easier for me to stay in my calorie goal), there's nothing magical beyond the aforementioned water weight loss a lot of people experience initially. Apparently I'm fairly satisfied/satiated on higher protein/fats, but that may not be the case for everyone.

WinoGelato

Why do you feel that Keto and calorie reduction are mutually exclusive?

If you are losing weight, truly losing fat and not just water weight, it’s because you are in a calorie deficit.

You can eat a low carb high fat diet and still count calories and in fact that’s what many successful keto followers do.

No one suggests that you have to eat bread, pasta and rice to be successful. It’s all about finding what works for your individual preferences, satiety and nutrition goals.

NorthCascades

Good luck.

DelilahCat0212

I did keto for almost a year. It works, I don't doubt it, but I can't live like that forever. I need something I can do forever.

Itmustbu

Everyone who loses weight initially loses water weight whether it’s low carb or not so don’t let anyone rain on your parade.

Glad you found something that’s working for you and Good Luck!!!

Ostrich218

What defines low carb vs keto eg how many gs of carb becomes one or the other ?

Yidrey

Ostrich218 wrote: »

What defines low carb vs keto eg how many gs of carb becomes one or the other ?

My understanding is that low carb could have a higher protein intake. Keto is high fat, moderate protein and low carb. Like in a 75/20/5 (c/p/f) rule. High in protein and low in carbs kan result in your liver turning protein in carbohydrates, which is called gluconeogenesis. If I am wrong please correct me, but thats what iI think it is the difference.

paperpudding

rondavis436 wrote: »

Welcome to Keto, I've been doing Keto for over two years. Keto is not a diet it's a life style. Congratulations on lousing weight wait until you are six months down the road, you will be amazed.

Well by that token, any long term way of eating is not a diet, it is a lifestyle.
Nothing special about keto in that regard.

keto is not for me but if it works for you, thats great.

wilson10102018

Successful dieting appears to be entirely related to a person's psyche. Some people (like me) thrive on the detail, orderly, even compulsive logging and weighing and measuring. Others (like you) thrive on denial and restriction by eliminating a harmless food group that is not all that necessary in the first place. Many are successful no matter what they do as long as the end result is CI -CO = (-1x)

Glad its working for you, OP.

For the newcomer, Keto is no magic bullet. As many people fail on Keto as on the Paleo, the Atkins or any other diet.

AmyG1982

Happy you’re feeling better but definitely agree you should be logging calories still.

I eat keto too (I’m not super strict tho so maybe just very low carb is more accurate) but I still log everything. I actually find it easier to go over your calories this way because fat is so calorie dense. Accidentally putting 2 TBSP of olive oil instead of one can be done pretty simply when cooking but there’s an extra 120 calories. Do something that simple a few times a day and you can easily be over.

Keto can do some wonderful things for some people but as everyone said it’s not magic so I’d definitely caution you to not get too excited about fast weight loss initially (it can slow down, especially if you’re going over calories) and to calorie count, especially while you’re still learning this way of eating.

Good luck to you!

KristaMac88

Dont let people discourage you! It is hard. You still have to track. Carb Manager is a great alternative to here that focuses on carbs protein and fats and you can adjust it to if your truely trying to be in ketosis or just to very low carb. I did that for a few months to. It was hard, then you adjust, even the water weight you lose is motivation to keep going. I felt great! Lost 15lbs. The only time Ive ever actually lost weight! Then had a cheat night with hubs and it all went downhill. gained almost 10 back and I cant get my head back into it! So im here...trying to get out of focusing on carbs, and just count cals. Good luck though keep going! And if actual keto becomes to hard - up your carbs a little bit to even 50 so your not deprived! it doesnt HAVE to be all or nothing!

DonnaL1959

Hi all - thanks for your comments. Sorry, I should have clarified - that I am still tracking everything here. When I enter foods, everything comes up, including calories. But I'm more concerned about counting 'net carbs' in my overall diet as the number one marker, rather than 'calories' as the number one marker. The only thing I'm doing differently after putting everything in the food tracker is that I adjust for net carbs and keep track of those predominantly. In fact, my calorie counts are still within 100 calories of my suggested amount most days. I'm not ignoring them - I'm just not focusing on them. I should have titled this differently. I am still feeling great and sticking to my net carb tallies. I think I got so excited because I'd been trying to count calories for several weeks on here and didn't see any weight loss. So even the little bit of weight loss and inches lost feels like a victory. Will keep in mind the comments about water weight. I think the exciting thing for me is to not be hungry at all between meals. I can't tell you how good this feels. I was definitely a 'carb addict' with the highs and lows all day long leading to intense hunger. I appreciate all the comments.

NovusDies

DonnaL1959 wrote: »

Hi all - thanks for your comments. Sorry, I should have clarified - that I am still tracking everything here. When I enter foods, everything comes up, including calories. But I'm more concerned about counting 'net carbs' in my overall diet as the number one marker, rather than 'calories' as the number one marker. The only thing I'm doing differently after putting everything in the food tracker is that I adjust for net carbs and keep track of those predominantly. In fact, my calorie counts are still within 100 calories of my suggested amount most days. I'm not ignoring them - I'm just not focusing on them. I should have titled this differently. I am still feeling great and sticking to my net carb tallies. I think I got so excited because I'd been trying to count calories for several weeks on here and didn't see any weight loss. So even the little bit of weight loss and inches lost feels like a victory. Will keep in mind the comments about water weight. I think the exciting thing for me is to not be hungry at all between meals. I can't tell you how good this feels. I was definitely a 'carb addict' with the highs and lows all day long leading to intense hunger. I appreciate all the comments.

If you intend to keep logging I would focus on both calories and net carbs because it takes so little extra effort. One to help you control your hunger and the other to make sure you continue to see progress.

I am hoping this is your easiest path forward and you end up a success story.