Of the two which worked best: Keto diet or counting cals?

Cat_Lifts

Hey everyone, first off I know its possible to lose weight with both methods as well as others, usually as simple as a calorie deficit. That's the best rule of weight loss. Eat less, exercise, and lose. However, I asked this question specifically because I've read that some people could not lose weight as easily as calories in vs calories out and have had better success with going the ketogenic way, especially if they have a lot to lose. I know hormones play an important rule in weight loss, specifically insulin. Why have othershad better success on keto where the calorie deficit method failed them? Is it their body type and how their body "deals" with carbs? Are they simply more satiated on a high fat diet that they are unknowingly eating less calories and losing from that? Would love you hear good feedback and info, thank you!

hearthwood

Do you have some kind of illness or other problem where you would need to go on a specific diet plan? Personally, I don't like these kind of diet's that eliminate certain foods while bulking up on others. It a multi-billion dollar a year industry--that promises fast weight loss, and with our experience today, we now know that these diets make people fatter. A person loses a lot of weight quickly, only to see it gained back twice as fast as they lost it, plus 20 or so pounds.

Our genetics over the past few hundred years are based around protein, carbs, fat, and sugar. By eliminating one or the other starts to mess with our genetics, and the pay back are extra pounds.

So in my opinion it is best just to eat less and move more. A calorie is a calorie regardless if it comes from carrots or cookies, protein, carbs or fat. Albeit it is wise to incorporate healthier eating into any weight loss program.

Myself, I just do portion control. Two pieces of bread turned into one, a piece of cake is now a sliver, and I count my calories thru MFP--and I sync my daily activity with Jawbone UP--so I can not only tell how many calories I am consuming but with Jawbone UP I can tell how many calories I am burning during the day.

That's what works for me.

kikityme

Be prepared for a thousand "answers" that basically just condemn you for wanting to try.

That being said, I will state first off that I am Type II diabetic. I have always tried the calorie in/out. It has "worked" in small doses but I never kept with it, because the losses were so small I gave up. I would literally lose 3 or 4 pounds a month. Some people would say that's enough, but it wasn't enough to keep me at it.

I haven't tried keto...it seems difficult.

But I am now out of necessity on a low carb/low sugar and it's working amazing for me. I keep my carbs under 100g per day and my sugar I am aiming for 6-10g per day. The sugar is hard, but I'm doing it. I keep my carbs balanced through the 3 meals. So, if I have 30g at breakfast, I aim for 30 at lunch and dinner. Snacks I keep around 5g. Always have a carb with a protein, even a tablespoon of peanut butter counts for the protein.

I find I'm never hungry, and the diabetes symptoms I was having are clearing up. 30 pounds in 2 months, and it doesn't feel like I've really done anything!

I walk an hour a day, at a fairly slow pace. And the thing with limiting carbs is that it's kind of a built in way to not go over calories.

Cat_Lifts

at my current weight, I am predisposed to getting diabetes type 2. My father had it and my sister currently has it, but based on recent blood work from my endocrinologist he said that my levels are normal yet weight does need to go down or else I'm going to get diabetes. I wanted to ask about keto because I've heard that many people have had great success with losing excess amounts of weight. I myself have about 35 to 40 pounds to lose. 2 of my personal friends have both lost a decent amount of weight through keto, and they've been able to keep it off after slowly weaning carbohydrates back into their diet. I have done the calories in calories out method as well, but like you Kiki I felt like the results were too slow. I have the patience and endurance to keep up with being consistent and losing weight, but sometimes having that extra kick in the butt and seeing more than 2 pounds lost in a month is inspiring enough to keep going. I'm all for trying new things, such as keto, when you see enough real success stories and results. I was hoping to try it for 30-60 days.

kikityme

at my current weight, I am predisposed to getting diabetes type 2. My father had it and my sister currently has it, but based on recent blood work from my endocrinologist he said that my levels are normal yet weight does need to go down or else I'm going to get diabetes. I wanted to ask about keto because I've heard that many people have had great success with losing excess amounts of weight. I myself have about 35 to 40 pounds to lose. 2 of my personal friends have both lost a decent amount of weight through keto, and they've been able to keep it off after slowly weaning carbohydrates back into their diet. I have done the calories in calories out method as well, but like you Kiki I felt like the results were too slow. I have the patience and endurance to keep up with being consistent and losing weight, but sometimes having that extra kick in the butt and seeing more than 2 pounds lost in a month is inspiring enough to keep going. I'm all for trying new things, such as keto, when you see enough real success stories and results. I was hoping to try it for 30-60 days.

http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/

This will give you a plan, and this is what I meant by it seems complicated lol. A LOT of diabetics seem to be able to work with keto. I may try it eventually, I want to see where I'm going with this low carb first though, as it's working for me.

