Ketogenic diet
jtaylor_71
Posts: 1 Member
Hi all, wanting peoples thoughts (good and bad) on a ketogenic diet.
I lost 20kgs over the last year, however recently gained most of it back following a traumatic personal experience. I’m wanting to jump back in and start losing the weight while keeping myself busy
Please no negative, I’m not here for that, I’m here to gain knowledge.
I lost 20kgs over the last year, however recently gained most of it back following a traumatic personal experience. I’m wanting to jump back in and start losing the weight while keeping myself busy
Please no negative, I’m not here for that, I’m here to gain knowledge.
14
Replies
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I think that if it's a way of eating that you enjoy, then it will help you stick with the diet. It offers no advantages (outside of certain medical conditions) as far as rate of loss, other than an initial water weight shift (which is not fat, so don't be fooled by that). If it's not a way of eating that you enjoy, then you will be miserable.
Why not spend a week logging what you are eating now, and then review the week to see where you can make smaller changes? You don't need to completely change your diet to be successful. Think about where you are going and how you plan to live for the rest of your life, and then think about the best way to get there.32 -
Tony Gentilcore sums up the good and bad pretty well here: http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/07/take-keto-craze/5
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I have been on a ketogenic for one and half month now. A friend has been thrilling on this diet and gave me some advice and I couldnt be happier to be able to spoon heavy cream and have nuts and cheese as a snack. I took 2 kilos - so I started to log all my calories intake, now i am restricting those and feeling badly hungry the whole time. Dunno what to do anymore. Anyone had the same issue?1
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Honestly, you are going to get a lot of negativity about the Keto diet here on the main boards. I'd highly recommend checking out the Keto group and reading the stickies. Very informative. https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1143-keto17
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I've been ketogenic for over 3 years. For me, the positives out weigh the negatives.
The negatives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Some find the diet too restrictive or don't like the food.
- It can cost more than relying on the usual filler carbs like noodles, bread, and rice for calories, if you don't use added fats.
- Some experience bad breath but that is usually temporary for most.
- Keto rash happens in a few, but it is also usually temporary.
- For some, LDL rises, which is a concern for some doctors who judge CVD by total cholesterol and LDL without knowing particle size.
- There's a lot of judgement from others. Some honestly believe that lots of carbs are crucial to good health and that grains are needed. Conversely, many believe fat is not good for you.
The positives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Reduced appetite and cravingsfor some so it is easier to manage weight. Seems to compliment IF.
- Steadier and lower blood glucose and insulin which may help with conditions associated with insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome such as T2D, prediabetes, PCOS, NAFLD, Alzheimer's, CVD and reactive hypoglycaemia.
- May be used to help treat some conditions like epilepsy, brain injury or stroke, developmental disorders like autism, cancer, and reducing inflammation for some autoimmune diseases and arthralgias.
- Some use keto to treat intestinal issues like IBS. There may be reduced gas and BMs.
- Some find their skin and hair is improved by lower sugar and increased fats.
- Some enjoy the food. Some find keto reduces their binging.
- Some find it reduces migraine frequency and duration.
- Some find their BP is improved. My postural hypotension is gone.
- Many find that cholesterol panels are improved, with HDL going up, triglycerides going down, LDL changing into a larger less dense variety, and in some their LDL goes down.
Like any diet or drug, these outcomes won't happen for all. I am one who experienced most of the positives, and only a few negatives... Well just one.
Check out the keto group linked earlier, or the Low Carber Daily group, for most possible positives and negatives, or where to start. Good luck.19 -
I've been ketogenic for over 3 years. For me, the positives out weigh the negatives.
The negatives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Some find the diet too restrictive or don't like the food.
- It can cost more than relying on the usual filler carbs like noodles, bread, and rice for calories, if you don't use added fats.
- Some experience bad breath but that is usually temporary for most.
- Keto rash happens in a few, but it is also usually temporary.
- For some, LDL rises, which is a concern for some doctors who judge CVD by total cholesterol and LDL without knowing particle size.
- There's a lot of judgement from others. Some honestly believe that lots of carbs are crucial to good health and that grains are needed. Conversely, many believe fat is not good for you.
The positives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Reduced appetite and cravingsfor some so it is easier to manage weight. Seems to compliment IF.
- Steadier and lower blood glucose and insulin which may help with conditions associated with insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome such as T2D, prediabetes, PCOS, NAFLD, Alzheimer's, CVD and reactive hypoglycaemia.
- May be used to help treat some conditions like epilepsy, brain injury or stroke, developmental disorders like autism, cancer, and reducing inflammation for some autoimmune diseases and arthralgias.
- Some use keto to treat intestinal issues like IBS. There may be reduced gas and BMs.
- Some find their skin and hair is improved by lower sugar and increased fats.
- Some enjoy the food. Some find keto reduces their binging.
- Some find it reduces migraine frequency and duration.
- Some find their BP is improved. My postural hypotension is gone.
