High protein, low everything else diet

marjan80
marjan80 Posts: 8 Member
edited November 22 in Health and Weight Loss
Just wanted to get some advice - I’m on a high protein, low sugar/carb diet. Basically can anyone tell me based on experience, how long being in ketosis is okay? I’m thinking to do this from now until the beginning of the year. Then, I’ll balance out and start running again. Just want to know if anyone who has done this gained the weight back after coming off or if they have any negative side effects to 2 months of ketosis. Thanks

Replies

  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    One side effect can be deficiencies in B vitamins, so hopefully you're mitigating that somehow.
  • sgtx81
    sgtx81 Posts: 466 Member
    edited November 2017
    I've been doing keto since August with my macros ranging between 55 to 70% fat and always 5% carbs. I know there is a 24-week study listed on the NIH.gov website that saw no adverse side effects over that period for keto test subjects.

    Personally, I've had no problems with it whatsoever. Water consumption is 100 oz + every day. I also take a multivitamin, a magnesium supplement, and a potassium supplement (to make up for whatever I don't get in my food).

    There has been no noticeable muscle breakdown (which is something I am shifting my focus to right now), but just to be on the safe side, I am starting with muscle pharm BCAA powder as soon as it gets here. If there is muscle breakdown that should help to mitigate the situation. From what I understand, the weight loss could be up to 25% muscle.

    If anything I'm starting to see some muscle definition (mostly in my arms and shoulders at the moment), but I'm pretty sure that's just from fat loss because I only do about 45 minutes of low impact aerobics a day in three 15-minute sessions.

    Based on a weight loss calculator, which seems pretty accurate when compared with what I have been losing, I will be down to about 240 in 11 months as long as I keep it at <1600 calories a day. (Right now the weight is down 60+ pounds since August of this year.)

    If ya have about a year to wait for your answer on keto, I'll be able to tell ya more then lol. So far, so good though.
  • sgtx81
    sgtx81 Posts: 466 Member
    thaithyme wrote: »
    It can be safe over longer periods of time as long as you're not suffering from ketoacidosis. If your plan is to maintain that lifestyle long term get ketone test strips and make sure to manage healthy ketosis rather than allowing the diet to effectively poison your body when you take it too far.

    And yeah, I forgot about that... one keto test strip every morning.
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    marjan80 wrote: »
    Just wanted to get some advice - I’m on a high protein, low sugar/carb diet. Basically can anyone tell me based on experience, how long being in ketosis is okay? I’m thinking to do this from now until the beginning of the year. Then, I’ll balance out and start running again. Just want to know if anyone who has done this gained the weight back after coming off or if they have any negative side effects to 2 months of ketosis. Thanks

    this isn't even keto? sounds like more of a dukan-type diet you are doing? as others said, all you need for weight loss is a calorie deficit - you are overcomplicating things!
  • marjan80
    marjan80 Posts: 8 Member
    Hi! I can’t seem to figure out how to respond to everyone individually. Yes, i am monitoring my caloric intake. I’m also a huge fan of veggies and I also take vitamin supplements. I was just wondering if anyone had experienced negative side effects.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    edited November 2017
    sgtx81 wrote: »
    I've been doing keto since August with my macros ranging between 55 to 70% fat and always 5% carbs. I know there is a 24-week study listed on the NIH.gov website that saw no adverse side effects over that period for keto test subjects.

    Personally, I've had no problems with it whatsoever. Water consumption is 100 oz + every day. I also take a multivitamin, a magnesium supplement, and a potassium supplement (to make up for whatever I don't get in my food).

    There has been no noticeable muscle breakdown (which is something I am shifting my focus to right now), but just to be on the safe side, I am starting with muscle pharm BCAA powder as soon as it gets here. If there is muscle breakdown that should help to mitigate the situation. From what I understand, the weight loss could be up to 25% muscle.

    If anything I'm starting to see some muscle definition (mostly in my arms and shoulders at the moment), but I'm pretty sure that's just from fat loss because I only do about 45 minutes of low impact aerobics a day in three 15-minute sessions.

    Based on a weight loss calculator, which seems pretty accurate when compared with what I have been losing, I will be down to about 240 in 11 months as long as I keep it at <1600 calories a day. (Right now the weight is down 60+ pounds since August of this year.)