Tilda_P

I am on keto and I also count calories, everything that goes in my mouth. I know myself. I know that some people do great on keto without counting calories. I am not one of those people. I can tear through three full meals of keto a day and then top it off with another 3,500 cal just in snacks...before dessert.

Keto plus calorie counting has worked absolute wonders for me. I'm down 50 lbs in under 5 months and that's with May being a total wash!

stephicozar

I went with keto plus calorie counting for 3 months and lost 20kg (about 40lbs) under the supervision of a dietician and my GP with regular blood tests.

I have PCOS and Insulin Resistance so we went for this method. My insulin dropped from 55 to 15 (nearly normal) in those three months and my menstrual cycle has stabilised considerably for the first time in 10 years.

Its a hard plan to start with, to get into the keto zone, and it is really really easy to go nuts when you go off the plan. I've gained back a few kilos since December when I stopped the diet (work, family and health issues) and am thinking of trying again on the stricter diet with super limited carbs because it DID work for ME.

gabbby12345

It takes some working out to find out what works....I do believe that Keto is brilliant for people who have high blood sugar or have allot of weight to loose. But Might not be so great for people who already are sensitive to insulin (so having none around wont help anymore than normal...)
Try both and see how you go.
The one main perk i LOVE about keto that i can not get any where else is absolute loss of hunger. Go ULTRA low carb (less than 30 grams) and i guarrentee after day 4 or so hunger is a distant memory! Its so empowering and its freedom! I used to be controlled by hunger
I personally love John Kiefer's Carb Nite protocol. You spike your hormones once a week with a carb meal.

Cat_Lifts

Thank you guys for the replies and information. I decided to start today with it and 1) found that I have had no hunger pangs at all whatsoever and 2) no desire for any snacking/sweet treats/carbs/etc. Now, I know it's just day 1, but I work in a bakery and am surrounded constantly by samples of bread, cookies, pies, cakes, frostings, and sweet coffee drinks. I have at LEAST 2-3 bites a day of something random and today didn't desire one bit of it. It could definitely be because of the "I'm doing this I won't give up!" initial Day 1 phase, but I thought "Hey, if I can feel like this once I get past the sweet/carb craving hoops, I'll do whatever it takes."

One of my biggest concerns with doing keto though was what to do when it comes to working out. I enjoy occasional HIIT/cardio and mostly weights. That's something I'll still need to do my homework on.

zkjmum

My surgeon has just put me on a keto diet (Optifast), as I am having my gallbladder removed in three months, and he's worried about the safety of doing it at my current size. Fast weight loss is essential in my situation. I'm just finishing up day three (I'm in Australia) and so far I'm doing really well....I've lost 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) and am only feeling hungry in the afternoon (so I have some diet jelly, and save most of my vegetable intake for dinner time). The hunger is meant to fade in the next day or so.

I'm doing the intensive program for twelve weeks, then I will move onto the next phase. I plan to do all the phases, so food is gradually put back into my diet, and I don't pack the weight back on. My advice is to find a supportive online group (you won't find that here I'm afraid), and read lots and lots of information and recipes that will help you to stay in ketosis. Also, it's best if you do it under medical supervision (I'm seeing a dietician and my GP in addition to having another appointment with my surgeon about it a month before the operation). Oh and make sure you are getting plenty of vitamins, drinking at least two litres of water a day, and eating at least two cups of low-carb vegetables every day.

eileen0515

When I began my weight loss, my plan was "eat in such a way, as doable for the rest of my life". Counting calories, gave me the freedom and flexibility to eat like a normal person. No silly food eleminations. I have lost 70 pounds and am maintaining nicely. Because I ate like a normal person.

beamer0821

I've been on both diets and had/have success with both. Keto I lose it faster and Counting cal is slower.
but in the end i lose weight.

however the catch is on keto i gained it back, its not sustainable. i don't think its sustainable for most. and its not resilient. meaning if you "Cheat" and have an off program meal filled with bread lets say it takes DAYS for your body to get back into "ketosis" and losing again. and you gain back just as quickly as you lose...

at the end of the day in my opinion all diets work if you work them. the real answer is which one works for you that you can sustain for the rest of your life. for me its something that is balanced, allows me to eat from any food group and is most of all resilient as we all have bad weeks.

beamer0821

When I began my weight loss, my plan was "eat in such a way, as doable for the rest of my life". Counting calories, gave me the freedom and flexibility to eat like a normal person. No silly food eleminations. I have lost 70 pounds and am maintaining nicely. Because I ate like a normal person.

