Anyone Doing Keto?

Hi everyone!

I'm new but I would like some advice, recommendations, success (or horror) stories of people who have tried or are currently on the Ketogenic diet. I'm currently doing a low carb (50-80 carbs a day) diet and have noticed a lot of positive changes with my mind and my body so far but I want to know if there's more I can do to help myself.

I'm kind of at a plateau right now. I have done some research on the difference between low carb, low glycemic, ketogenic, differences but I wanted to hear actual people's opinions and advice on the subject.

What were some of the changes you noticed? Good, bad, otherwise?

Thanks in advance. :)

Replies

  • sweetgeorgiabee
    sweetgeorgiabee Posts: 16 Member
    BUMP!
  • run4rain
    run4rain Posts: 4
    Hi there! I'm on my third week of Keto. My experience has been great so far! I lost a lot of water weight at first and didn't have any cravings until two days ago. I did struggle with nausea at first from trying to get so much olive oil, grass-fed butter, and coconut oil in, but I was drinking caffeine-free tea with coconut oil in it first thing in the morning and once I stopped that, my nausea ended. I've been out to eat a few times and was able to find things to eat. My hardest part has been two days ago, being on the road traveling. I usually take a snack like flax crackers or heavy whipping cream with unsweetened cocoa and Stevia with me when I'm going to be out of the house for a few hours, but I was out longer than I thought I would be and got so hungry, I had to stop and get a double cheeseburger and almost bit into the bun before I realized what I was doing. I also find that if I don't give myself electrolytes every other day, I tend to get dizzy. An easy way to get in electrolytes is beef or vegetable broth or putting a little Himalayan pink salt in your water. I don't know if you've heard of the "keto flu" (also called the "Atkins flu"), but that didn't hit me until my 11th day. I've read that it can take up to a month to become keto-adapted. I keep my carbs under 20g per day and I try to keep my protein in the 55-65g range to not have an excess of protein.

    Although I'm only in my third week, I would suggest if you've hit a plateau, try upping your water intake or lower your carb intake a couple days a week. You can also try to do a couple of days where you wait an extra two or three hours to eat your breakfast. Also, make sure you're getting enough calories. I've seen people post they were only eating 1,000 calories and they wondered why their weight wasn't budging. Eating this way, I lost 15 lbs before I got the "keto flu" and entered ketosis. Since then, I've lost another 6 lbs since last week. Granted, that was right after TOM, so some of that was still water weight.
  • txjude34
    txjude34 Posts: 5 Member
    Just restrarting. The first time I did it without much success. Will be glad to follow someone a few weeks into this.
  • GoodJobKETO
    GoodJobKETO Posts: 1 Member
    Looking for Keto friends! Second time doing this, first time lost 25lbs in a month and a half, i still have 75 more lbs to go though...
  • I am! Just started 10 days ago!
  • jcmfd
    jcmfd Posts: 2 Member
    Going to try it! I tried the Atkins diet several years ago and lost maybe ten pounds, but I found it hard to give up my beloved pasta. But now, RIP, carbs.
  • bptter
    bptter Posts: 5
    I started a week ago. I like it so far. Have lost 6 pounds this week.
  • DebraYvonne
    DebraYvonne Posts: 632 Member
    Add me ladies! I have been doing for 1-1/2 to 2 months, down 8 now stuck and trying to adjust my macros.:smile:
  • anna_mom2two
    anna_mom2two Posts: 2 Member
    I have been on Keto since April, 2013 and have lost 70lbs so far.. only thing that has ever worked for me.
  • Ligenliefde
    Ligenliefde Posts: 28 Member
    Been doing it for 4 weeks now. Cannot believe how easy it is compared to other diets! I had tried every diet known to man without success before I tried this one. Weight is coming off at a nice steady pace and I feel full of energy and never hungry. Eating enough calories is a bit of struggle where with other diets I was STARVING all day long! :laugh: :noway:
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Hi everyone!

