Keto? What is it

Archcurl · October 2017

Hi, so I've never actually considered going on a diet. I wouldn't call mfp a diet bc it's basically eating less.
For non-weight related chronic health problems I've had a few years my doctor is sending me to a specialized center. So, being the curious me, I looked through the entire website and some references they made. Some studies have found that going on a keto diet reduces symptoms.
But now on to my actual question, what exactly is a keto diet? What does it do?
Id prefer science based stuff, don't give me the usual it made my farts magical *kitten*. I need to know the pros and cons before considering it. And before you ask, no I have not yet seen the specialist at the center, I'm just interested in anything that could possibly help me.
Thanks

0murtagh0 · October 2017

hello
i am currently on a keto diet have been for the passed 8 months.
When we eat carbs our body turns it into glucose which gives us energy.
when we stop eating carbs our body needs fats, so it starts to break down the fats on our body to release ketones that then give us energy.
Being on a keto diet requires will power. carbs must be kept below 50g or 30g (not including veg)
It takes around 8 to 14 days to get into ketosis and you may suffer the keto flu. this can be stopped if you keep on top of your electrolytes I.E sodium potassium magnesium

You can not give in to carbs at all because if you do you will come out of ketosis and run the risk of the keto flu again and its just not worth it.

I have managed for 8 months and its the best thing i have done. I have dropped from 14st to 13st 26% body fat to 17%

you need to workout you keto macros ( google search keto calculator )

if you suffer from diabetes type 1 then you can not use the diet i don't think as your body does not produce insulin and you could die from this diet as your blood will become toxic.

here is an example of my macros 200 protein 150 fat 50 carbs

i workout 4 times a week.

check my diary of foods i eat .
but mainly for the passed 8 months i have an omelette a day 3 eggs. salad or veg.
nuts are a must. stock up on them they are good.
avocados. great. eat one or 2 a day.
scan everything into this app it will tell you your daily intake.

hope this helps. and good luck.

ps cant eat fruit!

marinabreeze · October 2017

I think 0murtagh0 has nailed it. I just want to add the pros and cons from my perspective. I've been on the diet since late June and have lost 35 pounds on this way of eating - more than I've lost on any other plan.

Pros: For me, it's a sustainable way to eat, and I could eat like this forever. Most of my favorite foods are savory rather than sweet (like buffalo wings). While I tended to eat a ton of carbs before weight loss and it was hard not to eat them at first, I can live without them since I can still have some foods that I enjoy most. It has also cut down my appetite more than any other diet has. It allows me to think about what I'm eating and why I'm eating it and has cut down on mindless eating. I have more energy than I have in a long time, which has helped me to get out of living a "go to work and go home" lifestyle. I have the energy to do other things, such as go to the gym (and enjoying it!), socializing, and trying new activities (like improv). It's especially great for people with metabolic issues like T2 and insulin resistance (but not recommended for type 1 for the reasons 0murtagh0 stated), and is good for inflammation.

Cons: It is restrictive, especially when you get to brands of keto that are 20g net carb (carbs minus fiber) or less, or zero carb. The strictest keto requires organic meats and other foods, certain oils, and can be pretty expensive. I do "lazy keto" - for me that means less than 20g net carbs, and when I cook for myself I use specific oils, but I don't do organic foods. You can go out and eat at restaurants, but it's more of a challenge and when possible, it's important to pre-plan and ask your server questions. Also, acclimation to keto can be a real system shock ("keto flu") and you may not feel well for a week or two, depending on your body and intake of sodium. It is also not a substitute for calorie-counting. The diet is designed to make you satiated more quickly than a diet that includes carbs, but you can eat too many fats/protein and gain weight on keto.

For me, the pros outweigh the cons, but YMMV.

Catawampous · October 2017

If you are interested in science papers and such you can google "2 Keto Dudes Show me the science" and it will take you to their forums where you can find a bunch of scientific studies.

Hope this helps!

kimny72 · October 2017

Archcurl wrote: »

Hi, so I've never actually considered going on a diet. I wouldn't call mfp a diet bc it's basically eating less.
For non-weight related chronic health problems I've had a few years my doctor is sending me to a specialized center. So, being the curious me, I looked through the entire website and some references they made. Some studies have found that going on a keto diet reduces symptoms.
But now on to my actual question, what exactly is a keto diet? What does it do?
Id prefer science based stuff, don't give me the usual it made my farts magical *kitten*. I need to know the pros and cons before considering it. And before you ask, no I have not yet seen the specialist at the center, I'm just interested in anything that could possibly help me.
Thanks

There is a low carb group on here somewhere where you should find veteran mfpers who are doing keto. It's a type of very low carb diet.

MKEgal · October 2017

https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/ketogenic-diet#1

Here's a good place to search for scientific studies about any topic.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

nvmomketo · October 2017

The Low Carber daily MFP group has some good info in their launch pad stickies. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-lcd-group

In the LCD there are people using keto or LCHF to help manage IR, MS, cognitive decline, epilepsy, RA, hashi's, as well as a number of other issues - including type 1 diabetes. It can help with some issues, but not all. It depends on your situation. I would do a google scholar search on your issue and low carb or ketosis.

A ketogenic diet tends to lead to better metabolic flexibility. The body becomes less reliant on glucose as a fuel and BG and insulin swings are greatly reduced. That tends to help some health issues. Some.

Good luck.

Archcurl · October 2017

Thanks everyone!
I'm not sure yet if I want to try it. It seems rather restrictive and since I have little control over what's going on in my body I'd rather not restrict my food this much. That said, I absolutely will try it if my doctor does recommend.
I'm a little worried about ketoflu though. This could easily mean that I would be in bed 24/7 for as long as it lasts, and then I'd have to start all over with the little exercise I can do.
As for my physical problems, there's not much know. A few illnesses have been eliminated but no positive diagnoses has been given so far. Right now what the main issue is is fatigue. But several doctors have told me that there is definit something wrong, but they don't l or if they will find it.

Catawampous · October 2017

Keto flu can pretty much be avoided but sounds like you should be waiting for a firm diagnosis from your medical team! Good luck to you!

KateTii · October 2017

I'm on a keto diet and it works just like when I was simply watching calories eating everything. If you eat too much, gain weight, not enough, lose weight, maintain, maintain.

It is difficult when eating out at restaurants to pick "keto friendly" options which is the biggest downside.
I also suffered massively with ketoflu, however it was because I wasn't prepared to fight it. I wasn't making sure I was getting adequate potassium, sodium and magnesium. If you stock up on chicken stock and a mineral supplement you will be fine - I found a zero carb "gatorade" which was high in sodium, magnesium and potassium and once I started having that, the ketoflu went away.

However, I find it is a massive hunger controller and keeps me feeling really satisfied, energized and happy. It's relatively easy now to stay under 20 net carbs.

Overall, I love keto, but it's no magical diet - works the same as any other, but just works well for me in the non-weight aspects.

marm1962 · October 2017

https://www.ruled.me/

Keto? What is it

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