To quit keto or not quit keto?
KrazyKrissyy
Posts: 322 Member
Long story short, I'm rapidly starting to gain body fat on the keto diet (I was losing weight at first but mostly from water and diarrhea). My body fat has increased 10% according to DEXA scan, weight has gone up 35-40 pounds, and have gone up almost 4 sizes. I actually got down to my lowest size and body fat on a lower fat, mainly plant-based diet. That's what I do best on apparently.
BUT (here's the catch), my seizures have reduced significantly! Something no amount of medication was able to do. So, I feel like I have 2 choices. To be close to overweight yet neurologically healthy for once. Or to be very lean/slim yet have frequent seizures.
I'm 5'6 and 151 pounds. On my former diet (when my seizures were almost daily), I was 117 pounds. I also had more energy and my depression was nonexistent, despite more seizures and meds. Now, I have only one seizure every 2 months, I sleep better, less headaches, etc. But I weigh more, feel sluggish, less energy, etc. Such a tough decision. Please no rude/mean remarks.
PS- my profile pic is not recent. It was during my dietary approach before keto.
BUT (here's the catch), my seizures have reduced significantly! Something no amount of medication was able to do. So, I feel like I have 2 choices. To be close to overweight yet neurologically healthy for once. Or to be very lean/slim yet have frequent seizures.
I'm 5'6 and 151 pounds. On my former diet (when my seizures were almost daily), I was 117 pounds. I also had more energy and my depression was nonexistent, despite more seizures and meds. Now, I have only one seizure every 2 months, I sleep better, less headaches, etc. But I weigh more, feel sluggish, less energy, etc. Such a tough decision. Please no rude/mean remarks.
PS- my profile pic is not recent. It was during my dietary approach before keto.
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Replies
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are you counting calories on keto? I don't see why you can't lose weight while doing keto23
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Continue keto to help with your seizures and count calories to help with weight loss. You are not gaining weight because of keto but because you are eating more than your body needs.39
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are you counting calories on keto? I don't see why you can't lose weight while doing keto
I was told calories dont matter on keto. Granted, I do still occasionally count despite what people swear by "no need to count." But calorie deficit seems a lot harder on keto as opposed to my former, higher volume lower calorie diet. I'm a volume eater.29 -
The good news is that you can lose weight on keto if you eat fewer calories than your body burns. Are you tracking your food? Weighing/measuring your portions?9
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Duck_Puddle wrote: »The good news is that you can lose weight on keto if you eat fewer calories than your body burns. Are you tracking your food? Weighing/measuring your portions?
Yes and no. I'm a volume eater. It's easier for me to stick with a diet if I feel physically full (that "satieted" feeling people swear by on keto never really came to me). Hence, why I adhere to calorie deficits a lot better the more plant based I go.2 -
KrazyKrissyy wrote: »are you counting calories on keto? I don't see why you can't lose weight while doing keto
I was told calories dont matter on keto. Granted, I do still occasionally count despite what people swear by "no need to count." But calorie deficit seems a lot harder on keto as opposed to my former, higher volume lower calorie diet. I'm a volume eater.
Calories count. That’s how you gain/lose/maintain weight (eating more/less/the same number of calories that your body burns). Keto MAY help some people control their appetite because some people find fat to be highly satiating. This doesn’t appear to be the case for you. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
I’d start by logging your food to see where you’re at. Then go from there.
Can you bulk up your meals with some veggies?18 -
Duck_Puddle wrote: »KrazyKrissyy wrote: »are you counting calories on keto? I don't see why you can't lose weight while doing keto
I was told calories dont matter on keto. Granted, I do still occasionally count despite what people swear by "no need to count." But calorie deficit seems a lot harder on keto as opposed to my former, higher volume lower calorie diet. I'm a volume eater.
Calories count. That’s how you gain/lose/maintain weight (eating more/less/the same number of calories that your body burns). Keto MAY help some people control their appetite because some people find fat to be highly satiating. This doesn’t appear to be the case for you. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
I’d start by logging your food to see where you’re at. Then go from there.
Can you bulk up your meals with some veggies?
That's a good idea but I may get kicked out of ketosis if I eat too many veggies? It seems like a catch-22.0 -
KrazyKrissyy wrote: »Duck_Puddle wrote: »The good news is that you can lose weight on keto if you eat fewer calories than your body burns. Are you tracking your food? Weighing/measuring your portions?
Yes and no. I'm a volume eater. It's easier for me to stick with a diet if I feel physically full (that "satieted" feeling people swear by on keto never really came to me). Hence, why I adhere to calorie deficits a lot better the more plant based I go.
Yeah-I saw your other post after. I get it. I’m not satiated by fat either and I’m a volume eater as well. It’s difficult because fat is so calorie dense it means not a lot of volume for the same calories.
Keto has some flexibility in amount of fat I think? Can you drop the fat to a slightly lower level so you have a few more calories for protein? I’d feel more satiated by a 4oz chicken breast than a tablespoon of oil. But I’m not sure how much leeway you have there.
