The Ketosis Diet - Any opinions?
Replies
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Got to be honest, ketosis is not a great thing. When your body is lacking carbs it eats itself to replace. I was on a no carb diet for a while (bit like atkins) and went to the doctors for an unrelated issue, had a urine test and he commented on the "keytones" in my sample.
It does have great effects but puts extreme pressure on the kidneys.
Calories in vs. calories out is how you lose weight. Keto is one way to help with a calorie deficit that won't leave you starving for more food since you're taking in high fats and moderate protein.
Wouldn't you actually be eating less food if you're eating high fats as fats are the most calorie dense of all the macros?
Yes, you eat less food but are satisfied because your body is burning it's fat stores for energy instead of needing more carbs (more food) for energy.
O I C, sure the increased protein intake isn't responsible for increased satiety, high fat foods haven't performed that great in studies measuring satiety
It's burning your own body fat that is responsible for increased satiety. If you eat too much fat or too many calories then your body does not burn it's own fat for energy and you will not be satisfied. The body takes the path of least resistance. Carbs take the least amount of energy to convert to blood glucose and produce energy. So, if you eat a lot of carbs the body burns that first and prefers it. If you eat too much fat then your body will just use the fat you are currently consuming for energy. But, if you eat the right balance to force your body to burn its own fat stores then you have enough energy and you stay satisfied longer.
So really according to you, keto isn't advantageous at all for satiety, if you hold protein and calories constant. Got it0 -
I've been on this type diet for 6 months total and have lost 87 lbs. There was a 3 month break, ate "normally" and only gained 7 lbs back and stayed at that weight until I started back up. I cheated a few times but realize I double up my efforts after my slip ups. I can vouch that this worked for me. No underlying medical problems or other issues (luckily). Went to physician every other month to make sure nothing was getting out of control, just kept getting accolades from my provider for the weight lost. Some of the horror story or negative posts here are by people who obviously have not done it and are just chiming in to say something of no value.
I routinely eat about 1000-1200 cal per day and walk 5 miles EVERY day.0 -
Will you lose weight? Yes - and quickly; however, I found it to be too extreme to stick for any extended period of time. And no matter how much weight you lose, if you end up putting it back on, it's no good. Better to learn good eating (and exercise) habits over time, so that you can actually lose and MAINTAIN your new lifestyle. It may not be as gratifying, but I'm find a much higher level of success - and overall, greater satisfaction - by making small, steady changes to my diet and exercise. I'm no longer "on a diet", I'm simply learning to make healthier choices (while still splurgin occassionally), and losing weight along the way. :-) As for the post advising you to talk to your doctor - good advice! A good doctor will send you to a nutritionist, who has specific training & knowledge to help you on your weight loss path.0
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I know someone who is doing this on a program monitored by her Dr. She is losing weight but she is absolutely miserable. And, she only has about 40-50 lbs to lose. I am happy with my slow but sure weight loss that allows me to eat whatever I want, if I'm going to have something calorie and fat dense I will just work out a little extra.
Aw, that's too bad that she's miserable. Do you know what she's eating? Personally, I am completely un-miserable eating sirloin steak with buttered veggies, salad with yummy dressing and sunflower seeds, protein shakes made with almond milk, lchicken and tuna salad made with real mayo. After cutting out most sugar and starchy carbs I truly don't crave them anymore (yes, the first week is rough). You have to totally cut them out though to reap the benefits of losing your addiction/craving for them. Maybe she's eating just a bit of sugar so she's still craving it and miserable from not eating lots of it?0 -
I am constantly amazed at the people that say that once you go off of so and so diet you will gain all your weight back. That may be true for some people that go back to eating the way they did before their transformation. However, if you truly make a lifestyle change during your transformation there is no reason why you will gain all your weight back "with a vengeance" as long as you are conscious of what you eat and exercise. That is what MFP is all about. Logging your calories both food and exercise and staying within your goals.
Remember, just because one person had a good or bad experience doesn't mean you will have the same. Also, there is no one fitness or nutrition plan that will work for everybody.