- Many find that cholesterol panels are improved, with HDL going up, triglycerides going down, LDL changing into a larger less dense variety, and in some their LDL goes down.
Like any diet or drug, these outcomes won't happen for all. I am one who experienced most of the positives, and only a few negatives... Well just one.
Check out the keto group linked earlier, or the Low Carber Daily group, for most possible positives and negatives, or where to start. Good luck.
Every time I see anyone try Keto it's to try to lose weight.
With your experience, do you think it's okay to do Keto short term?
Like instead of choosing to stick to the Keto lifestyle would it be okay if I simply used it as my cutting method?
Basically I'll start trying to bulk, hopefully stay as lean as I can, then when I decide to it's time to cut down and work towards fat loss I switch to Keto.
Would the constant transition to and from Keto be harmful?0 -
ballerbryan wrote: »I've been ketogenic for over 3 years. For me, the positives out weigh the negatives.
The negatives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Some find the diet too restrictive or don't like the food.
- It can cost more than relying on the usual filler carbs like noodles, bread, and rice for calories, if you don't use added fats.
- Some experience bad breath but that is usually temporary for most.
- Keto rash happens in a few, but it is also usually temporary.
- For some, LDL rises, which is a concern for some doctors who judge CVD by total cholesterol and LDL without knowing particle size.
- There's a lot of judgement from others. Some honestly believe that lots of carbs are crucial to good health and that grains are needed. Conversely, many believe fat is not good for you.
The positives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Reduced appetite and cravingsfor some so it is easier to manage weight. Seems to compliment IF.
- Steadier and lower blood glucose and insulin which may help with conditions associated with insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome such as T2D, prediabetes, PCOS, NAFLD, Alzheimer's, CVD and reactive hypoglycaemia.
- May be used to help treat some conditions like epilepsy, brain injury or stroke, developmental disorders like autism, cancer, and reducing inflammation for some autoimmune diseases and arthralgias.
- Some use keto to treat intestinal issues like IBS. There may be reduced gas and BMs.
- Some find their skin and hair is improved by lower sugar and increased fats.
- Some enjoy the food. Some find keto reduces their binging.
- Some find it reduces migraine frequency and duration.
- Some find their BP is improved. My postural hypotension is gone.
- Many find that cholesterol panels are improved, with HDL going up, triglycerides going down, LDL changing into a larger less dense variety, and in some their LDL goes down.
Like any diet or drug, these outcomes won't happen for all. I am one who experienced most of the positives, and only a few negatives... Well just one.
Check out the keto group linked earlier, or the Low Carber Daily group, for most possible positives and negatives, or where to start. Good luck.
Every time I see anyone try Keto it's to try to lose weight.
With your experience, do you think it's okay to do Keto short term?
Like instead of choosing to stick to the Keto lifestyle would it be okay if I simply used it as my cutting method?
Basically I'll start trying to bulk, hopefully stay as lean as I can, then when I decide to it's time to cut down and work towards fat loss I switch to Keto.
Would the constant transition to and from Keto be harmful?
I personally don't have experience with keto, but I do run bulk/cut cycles. I would say the main concern with doing keto while cutting would be the impact it could have on your workout performance. Because your goal is to retain as much muscle as possible, maximizing workout performance is very important, and usually carbs are fantastic for that. Not to say there aren't keto bodybuilders, but they are used to it over months or years. I think by the time your body gets used to it you might lose valuable time and possibly more muscle. Do you think you need keto to cut successfully? Why not just lower your carbs a bit? Or cutting carbs gradually could be an option, or carb/cyclical keto if you are really set on keto.
Again you can try it out for yourself, I am sure there are many people that do it. But there are also many people that have their performance suffer. Personally I would never risk it...the amount of blood, sweat and tears I put into my bulk to gain muscle is way too valuable to me.7 -
ballerbryan wrote: »I've been ketogenic for over 3 years. For me, the positives out weigh the negatives.
The negatives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Some find the diet too restrictive or don't like the food.
- It can cost more than relying on the usual filler carbs like noodles, bread, and rice for calories, if you don't use added fats.
- Some experience bad breath but that is usually temporary for most.
- Keto rash happens in a few, but it is also usually temporary.
- For some, LDL rises, which is a concern for some doctors who judge CVD by total cholesterol and LDL without knowing particle size.
- There's a lot of judgement from others. Some honestly believe that lots of carbs are crucial to good health and that grains are needed. Conversely, many believe fat is not good for you.
The positives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Reduced appetite and cravingsfor some so it is easier to manage weight. Seems to compliment IF.
- Steadier and lower blood glucose and insulin which may help with conditions associated with insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome such as T2D, prediabetes, PCOS, NAFLD, Alzheimer's, CVD and reactive hypoglycaemia.
- May be used to help treat some conditions like epilepsy, brain injury or stroke, developmental disorders like autism, cancer, and reducing inflammation for some autoimmune diseases and arthralgias.
- Some use keto to treat intestinal issues like IBS. There may be reduced gas and BMs.
- Some find their skin and hair is improved by lower sugar and increased fats.
- Some enjoy the food. Some find keto reduces their binging.
- Some find it reduces migraine frequency and duration.
- Some find their BP is improved. My postural hypotension is gone.
- Many find that cholesterol panels are improved, with HDL going up, triglycerides going down, LDL changing into a larger less dense variety, and in some their LDL goes down.
Like any diet or drug, these outcomes won't happen for all. I am one who experienced most of the positives, and only a few negatives... Well just one.
Check out the keto group linked earlier, or the Low Carber Daily group, for most possible positives and negatives, or where to start. Good luck.
Every time I see anyone try Keto it's to try to lose weight.
With your experience, do you think it's okay to do Keto short term?
Like instead of choosing to stick to the Keto lifestyle would it be okay if I simply used it as my cutting method?
Basically I'll start trying to bulk, hopefully stay as lean as I can, then when I decide to it's time to cut down and work towards fat loss I switch to Keto.
Would the constant transition to and from Keto be harmful?
I always thought is was not a good long term way to eat so I never tried it. A little over a week ago I watched a Netflix documentary called "The Magic Pill" and it really changed my outlook on Keto. You can also watch a youtube trailer if you want to get a short preview. After research I decided to try LCHF diet not as a diet but as a lifestyle. I think it is a great way to reduce weight and maintain both weight and health long term. This was not a very significant change for me. My wife and I eat lots of produce anyway and she can't eat gluten so all I really had to do was cut bread & potatoes. I had to increase protein and fat a little. I am no expert but after research I decided it was worth the risk and frankly I don't see a risk. Good luck!21 -
jtaylor_71 wrote: »Hi all, wanting peoples thoughts (good and bad) on a ketogenic diet.
I lost 20kgs over the last year, however recently gained most of it back following a traumatic personal experience. I’m wanting to jump back in and start losing the weight while keeping myself busy
Please no negative, I’m not here for that, I’m here to gain knowledge.
This largely depends on whether or not this is how you like to eat naturally. If you don't gravitate towards a higher fat diet, it's going to be difficult to adhere to long term. If you enjoy eating a wide variety of fruit and veg, it's going to be difficult to adhere to long term.
For the most part you will be limited to leafy greens and other very low carb vegetables. Whole grains (or not whole grains), beans, lentils, root vegetables, etc are going to pretty much be off the table save for in very small quantities and blowing your whole days worth of carbohydrate intake.
You're also going to have to watch your protein given that protein can be converted to glucose and too much protein will kick you out of ketosis. Basically, fat, fat, fat...and more fat.
For me the diet would be problematic given that I'm very big on variety and I also tend towards a higher protein diet so it would be incredibly hard for me to get into and stay in ketosis.
I get my fair amount of dietary fat...enough for good health, and I don't think fat is bad, but In my experience things that go to extremes rarely work out in the long run...like in my mind, a really low fat is just as bad as a really high fat diet. In life in general, not just diet, it seems that extremes just don't work out long term. I'm a very balanced individual and a big believer in all things in moderation.5 -
i started keto when i was diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago. yes i'm sure the jury is still out regarding whether elevated sugar levels contribute to cancer etc etc etc. however, i lost 16 lbs on it and am able to maintain my weight with being as low/med carb as i can be. i had better sleep, my skin cleared up - and i felt more lucid brain wise. when i DO binge on carbs, i find i don't sleep as well!
i'm more mindful about what i eat as a result of being on the keto diet. its a very personal choice, for sure. i also find that keeping a food diary here is an absolute must for me!8 -
As I learn about this there is a daily moment that you realize, damn I can't have shrimp Tacos. I even bought some "low carb tortilla's" only to find out they were 10g of carbs in each one. Most of the veggies I was eating for dinner are still okay and I gave up my sandwich at lunch. On the bright side I realized I can dip my crab legs in real butter again. I had switched to Old Bay to avoid the fat.4
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Hi,
I started a ketogenic lifestyle in March of 2017. I cam across the menu after researching cancer. My Dad had cancer and has since pasted
I researched and realise that some cancer cells need sugar to grow... and I am determined that if I have those cells I will not feed them!
So... I have read a lot... good and bad... this menu does not work for everyone but it works for me! I have crohns and since I have been following this lifestyle... I have not had a flare up- I sleep awesome- my mind feel clear-I have no aches and pains- and my energy level is unreal... sometimes I feel like I could run 10 km.. and I am not a runner- my blood work for the first time in my life is NORMAL! Bonus.. I have lost 45 pounds and have maintained the weight loss since last fall. Life is awesome!
Good luck!
I hope it works for you! 17 -
To Keto or not to Keto...I am not doing a strick Keto. Basically I have omitted the Breads/Pastas/Rice...and sparingly on the veggies like corn. I look at labels and only eat the ones with single digits. A friend of mine did this and lost the 22lbs but it did take longer to do. It has been close to 8 months and she has kept it off. She did a count of 35/40 carbs a day. I just started on it and seeing results already.
