Eating what you want within calories vs Keto within calories

k_e_l · April 2017

Hi guys!

Just wondering how many of you have tried both keto (within your calorie limit) & eating whatever you want (within your calorie limit)? What did you find was easier to do?

I'm asking because I have tried both myself & when I wasn't doing keto, I always felt hungry & cranky. So, I started keto last week & I do feel fuller eating at the same deficit, but I'm also fighting cravings to eat carbs & feel like giving up. Lol, I don't know what I want to do!

Share your experience with me!

GillianSmith2 · April 2017

I have lost the majority of my weight doing CI/CO and since the end of January i have been doing keto and lost a further 9lbs or so. the main reason for me going on to keto however was for health reasons and not the diet side of (although it is an added benefit) i have found over the years that i suffer when i eat things like pasta or too much bread ect so if you find a healthy way of eating that YOU can stick to then go with it, If it is not sustainable for you then find something that is... just my opinion

hope that helps

Christine_72 · April 2017

For me, keto was easier due to the decrease in appetite and cravings.

thisbravelion · April 2017

I've been doing keto for 7 months and have lost 30kgs with it (plus exercise).

I have found keto fairly easy - I don't have any problems sticking to keto-friendly foods (as I like them a lot) but I do still sometimes struggle with eating over my calorie goals.

I used the keto calculator to set my macros - I didn't pick a huge deficit to begin with so I lost weight more slowly that some other people I've seen. But then I ramped up the running and the gym and the weight really did fall off me (at least the first 20kgs - the last 5kgs are harder!)

I really recommend sticking with keto if you can. Make sure you're getting in your electrolytes (I drank a pint of stock/broth every day to begin with as you need extra salt).

Keep on ketoing on

RedSquadronLeader · April 2017

I like keto personally; I also have done a little self-experimentation and found that I maintain on ~1800-1900 when doing keto, versus ~1600-1700 at more moderate carb intake, after adjusting for TEF and keeping protein intake constant. So, I like that I can eat a little more. I also have crazy cravings when I eat more carbs. I don't think in general I have to keep it to keto levels to fight these -- for instance, I'll have apples or some sweet potato sometimes, but if I'm up over 100 g/day or if I'm eating sweets or crackers or whatever, I'll usually blow my calorie limit.

I'd say keep trying keto for about a month if you feel good on it, and if you still have lots of cravings after that, or if all your favorite foods are higher carb, then it's probably not for you. Also, I don't feel it's always necessary to restrict carbs to keto levels to get the same satiety benefits, especially if you're exercising regularly, but I know that it's helpful for some.

Christine_72 · April 2017

Good point @RedSquadronLeader I had the same benefits keeping my carbs to a max of 100g as i did keeping them down at keto levels.

CharlieBeansmomTracey · April 2017

for me its just a deficit. I cant do keto due to health issues. I eat a lot of carbs too.

kommodevaran · April 2017

"Whatever you want" does not mean a diet of nothing but peanut butter and vodka. You'll want to pay attention to nutrition no matter what kind of diet philosophy you are following, be it keto, vegetarian, low calorie, whatever. You may have to experiment a bit to find your nutritional balance. For many people, keto will be unbalanced. For others, it's a godsend.

k_e_l · April 2017

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply! Some pretty good suggestions here! :-)

I will continue to keto for a bit (thanks for encouraging me to not give up just yet fellow ketoers). I think some of my problem is I automatically set myself up to fail (in my mind) cause I'm so used to giving up after 2 wks on any diet I try.

Thanks for the electrolyte tip too! I haven't been drinking any broth just because I think I have always used a ton of salt on my food, but I'll start doing that...today in fact! I felt really nauseous yesterday & today & its most likely due to electrolytes & not enough water!

Oh yeah...also its really good to know I don't have to lower my carbs to extreme low levels all the time. I love apples with peanut butter, so maybe if I'm really craving something sweet, I can just eat that instead of blowing my whole plan! Of course I'll look for natural peanut butter..or even almond butter. :-)

Thanks again everyone!! Congrats on your success!!!!! :-)

macchiatto · April 2017

Christine_72 wrote: »

For me, keto was easier due to the decrease in appetite and cravings.

Same here. When I switched to keto, I just shifted macros, not calories, and found it so much easier to stick to and the weight started coming off (and kept coming off, so it wasn't just water weight). Before that I felt hungry all the time at the same calorie level. There is a little bit of an adjustment phase but after a week or two, I found my groove and figured out my favorite keto-friendly foods and was good. It's not for everyone but I'd say give it another 2 weeks or so if you want to see if it works for you, just to see if you adjust and start enjoying it more.

k_e_l · April 2017

macchiatto wrote: »

Christine_72 wrote: »

For me, keto was easier due to the decrease in appetite and cravings.

Same here. When I switched to keto, I just shifted macros, not calories, and found it so much easier to stick to and the weight started coming off (and kept coming off, so it wasn't just water weight). Before that I felt hungry all the time at the same calorie level. There is a little bit of an adjustment phase but after a week or two, I found my groove and figured out my favorite keto-friendly foods and was good. It's not for everyone but I'd say give it another 2 weeks or so if you want to see if it works for you, just to see if you adjust and start enjoying it more.

Thanks!!! I am cooking a sausage, veggie, cheese omelette right now for dinner & drinking some beef broth haha! You guys are awesome..needed the support today! :-)

DietPrada · April 2017

k_e_l wrote: »

Hi guys!