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@KrazyKrissyy Sorry to tell you, but there is no diet where you can eat more as you burn.12
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felixg1109 wrote: »@KrazyKrissyy Sorry to tell you, but there is no diet where you can eat more as you burn.
Yes, I've learned lol.1 -
Duck_Puddle wrote: »KrazyKrissyy wrote: »Duck_Puddle wrote: »The good news is that you can lose weight on keto if you eat fewer calories than your body burns. Are you tracking your food? Weighing/measuring your portions?
Yes and no. I'm a volume eater. It's easier for me to stick with a diet if I feel physically full (that "satieted" feeling people swear by on keto never really came to me). Hence, why I adhere to calorie deficits a lot better the more plant based I go.
Yeah-I saw your other post after. I get it. I’m not satiated by fat either and I’m a volume eater as well. It’s difficult because fat is so calorie dense it means not a lot of volume for the same calories.
Keto has some flexibility in amount of fat I think? Can you drop the fat to a slightly lower level so you have a few more calories for protein? I’d feel more satiated by a 4oz chicken breast than a tablespoon of oil. But I’m not sure how much leeway you have there.
Will too much protein kick me out of ketosis? Lots of people say that but idk if its true.1 -
Dietary approach before keto (left) and current (right).
Weight/size before keto, 117 (left) and recent,
151 (right). I feel more sluggish.
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Another thing to add. I got updated bloodwork done. Before keto (on my high carb, mainly plant based diet), my fasting insulin was 4. My recent fasting insulin is now 11. People say keto is supposed to lower insulin, not raise it but I suspect it's from the weight gain.2
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KrazyKrissyy wrote: »Duck_Puddle wrote: »KrazyKrissyy wrote: »Duck_Puddle wrote: »The good news is that you can lose weight on keto if you eat fewer calories than your body burns. Are you tracking your food? Weighing/measuring your portions?
Yes and no. I'm a volume eater. It's easier for me to stick with a diet if I feel physically full (that "satieted" feeling people swear by on keto never really came to me). Hence, why I adhere to calorie deficits a lot better the more plant based I go.
Yeah-I saw your other post after. I get it. I’m not satiated by fat either and I’m a volume eater as well. It’s difficult because fat is so calorie dense it means not a lot of volume for the same calories.
Keto has some flexibility in amount of fat I think? Can you drop the fat to a slightly lower level so you have a few more calories for protein? I’d feel more satiated by a 4oz chicken breast than a tablespoon of oil. But I’m not sure how much leeway you have there.
Will too much protein kick me out of ketosis? Lots of people say that but idk if its true.
I would start by logging what you’re eating as accurately as you can. Once you have a good handle on what you are eating, you may find that you can make a few swaps that will make keto more sustainable for you.
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I could be 100% wrong about this but I’m pretty sure that for some people, just being on keto temporarily will reduce seizures even after having carbs again. Maybe discuss with your doctor if this needs to be lifelong for you.2
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KrazyKrissyy wrote: »Duck_Puddle wrote: »KrazyKrissyy wrote: »are you counting calories on keto? I don't see why you can't lose weight while doing keto
I was told calories dont matter on keto. Granted, I do still occasionally count despite what people swear by "no need to count." But calorie deficit seems a lot harder on keto as opposed to my former, higher volume lower calorie diet. I'm a volume eater.
Calories count. That’s how you gain/lose/maintain weight (eating more/less/the same number of calories that your body burns). Keto MAY help some people control their appetite because some people find fat to be highly satiating. This doesn’t appear to be the case for you. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
I’d start by logging your food to see where you’re at. Then go from there.
Can you bulk up your meals with some veggies?
That's a good idea but I may get kicked out of ketosis if I eat too many veggies? It seems like a catch-22.
What about sticking with heaps of leafy greens as they are quite low in carbs? Some can also go up to 50 grams of net carbs before being kicked out of ketosis too. Worth playing around with it a bit to get the best of both worlds. Just a shame that you are a volume eater who does not find fat filling as it makes it harder.10 -
i remember trying the keto mode. i was told calories didnt matter. was having as much has 4000 calories of fried meat. gained so much weight over a short period of time. That said, i think keto works, in short any diet works as long as you have a deficit. I guess people would say keto is better because you lose appetite. However for me it was hard sticking to it. the oil alone was making up 1000calories in my diet. plus most nice meat cuts for me are the fatty bits. so it wasnt sustainable.
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^ If anyone is still wondering why we ask so many questions to people starting out on Keto, this is the reason.31
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stevencloser wrote: »^ If anyone is still wondering why we ask so many questions to people starting out on Keto, this is the reason.