    If ya have about a year to wait for your answer on keto, I'll be able to tell ya more then lol. So far, so good though.

    As an FYI, BCAA's are basically useless, as they don't have all essential amino acids ( Good discussion here). Also keto doesn't cause a loss of 25% muscle, but rather increase losses in LBM (which includes everything but fat mass).


    OP, if your goal is a keto diet, you really want high fat with moderate protein. Fat and carbs are great sources of energy, protein is not. Also make sure you get adequate sodium, like 3-5k to ensure you have electrolyte replenishment.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Isn't ketosis high fat, not high protein? Will the OP even go into ketosis on a high protein diet?

    On a deficit, sure, but I agree that it's not really what I'd think of as a keto diet (LCHF). Sounds like Dukan, as someone else said.

    I personally don't think there are any health concerns about being in ketosis long term, but I would be more concerned about being both low fat and low carb for a longer period without a break, depending on how low is meant.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I've been in ketosis since April. No problems with it. I've also just now taken it to the extreme and I'm doing PSMF until probably the end of the year with a break for thanks giving & possibly Christmas.
    I'm transitioning to a strait liquid only protein diet too until then or whenever. Right now I'm still eating either lean fish or lean chicken once a day until I get my casein protein powder in to mix with the whey. Make sure you are taking a good fiber supplement & good vitamin supplements for this long of a period if you aren't including very many veggies in your HighPro/Low Carb stretch.

    not to derail but wth would you go to a liquid only diet???

    seriously?

    btw the OP is not doing keto by definition...keto requires high fat.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    marjan80 wrote: »
    Hi! I can’t seem to figure out how to respond to everyone individually. Yes, i am monitoring my caloric intake. I’m also a huge fan of veggies and I also take vitamin supplements. I was just wondering if anyone had experienced negative side effects.

    to do that you can "quote" the post and reply outside that range by using the quote button or you can use @marjan80 to a specific user...just type @ and then start typing their name.
  • sgtx81
    sgtx81 Posts: 466 Member
    edited November 2017
    psuLemon wrote: »
    sgtx81 wrote: »
    I've been doing keto since August with my macros ranging between 55 to 70% fat and always 5% carbs. I know there is a 24-week study listed on the NIH.gov website that saw no adverse side effects over that period for keto test subjects.

    Personally, I've had no problems with it whatsoever. Water consumption is 100 oz + every day. I also take a multivitamin, a magnesium supplement, and a potassium supplement (to make up for whatever I don't get in my food).

    There has been no noticeable muscle breakdown (which is something I am shifting my focus to right now), but just to be on the safe side, I am starting with muscle pharm BCAA powder as soon as it gets here. If there is muscle breakdown that should help to mitigate the situation. From what I understand, the weight loss could be up to 25% muscle.

    If anything I'm starting to see some muscle definition (mostly in my arms and shoulders at the moment), but I'm pretty sure that's just from fat loss because I only do about 45 minutes of low impact aerobics a day in three 15-minute sessions.

    Based on a weight loss calculator, which seems pretty accurate when compared with what I have been losing, I will be down to about 240 in 11 months as long as I keep it at <1600 calories a day. (Right now the weight is down 60+ pounds since August of this year.)

    If ya have about a year to wait for your answer on keto, I'll be able to tell ya more then lol. So far, so good though.

    As an FYI, BCAA's are basically useless, as they don't have all essential amino acids ( Good discussion here). Also keto doesn't cause a loss of 25% muscle, but rather increase losses in LBM (which includes everything but fat mass).


    OP, if your goal is a keto diet, you really want high fat with moderate protein. Fat and carbs are great sources of energy, protein is not. Also make sure you get adequate sodium, like 3-5k to ensure you have electrolyte replenishment.

    Aerobic exercise plus a caloric deficit can lead to muscle loss from what I understand. That was the point.

    As far as BCAA's go I see the following: Leucine indirectly activates p70 S6 kinase as well as stimulates assembly of the eIF4F complex, which are essential for mRNA binding in translational initiation. P70 S6 kinase is part of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTOR) signaling pathway, and has been shown to allow adaptive hypertrophy and recovery of rat muscle. At rest protein infusion stimulates protein synthesis 30 minutes after start of infusion, and protein synthesis stays elevated for another 90 minutes. Infusion of leucine at rest produces a six hour stimulatory effect and increased protein synthesis by phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase in skeletal muscles.