Just wondering how many of you have tried both keto (within your calorie limit) & eating whatever you want (within your calorie limit)? What did you find was easier to do?

I'm asking because I have tried both myself & when I wasn't doing keto, I always felt hungry & cranky. So, I started keto last week & I do feel fuller eating at the same deficit, but I'm also fighting cravings to eat carbs & feel like giving up. Lol, I don't know what I want to do!

Share your experience with me!

I spent 20 years trying to lose weight by reducing calories but still eating whatever. I ended up 40kg heavier than when I started. Less calories = always hungry and I'd only last a few days before I caved and found myself in the McDonalds drivethru buying a couple of big macs. I started over Monday like 1000 times. I've been keto for 4 years. In the early days it was mainly because type 2 diabetes runs in my family. Now, I will never go back. Yes it was an effort for the first couple of months, but I am still amazed all this time later that I am down 40kg and I am finally in control of my food. It does take some time to get into the swing of though so that it becomes a habit. I don't miss "carb" foods. On occasion if I get the urge I'll make some coconut or almond flour cookies, or cheesecake or pancakes or something but for the most part I'm more than happy with my protein/vege meals. Desert is also not a problem - diet jelly with blueberries and some whipped cream is pretty satisfying. I make my lunches on Sunday for the whole week, I save a fortune and it's too easy.

Plenty of people will tell you "just eat less calories to lose weight" but if it was that easy no one would be fat. To me, feeling hungry is very similar to feeling anxiety and it's very hard to resist that need to make it go away.

rileysowner · April 2017

I like carbs, and find they very helpful when I am actively cycling during the warmer months. For me, eating during a smaller window is what helps me feel full and not cranky. If you took carbs from me I would feel miserable. From what I have read the actual fat loss over time is the same for both although keto might give a quickly initial weight loss from water weight as one stored glycogen levels go down. Pick what works for you so you can comply with a calorie deficit.

k_e_l · April 2017

@EbonyDahlia man do you sound JUST like me! i've started over Monday many times too. i have so far to go its easy to throw my hands up & say "oh this one meal won't hurt, I have so much to lose, I'll just pig out today, tomorrow, & start over Monday"....which is how i got to where i am today. & actually today I was fighting the urge to give up & get McDonalds drive thru. but this "urge" wasn't the same as feeling hungry kind of urge. It was a craving kind of urge & not enough willpower. But, I stuck to it & ate my omelette dinner & feel a lot better now. proud of myself for not giving in! :-)

thanks for suggesting the SF jello & whipped cream. totally forgot i could do that! i like diet iced tea & diet coke...do you think those would make me crave sugar/carbs more? or are they ok to drink?

BobBruff · April 2017

@k_e_l, I've been having some similar struggles lately. I've recently been experimenting with keto and I've had good results both from losing a few pound and feeling a lot more satisfied. Before dabbling in keto I was eating (and drinking) a LOT of carbs. That was my go-to food, but of course I never felt full or satisfied and those darn sugar cravings/crashes were the pits. Especially that mid-afternoon snack craving. When I'm fully on keto the hunger is there, but it's not ravenous.

Anywho...I find that the times where it's been the hardest to stick to keto are the times when I fail to prepare. Carbs are such a quick, easy thing to find. But if I can get my keto shopping done and do my meal preps I'm able to stick to it much better. Thanks for posting your question! It helps to hear what other people struggle with.

inertiastrength · April 2017

I have tried both. Keto was just miserable. I didn't feel as hungry but I felt deprived. Pick your poison I suppose because it's exactly the same in terms of a deficit. I prefer to have more of a balance

k_e_l · April 2017

@BobBruff yes!!!! exactly what you said!! i don't feel miserably ravenous on this woe! i can go a lot longer without eating & at the same calorie level. my skin is looking a lot better too. no bumps. you are exactly right about planning. when i feel the most tempted is when i need to do some grocery shopping & tempting carbs are in the cabinet calling my name haha. or when i'm out & about. but since i'm not ravenous between meals, if i am out & about & start to feel hungry, i just get a large diet coke & it holds me over til i get home.

glad i could help others with the same struggle & happy to know i'm not alone! good luck on your keto journey! :-)

lundy2626 · April 2017

Our whole life we habe been fed the fat begets fat scenario but it's no longer the case with many recent studies as I'm sure you know. We also have been fed carbs and sugars our entire life, causing water retention, unnecessary inflammation and making us insulin sensitive. You will crave carbs for a couple more weeks because your body wants what it always had. If you feel as if you think quicker or this diet helps you physically then stick with it. YOU CAN DO IT!

Spiffy_Barbarella · April 2017

Keto works because it suppresses your appetite, so you eat less. Calories in, calories out.

kclaar11 · April 2017

Spiffy_Barbarella wrote: »

Keto works because it suppresses your appetite, so you eat less. Calories in, calories out.

Again, not to start the same old argument, but this is purely subjective. It does not suppress appetite; some people just simply feel more satiated by eating LCHF. However, others feel more satiated on moderate carb and moderate fat.

SideSteel · April 2017

Fortunately there's a gigantic continuum of food selections between "keto" and "eat whatever I want".

In my opinion, there's a good probability that you just need to modify your food choices to improve satiety without necessarily going on a ketogenic diet.

I feel like we are discussing the endpoints here and excluding the middle.

Eating what you want within calories vs Keto within calories

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