    I'm new but I would like some advice, recommendations, success (or horror) stories of people who have tried or are currently on the Ketogenic diet. I'm currently doing a low carb (50-80 carbs a day) diet and have noticed a lot of positive changes with my mind and my body so far but I want to know if there's more I can do to help myself.

    I'm kind of at a plateau right now. I have done some research on the difference between low carb, low glycemic, ketogenic, differences but I wanted to hear actual people's opinions and advice on the subject.

    What were some of the changes you noticed? Good, bad, otherwise?

    Thanks in advance. :)

    During your research did you learn that holding protein and calories constant there is no significant difference in fat loss between all the diets you listed and higher carb varieties?
  • l3eware0f4ire
    l3eware0f4ire Posts: 82 Member
    Been doing low carb/keto since mid April. I enjoy it but for the insomnia it causes me. I have to take over the counter sleep aids once in awhile to get a full night of sleep. 3mg melatonin. It also caused my period to be two months late. I still have horrible sweet cravings. Otherwise I like what it has helped me achieve. Around 32 pounds in two an a half months.

    Would love more keto friends! I log daily and diary is open to my buddies. Happy ketoing! :drinker: :flowerforyou:
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    Honestly I gave it a legitimate try recently.

    I spent about 6 weeks at under 20 net carbs a day.

    I was tired, sluggish (that energy boost everyone else gets, didn't happen), foggy minded, weak, constantly hungry, famished, hangry and emotional the entire time.

    It was miserable.

    And, I got sick, truly sick, and missed two days of work, for the first time in years.

    20 net carbs is not enough for me to take in the fruit and veg level my body thrives on.

    I've seen it do "miracles" for others, but my body doesn't jive with it's chemistry.

    I went back to normal Paleo (which is still pretty low carb) but I've been really enjoying bananas, mangos, and sushi!

    I love not caring less if I go over 20 carbs and my keto stick is clear than I feel sluggish for days because I just couldn't live without another serving of veg. That's kind of like intentionally dieting yourself into sickness.

    Good luck!

    Do what works for you.

    PS I lost 0 weight in keto. I truly believe what I did lose was water weight because I started in the 180's, ended in the 180's, and I'm still in the 180's. Lots of suffering for 0 progress.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Hi everyone!

    I'm new but I would like some advice, recommendations, success (or horror) stories of people who have tried or are currently on the Ketogenic diet. I'm currently doing a low carb (50-80 carbs a day) diet and have noticed a lot of positive changes with my mind and my body so far but I want to know if there's more I can do to help myself.

    I'm kind of at a plateau right now. I have done some research on the difference between low carb, low glycemic, ketogenic, differences but I wanted to hear actual people's opinions and advice on the subject.

    What were some of the changes you noticed? Good, bad, otherwise?

    Thanks in advance. :)

    During your research did you learn that holding protein and calories constant there is no significant difference in fat loss between all the diets you listed and higher carb varieties?


    Dianna_i_love_you_obviously.gif
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    Honestly I gave it a legitimate try recently.

    I spent about 6 weeks at under 20 net carbs a day.

    I was tired, sluggish (that energy boost everyone else gets, didn't happen), foggy minded, weak, constantly hungry, famished, hangry and emotional the entire time.

    It was miserable.

    And, I got sick, truly sick, and missed two days of work, for the first time in years.

    20 net carbs is not enough for me to take in the fruit and veg level my body thrives on.

    I've seen it do "miracles" for others, but my body doesn't jive with it's chemistry.

    I went back to normal Paleo (which is still pretty low carb) but I've been really enjoying bananas, mangos, and sushi!

    I love not caring less if I go over 20 carbs and my keto stick is clear than I feel sluggish for days because I just couldn't live without another serving of veg. That's kind of like intentionally dieting yourself into sickness.

    Good luck!

    Do what works for you.

    PS I lost 0 weight in keto. I truly believe what I did lose was water weight because I started in the 180's, ended in the 180's, and I'm still in the 180's. Lots of suffering for 0 progress.

