To quit keto or not quit keto?
Options
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.
3
Replies
-
are you counting calories on keto? I don't see why you can't lose weight while doing keto23
-
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
-
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
-
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.
2 -
@KrazyKrissyy Sorry to tell you, but there is no diet where you can eat more as you burn.12
-
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.
3 -
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
-
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.
9 -
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
-
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.
6 -
^ If anyone is still wondering why we ask so many questions to people starting out on Keto, this is the reason.31
-
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
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.4K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 388 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.2K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 916 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions