Keto Diet - Should I try it?
kendramnolan
Posts: 14 Member
HI, I'm 5'1" just looking to lose 18lbs. I just started counting my calories and am toying with the idea of keto. I would be in dire need of support and recipes as pasta and potatoes are staples in my house. I'm curious about how quickly the weight comes off and how healthy that would be. If anyone has any info or just wants to chat and motivate eachother let me know!
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no19
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firecat1987 wrote: »no
Would you mind telling my why? I'm genuinely looking for information and would like to hear the reasons from both sides. Thanks!0 -
Keto diets do work but the problem with keto diets is if you suddenly go from a high amount of carbs to a very low amount of carbs, you will plateau. Protein and fat are very important and should not be skimped on so if you suddenly drastically cut carbs the only calories you can cut when you do plateau are from protein and fat. It is recommended to gradually decrease calories from carbs until you get to keto level so you don’t risk having to cut calories from protein and fat as well as preventing a plateau.32
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I have been eating low carb/keto for over a year, the best thing I have done. Before you start, make sure you do your research. It will be a struggle, as going from sugar burning body to fat burning it will be a major change. However, once your body adjusts, you will love it, I think. Even though I love keto (which for me is under 24g of carbs per day) it does not mean it will work for you, when it comes to nutrition, it is not a "size-fits-all" type of deal. I would strongly recommend trying Robb Wolf's Ketomasterclass, it is great. You can try with ketogains.com to see your maco goals... a food scale and MFP will become your best pals.11
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kendramnolan wrote: »HI, I'm 5'1" just looking to lose 18lbs. I just started counting my calories and am toying with the idea of keto. I would be in dire need of support and recipes as pasta and potatoes are staples in my house. I'm curious about how quickly the weight comes off and how healthy that would be. If anyone has any info or just wants to chat and motivate eachother let me know!
Are you prepared to give up those staples indefinitely? No? Then don't bother, honestly. I'm a carb-lover and no amount of keto substitutions would scratch that itch. I lose 20lbs with keto, then regained it when I returned to carbs. Now I've lost the same 20lbs again with plain old calorie counting, enjoying as many carbs as my heart desires!
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The best way to lose weight is whatever way you think you can stick with that puts you in a calorie deficit, and the best way to keep the weight off is to continue to eat less than you do now. You'll lose weight on keto at exactly the same rate you lose weight with any other diet - it all depends on calories. If you think you can stick to keto then go ahead and give it a try, but seeing as you say that pasta and potatoes are staples in your house, do you really think you want to try cutting most or all of them out for the rest of your life? It's perfectly possible to lose weight while eating pasta and potatoes - just eat less of them.20
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Keto can only work for the same reason as any other diet works: by creating a calorie deficit (you consume fewer calories than you burn). For some people, keto helps do this by managing hunger. No magic involved, a calorie deficit is the only way anyone loses weight.
Cutting carbs isn't necessary for weight kiss because carbs don't cause weight gain. Too many calories, from any source, over time cause weight gain.
When you cut carbs, you may see a drop of a few pounds in water weight in the beginning. This is not fat, and you will gain most/all of it back when you reintroduce more carbs to your diet.
If you enjoy carbs and they are a large component of your diet, keto may not be for you. The good news is you can lose weight by using this app as intended, setting up a realistic goal, weighing your food, eating all types of food while sticking to the calorie target set for you. Good luck!10 -
To lose weight, you have to cut calories. Calories come from fat, protein and carbs. Keto is extremely low carb and high fat, so it's a way to cut calories, just like calorie counting is a way to cut calories. Weight, as in fat, does not come off faster on keto. You lose more water weight, initially.
Whatever method you choose, you have to do it consistently, for real, and for a long time. Caving, cheating and giving up is something you should aim to avoid. If you live on pasta and potatoes, it sounds like keto is a bad match for you.5 -
Would be interested to know what appeals to you about it as it seems a very odd choice of diet based on your stated food preferences?