I do have a problem with the water though. Seems that I feel heavy drinking that much, so will cut that down.
I will let you know how I make out.
PS. Crave the sugar though!
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ballerbryan wrote: »I've been ketogenic for over 3 years. For me, the positives out weigh the negatives.
The negatives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Some find the diet too restrictive or don't like the food.
- It can cost more than relying on the usual filler carbs like noodles, bread, and rice for calories, if you don't use added fats.
- Some experience bad breath but that is usually temporary for most.
- Keto rash happens in a few, but it is also usually temporary.
- For some, LDL rises, which is a concern for some doctors who judge CVD by total cholesterol and LDL without knowing particle size.
- There's a lot of judgement from others. Some honestly believe that lots of carbs are crucial to good health and that grains are needed. Conversely, many believe fat is not good for you.
The positives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Reduced appetite and cravingsfor some so it is easier to manage weight. Seems to compliment IF.
- Steadier and lower blood glucose and insulin which may help with conditions associated with insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome such as T2D, prediabetes, PCOS, NAFLD, Alzheimer's, CVD and reactive hypoglycaemia.
- May be used to help treat some conditions like epilepsy, brain injury or stroke, developmental disorders like autism, cancer, and reducing inflammation for some autoimmune diseases and arthralgias.
- Some use keto to treat intestinal issues like IBS. There may be reduced gas and BMs.
- Some find their skin and hair is improved by lower sugar and increased fats.
- Some enjoy the food. Some find keto reduces their binging.
- Some find it reduces migraine frequency and duration.
- Some find their BP is improved. My postural hypotension is gone.
- Many find that cholesterol panels are improved, with HDL going up, triglycerides going down, LDL changing into a larger less dense variety, and in some their LDL goes down.
Like any diet or drug, these outcomes won't happen for all. I am one who experienced most of the positives, and only a few negatives... Well just one.
Check out the keto group linked earlier, or the Low Carber Daily group, for most possible positives and negatives, or where to start. Good luck.
Every time I see anyone try Keto it's to try to lose weight.
With your experience, do you think it's okay to do Keto short term?
Like instead of choosing to stick to the Keto lifestyle would it be okay if I simply used it as my cutting method?
Basically I'll start trying to bulk, hopefully stay as lean as I can, then when I decide to it's time to cut down and work towards fat loss I switch to Keto.
Would the constant transition to and from Keto be harmful?
You might want to look into ketogains and their CKD or TKD programs. Many find extra carbs during a bulk works better, and then they reduce carbs when cutting or on non lifting days. It might suit you better. Especially in the early days of the ketogenic diet; it can take weeks to months to fully fat adapt, and I've been told that during that time, power may decline.
I think keto is fine in the short term although I think many of the health benefits only arrive after some time (often a few months). Keto can reduce appetite in some so it can help with weight loss. Atkins phase 1/induction is ketogenic and designed to just last a couple of weeks.
Just watch your sodium needs. Every time you cut carbs, your sodium needs will increase to at least 3000-5000 mg a day. That's 2 or more teaspoons of salt.6 -
I've been ketogenic for over 3 years. For me, the positives out weigh the negatives.
The negatives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Some find the diet too restrictive or don't like the food.
- It can cost more than relying on the usual filler carbs like noodles, bread, and rice for calories, if you don't use added fats.
- Some experience bad breath but that is usually temporary for most.
- Keto rash happens in a few, but it is also usually temporary.
- For some, LDL rises, which is a concern for some doctors who judge CVD by total cholesterol and LDL without knowing particle size.
- There's a lot of judgement from others. Some honestly believe that lots of carbs are crucial to good health and that grains are needed. Conversely, many believe fat is not good for you.
The positives that I have experienced, heard or read about that are associated with keto for some people are:- Reduced appetite and cravingsfor some so it is easier to manage weight. Seems to compliment IF.
- Steadier and lower blood glucose and insulin which may help with conditions associated with insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome such as T2D, prediabetes, PCOS, NAFLD, Alzheimer's, CVD and reactive hypoglycaemia.
- May be used to help treat some conditions like epilepsy, brain injury or stroke, developmental disorders like autism, cancer, and reducing inflammation for some autoimmune diseases and arthralgias.
- Some use keto to treat intestinal issues like IBS. There may be reduced gas and BMs.
- Some find their skin and hair is improved by lower sugar and increased fats.
- Some enjoy the food. Some find keto reduces their binging.
- Some find it reduces migraine frequency and duration.
- Some find their BP is improved. My postural hypotension is gone.
- Many find that cholesterol panels are improved, with HDL going up, triglycerides going down, LDL changing into a larger less dense variety, and in some their LDL goes down.
Like any diet or drug, these outcomes won't happen for all. I am one who experienced most of the positives, and only a few negatives... Well just one.
Check out the keto group linked earlier, or the Low Carber Daily group, for most possible positives and negatives, or where to start. Good luck.
