Is being in ketosis nessesary for low carb weight loss

I used to love bagels and cake and all that stuff. So being on a keto diet sucked for about a week, then the cravings go away. Every now and then I'll want a poutine but not enough to want to go track one down. On keto, the cravings aren't as strong as they used to be. I had crap will power. I would tell myself "I'll just eat this little bit" and once I started chowing down, I'd eat 2 or 3 servings, so keto has helped me in that I no longer want to eat everything just for the sake of eating.

So I hate the "just eat less and excercise more" comments. I tried that and failed my whole life. I'm not strong enough for that, if that was so easy I wouldn't have gotten to 250 pounds. For me, the only trick was killing the cravings. When you love to eat, telling yourself to eat less is what will make you feel deprived.

As for ketosis, I actually never know if I'm in it or not. I don't get the stank breath that most people seem to get, I never have. I don't really track my days anymore either, and just go with foods I know are alright. I find that not tracking helps keep me sane, because I'm treating it as an actual lifestyle choice, not a diet. But having cheat meals might throw you out and from what I've read, the cramping and toilet time after cheat meals doesn't seem like something that would be enjoyable. Plus, the foods you used to love might taste very different now. When you cut out sugar, your sense of taste improves. For example, I thought almonds tasted like dirt. Now I love them, I can actually taste them now! And I had a piece of a Terry's dark chocolate orange around Christmas. It just tasted like crap to me. They were my favourite, and now they taste like watered down chocolate. Another thing for cheat meals, I think if you're constantly tempting yourself with carbs, you'll have a harder time resisting them and get cravings again. I notice I start to get cravings again when I sneak a a baby potato. I'll pig out on my sugar free chocolates like I'm trying to fill a void, which never ends well, if anyone else here has experience on too many sugar free chocolates.... But it could all be in my head, who knows. I've read of others having their cravings come back when they give into temptation.

Aaaanyways, if you're losing weight on your chosen diet and it works, right on. I'm just sharing my experience in case anyone thought it was an awful way to go. I'm quite happy I'm about to eat some cheese and bison pepperoni for lunch and fry up some thick cut farmers market bacon for my next week's lunches

He's low carb because he doesn't like carbs. :laugh:

It just happens.

I have done the low carb diet with Medi Weight Loss and I am doing Atkins now. Yes, you have to stay where you have ketones to lose the weight. Why don't you check out atkins.com and study their low carb diet. You do it in stages until you have lost the weight you want to lose and start adding carbs back into your diet. I really love this diet and the recipes they have are delicious!

not even the low carb part is necessary.

I agree. If you find a way of eating that you can live with and is healthy, then by all means, do it! I prefer low carb because it takes away the cravings for unhealthy foods. I don't count carbs, I just stay away from bread, cereal, potatoes and pasta. I focus on leans meats, beans and veggies (which give you plenty of good carbs). It allows me to lose weight, and I can still enjoy a carb laden treat every once in a while as long as I don't go overboard. And I don't monitor my ketones either. Not every diet will be doable or work for everyone, if that were the case, we' d all be thin and this board probably wouldn't exist !

not even the low carb part is necessary.

I think the low carb bit is necessary!

Yea, but didn't you know? We're wrong and we should hang our heads in shame for eating differently.

not even the low carb part is necessary.

I think the low carb bit is necessary!

Necessary for what? Certainly not weight loss.

not even the low carb part is necessary.

I think the low carb bit is necessary!

Necessary for what? Certainly not weight loss.

It depends.

If you're an individual that cannot stick to a caloric deficit WITHOUT eating low-carb, but have no problems WHILE low-carb, then - for that individual - it's necessary.

There are people who get a distinct metabolic advantage from low-carb dieting - especially if their metabolism is somehow already deficient for any reason. Is it a HUGE advantage? no. Most research I've seen would suggest between 200 and 500kcal a day advantage for those individuals. But, that can be enough to see a weight-loss where another diet might not manifest it.

Yes, the bottom line is a caloric-deficit results in weight loss. But how some low-carbers REACH that caloric deficit is by the metabolic advantage (however slight it may be) and the reduction in hunger (thus eating less) from eating a more-satiating diet. Thus the diet has a distinct weight-loss advantage for them vs. other diets.

after being on keto for even a week, you begin to lose the sugar and carb cravings, because your body begins to be a fat burning machine. Its actually the easiest and most effective diet Ive ever tried and I love it. More energy and more level than ever