Again, best of luck in meeting your goals with whatever fitness and nutrition plan you decide.0 -
OP--here's a couple groups on MFP. As you can see, sometimes it's rough posting to the main forum about low carb. You can also check out the Keto subforum on Reddit. Good luck if you decide to try it, and if it's not for you keep looking, different things work for different people so I hope you find what works for you!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-group
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/1494-reddit-keto0 -
Ketones are produced whenever your body burns fat. If you are on ANY diet and losing body fat then you are producing ketones. Your body uses those ketones for energy. If you produce more ketones than your body needs for energy the excess spills into your urine and is disposed of. That is ketosis. All weight loss diets include an element of carbohydrate deficit. If you eat enough carbs to maintain the energy your body needs then you do not burn fat for energy and you will not lose body fat. If you eat more carbohydrates than your body needs for energy, the excess carbohydrates get stored as fat and you gain weight.
Not true.
I'm losing weight with a controlled diet, my carbs come in between 50-100 a day. There are no ketones in my urine (I check).
There are several diets out there that do not restrict carbs in anyway, Slimming World for instance.
50-100 carbs a day is low-carb. It may not be low enough to produce excess ketones that show up in your urine (ketosis) but it is still low carb and forcing your body to burn its fat stores.0 -
Will you lose weight? Yes - and quickly; however, I found it to be too extreme to stick for any extended period of time. And no matter how much weight you lose, if you end up putting it back on, it's no good. Better to learn good eating (and exercise) habits over time, so that you can actually lose and MAINTAIN your new lifestyle. It may not be as gratifying, but I'm find a much higher level of success - and overall, greater satisfaction - by making small, steady changes to my diet and exercise. I'm no longer "on a diet", I'm simply learning to make healthier choices (while still splurgin occassionally), and losing weight along the way. :-) As for the post advising you to talk to your doctor - good advice! A good doctor will send you to a nutritionist, who has specific training & knowledge to help you on your weight loss path.
This is a logical fallacy. Any diet that you go on, be it low-fat, low-carbohydrate, paleo, keto, Atkin's, whatever, is subject to being something that you stick with and becomes a lifestyle change.
Second, people regain weight because they fall back into their old habits and are no longer adhering to "good habits". It isn't because they eat carbs again and magically gain weight.
As much as doing resistance training or exercise counts, so does what you put into your body. Keto isn't about going crazy over fats, it isn't about over doing protein either. Sure, there are extremists who briefly read about a type of diet and then venture into it without doing proper research, but those are the ones that don't last long on the diet.
So, like I said, any diet, regardless of how you eat, is a lifestyle change and one that should be maintained and that you constantly adjust depending on how you want your body composition to be.0 -
I personally would not do anything to lose weight that you can't do for the rest of your life. Do you really want to give up things like bread, bagels, pizza, tortillas, pasta, and scones for the rest of your life?
Uh, yeah, don't have a problem with giving those things up if it means I am at a healthy weight, more energy, less joint pain, and many other benefits. Refusing to deprive ourselves a little is why we gained weight in the first place. And you don't have to give them all up for the rest of your life. When you hit goal weight you can add some back into your diet, if you like. Moderation is the key.0 -
Ketosis is not a normal state for the body to be in. It is what happens to diabetics when they are not in control. I have been on it when I was a lot younger and lost wt but then gained it back quickly. I also remember my breath having a bad smell! I also missed having something crunchy until I discovered pork rinds(no carbs). I had them with salsa and they made decent nachos! I am currently following a low glycemic diet(the South Beach Diet) that seems much more sensible and I am doing well on it, I can make this a lifestyle. Good Luck0
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I personally would not do anything to lose weight that you can't do for the rest of your life. Do you really want to give up things like bread, bagels, pizza, tortillas, pasta, and scones for the rest of your life?
Uh, yeah, don't have a problem with giving those things up if it means I am at a healthy weight, more energy, less joint pain, and many other benefits. Refusing to deprive ourselves a little is why we gained weight in the first place. And you don't have to give them all up for the rest of your life. When you hit goal weight you can add some back into your diet, if you like. Moderation is the key.