AMEN!!

cakeribs

It's different for everyone. I have PCOS and a family history of diabetes, and "counting cals" did *nothing* for me. I was just frustrated and hungry all the time.

Every time I do a low carb diet my energy levels are sky high, I have no cravings and I lose weight. *Every* time. When I start adding fruit juice, pasta....all the things these "portion control"/"regular eating" folks eat----that's when the weight goes way up. Even with no snacks/cheating.

I don't want to spend 20 hours in the gym every week so I can have a sandwich and a piece of cake. So from now on, for me, it's a lifestyle. It's exceedingly easy except when I eat out. There's no reason to "add food back in" because I know those foods are bad news for me--bread really doesn't mean that much to me lol!!

It's hard to tell what would work best for you, cause everyone is different.

TheDragonGrrl

I've tried both keto and counting calories, and in my experience keto wins. I lost inches and never felt deprived, where on regular calorie counting I battled constant cravings for carbs. It's kind of an all or nothing mentality - if I have just a little bit of carb rich food then I want a lot. I just went through a bout of just trying to eat sensibly, and that was disastrous for me. So back to keto I go!

Julesmichelle

I went the keto route some years ago and lost weight fast however I found that when I reintroduced those previously eliminated food groups, my body rejected them. Many years on, if I eat bread, pasta or potatoes more than two days in a row...my feet and hands swell badly, I do not lose weight even if within my cal allowance. I have eaten them over the last six years or so and regained all the weight I lost and more.

Eliminating any food group entirely proved to be unhealthy for me. I am now stuck in a position where I just can't eat them. My eating habits now is all about being healthy within a calorie allowance and exercise. Processed and sugary foods form less than 1% of my intake and the bulk comes from fresh fruit! veg, poultry and fish plus litres of water.

Good luck with the decisions you make.

midas1022

I have done both with great results but the Keto diet in my opinion is not something most people can or would want to do for the rest of their lives.

JassiBear

Be prepared for a thousand "answers" that basically just condemn you for wanting to try.

That being said, I will state first off that I am Type II diabetic. I have always tried the calorie in/out. It has "worked" in small doses but I never kept with it, because the losses were so small I gave up. I would literally lose 3 or 4 pounds a month. Some people would say that's enough, but it wasn't enough to keep me at it.

I haven't tried keto...it seems difficult.

But I am now out of necessity on a low carb/low sugar and it's working amazing for me. I keep my carbs under 100g per day and my sugar I am aiming for 6-10g per day. The sugar is hard, but I'm doing it. I keep my carbs balanced through the 3 meals. So, if I have 30g at breakfast, I aim for 30 at lunch and dinner. Snacks I keep around 5g. Always have a carb with a protein, even a tablespoon of peanut butter counts for the protein.

I find I'm never hungry, and the diabetes symptoms I was having are clearing up. 30 pounds in 2 months, and it doesn't feel like I've really done anything!

I walk an hour a day, at a fairly slow pace. And the thing with limiting carbs is that it's kind of a built in way to not go over calories.

I am not diabetic, but I agree with your post because I know many diabetics closely. I have suffer with hypoglycemia frequently and if you know anything about it OP then you know how ravenously hungry you get when your blood sugar dips so low. I would def recommend trying the keto IF you struggle with frequent blood sugar swings on a daily basis, if not..... its still good to watch the amount of high glycemic index foods you take in, as they are most easily used for your body metabolize and turn into FAT.

JassiBear

I've tried both keto and counting calories, and in my experience keto wins. I lost inches and never felt deprived, where on regular calorie counting I battled constant cravings for carbs. It's kind of an all or nothing mentality - if I have just a little bit of carb rich food then I want a lot. I just went through a bout of just trying to eat sensibly, and that was disastrous for me. So back to keto I go!

I've heard that sugar and crack are equally addictive in the human brain, so your post makes a lot of sense. Its like if you go cold turkey on keto you dont crave carbs but if you get a little hit of that sugarcrack, youll be fiening for more!