I felt that this was fairly and objectively written.
I felt that needed to be noted for all the times I have identified where I thought you were less than objective in the info you have presented and claimed or purported benefits either that were not proven or ascribed them to most people.
Bravo!15 -
I've been on this for almost a month. Here is my view:
Keto works extremely well in controlling Type 2 Diabetes which is why I started. I had to stop taking the meds pretty quickly as my sugar normalized at around 96. No pills now for 3 weeks and the highest my sugar went was to 136 after a Crossfit workout in the Florida heat. This is after nothing working to this level for over 6 years. Not even the meds, strict food control + exercise were ever able to hit these levels. T2 related frequent urination has significantly been reduced which is a great life improvement alone lol.
Ive learned that the scale is useless to me. Keto has super charged my body, energy and metabolism wise. Scale has moved about 8 pounds in a month but body fat has dropped by 3.5 percentage points in 26 days. This was measured using a Dexafit scan before and after. Posture improved according to the scan but most of all muscle mass significantly went up.
I don't need as much sleep to feel well rested.
Workout wise I don't get tired like I used to. The first few days the energy sucks but after that its great.
It reduces appetite. No desire for carbs at this point but it resets to cheese cravings which can be an issue in its own right.
Keto blood range is all over the place from 0.4 to 2.7 and strongly linked to my workouts. Morning are around 1.0.
People that don't see me regularly notice the change. My mom for instance started yelling at me that I was getting too skinny and to stop. (Cultural thing).
To sum it up: Is it all Keto? No, I also follow CICO but together with exercise and controlled blood sugar it can be a serious winner. With my sugar corrected which keto has done it's like giving the body premium fuel which pushes everything else to work way better. I'm personally sold but have started to modified to slightly lower fats and more protein while sticking to 5% carbs.
This a serious lifestyle change and I think the biggest mistake people make is looking for the magic pill to drop weight FAST. There are likely better ways that will make the average person happier to lose weight over time and I'd suggest that route unless you are disciplined. However, if you have sugar issues then what do you have to lose to try it.8 -
I do keto for $200 a month and that includes splurges on silly things like spices, fancy oil and many types of meat.
It is just like a normal diet for me except I am less hungry, lose 1-2 lbs extra a week and feel like a bag of boiled crap if I don't drink enough electrolytes lol.
You can't slip up every other day and binge carbs or you are just eating a high fat, high carb diet and that destroys your health. I don't even have anything that will make me fail in the house and I advise bringing food with you if it's a place people eat. There is no excuse in my mind to eat cheetos. If you are the type of person who has little self control that way, an "everything in moderation" style diet is probably better suited to you. And that diet is fine too. There is no one diet fits all.6 -
I have never tried keto but did try low carb (100 grams or less) for a few weeks. Hated it. I was avoiding foods I enjoyed in exchange for ones I didn't as much. My energy levels suffered as did my workout performance. I find a good balance of complex carbs, protein and fat to be the most satiating. For these reasons keto is not for me. That does not mean it won't work for you though.
My suggestion would be to drop your carbs a bit and see how you go while doing more research on keto. Although I am no longer low carb I still limit refined, highly processed, high carb, high sugar foods while consuming wholegrains instead. While there is nothing wrong with these foods as part of a balanced diet I find I do better without them regularly.3 -
jtaylor_71 wrote: »Hi all, wanting peoples thoughts (good and bad) on a ketogenic diet.
I lost 20kgs over the last year, however recently gained most of it back following a traumatic personal experience. I’m wanting to jump back in and start losing the weight while keeping myself busy
Please no negative, I’m not here for that, I’m here to gain knowledge.
How can you say no negative when you ask people's thoughts (good and bad)???
Anyways, my opinion is this, unless you have health issues that requires you to get rid of carbs or you simply just feel satiated and enjoy keto, doing keto isn't anything special. What I mean by that, for fat loss, keto will not directly cause you to lose weight, what does make you directly lose weight is being at a caloric deficit and it has been scientifically proven that for fat loss, every diet share similar results. People do experience fast weight loss in the initial stages of keto, but that's because of water weight and glycogen that is getting depleted .
For physical activities, although it is not yet conclusive, early stages of the studies show that keto is the least optimal out of all diets. This one does not surprise me since your water and glycogen are depleted and you're relying on fat as source of energy instead of carbs, so you're not going to get the best out of your workout which is why athletes in general follow a high carb diet.
You claim you lost 20kgs last year, but that was not keto that did that, it was the caloric deficit. Keto was just the tool you used in order to acheive that goal just like others will use Intermittent fasting or Paleo, well you get my point.
I am able to lose weight with carbs, but it's funny you won't see people shout "Eating a high carb diet made me lose weight". In the end, it's all about personal preference, if you enjoy keto and it helps you stick with your goal(s), then by all means keep doing it.