Ditto! Most healthy plans will tell you to avoid sugar and white flour foods, right? This just goes a little further. Besides, it's not avoiding all of those for the rest of your life, I still have an occasional low carb tortilla and it's yummy! I make my own version of pizza on a cauliflower crust and it's great.0 -
Ketosis is not a normal state for the body to be in. It is what happens to diabetics when they are not in control. I have been on it when I was a lot younger and lost wt but then gained it back quickly. I also remember my breath having a bad smell! I also missed having something crunchy until I discovered pork rinds(no carbs). I had them with salsa and they made decent nachos! I am currently following a low glycemic diet(the South Beach Diet) that seems much more sensible and I am doing well on it, I can make this a lifestyle. Good Luck
This is kind of a convoluted post.
I think what you're thinking of is type 1 diabetics and if they go into a state of diabetic ketoacidosis, this is an emergency situation.
There are many peer reviewed journals regarding a low-carbohydrate diet that does induce ketosis in the participants of the study, and it isn't for a very long time. The effects of long term ketosis are still unknown.
Additionally, the ketogenic diet is essentially a diet that is a low glycemic diet.0 -
I personally would not do anything to lose weight that you can't do for the rest of your life. Do you really want to give up things like bread, bagels, pizza, tortillas, pasta, and scones for the rest of your life?
Uh, yeah, don't have a problem with giving those things up if it means I am at a healthy weight, more energy, less joint pain, and many other benefits. Refusing to deprive ourselves a little is why we gained weight in the first place. And you don't have to give them all up for the rest of your life. When you hit goal weight you can add some back into your diet, if you like. Moderation is the key.
Ditto! Most healthy plans will tell you to avoid sugar and white flour foods, right? This just goes a little further. Besides, it's not avoiding all of those for the rest of your life, I still have an occasional low carb tortilla and it's yummy! I make my own version of pizza on a cauliflower crust and it's great.
That is exactly the type of eating I came to MFP to avoid doing anymore. Low carb diets (off and on for the last 6 years) have made me miserable and carb-sick over and over again (like homesick). I always end up cheating and gaining back all of the weight. That's why I had to stop the low carb/low fat/high protein diet that got me as far as I am now - I was bored and cheating. I came here, incorporated carbs back into my diet, started losing again and am finding it much easier to stay within my alotted calories.0 -
If you don't want to go to the extreme no carb dieting, check out the slow-carb way of eating like the South Beach Diet. Good protein level, good fats, and only good carbs that don't spike your insulin. A good compromise where you can still eat some fruits and whole grains once you get past the first 2 weeks. I personally feel so much better without the sugar and simple carbs.
Keto apparently works well for some people. I believe the OP asked for advice from people who had actually TRIED the Keto diet, so those of us that haven't tried it, shouldn't really comment on whether it works or not.0 -
Low carb high fat: good.
Low carb high protein: bad. This one is toxic. A tell tale sign that your eating too much protein is *kitten* breath.
Low carb works for burning fat in people who have the same problem I have. Carb don't convert to energy, they get stored as fat. Carbs make me sluggish and sleepy. I dubbed it carb induced narcolepsy. :bigsmile:
The best part of low carb high fat is that is not a "diet." It is a change in eating lifestyle.
If I did a so-called "balanced diet" I would immediately stop losing weight and then gaining it back.
I was pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol. After the first 8 months of LCHF I had my annual checkup and full blood workup.
No longer pre-diabetic and cholesterol and triglycerides dropped 30%.
If my carbs are too low at the end of the day I sometime add Exotic chips (Caribbean root chips). Gets the fat count up too.
Nuts are a decent source of bound carbs too.
Re the fast first pounds, almost any "diet" will shed the first pounds quickly. I've lost the first 30 a few times over the last decade. :laugh:
LCHF is the first time I have changed how I eat and understanding why I must sustain this change even after I get to my goal weight. I can't go back to snacking on Doritos or other processed carbs.