Rays_Wife

I've tried both keto and counting calories, and in my experience keto wins. I lost inches and never felt deprived, where on regular calorie counting I battled constant cravings for carbs. It's kind of an all or nothing mentality - if I have just a little bit of carb rich food then I want a lot. I just went through a bout of just trying to eat sensibly, and that was disastrous for me. So back to keto I go!

I've heard that sugar and crack are equally addictive in the human brain, so your post makes a lot of sense. Its like if you go cold turkey on keto you dont crave carbs but if you get a little hit of that sugarcrack, youll be fiening for more!

No...just no.

ROBOTFOOD

I've tried both keto and counting calories, and in my experience keto wins. I lost inches and never felt deprived, where on regular calorie counting I battled constant cravings for carbs. It's kind of an all or nothing mentality - if I have just a little bit of carb rich food then I want a lot. I just went through a bout of just trying to eat sensibly, and that was disastrous for me. So back to keto I go!

I've heard that sugar and crack are equally addictive in the human brain, so your post makes a lot of sense. Its like if you go cold turkey on keto you dont crave carbs but if you get a little hit of that sugarcrack, youll be fiening for more!

lol no.

Rays_Wife

CALORIE COUNTING HANDS DOWN.

Low carb made my life a living hell for 10 years. It was like beating my head against a brick wall. I was caught in a vicious cycle of weight loss and regain. I kept losing and regaining the same 15 pounds, just spinning my wheels because I couldn't keep up with such a restrictive diet. I blamed myself everytime I failed thinking well if I would just have more will power. At the time low carb (keto) was all the rage. Atkins was everywhere. I thought low carb was the only real way to lose weight. I finally woke up a couple years ago when I found MFP. I found sanity when I simply started counting calories and eating all food groups. For the first time in my life I was truly successful at weight loss - over 60 pounds gone. And the best part? I was HAPPY while "dieting". I woke up feeling happy knowing I could eat what I wanted in moderation instead of waking up with dread. I had low carbed so much just the thought of another egg or piece of meat sickened me. Yes I know you can eat veggies too and some fruits....trust me I was the expert on Atkins. But the thought of another meat/veggie meal disgusted me. I was so happy to eat normally. And the best part of eating carbs? I had so much more energy for working out!!!!! I'll never go back low carb again.

hookilau

As long as my blood sugars are below 100 mg/dl, I lose weight with a caloric deficit.

A DEEEP caloric deficit....as in so busy with shopping, chasing kids, cooking, cleaning, taking care of dogs etc.
I end up being too busy to eat during the day on a keto diet higher in fat than protein & <20 g of carb per day.

This may be because I'm a small woman and down to my last few pounds (5' tall & currently about 25-28% BF)...not sure yet what my goal is, but when my middle and thighs quit being soft, I'll know I'm there :laugh:

Having been keto-adapted for a year or more, I don't have any trouble progressing at the gym & even though my weight hasn't moved much, I'm wearing smaller sizes. I'm happy with that.

The busier I am, the less I think about it & the more it works.
Don't over-think it.
Get moving, get out there & enjoy life while you're still young enough to do all that cool stuff :laugh:
:drinker:

slk17

I've done both and I've had success with both.

Back in college days I had no difficulty reducing calories and working out and just being very portioned controlled, but it took a lot longer.

I'm older now and I've tried to do the calorie deficit and workout again, but I'm VERY slow at losing. Anymore I have an issue with certain carbs as well, as they make me sick.

So when I DID start Keto I felt better, had more energy, and lost weight. I find the most difficult thing with Keto IS eating enough. I'm just not that hungry. I've gotten really great at making new recipes and trying new things out to help make it sustainable, because I do have the intention to eat lower carb for the rest of my life. Maybe not AS low as Keto when I get to my desired weight, but I don't foresee myself adding in bread, and pasta again. I don't really miss them. If I do fall off the bandwagon(and I have) for a day or so(usually around the holidays when I know certain foods are only a one time thing), the damage of eating stuff I normally don't is never that great, I just pick up and start fresh again the next day.

It's all about what works for you. Keto might not be the best choice for some, while it is for others.

hookilau

One of my biggest concerns with doing keto though was what to do when it comes to working out. I enjoy occasional HIIT/cardio and mostly weights. That's something I'll still need to do my homework on.

I think people ease into it. It's been more than a year but I remember working on changing my diet & getting used to my new normal, getting accustomed to my body's responses etc. I think I did that for about a month or so before I continued my lifting program.

I stayed as active as my body allowed me to & tried to respect the changes. It's not sustainable for everyone & if you go back to carbs, you'll put the weight back on and feel sluggish/foggy etc.