    Overall I have no idea where you are getting your info on keto or BCAA's but I have come across the exact opposite as far as info goes. I have seen the exact opposite of what you're saying in people who have done keto before me and my own experience seems to be the opposite too. If all I'm losing is lean body mass it's interesting how I'm getting stronger and my muscle definition is showing more instead of less. I'm just going to have to agree to disagree with ya 110% and go on about my merry way.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    High protein is not a ketogenic diet. Protein is nearly 50% anti-ketogenic.

    What you are doing sounds like a terrible form of Protein Sparing Modified Fast.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    edited November 2017
    sgtx81 wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    sgtx81 wrote: »
    I've been doing keto since August with my macros ranging between 55 to 70% fat and always 5% carbs. I know there is a 24-week study listed on the NIH.gov website that saw no adverse side effects over that period for keto test subjects.

    Personally, I've had no problems with it whatsoever. Water consumption is 100 oz + every day. I also take a multivitamin, a magnesium supplement, and a potassium supplement (to make up for whatever I don't get in my food).

    There has been no noticeable muscle breakdown (which is something I am shifting my focus to right now), but just to be on the safe side, I am starting with muscle pharm BCAA powder as soon as it gets here. If there is muscle breakdown that should help to mitigate the situation. From what I understand, the weight loss could be up to 25% muscle.

    If anything I'm starting to see some muscle definition (mostly in my arms and shoulders at the moment), but I'm pretty sure that's just from fat loss because I only do about 45 minutes of low impact aerobics a day in three 15-minute sessions.

    Based on a weight loss calculator, which seems pretty accurate when compared with what I have been losing, I will be down to about 240 in 11 months as long as I keep it at <1600 calories a day. (Right now the weight is down 60+ pounds since August of this year.)

    If ya have about a year to wait for your answer on keto, I'll be able to tell ya more then lol. So far, so good though.

    As an FYI, BCAA's are basically useless, as they don't have all essential amino acids ( Good discussion here). Also keto doesn't cause a loss of 25% muscle, but rather increase losses in LBM (which includes everything but fat mass).


    OP, if your goal is a keto diet, you really want high fat with moderate protein. Fat and carbs are great sources of energy, protein is not. Also make sure you get adequate sodium, like 3-5k to ensure you have electrolyte replenishment.

    Aerobic exercise plus a caloric deficit can lead to muscle loss from what I understand. That was the point.

    As far as BCAA's go I see the following: Leucine indirectly activates p70 S6 kinase as well as stimulates assembly of the eIF4F complex, which are essential for mRNA binding in translational initiation. P70 S6 kinase is part of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTOR) signaling pathway, and has been shown to allow adaptive hypertrophy and recovery of rat muscle. At rest protein infusion stimulates protein synthesis 30 minutes after start of infusion, and protein synthesis stays elevated for another 90 minutes. Infusion of leucine at rest produces a six hour stimulatory effect and increased protein synthesis by phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase in skeletal muscles.


    Overall I have no idea where you are getting your info on keto or BCAA's but I have come across the exact opposite as far as info goes. I have seen the exact opposite of what you're saying in people who have done keto before me and my own experience seems to be the opposite too. If all I'm losing is lean body mass it's interesting how I'm getting stronger and my muscle definition is showing more instead of less. I'm just going to have to agree to disagree with ya 110% and go on about my merry way.

    If you look at the link I posted, you will see a ton of references on BCAA's. BCAA's are like having only part of the building blocks. So while it's stimulates MPS, if you don't have all the building blocks, you won't build muscle. It's essentially having a match without the wood for a fire.


    But ill defer so we don't derail the conversation.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    OP, i should add, if there is a concern of not getting in ketosis due to protein, you shouldn't have a concern. The conversion to glucose doesn't occur at high rates and shouldn't prevent anything. Some good discussion on that point in the below thread.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10611377/anyone-read-the-latest-research-on-keto-by-alan-aragon/p1
This discussion has been closed.