For what it is worth, science has found that your brain functions more efficiently on ketones than on carbs.0 -
Ketosis is not a normal state for the body to be in. It is what happens to diabetics when they are not in control. I have been on it when I was a lot younger and lost wt but then gained it back quickly. I also remember my breath having a bad smell! I also missed having something crunchy until I discovered pork rinds(no carbs). I had them with salsa and they made decent nachos! I am currently following a low glycemic diet(the South Beach Diet) that seems much more sensible and I am doing well on it, I can make this a lifestyle. Good Luck0
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Low carb high fat: good.
Low carb high protein: bad. This one is toxic. A tell tale sign that your eating too much protein is *kitten* breath.
Low carb works for burning fat in people who have the same problem I have. Carb don't convert to energy, they get stored as fat. Carbs make me sluggish and sleepy. I dubbed it carb induced narcolepsy. :bigsmile:
The best part of low carb high fat is that is not a "diet." It is a change in eating lifestyle.
If I did a so-called "balanced diet" I would immediately stop losing weight and then gaining it back.
I was pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol. After the first 8 months of LCHF I had my annual checkup and full blood workup.
No longer pre-diabetic and cholesterol and triglycerides dropped 30%.
If my carbs are too low at the end of the day I sometime add Exotic chips (Caribbean root chips). Gets the fat count up too.
Nuts are a decent source of bound carbs too.
Re the fast first pounds, almost any "diet" will shed the first pounds quickly. I've lost the first 30 a few times over the last decade. :laugh:
LCHF is the first time I have changed how I eat and understanding why I must sustain this change even after I get to my goal weight. I can't go back to snacking on Doritos or other processed carbs.
For what it is worth, science has found that your brain functions more efficiently on ketones than on carbs.
I'm going to quote this because I don't want it to get buried. Also, these are the findings that peer reviewed medical journals have been finding.0 -
Okay now that I've been called "dumb" by more than a few persons (and thanks for that, saying I was in error would have been just fine) let me clarify...people who use low carb diets to lose weight quickly lose it, but in order to keep it off you STILL have to count calories in and out so why deprive yourself of certain foods you like when you would have lost the SAME amount of weight at the end of the year by doing calorie deficit? If you're diabetic that's a whole different diet ballgame. When you stop dieting and go back to eating carbs normally the weight WILL come back, which is why after induction on Atkins they have you add small portions of carbs back into your diet so you can calculate how much will make you gain weight back for OWL and lifetime management. I've done atkins a few times before and lost up to 20lbs in 2 weeks but as soon as I went off it the weight came back. And then some.
So to sum up unless you have some kind of medical reason to need an ultra low carb diet I don't see the point in depriving one's self when the weight will come off anyway doing calorie deficit.
And on another note we are all grown ups here no need to say someone's opinion or comment is dumb...the original poster asked our opinions and I gave mine. And please don't type like I don't exist (ie "comments like that are dumb") and I'm not going to read your comment eventually it's a little insulting. I'm right here and if I'm in error I'd like to know directly thank you.0 -
Ketosis and the Paleo diet are pretty similar I think....Lots of protein and healthy fat and low carb and nothing processed or man-made. So like- if the cavemen wouldn't have eaten it ( bread, dairy, sugars) you don't eat it either. That's God's original diet for the human body....He didn't make bread man did....we really shouldn't eat it. Etc...
Lol what a beautiful ironic sentiment, "God didn't make bread, man did." But who made god?! :P0 -
So to sum up unless you have some kind of medical reason to need an ultra low carb diet I don't see the point in depriving one's self when the weight will come off anyway doing calorie deficit.
The reason is to not create an insulin response. If someone is pre-diabetic or is type 2 diabetic, they are prone to insulin resistance. What this means is, over time, if they continue to have this issue where the pancreas continues to pump out insulin in order to compensate for the sugars ingested, that person may reach the point of no return, where the extra insulin that is being compensated does nothing in their body to help metabolize sugar. This will cause dangerously high levels of blood glucose which is definitely an emergency. The idea is to prevent this from happening, as our bodies have a finite number of cells before expiration. This is why you don't want to eat over a certain amount of carbohydrates or sugars. All of this can eventually lead to cardiovascular problems, kidney disease, etc.
