My boyfriend talked so much about it and I listened to so many podcasts from top health and fitness professionals that I had to give it a shot. I love it....I'm not where I want to be because of my issues that stalled my higher carb intake diet. But I choose keto over that because of all the other health benefits.

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I love this thread, and needed it after a nearly week-long off-plan carb binge. Ugh.

So I'd been doing basic MFP-recommended CICO, and the weight was coming off, but very slowly and it wasn't fun. Then I got a pretty serious injury, needed surgery, and it was a terrible recovery, very painful. So I ate what was easy for me to make, and I didn't move much, and I didn't count calories. One of my officers at work died and I needed to wear my uniform for the funeral. Well, I'd been off work nearly 3 months, and found that I had to squeeeeeeeze my butt into my work pants. I was afraid they were going to explode off of me in the middle of the funeral. That was kind of a wake up call.

So I decided to just start reading MFP forums again for inspiration, and maybe to get my mind thinking along the right lines. Somebody posted a link to the Diet Doctor website, and I thought, "wow, that sounds super spammy!" but I was bored, so I clicked on it. And read it. And read it. And read it. And it made sense. So I started doing more research on low carb and thought I'd give it a try.

I'm so grateful for whoever posted that link. And I'm so grateful for this forum because if I had to rely on the main forums for help I'd never have continued this WOE. So thanks to all of you, I am within a few pounds of Onederland, where I haven't been in decades. And I actually feel like hitting my "ideal" weight is a possibility, and I've NEVER felt that way before.

I found LCHF because I had a recent T2 diabetes diagnosis, and Metformin + the Diabetes Association diet the doctor gave me was not bringing my glucose levels down. I tried the Zone, and things improved a little. I looked at various things online and decided I would try reducing carbs. The glucose levels fell almost immediately to more manageable levels. I settled on a goal of 50 carbs a day initially and then before long switched to 20 net carbs a day. It has been working for me. It is sustainable as a WOE. I am making progress with weight.

What's not to like?

As a bit of an update, I went on keto for the same reason I've gone back to a higher carb intake now: it was the best fit for my metabolic state, and goals.

Started keto because I was obese, and teetering on T2D at 265 lbs. It made it much easier for me to peel off 100+ lbs. of human squish.

Went back to 50/30/20 c/p/f for bulks, because since being sub-15% bodyfat for nearly a year, my hormones finally unfucked themselves, and keto was no longer conducive to my training efforts. That feeling when your insulin sensitivity is finally back to where it should have been all along.

I occasionally still use an aggressive form of low carb (essentially zero) when I cut.

For me, my training dictates my diet. I refuse to allow my progress to be enslaved by food preferences. In my life, relative strength and work capacity trump tastebuds any day of the week.

I ate what might be considered low carb (100-120 or so) just because I've never been a huge fan of starches and like the occasional sugary treat (ice cream), but don't find those to be my big weakness, so when cutting calories it was easy to cut way down on the starchy stuff and eliminate sugary things I was eating mindlessly (and also to cut down on oils and butter and cheese, admittedly). Felt great doing that which I just attributed to eating more purposefully and not too much and being more active again. Tried to increase carbs (and fat) when transitioning into maintenance (found I was still naturally capping carbs at 150 g, which I considered pretty average or moderate and was just based on personal preference--the exception would be if I ate poorly and snacked all day, since snacks around are usually high carb and fat). Tried to bump carbs to 50% because I keep reading that's better for various forms of training, and found it difficult and did not like it. Did one of my occasional experiments with vegetarian (for a while plant based) eating and found I felt noticeable worse in some ways -- mood, not hungry but like I wanted to eat when I wasn't hungry, which I'd always assumed was just emotional eating but I finally wondered if it might be related to fat content. So I went back to 100-120 g carbs and bumped fat way up and wow, I instantly felt great and had the wanting to eat all the time just disappear.

So I'm sold on eating like that for sure, even at maintenance. Not sure if that counts as LCHF, probably not.

But I have been curious if there would be a benefit to keto, if I'd like it, what it would feel like, so decided to cut carbs down more to experiment. (They aren't super low because for me personally there's a limit on how much I'm willing to cut veg or worry about which non starchy veg I eat, and I also am eating nuts and some full fat dairy -- I'm doing in the 30s net, and hoping that is enough to try ketosis given that I run regularly.) Part my reason is that I struggle with depression off and on and I've heard ketones can be good for that. So far I have not felt bad at all (don't ever feel like eating between meals, random cupcakes at the office that people bring in have lost their attraction, and my mood feels positive and stable, although these are all things I got from eating around 100 g too). I also seem to be getting my running back (it was sluggish initially), still don't feel normal running up stairs (the one thing that is driving me crazy), but am willing to be patient and am overall enjoying the experience. I don't have a medical reason to do this and love fresh local fruit, so I have a feeling I may increase carbs a bit as they come into season.

Oh, I've been at maintenance but as part of this am trying to lose 10 more lbs.

Thanks RalfLott. This is a new doctor who I have not met so it will be interesting. I am just trying to find my way as I go and figure out what works best for me.

Oh goodness me. @LowCarb4Me2016 , so glad you're ok! And your daughter too, I trust! Doesn't matter how it happened, as long as life and limb are safe and sound!
That might have me reaching for a stiff drink though! Glad you're both fine!

Seajolly wrote: »

I found my way to this lifestyle by listening to my body. I had part of my colon removed about 4 years ago. Ever since then, I've had digestive issues.
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... I feel great!

Hi @seajolly! I mentioned Dr Michael Mosely in my previous post. He's an absolutely amazing Doctor in the UK who has made it his life's work to investigate foods, bodies and the connection, combination and effects.... He has a book due to be released on the 18th of May. I have pre-ordered mine from Amazon, but if you read this link (same as the one I posted above) you may find it ticks a couple of boxes for you. You may find it interesting reading....

Hope that helps!