Good luck

BachMa2000

Low carb has always worked best for me. It really suppresses my appetite which is what I need to be able to stick to a calorie defecit. I don't feel deprived at all because I am eating foods I enjoy. My problem has always been hunger not really craving specific foods.

I don't believe that low carb is some kind of magical weightloss tool in itself. Eat X calories of anything low carb or high carb and you will probably have the same results weightwise over time. What low carb does for me is appetite suppression. When I eat a higher carb diet I am hungry all the time and it is a constant battle to stay where I should be calorie wise. With low carb I don't have to constantly fight hunger. I feel like low carb is a useful tool that helps me to keep a calorie defecit.

Samstan101

Do whichever you think will give you a sustainable lifestyle. If its a diet and you go back to the eating habits that led you to want to diet in the first place you'll just put the weight back on. Better to find a routine you can live with and eat the same as you will when you get to target. For me that doesn't include cutting out whole food groups - I'm learning moderation. Others may be able to live with low carb forever but I like rice, pasta etc.

jasonmh630

Do you have some kind of illness or other problem where you would need to go on a specific diet plan? Personally, I don't like these kind of diet's that eliminate certain foods while bulking up on others. It a multi-billion dollar a year industry--that promises fast weight loss, and with our experience today, we now know that these diets make people fatter. A person loses a lot of weight quickly, only to see it gained back twice as fast as they lost it, plus 20 or so pounds.

Our genetics over the past few hundred years are based around protein, carbs, fat, and sugar. By eliminating one or the other starts to mess with our genetics, and the pay back are extra pounds.

So in my opinion it is best just to eat less and move more. A calorie is a calorie regardless if it comes from carrots or cookies, protein, carbs or fat. Albeit it is wise to incorporate healthier eating into any weight loss program.

Myself, I just do portion control. Two pieces of bread turned into one, a piece of cake is now a sliver, and I count my calories thru MFP--and I sync my daily activity with Jawbone UP--so I can not only tell how many calories I am consuming but with Jawbone UP I can tell how many calories I am burning during the day.

That's what works for me.

Congrats on finding what works for you. THAT is the key to sustainable weight loss. But keto being a lose weight fast scheme is a fallacy. People say it's unsustainable and unsatisfying, but the truth is (if done right) it can be VERY sustainable and VERY satisfying. Given that non-complex carbs are what's making a person feel drained and whatnot, like me. I keep my carbs very low because they make me feel like crap about an hour afterwards without going overboard on them. By the way, I'm talking about carbs like pasta, bread, (alot of) sugary snacks, etc... I'm not referring to carbs that have alot of fiber in them as well.

sunnyskys2013

Be prepared for a thousand "answers" that basically just condemn you for wanting to try.

That being said, I will state first off that I am Type II diabetic. I have always tried the calorie in/out. It has "worked" in small doses but I never kept with it, because the losses were so small I gave up. I would literally lose 3 or 4 pounds a month. Some people would say that's enough, but it wasn't enough to keep me at it.

I haven't tried keto...it seems difficult.

But I am now out of necessity on a low carb/low sugar and it's working amazing for me. I keep my carbs under 100g per day and my sugar I am aiming for 6-10g per day. The sugar is hard, but I'm doing it. I keep my carbs balanced through the 3 meals. So, if I have 30g at breakfast, I aim for 30 at lunch and dinner. Snacks I keep around 5g. Always have a carb with a protein, even a tablespoon of peanut butter counts for the protein.

I find I'm never hungry, and the diabetes symptoms I was having are clearing up. 30 pounds in 2 months, and it doesn't feel like I've really done anything!

I walk an hour a day, at a fairly slow pace. And the thing with limiting carbs is that it's kind of a built in way to not go over calories.

I was wondering when you say 5-10 g of sugar is that all sugar or added sugar? Is it natural sugar like in fruit and milk and stuff or do you only count the add sugar honey? I am about 80# overweight and have high blood sugar and I am still trying to figure all this stuff out. Thanks

sean_d33

Keto with Intermittent Fasting has worked wonders for me! I count my calories still, but honesty, I could not count and be fine. I haven't eaten for 16 hours and I am still full from last night. People who try it and say it doesn't work after 3-4 days didn't experience any of the benefits, just experienced the worst part of Keto.

chilledbeast

once you lose the excess water with a keto diet sustained FAT loss will only occur with a deficit anyway. It doesn't work in some kind of magic alternative manner.