Edit: clarification, 30 hours awake, 45 min of total sleep right now. Running on fumes.0 -
When you stop dieting and go back to eating carbs normally the weight WILL come back,
What is "eating carbs normally"? Do you mean eating carbs at a level that is healthy for maintaining a healthy weight or eating all the carbs one ate before they went on a diet? Because, yeah, if I eat the amount of carbs I ate at the weight I was then I will gain it all back. That is true for everybody who has ever lost weight on any diet. When I reach my weight loss goal I will have to have a "new normal" in order to maintain.0 -
This is a version of Atkins Diet and then modified to South Beach Diet. It does work and well. You should stick to lean meats and egg whites. Watch your cholesterol. Above ground vegetables with exception of corn are usually low carb. This is also great for diabetics. I have cut carbs on 78 and 82 year old parents and have seen tremendous difference in weight, energy levels and blood sugar. Protein helps stabalize blood sugar. Complex and simple carbs raise insulin (blood sugar levels). Miracle Noodles is a product you can look into for pasta, rice replacements. They are basically soluable plant fiber in shape of noodles that picks up whatever flavor you cook with it. Soy sauce is a great low carb flovoring. Look at Sam's Choice products also, they are great at listing contents and are better for pocket book in most instances.0
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Just, if you do this, watch your potassium!
I had a seizure last October where I fell slamming my head into concrete, stopped breathing and had no heart beat. I was lucky that someone near me knew CPR, it's the only reason I am able to type this! Slamming my head on the concrete resulted in a type III concussion and an 8 week recovery with a few personality changes to boot! The only thing that was going on was my potassium was critically low. I did not know, nor was I trying to be in ketosis, but I was. In this state your kidneys flush potassium, salt and magnesium. I had felt horrible for close to a month before it happened I thought I was run down from school and a cold but that was not it at all my potassium was too low.
I'm not advocating for or against any diet. Everyone here is an adult and can make up their own mind I just urge you to get 3500 mg of potassium everyday, especially if you try this diet because the diet flushes those minerals out!0 -
Unhealthy metabolic state (ketosis). Low-carb diets can cause the body to go into a dangerous metabolic state called ketosis since your body burns fat instead of glucose for energy. During ketosis, the body forms substances known as ketones, which can cause organs to fail and result in gout, kidney stones, or kidney failure. Ketones can also dull a person's appetite, cause nausea and bad breath. Ketosis can be prevented by eating at least 100 grams of carbohydrates a day.0
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Unhealthy metabolic state (ketosis). Low-carb diets can cause the body to go into a dangerous metabolic state called ketosis since your body burns fat instead of glucose for energy. During ketosis, the body forms substances known as ketones, which can cause organs to fail and result in gout, kidney stones, or kidney failure. Ketones can also dull a person's appetite, cause nausea and bad breath. Ketosis can be prevented by eating at least 100 grams of carbohydrates a day.
Sources? Are you sure you're not thinking of ketoacidosis?0 -
let me clarify...people who use low carb diets to lose weight quickly lose it, but in order to keep it off you STILL have to count calories in and out so why deprive yourself of certain foods you like when you would have lost the SAME amount of weight at the end of the year by doing calorie deficit? If you're diabetic that's a whole different diet ballgame. When you stop dieting and go back to eating carbs normally the weight WILL come back, which is why after induction on Atkins they have you add small portions of carbs back into your diet so you can calculate how much will make you gain weight back for OWL and lifetime management. I've done atkins a few times before and lost up to 20lbs in 2 weeks but as soon as I went off it the weight came back. And then some.
I cannot eat pasta, bread, sweets in moderation. One bite would lead to a binge, which got me to my highest weight of 258. I did not know what I was doing to my body. Sure, I lost a few pounds doing MFP's guideline of macros, but I was always hungry and craving sweets. One bite, and I was done. I got frustrated with not being honest with myself and cheating on diary entries, so I just quit.
Thought I'd give keto a try. My dad's a diabetic and I have already inherited his thyroid issues, so I didn't want to chance being pre-diabetic (bloodwork showed I wasn't pre-diabetic, but my levels were still high).