    You like paragraphs.
  • da_bears1008
    da_bears1008 Posts: 354
    Honestly I gave it a legitimate try recently.

    I spent about 6 weeks at under 20 net carbs a day.

    I was tired, sluggish (that energy boost everyone else gets, didn't happen), foggy minded, weak, constantly hungry, famished, hangry and emotional the entire time.

    It was miserable.

    And, I got sick, truly sick, and missed two days of work, for the first time in years.

    20 net carbs is not enough for me to take in the fruit and veg level my body thrives on.

    I've seen it do "miracles" for others, but my body doesn't jive with it's chemistry.

    I went back to normal Paleo (which is still pretty low carb) but I've been really enjoying bananas, mangos, and sushi!

    I love not caring less if I go over 20 carbs and my keto stick is clear than I feel sluggish for days because I just couldn't live without another serving of veg. That's kind of like intentionally dieting yourself into sickness.

    Good luck!

    Do what works for you.

    PS I lost 0 weight in keto. I truly believe what I did lose was water weight because I started in the 180's, ended in the 180's, and I'm still in the 180's. Lots of suffering for 0 progress.

    You like paragraphs.

    No, she likes sentences.
  • baba_helly
    baba_helly Posts: 810 Member
    I did a low carb diet over a year ago and I was tired all the time and my breath smelled horrendous. Good luck on your journey. :flowerforyou:
  • EddieHaskell97
    EddieHaskell97 Posts: 2,227 Member
    I did ketosis for six months and it suppressed my appetite quite well. At that point it boiled down to fewer calories in than out. It worked well for me, but I'm glad to be done with it. Now I just watch my calories and work out like a pi$$ed-off mutha'-f$@#9r!

    Good luck!
  • Escloflowne
    Escloflowne Posts: 2,038 Member
    A friend of mine did Keto, he lost a bunch of weight really fast and looked great, as soon as he went back to regular eating he gained it all back and an extra 20lbs. it's not sustainable.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    NO.
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    Honestly I gave it a legitimate try recently.

    I spent about 6 weeks at under 20 net carbs a day.

    I was tired, sluggish (that energy boost everyone else gets, didn't happen), foggy minded, weak, constantly hungry, famished, hangry and emotional the entire time.

    It was miserable.

    And, I got sick, truly sick, and missed two days of work, for the first time in years.

    20 net carbs is not enough for me to take in the fruit and veg level my body thrives on.

    I've seen it do "miracles" for others, but my body doesn't jive with it's chemistry.

    I went back to normal Paleo (which is still pretty low carb) but I've been really enjoying bananas, mangos, and sushi!

    I love not caring less if I go over 20 carbs and my keto stick is clear than I feel sluggish for days because I just couldn't live without another serving of veg. That's kind of like intentionally dieting yourself into sickness.

    Good luck!

    Do what works for you.

    PS I lost 0 weight in keto. I truly believe what I did lose was water weight because I started in the 180's, ended in the 180's, and I'm still in the 180's. Lots of suffering for 0 progress.

    You like paragraphs.

    No, she likes sentences.

    When people write in the MFP forms in one big paragraph it seems like a cluster **** of tl:dr, and I wind up scanning it for key words but not taking the time to read each and every line without intense focus. I find spacing out the paragraphs to be far easier for the reader to read.
  • chiffonish
    chiffonish Posts: 4 Member
    Honestly I gave it a legitimate try recently.

    I spent about 6 weeks at under 20 net carbs a day.

    I was tired, sluggish (that energy boost everyone else gets, didn't happen), foggy minded, weak, constantly hungry, famished, hangry and emotional the entire time.

    It was miserable.

    And, I got sick, truly sick, and missed two days of work, for the first time in years.

    20 net carbs is not enough for me to take in the fruit and veg level my body thrives on.

    I've seen it do "miracles" for others, but my body doesn't jive with it's chemistry.

    I went back to normal Paleo (which is still pretty low carb) but I've been really enjoying bananas, mangos, and sushi!