For most people, being in a caloric deficit will make you lose weight regardless of your macros. The only exception which can make losing weight difficult is if you have some health issues (like thyroid for example), but for the regular Joe and Jane, it's all about eating less calories than you burn which will make you lose weight.13 -
I started keto about two months ago and although it is limiting and I was tired for the first 6 weeks, I have more energy now than I am used to, my migraines have gone from 4/wk to 2/month (still have sinus headaches but they go away easily), and I have lost 15lbs.
The weight isn't dropping as quickly now but my cravings are so much less, binges have stopped, and as long as I plan food ahead I do well. My problems come when I have no quick foods ready. There aren't nearly as many quick non-perishable options on keto as on higher carb diets.
For me, the lack of migraines is enough to keep me on plan, but I can understand how hard it would be without that incentive.3 -
Here is how I look at it. Do not think of it as a diet. As soon as the word diet = failure. Think of it as a lifestyle. The commitment should be made for a long-term, not a short stint as we all know that weight will come back with a vengeance. So if you stick to making healthier choices and limit your carb intake and keep your fat intake higher, I think we can be successful long term.11
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Here is how I look at it. Do not think of it as a diet. As soon as the word diet = failure. Think of it as a lifestyle. The commitment should be made for a long-term, not a short stint as we all know that weight will come back with a vengeance. So if you stick to making healthier choices and limit your carb intake and keep your fat intake higher, I think we can be successful long term.
That doesn't mean anything really because you can still gain weight with that highlighted sentence. The calories is the one thing that needs to be the top priority before playing around with macros. Of course, if you're following keto, then it's naturally you want little to no carbs, but saying fat intake needs to be higher....well a newbie who starts keto will not know how high his/her fat intake needs to be to lose weight which is why I prefer specifying the word calories.
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I am noticing a kind of opposing view between the calories in/ calories out and LCHF groups. Yes calories matter but your % of carbs, Fat and protein matter too. I think when you start Keto it is more important to hit your % of each than to worry about calories. When your body becomes fat adapted you should start to burn fat but at the same time you will likely feel less hungry. This is when, in a perfect world, you should self regulate calories. You are not going to wreck your scale weight in two weeks of keto and I will even bet weight (water) goes down several pounds too. If the scale doesn't move you can always dial back total calories later. This isn't magic it is about burning fat AND managing calories. Week one for me stats, down 8 pounds but was 10, beer belly is shrinking dramatically to the point others notice. Not paying any attention to food portion or calories now but just eating til full.16
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I am noticing a kind of opposing view between the calories in/ calories out and LCHF groups. Yes calories matter but your % of carbs, Fat and protein matter too. I think when you start Keto it is more important to hit your % of each than to worry about calories. When your body becomes fat adapted you should start to burn fat but at the same time you will likely feel less hungry. This is when, in a perfect world, you should self regulate calories. You are not going to wreck your scale weight in two weeks of keto and I will even bet weight (water) goes down several pounds too. If the scale doesn't move you can always dial back total calories later. This isn't magic it is about burning fat AND managing calories. Week one for me stats, down 8 pounds but was 10, beer belly is shrinking dramatically to the point others notice. Not paying any attention to food portion or calories now but just eating til full.
This is the thing... I think if keto helps you manage your hunger that is great, but I would imagine you would probably want to stay on it for the rest of your life, otherwise when you start to add carbs back in (or whatever sets your hunger off) it could become difficult if you aren't used to managing hunger. I think if someone has major issues with hunger it can help, but again it takes it away vs. helping them manage it, which again is fine if you stay on keto forever.
I think though, in some cases (not all...) it can be important to know how to manage and deal with hunger... it is uncomfortable. It does suck sometimes. Learning how to deal with it is hard, but it is a skill you learn that gets better with time. Exercise is hard, but over time you become more comfortable being uncomfortable if that makes sense. Again, this might not work for everyone, especially if your hunger signals are way out of whack.14 -
I am noticing a kind of opposing view between the calories in/ calories out and LCHF groups. Yes calories matter but your % of carbs, Fat and protein matter too. I think when you start Keto it is more important to hit your % of each than to worry about calories. When your body becomes fat adapted you should start to burn fat but at the same time you will likely feel less hungry. This is when, in a perfect world, you should self regulate calories. You are not going to wreck your scale weight in two weeks of keto and I will even bet weight (water) goes down several pounds too. If the scale doesn't move you can always dial back total calories later. This isn't magic it is about burning fat AND managing calories. Week one for me stats, down 8 pounds but was 10, beer belly is shrinking dramatically to the point others notice. Not paying any attention to food portion or calories now but just eating til full.
Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world, keto doesn't regulate everyone's hunger and fatty foods are high calorie and delicious.12 -
jtaylor_71 wrote: »Hi all, wanting peoples thoughts (good and bad) on a ketogenic diet.
I lost 20kgs over the last year, however recently gained most of it back following a traumatic personal experience. I’m wanting to jump back in and start losing the weight while keeping myself busy
Please no negative, I’m not here for that, I’m here to gain knowledge.