As for speed to weight loss, you might get an initial water weight loss out of proportion to your calorie intake but fat loss would be in line with your calorie deficit long term - just like any other diet.
Like other diets it can be healthy or unhealthy, that depends on you rather the the diet umbrella you choose to operate under.
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I love it. It’s a lot more cooking, a lot more math, and kind of a pain in the neck at times, but I’ve never been able to control my eating before, and with keto I can. So I guess it kind of depends why you want to do it?
If you just want faster weight loss, be warned that most of the “extra” weight people lose from keto is just water weight. If you ever intend to eat carbs again, you’ll regain that as soon as you do.
If it’s because it’s trendy, I mean...sure, why not try? You can always change your mind if you hate it. I certainly expected to hate it, but it just kept growing on me.
If you want the magical, mythical, superpower-like benefits of ketosis, be advised those are often overstated. I’ve gone into ketosis four times since starting the diet, and the difference in experience between in and out is subtle at best.
If you’re a binge-eater who doesn’t feel like you are able to make healthy choices with food, I’d definitely recommend giving it a shot. That’s the hook that’s keeping me in this thing: I’m 37 and I don’t remember a time when I’ve been able to just leave treats uneaten. Now I’m the only one in my house on keto and I see all the snacks and junk and carb-heavy staple foods I know I love, but I just don’t feel like I have to eat them. Keto involves some sacrifices, but that alone makes them worth it to me.
And if you go to the Groups section, there’s a Low-Carbers Daily group where people aren’t so knee-jerk hostile about keto as they can be on the main forums.
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kendramnolan wrote: »HI, I'm 5'1" just looking to lose 18lbs. I just started counting my calories and am toying with the idea of keto. I would be in dire need of support and recipes as pasta and potatoes are staples in my house. I'm curious about how quickly the weight comes off and how healthy that would be. If anyone has any info or just wants to chat and motivate eachother let me know!
I found simply reducing carbs useful for weight loss. Practically eliminating them would be too stressful for me.14 -
Keto won't make you lose fat any faster. You'll lose more in the initial weeks, but that would be water weight due to the depletion of glycogen stores that hold on to water.
Ultimately it's your decision as to whether or not you should do keto if you aren't doing it for medical reasons. I didn't, I've ate pasta and potatoes within my calories goals while I lost, and had no issues.10 -
kendramnolan wrote: »HI, I'm 5'1" just looking to lose 18lbs. I just started counting my calories and am toying with the idea of keto. I would be in dire need of support and recipes as pasta and potatoes are staples in my house. I'm curious about how quickly the weight comes off and how healthy that would be. If anyone has any info or just wants to chat and motivate eachother let me know!
The weight comes off on a keto diet just like it does on any other diet of an equivalent number of calories, with the exception of a fast few pounds of water weight loss in the beginning as you deplete your body of carbs/glycogen. And it's no different than any other diet in that you have to be in a caloric deficit (eating less calories than you burn) to lose weight.
Keto helps some people because they find fat satiating - and keto is a high-fat diet, so it helps them adhere to their calorie goals. Some people with a high affinity for carbs also report that it helps prevent binging for them, because it removes virtually all carbs from their diet.
If pasta and potatoes are staples of your diet, you enjoy them and don't have any problems with them being triggers for overeating, I can't see any rational reason why you would try keto, or how it would offer any kind of advantage to you. I did a keto diet for nearly a year, about 20 years ago - I successfully lost weight on it, but I gave it up because tortillas (for various Mexican meals) and rice (for sushi) are two of my favorite foods and I couldn't see giving either of those up for life - or even for any long-term period, when there was no good reason to do so.11 -
it seems like a very extreme form of dieting for just starting. but if you like fat it could work, though i personally love carbs more4
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i have eaten low carb (<40 grams) since 2009 and switched from low carb to keto about 1 and a half years ago. it is a very easy way of eating to maintain. Physically i feel fantastic. your brain function will also change. Not that i never eat a piece of cake or a plate of pasta...but is rare and i will tell you, it makes me feel terrible for about 3 days afterwards. please note that low carb and ketogenic are 2 very different ways of eating so do some research. ketogenic is a lot of counting of fat percentages.15
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kendramnolan wrote: »HI, I'm 5'1" just looking to lose 18lbs. I just started counting my calories and am toying with the idea of keto. I would be in dire need of support and recipes as pasta and potatoes are staples in my house. I'm curious about how quickly the weight comes off and how healthy that would be. If anyone has any info or just wants to chat and motivate eachother let me know!