    I love not caring less if I go over 20 carbs and my keto stick is clear than I feel sluggish for days because I just couldn't live without another serving of veg. That's kind of like intentionally dieting yourself into sickness.

    Good luck!

    Do what works for you.

    PS I lost 0 weight in keto. I truly believe what I did lose was water weight because I started in the 180's, ended in the 180's, and I'm still in the 180's. Lots of suffering for 0 progress.

    I am glad you at least tried! Paleo is what my aim is to be once I hit my goal.

    A few questions - were you aware of the notorious "keto flu" and the rigorous adaptation your body goes through to the diet changes you're giving it? Depending on many things, the flu can last between a few days to a few weeks. Did you also take care of your electrolytes while feeling under the weather?

    I know this lifestyle doesn't work for everyone, but typically the research into ketosis goes far beyond keeping your carbs below 20 grams. In fact, vegetables are a staple to this diet -- especially leafy greens like spinach which help your adaptation.
  • parkscs
    parkscs Posts: 1,639 Member
    A friend of mine did Keto, he lost a bunch of weight really fast and looked great, as soon as he went back to regular eating he gained it all back and an extra 20lbs. it's not sustainable.

    A friend of mine counted calories, lost a bunch of weight and as soon as he got complacent and went back to his old habits, he gained it all back and then some. But, big surprise, that's irrelevant to a discussion of calorie counting and it certainly doesn't mean that calorie counting is not a good way to lose weight.

    As for the OP, the reason you might want to go keto from a low carb diet at 50-80g is that you might actually feel more energetic on a keto diet. That said, depending on what exercises you do, you may run into issues with muscle glycogen on a keto diet (addressable issues, but it requires a bit more work). Otherwise, I might consider going a bit higher in your carb macro, while still keeping it low'ish if you find that helps you (maybe 100-125g?).

    Taking a step back though, the main reason to keep carbs low is because it serves as an appetite suppressant for a lot of people and it all but eliminates the ability to eat certain calorie-dense foods (ice cream, cake, etc.). If you're plateauing, rather than looking at your carb macro, I'd look at your calorie intake, your logging habits and your exercise. How long have you been plateauing? What's your exercise routine? What's your calorie target/day? How are you calculating exercise calories? And so on. I suspect you'll have more luck focusing on the answers to those questions rather than tweaking your carb macro.
  • beastmode_kitty
    beastmode_kitty Posts: 845 Member
    I would never do Keto. Counting calories and heavy lifting is what works best I believe. Why restrict yourself?
  • doubleduofa
    doubleduofa Posts: 284 Member
    I think keto is great and works for many people. I also keep my carbs lower and feel much better that way. My advice is to make sure you take magnesium everyday and if you start feeling flush, a good remedy is to drink some bone broth (beef or chicken broth). I think making some soups for the first few week is helpful.

    I'd also come up with a plan for how you will get into maintenance later. What foods you'd like to reintroduce and carb levels at each stage. I, personally, would like to maintain with lots of fruit and veggies in my diet. I also like to have plenty of good fats. Right now, I watch fruit, but in maintenance, I will want to eat more.
  • moment_to_arise
    moment_to_arise Posts: 207 Member
    t_45d413140ea248409affc6b0235318a8.jpg
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    Honestly I gave it a legitimate try recently.

    I spent about 6 weeks at under 20 net carbs a day.

    I was tired, sluggish (that energy boost everyone else gets, didn't happen), foggy minded, weak, constantly hungry, famished, hangry and emotional the entire time.

    It was miserable.

    And, I got sick, truly sick, and missed two days of work, for the first time in years.

    20 net carbs is not enough for me to take in the fruit and veg level my body thrives on.

    I've seen it do "miracles" for others, but my body doesn't jive with it's chemistry.

    I went back to normal Paleo (which is still pretty low carb) but I've been really enjoying bananas, mangos, and sushi!