How can you say no negative when you ask people's thoughts (good and bad)???
Anyways, my opinion is this, unless you have health issues that requires you to get rid of carbs or you simply just feel satiated and enjoy keto, doing keto isn't anything special. What I mean by that, for fat loss, keto will not directly cause you to lose weight, what does make you directly lose weight is being at a caloric deficit and it has been scientifically proven that for fat loss, every diet share similar results. People do experience fast weight loss in the initial stages of keto, but that's because of water weight and glycogen that is getting depleted .
For physical activities, although it is not yet conclusive, early stages of the studies show that keto is the least optimal out of all diets. This one does not surprise me since your water and glycogen are depleted and you're relying on fat as source of energy instead of carbs, so you're not going to get the best out of your workout which is why athletes in general follow a high carb diet.
You claim you lost 20kgs last year, but that was not keto that did that, it was the caloric deficit. Keto was just the tool you used in order to acheive that goal just like others will use Intermittent fasting or Paleo, well you get my point.
I am able to lose weight with carbs, but it's funny you won't see people shout "Eating a high carb diet made me lose weight". In the end, it's all about personal preference, if you enjoy keto and it helps you stick with your goal(s), then by all means keep doing it.
For most people, being in a caloric deficit will make you lose weight regardless of your macros. The only exception which can make losing weight difficult is if you have some health issues (like thyroid for example), but for the regular Joe and Jane, it's all about eating less calories than you burn which will make you lose weight.
'For physical activities, although it is not yet conclusive, early stages of the studies show that keto is the least optimal out of all diets. This one does not surprise me since your water and glycogen are depleted and you're relying on fat as source of energy instead of carbs, so you're not going to get the best out of your workout which is why athletes in general follow a high carb diet.'
I'm gonna have to chime in on this one. while I don't consider myself an "athlete" hell most of us don't on here I have been doing following the ketogenic lifestyle for about a year and a half. Last year I was training for a half marathon ( no didn't do it because my knee started acting up
) but I was running 10 miles once a week and 5-8 miles 3 time a week and lifting for an hour and a half to 2 hours 3 times a week. Not once did I ever experience any kind of issues with energy levels or muscle weakness (aside from the expected DOMS!) quite the opposite in fact. your body isn't actually using fats for energy but turning them into ketones, which your body does use for energy. some might say more efficiently than glucose. but I have no studies to back any of this up.
What I do have is my own opinion. I feel better than I ever have in my life. some of this is I'm sure due to the fact that I exercise more and I don't feel starving all the time like I used to on a more 'traditional' meal plan. I eat bacon and eggs and butter and salads and I don't feel bogged down like I used to .
My advice to the OP is to research for yourself.. read what others have experienced. and then if you still want to try do it. but research research research. I did for months before taking the dive and I don't ever plan on going back. I have a physical every year and there has been no negative changes in my heath. no blood pressure issues no cholesterol issues and I eat tons of fat and add loads of salt to everything. I'm sure it's not for everyone. But I love it.8 -
JustKeepTryin wrote: »jtaylor_71 wrote: »Hi all, wanting peoples thoughts (good and bad) on a ketogenic diet.
I lost 20kgs over the last year, however recently gained most of it back following a traumatic personal experience. I’m wanting to jump back in and start losing the weight while keeping myself busy
Please no negative, I’m not here for that, I’m here to gain knowledge.
How can you say no negative when you ask people's thoughts (good and bad)???
Anyways, my opinion is this, unless you have health issues that requires you to get rid of carbs or you simply just feel satiated and enjoy keto, doing keto isn't anything special. What I mean by that, for fat loss, keto will not directly cause you to lose weight, what does make you directly lose weight is being at a caloric deficit and it has been scientifically proven that for fat loss, every diet share similar results. People do experience fast weight loss in the initial stages of keto, but that's because of water weight and glycogen that is getting depleted .
For physical activities, although it is not yet conclusive, early stages of the studies show that keto is the least optimal out of all diets. This one does not surprise me since your water and glycogen are depleted and you're relying on fat as source of energy instead of carbs, so you're not going to get the best out of your workout which is why athletes in general follow a high carb diet.
You claim you lost 20kgs last year, but that was not keto that did that, it was the caloric deficit. Keto was just the tool you used in order to acheive that goal just like others will use Intermittent fasting or Paleo, well you get my point.
I am able to lose weight with carbs, but it's funny you won't see people shout "Eating a high carb diet made me lose weight". In the end, it's all about personal preference, if you enjoy keto and it helps you stick with your goal(s), then by all means keep doing it.
For most people, being in a caloric deficit will make you lose weight regardless of your macros. The only exception which can make losing weight difficult is if you have some health issues (like thyroid for example), but for the regular Joe and Jane, it's all about eating less calories than you burn which will make you lose weight.
'For physical activities, although it is not yet conclusive, early stages of the studies show that keto is the least optimal out of all diets. This one does not surprise me since your water and glycogen are depleted and you're relying on fat as source of energy instead of carbs, so you're not going to get the best out of your workout which is why athletes in general follow a high carb diet.'