The best diet is the one that allows you to cut calories while still enjoying food. For me, I lower fats because carbs fill me up the most.8 -
Keto can help some with weight loss if low carb reduces appetite for you. Otherwise a ketogenic diet is more about health - improved blood glucose, reversed T2D or CVD, or brain health treatment.
I lost weight with a ketogenic diet very easily, but I am staying with it for health... If you don't need it for health, and can moderate calories okay, it isn't necessary for weight loss. It would be like going vegetarian or low sodium or gluten free for weight loss - those dietary changes are more for health issues than anything.
But I like it. If you want to try it, go for it.9 -
kendramnolan wrote: »HI, I'm 5'1" just looking to lose 18lbs. I just started counting my calories and am toying with the idea of keto. I would be in dire need of support and recipes as pasta and potatoes are staples in my house. I'm curious about how quickly the weight comes off and how healthy that would be. If anyone has any info or just wants to chat and motivate eachother let me know!
You seem like you want to do keto because I suspect you got bad information. You won't lose fat faster than any other diet. If you do keto it's because you simply prefer eating high fat with almost little to no carbs. If that helps you stick with a caloric deficit, then by all means do keto. Is it necessary? Hell no, I lost weight with high carbs (over 200g per day). The only noticeable difference is that you will initially lose weight fast, but the weight loss isn't on fat, it's more on losing water weight and glycogen (As a lifter, this is why I never do keto). Many studies show in the long run, you lose fat at the same rate as any other diets out there. The only reason for you to do keto would be simply because you enjoy that diet or for health reasons given to you by a doctor.5 -
Keto isn’t hard to follow at all. You no longer crave the foods you restrict. You’re just much less hungry in general so eating less is no biggie. I had 10 lbs to lose and am happily sticking to it 2 months later...have lost weight on a week long vacation!12
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As someone who tried a lower carb lifestyle, 30% macros, why not try cutting carbs back and see how you feel about it? Keto is an extreme. I look at macros from a goal stand point as well as lifestyle. If you are doing endurance sports, keto is good. If you are doing explosive sports, IE weights, sprinting, carbs are the way IMHO. I see the body as a flex fuel car. It will run on any of the three major macros. Carbs are like Gasoline, they burn hot and give instant power, fat like diesel, more expensive, but gives more fuel efficiency, protein like ethanol, not as efficient, but will run the car. I have a buddy who swears he can only lose weight in ketosis. I have seen how he eats, I doubt he ever truly goes into ketosis. Far too much protein and he likes his beer. IMHO, more like a lower carb highe fat high protein diet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfdS_MwKhMA
https://youtu.be/Vid7oXjei3U Might be interesting to you. 1 -
psychod787 wrote: »As someone who tried a lower carb lifestyle, 30% macros, why not try cutting carbs back and see how you feel about it? Keto is an extreme. I look at macros from a goal stand point as well as lifestyle. If you are doing endurance sports, keto is good. If you are doing explosive sports, IE weights, sprinting, carbs are the way IMHO. I see the body as a flex fuel car. It will run on any of the three major macros. Carbs are like Gasoline, they burn hot and give instant power, fat like diesel, more expensive, but gives more fuel efficiency, protein like ethanol, not as efficient, but will run the car. I have a buddy who swears he can only lose weight in ketosis. I have seen how he eats, I doubt he ever truly goes into ketosis. Far too much protein and he likes his beer. IMHO, more like a lower carb highe fat high protein diet.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfdS_MwKhMAhttps://youtu.be/Vid7oXjei3U Might be interesting to you.