Yep!!8 -
There's so much misinformation floating around these forum about the keto diet . Calories do matter, keto isn't some magical weight loss diet like they claim. A Calorie deficit is still needed for weight loss.14
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That's not a fact, that's just opinions. Every body is wired differently, in my case high protein and high fiber is enough for me to feel full and I also need volume which restricting carbs won't do since high fatty meals are more caloric (remember that 1g of fat = 9 calories opposed to carbs and proteins who are 1g = 4 calories) especially if I want volume. And in my case, I need to workout with carbs or else I feel weak at the gym. In the end, you do what your body prefers. In my case, I usually eat a high carb diet even when cutting, I sometimes have to force myself to add fats in order to hit my minimum of 15% fats.i remember trying the keto mode. i was told calories didnt matter. was having as much has 4000 calories of fried meat. gained so much weight over a short period of time. That said, i think keto works, in short any diet works as long as you have a deficit. I guess people would say keto is better because you lose appetite. However for me it was hard sticking to it. the oil alone was making up 1000calories in my diet. plus most nice meat cuts for me are the fatty bits. so it wasnt sustainable.
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@KrazyKrissyy are you working with a nutritionist at all? If so, approach him/her with your updated info and see if you can get some recommendations on what to change (if anything).
To lose the weight again, you'll probably have to track to make sure you're not eating more than you burn.
To keep the seizures under control, you might need to continue with keto but simply need to track what you're eating more closely. Or maybe full keto is too aggressive and you should aim more for LCHF and you might not need to track as religiously.
I don't know. For me, I have to track at least periodically to keep myself in the right mindset or I will overeat and gain weight. Best of luck to you. :flowerforyou:1 -
Many in this forum nailed it. Using an app, counting calories and the ratios of carbs/fat/protein matters. Additionally, quality of food. Pork rinds may have zero carbs but do they nourish your body. (No judgement here... I bought some searching for crunch...after eating a couple just couldn’t). I have used then ground up to coat chicken tenders. Bottom line, your body is responding to Keto! Reduced seizures is a sign. You just need to tweak and figure out what your body wants. There are books that discuss a lighter Keto keeping carbs under 50 so you could add in some lower carb veggies & fruit. Good luck! Your beautiful at either weight. Seek health and I’m sure you’ll find a personal balance.4
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Whether or not you should continue keto is more of a medical question it seems like. What I find fantastic about this thread is the OP understanding both the benefits of keto medically (potentially) and realizing that energy balance is still what matters for weight loss. Kudos @KrazyKrissyy for the open mind on this.9
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Keto or not, you still need to be in a deficit in order to lose weight. I've successfully lost nearly 70lbs following a Ketogenic diet, but I also make sure that I'm consuming less calories than I am burning. Keto is not a free for all, you still need to make healthy food choices and eat reasonable portions. I like to eat volume as well, so salads are a great option loaded with low GI veggies and then throw in some healthy fats. These people that are just dousing their foods in oil and eating all the cheese are doing nothing for their health or their waistline. Keto can be a wonderful diet, if done correctly, which unfortunately, the vast majority see it as a quick fix and excuse to eat all the fats.
I really think that you need to do some more research on the Keto diet, especially as it relates to your health condition.2 -
KrazyKrissyy wrote: »Dietary approach before keto (left) and current (right).
Currently eating net 20g carbs. I eat vegetables, admittedly in smaller quantities than I'd like, but still vegetables. Why does your keto side look completely void of any vegetables?13 -
Bookmarking this for the next time someone says “everyone doing keto knows calorie deficit is required for weight loss, no one says otherwise”
OP I would speak with your doctor and do some further research (real research, not whatever site told you that calories didn’t matter on keto) about if there is a carb threshold that impacts your seizures, maybe you can maintain the positive health benefits for your condition without being fully in ketosis. Even if you start tracking your calories it doesn’t seem like this is your preferred way of eating so it’s a bit of a conundrum. Good luck.25 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Bookmarking this for the next time someone says “everyone doing keto knows calorie deficit is required for weight loss, no one says otherwise”
OP I would speak with your doctor and do some further research (real research, not whatever site told you that calories didn’t matter on keto) about if there is a carb threshold that impacts your seizures, maybe you can maintain the positive health benefits for your condition without being fully in ketosis. Even if you start tracking your calories it doesn’t seem like this is your preferred way of eating so it’s a bit of a conundrum. Good luck.
This. Find out how many carbs you can eat to keep your seizures lower. And then eat them. Your "after" photos include no leafy green vegetables. That doesn't sound fun at all. Perhaps a nutritionist working with your doctor can show you how to eat a nutrient dense, delicious keto level diet.
Here's a visual: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/20-50-how-much
PS: Are you aiming for a weight BETWEEN 117 and 151? 117 is 3 pounds from underweight, of course.
Best of luck.7 -
KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
and you believed that BS?
you can gain weight eating an excess amount of veggies.
calories matter. it is the ONLY thing that matters. how you achieve the needed reduction in calories is you to you (and personally i think ANY diet that tells me to omit entire food groups is full of shhhhh it.
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Big fan of keto but can't imagine losing if I didn't also track calories. Many of us just lack that "stop eating!" device. Another vote for staying on keto, upping your veggies and staying under/within your calorie limits.6
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