I'm gonna have to chime in on this one. while I don't consider myself an "athlete" hell most of us don't on here I have been doing following the ketogenic lifestyle for about a year and a half. Last year I was training for a half marathon ( no didn't do it because my knee started acting up ) but I was running 10 miles once a week and 5-8 miles 3 time a week and lifting for an hour and a half to 2 hours 3 times a week. Not once did I ever experience any kind of issues with energy levels or muscle weakness (aside from the expected DOMS!) quite the opposite in fact. your body isn't actually using fats for energy but turning them into ketones, which your body does use for energy. some might say more efficiently than glucose. but I have no studies to back any of this up.
What I do have is my own opinion. I feel better than I ever have in my life. some of this is I'm sure due to the fact that I exercise more and I don't feel starving all the time like I used to on a more 'traditional' meal plan. I eat bacon and eggs and butter and salads and I don't feel bogged down like I used to .
My advice to the OP is to research for yourself.. read what others have experienced. and then if you still want to try do it. but research research research. I did for months before taking the dive and I don't ever plan on going back. I have a physical every year and there has been no negative changes in my heath. no blood pressure issues no cholesterol issues and I eat tons of fat and add loads of salt to everything. I'm sure it's not for everyone. But I love it.
I said the word "optimal", if you're on ketosis, you're not putting yourself into the most optimal situation for your body or else athletes in general would hop on the keto bandwagon for optimal performance. And I am not talking about elite athletes, I am also talking about at the amateur level. I never mentioned anything about not having energy when working out or running.3 -
Lillymoo01 wrote: »I have never tried keto but did try low carb (100 grams or less) for a few weeks. Hated it. I was avoiding foods I enjoyed in exchange for ones I didn't as much. My energy levels suffered as did my workout performance. I find a good balance of complex carbs, protein and fat to be the most satiating. For these reasons keto is not for me. That does not mean it won't work for you though.
My suggestion would be to drop your carbs a bit and see how you go while doing more research on keto. Although I am no longer low carb I still limit refined, highly processed, high carb, high sugar foods while consuming wholegrains instead. While there is nothing wrong with these foods as part of a balanced diet I find I do better without them regularly.
Very well said. I also completely avoid simple carbs & processed foods. Not only did I loose the weight I had a big spike in energy. WIN WIN!!!5 -
I am noticing a kind of opposing view between the calories in/ calories out and LCHF groups. Yes calories matter but your % of carbs, Fat and protein matter too. I think when you start Keto it is more important to hit your % of each than to worry about calories. When your body becomes fat adapted you should start to burn fat but at the same time you will likely feel less hungry. This is when, in a perfect world, you should self regulate calories. You are not going to wreck your scale weight in two weeks of keto and I will even bet weight (water) goes down several pounds too. If the scale doesn't move you can always dial back total calories later. This isn't magic it is about burning fat AND managing calories. Week one for me stats, down 8 pounds but was 10, beer belly is shrinking dramatically to the point others notice. Not paying any attention to food portion or calories now but just eating til full.
This is the thing... I think if keto helps you manage your hunger that is great, but I would imagine you would probably want to stay on it for the rest of your life, otherwise when you start to add carbs back in (or whatever sets your hunger off) it could become difficult if you aren't used to managing hunger. I think if someone has major issues with hunger it can help, but again it takes it away vs. helping them manage it, which again is fine if you stay on keto forever.
I think though, in some cases (not all...) it can be important to know how to manage and deal with hunger... it is uncomfortable. It does suck sometimes. Learning how to deal with it is hard, but it is a skill you learn that gets better with time. Exercise is hard, but over time you become more comfortable being uncomfortable if that makes sense. Again, this might not work for everyone, especially if your hunger signals are way out of whack.
Although I have some fat to lose I am doing this as a lifestyle change because I see some possible health and weight benefits.2 -
stevencloser wrote: »I am noticing a kind of opposing view between the calories in/ calories out and LCHF groups. Yes calories matter but your % of carbs, Fat and protein matter too. I think when you start Keto it is more important to hit your % of each than to worry about calories. When your body becomes fat adapted you should start to burn fat but at the same time you will likely feel less hungry. This is when, in a perfect world, you should self regulate calories. You are not going to wreck your scale weight in two weeks of keto and I will even bet weight (water) goes down several pounds too. If the scale doesn't move you can always dial back total calories later. This isn't magic it is about burning fat AND managing calories. Week one for me stats, down 8 pounds but was 10, beer belly is shrinking dramatically to the point others notice. Not paying any attention to food portion or calories now but just eating til full.
Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world, keto doesn't regulate everyone's hunger and fatty foods are high calorie and delicious.
Agreed, in a small portion of people bad cholesterol can increase and it may not be for everybody. No magic to it but I am giving it a try and so far seeing positive results. This is the beginning of a long road and I won't truly know how this works for me for several months.1
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