When it comes to athletic performance in any sport, carbs are superior. Fats are inefficient when it comes to energetic needs in all sports. In endurance events, you will use both fats and carbs, but the person who is carb loading will have greater performance (in general). It's why pro athletes are carb based.
But for those who are elite, than it largely doesn't matter.7 -
It should be noted that all the endurance athletes who are supposedly keto carb up for and during events.11
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kendramnolan wrote: »HI, I'm 5'1" just looking to lose 18lbs. I just started counting my calories and am toying with the idea of keto. I would be in dire need of support and recipes as pasta and potatoes are staples in my house. I'm curious about how quickly the weight comes off and how healthy that would be. If anyone has any info or just wants to chat and motivate eachother let me know!
Kendra - There are so many different ways to lose weight and everyone has an opinion on it. I have worked in a health food store, a gym, home sales of nutrition shakes and workout programs, not to mention the countless nutritionists and personal trainers I have worked with from the time I was in my mid-twenties to now in my mid-forties. But the thing that has worked best for me in the end has always been listening to my body.
Right now, I am doing a Keto mix program called the Fasting Mimicking Diet, where I overall reduce calories and restrict carbs, while upping my fat intake significantly to throw my body in Ketosis for 5 days every 4 weeks. My husband and I do it together, which makes it easier, and it is the first program we have found that we both are successful on, losing 3-5 pounds per month. The other things I added recently, after visiting a nutritionist at my local natural grocers because of digestion issues, are apple cider vinegar and a basic enzyme blend before meals, as well as increasing my fiber intake. But what works for me might not work for you.
I personally don't think it can hurt to try it, as long as you listen to your body. If you are in pain, have digestive issues, become lethargic, those could all be signs that it is not right for your body. I personally assumed that cutting calories on day one to 1200 (I normally eat 1600-1800) and then 800 on days 2-5 that I would be tired, grumpy and hungry. Actually it was the opposite for me and when my body went into ketosis, things were more clear and I had more energy. I can't explain it and others may say they had the opposite results, which is why at the end of the day I think listening to your body is more important than listening to others. Feel free to friend me and send me a message if you want to chat more. Good luck with your weight loss! - Michelle24 -
I have a unique perspective on questions like these because, while it wasn't keto, I low carbed for 10 years. I was completely compliant. Grains, sugar, and all forms of starch never passed my lips. For 10 years. I never once cheated, not even on holidays.
Yes, I'm old
and I've been at this dieting thing a time or two or twelve. Ultimately, it wasn't sustainable. And I really cannot overstress the importance of that.
Losing weight is one thing, managing your weight is another. Another poster upthread mentioned health. Well, I manage my weight for my health. I have two forms of arthritis. One of them is autoimmune and progressive. I started out at 210 pounds. It's not exactly rocket science to know that excess weight is bad for your joints.
It's important for my medical condition that I maintain a healthy weight. It's also important for my medical condition that I remain active to keep my joints limber. Personally, I need carbohydrates to fuel all of my activity, so low carbohydrate eating wouldn't work for me. I've gone through periods of lower carb eating, and my energy levels suffer for it. So it's not sustainable for me.
I told you all of this about me to help you evaluate your situation. Outside of your personal preferences (which you already stated), what's your lifestyle like? What kind of meals keep you feeling full? Dieting includes cutting back, feeling full is important in being able to stick to a diet. When you have a smaller body at the end of your diet, you'll need less calories in your day to sustain that smaller body. The meals you eat will have to satisfy you. What foods can you see yourself eating for the rest of your life to feel full that you will find enjoyable?
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I just thought I'd add a suggestion. Instead of looking at it as a diet you need to look at it as a life change. This is due to the fact that whatever life change you decide to try and stick with, you will have to do it for the rest of your life to maintain your goal weight. That makes it a life change.4
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Everyone’s advice here has been incredibly informative and helpful. Thank you so much!
While I was toying with the idea of keto partly because of all of the health benefits I’ve heard of, if I’m honest I was ultimately looking for a fast way to lose weight. I realize that’s ridiculous.