    I love not caring less if I go over 20 carbs and my keto stick is clear than I feel sluggish for days because I just couldn't live without another serving of veg. That's kind of like intentionally dieting yourself into sickness.

    Good luck!

    Do what works for you.

    PS I lost 0 weight in keto. I truly believe what I did lose was water weight because I started in the 180's, ended in the 180's, and I'm still in the 180's. Lots of suffering for 0 progress.

    I am glad you at least tried! Paleo is what my aim is to be once I hit my goal.

    A few questions - were you aware of the notorious "keto flu" and the rigorous adaptation your body goes through to the diet changes you're giving it? Depending on many things, the flu can last between a few days to a few weeks. Did you also take care of your electrolytes while feeling under the weather?

    I know this lifestyle doesn't work for everyone, but typically the research into ketosis goes far beyond keeping your carbs below 20 grams. In fact, vegetables are a staple to this diet -- especially leafy greens like spinach which help your adaptation.

    Yes, but I kept getting keto flu over and over, the whole 6 weeks was basically the flu!

    I like a lot more veggies than leafy greens and spinach, I missed onions, tomatoes, carrots, you could have a tiny enie weenie perfectly measured amount, but seriously? I like to get down on some veg, not a tiny little 2oz serving.

    And I'm almost certain the reason I got sick was cutting out my "daily apple", that monster would've been over 20 net carbs alone.

    I ate high salted foods, took magnesium, broth etc etc...

    It's just not right for me.

    I wanted to believe in the science behind it, and I'm not saying it's fake, I do see that it clearly works for others, but not me.

    I love sweet potatoes, apples, baby carrots (12oz at a time if I feel like it).

    I also missed that little amount of dark chocolate I could I have eating primally. I didn't realize how far a little went a long way until I couldn't have it (or have to chose between a nibble of dark chocolate or veg!) I didn't deal well with that kind of restriction.

    Now... I would've dealt with that kind of restriction IF I had the astounding weight loss results everyone else had, but I didn't. I didn't lose any weight. I would have miserably forced it to see the scale move, but it didn't.

    So it became a moot point for me.
  • parkscs
    parkscs Posts: 1,639 Member
    Now... I would've dealt with that kind of restriction IF I had the astounding weight loss results everyone else had, but I didn't. I didn't lose any weight. I would have miserably forced it to see the scale move, but it didn't.

    So it became a moot point for me.

    That's the right attitude if you ask me. For any diet or macro distribution that makes you miserable - stop doing it and find something that works for you. Many people find keto helps them achieve a caloric deficit and they feel good while doing it, but for many more people keto is a poor choice. Any discussion of what's the "best" diet as a general matter is pointless, as it really depends on the individual (beyond a few basic parameters like calorie deficit and protein requirements).
  • Have any females encountered this !?

    Im in my 5th week of proper ketosis , 0.7 on the blood ketone meter. Ive been trying to enter and maintain ketosis since July this summer and it took a bit of tweaking and alot of reading to find out why I was failing / struggling. During the whole time I have not had a TOM , have any of you ladies experienced this ? should I be concerned?

    p.s I already have irregular cycles which is a big part of why Im wanting to be adapted. Ive been stuck at 0.7 for 2 weeks now so Im fat fasting for a week starting today .

    Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated !
  • Im doing nutritional ketosis right now and I love it. Im one week in and down 4 lbs. I had been doing southbeach for two months prior, so my carbs were already fairly low. The problem was that I was always hungry and still had tons of cravings. I also hit a 3 week plateau , which is when I began researching Paleo which led me to find out about High fat, moderate protien and low carb.

    I realize this is not for everyone..but I like it., I have zero cravings, I am never hungry and went 15 hours not wanting to eat. ( Intermittent fasting is encouraged and not difficult) I had a bit of a headache the first 5 days, but upped my salt, fluid and becan a low dose of potassium and magnesium and now its gone.

    I still eat a ton of veggies...and yes my fat consumption is obviously alot...but so far so good.
    Good luck to you:)