May 29 I enter ketosis. I've been in it ever since. The first two weeks were hell as my body was screaming for easy burning carbs, but somehow I persisted and have been in ketosis ever since. I have used keto as a reboot for my eating habits. I've dropped the weight (still some left, but I FINALLY have energy so I'm now tons more active that I used to be) and I did it eating dairy, nuts, meat, and PLENTY of veggies.
Once in a while I'll take bites of foods I thought I missed. I don't. It tastes toxic to me. Keto is the only time I've ever felt "normal."
BTW, no one in their right mind would just revert to their old carb intake after a sustained period of keto. I can't imagine the intestinal distress of that initial carb shock... it's the reason I don't cheat. When you enter maintenance, you're supposed to slowly increase your carbs, as to not shock your body, until you feel good. For some, it's 100g. That's my goal when I reach my weight goal, but of course that's just a plan as I have no idea how my body will react.
The reason the weight came back quickly (someone correct me if I'm wrong) is because your glycogen stores increased. I think that stuff holds onto water like crazy? Could be broscience, I'll see if I can find the link when I get back from the gym.0 -
Unhealthy metabolic state (ketosis). Low-carb diets can cause the body to go into a dangerous metabolic state called ketosis since your body burns fat instead of glucose for energy. During ketosis, the body forms substances known as ketones, which can cause organs to fail and result in gout, kidney stones, or kidney failure. Ketones can also dull a person's appetite, cause nausea and bad breath. Ketosis can be prevented by eating at least 100 grams of carbohydrates a day.
Sources? Are you sure you're not thinking of ketoacidosis?
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/high-protein-low-carbohydrate-diets
diabetes.org is another source that talks about ketosis as well as Diabetic ketoacidosis which is a condition that may occur in people who have diabetes, most often in those who have type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. It involves the buildup of toxic substances called ketones that make the blood too acidic. High ketone levels can be readily managed, but if they aren't detected and treated in time, a person can eventually slip into a fatal coma.
Another source is my professors online study guide but you were you would have to be one of his students to read it but i've posted some of my quotes from our discussions there.
Ketosis in and of itself is not a harmful process and occurs among diabetics and non-diabetics.
However, when ketone levels become excessively high, a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis, can occur. Remember you do not have to be diabetic to develop this condition.0 -
Being in ketosis is how I lost 55 lbs from February up until June but I was on a medically supervised weight loss plan. Monitoring your ketones while doing a low carb diet is EXTREMELY important as you want to maintain a healthy level of ketosis and not overdo it. Personally, I only recommend doing it for brief periods of time to jumpstart weightloss and not as a way of life or permanent eating solution.
As long as you are not a diabetic, you cannot have excess ketones in your system. Your body self regulates the quanity of ketones with insulin. It actually reaches an equilibrium in a few weeks producing only what it needs to feed the brain and CNS. You can test for ketones in your pee because your body cannot burn them up completely and the residue comes out with your waste water.0 -
Ketones are produced whenever your body burns fat. If you are on ANY diet and losing body fat then you are producing ketones. Your body uses those ketones for energy. If you produce more ketones than your body needs for energy the excess spills into your urine and is disposed of. That is ketosis. All weight loss diets include an element of carbohydrate deficit. If you eat enough carbs to maintain the energy your body needs then you do not burn fat for energy and you will not lose body fat. If you eat more carbohydrates than your body needs for energy, the excess carbohydrates get stored as fat and you gain weight.
Not true.
I'm losing weight with a controlled diet, my carbs come in between 50-100 a day. There are no ketones in my urine (I check).
There are several diets out there that do not restrict carbs in anyway, Slimming World for instance.
Not true if you body is in a state of burning your fat reserves you will produce ketones. That they don't appear in your pee is a matter of accuracy of the indicator on the test sticks. You can be in ketosis and not register on the pee sticks. They are a rough guide.0 -
I tried this diet before. I would not recommend it for long term weight loss. Definitely consult your doctor but exercising and eating good will help. I classify that diet as a yo yo diet.0
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