After reading everything here and spending more time researching online, I don’t think I could maintain a keto diet in the long run. I genuinely enjoy carbs. I think I’ll just moderate my intake rather than cut them out completely. And I find that proteins are what actually keep me full, so I’ll incorporate more proteins into my diet.
Again, thank you all for being so incredibly helpful. Feel free to add me!
Keep up the healthy lifestyles!33 -
kendramnolan wrote: »Everyone’s advice here has been incredibly informative and helpful. Thank you so much!
While I was toying with the idea of keto partly because of all of the health benefits I’ve heard of, if I’m honest I was ultimately looking for a fast way to lose weight. I realize that’s ridiculous.
After reading everything here and spending more time researching online, I don’t think I could maintain a keto diet in the long run. I genuinely enjoy carbs. I think I’ll just moderate my intake rather than cut them out completely. And I find that proteins are what actually keep me full, so I’ll incorporate more proteins into my diet.
Again, thank you all for being so incredibly helpful. Feel free to add me!
Keep up the healthy lifestyles!
As I said in my previous post, initially you will lose weight quicker than any other diet, but the fast weight loss is not fat, it's mainly water and glycogen. It can be encouraging for people to see that initial weight drop however. In the end CICO (Calories in vs Calories out) is what prevails, only thing you need to ensure is to eat less calories than you burn. The diet you chose is one that you enjoy. It already sucks eating less to lose weight, why make it harder on yourself with a diet that makes you even miserable based on unproven hearsay?6 -
kendramnolan wrote: »Everyone’s advice here has been incredibly informative and helpful. Thank you so much!
While I was toying with the idea of keto partly because of all of the health benefits I’ve heard of, if I’m honest I was ultimately looking for a fast way to lose weight. I realize that’s ridiculous.
After reading everything here and spending more time researching online, I don’t think I could maintain a keto diet in the long run. I genuinely enjoy carbs. I think I’ll just moderate my intake rather than cut them out completely. And I find that proteins are what actually keep me full, so I’ll incorporate more proteins into my diet.
Again, thank you all for being so incredibly helpful. Feel free to add me!
Keep up the healthy lifestyles!
Out curiosity, what health benefits do Keto provide for those without metabolic issues? Weight loss and exercise are the bigger drivers of health. Keto only provides additional health benefits if it helps you lose weight; which is just like every diet.2 -
I liked being on keto but gained 10 pounds on it. I was in ketosis for three months, according to blood tests. Measure your food carefully.
My doctor made me get off of keto for health reasons... it wasn’t for me, but it works for some people. A year later and I’m still in keto recovery mode, but my boyfriend stayed on it and enjoys it. It’s not for everybody so I would just suggest to take it slow and listen to your body and understand that drastic diets can mess with your health and have long term effects. So measure carefully and pay attention to how your body responds. That’d be my advice.5 -
kendramnolan wrote: »Everyone’s advice here has been incredibly informative and helpful. Thank you so much!
While I was toying with the idea of keto partly because of all of the health benefits I’ve heard of, if I’m honest I was ultimately looking for a fast way to lose weight. I realize that’s ridiculous.
After reading everything here and spending more time researching online, I don’t think I could maintain a keto diet in the long run. I genuinely enjoy carbs. I think I’ll just moderate my intake rather than cut them out completely. And I find that proteins are what actually keep me full, so I’ll incorporate more proteins into my diet.
Again, thank you all for being so incredibly helpful. Feel free to add me!
Keep up the healthy lifestyles!
Out curiosity, what health benefits do Keto provide for those without metabolic issues? Weight loss and exercise are the bigger drivers of health. Keto only provides additional health benefits if it helps you lose weight; which is just like every diet.
As I said, I only know what I’ve read here and the research I’ve done online. I’ve read articles that are both pro and con on the issue and both state that those on a keto diet have experienced a higher increase in energy and sport performance as well as a clearer mind when compared to other diets. Again, this is all based on what I’ve read, not personal experience.5
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