Pros and cons of Keto diet

dennjc wrote: »

I lost about 100 lbs last year on a keto diet, plus lots of bike-riding and walking (from 250 lbs down to 150-160) I'm 61 years old and I suspect metabolism behaves differently at 60 than at 30 yo. It took a while for my metabolism to adjust (it lowered the more weight I lost) ...but it's finally almost back to normal, thankfully. I had also skipped breakfast and lunch a couple times a week. That helped too. I took a multivitamin on those days. I still mostly stay with this diet, just not as strict (I occasionally splurge now that I'm normal weight, but I keep it to a minimum).
One of the rewards: my doctor really stroked my ego! Rare for her. She had always scolded me about this and that. But after the pounds started falling off, she went on and on about how well I was doing, especially after my blood tests showed my various levels to be spot on. And no more high blood pressure. I love it!
If only I could get rid of all the extra skin now Oh well, it's worth it.
An odd thing though : comments above mentioned "keto flu" This happened to me too. BUT after a day or two of that, there was a couple days of feeling great, emotionally. It was a slight euphoria and this happened a few times when I was no longer in ketosis, then I went back into ketosis again... I experienced flu, then after that passed, I experienced a high. I later read some other people's comments about this high , and they took it as something "spiritual" which made me laugh and facepalm. Apparently, it's a chemical reaction when your body switches to burning fat stores, that's all. Too bad it only lasts a day or two. I doubt it's even noticeable to every one. Anyway, I view it as a consolation prize.

spiriteagle99 wrote: »

I successfully lost weight twice on a low carb diet (Atkins) but wasn't successful on maintaining the weight loss afterwards. Once I could eat carbs again, I went back to eating too much and gained back a lot of the weight. I have done better with tracking CI-CO via MFP, but I also have not stopped tracking once I reached goal weight. That made a huge difference. For me, not eating carbs was strictly short term. I didn't mind the diet, and it was simple to cook, but it got boring after a while. Seriously low carb didn't work for me at all. I did Stillman's many years ago and it was only about 5 g. of carbs. (The only vegetable allowed was lettuce IIRC.) I got so I hated eggs, cottage cheese and chicken. That took years to get over. I love fruit, bread, beer, and sweets. Learning to eat them more moderately has allowed me to eat a varied diet and maintain my weight loss. But when I am serious about losing weight, I usually start with some sort of lower carb eating.

diannethegeek wrote: »

GlassAngyl wrote: »

I don't have a gallbladder and it's actually STOPPED the er.. rushes to the rest room. I was worried about that as well especially since the attending physician said I could never eat fats again or I'd suffer the consequences. Quite the reverse actually. I've avoided fats and have had serious gastronomical issues for the past 10 years. I've only been trying keto since July 16th and the only thing I'm dealing with now is constipation. But the stools are for once well formed. Doctors don't always know everything.

If this is pointed at me, I'm discussing my own, personal, observed experiences with low carb and keto, not doctors knowing anything. Ketovangelists love to tell me that my experiences don't exist, that it I'd only stuck it out through the pain, through the suicidal thoughts, that if only I had given it another chance I would come through the other side and find sparkles and unicorns. There's no keto unicorn for me. It works for a lot of people. It works for a lot of people who have similar issues to mine. But it don't work for me. The OP asked for pros and cons and I chose to weigh in with mine. I remember now why I stay out of keto discussions.

diannethegeek wrote: »

GlassAngyl wrote: »

I don't have a gallbladder and it's actually STOPPED the er.. rushes to the rest room. I was worried about that as well especially since the attending physician said I could never eat fats again or I'd suffer the consequences. Quite the reverse actually. I've avoided fats and have had serious gastronomical issues for the past 10 years. I've only been trying keto since July 16th and the only thing I'm dealing with now is constipation. But the stools are for once well formed. Doctors don't always know everything.

Thanks for your input! I want to hear the good and the bad!