What kinds of positive effects have you experienced from being on keto?
Behxo
Posts: 1,190 Member
Hi, I just started keto last Tuesday and I am honestly loving it so far, this diet has been so doable and I don't feel deprived at all! Since I am new though, I'm not sure what other positive effects I could possibly experience and would love to hear from others!
So far I've experienced my eczema clearing up a bit (although it still breaks out sometimes since I am currently under a bit of stress) and not needing to eat as much anymore. I also used to have a major sweet tooth, I tried 100% dark chocolate today and ACTUALLY liked it so my taste buds have already started to change. I still need to try out Lily's stevia sweetened dark chocolate though
So far I've experienced my eczema clearing up a bit (although it still breaks out sometimes since I am currently under a bit of stress) and not needing to eat as much anymore. I also used to have a major sweet tooth, I tried 100% dark chocolate today and ACTUALLY liked it so my taste buds have already started to change. I still need to try out Lily's stevia sweetened dark chocolate though
3
Replies
-
Immediate reduction in migraines...after about 100 days, no more migraines...plus, I just generally feel better and my joints are less achy...7
-
Yea I've heard the overall keto makes you feel more energized, so that'll be nice too0
-
I find that I'm not hungry nearly as often as I used to be, which is nice.4
-
Better and deeper sleep.4
-
Control of blood glucose without meds
Twenty years of very high liver enzymes are now low normal
Cholesterol is being managed without meds6 -
Severe pain in my hip has gone, my skin is clear and soft, sleeping is great, headaches are rare now :-)3
-
No longer draggy and unable to get myself moving. I have an abundance of energy. At my age, that is wonderful. 👍3
-
Both my arthritis and cravings faded away.6
-
Just better satiety and decreased cravings but that's enough. Keto taught me I needed more fat in my diet. Now I eat LCHF (compared to MFPs default macros) with no emphasis on ketosis.
2 -
It is fair to say that my whole life is better and improved now. My health and fitness does not rival what it was when I was half my age, it far surpasses it. I am doing things now (at nearly 40) that I had resigned as impossible for me when I was 18-20.5
-
I'm oldish. I feel better than I have in years. I am no longer retaining lots of fluid. I am more flexible and joint pain has gone. I have energy and generally sleep better.5
-
Very low carb seems perfectly suited to me. It's been very very good to me:
Better Blood glucose levels
No more reactive hypoglycaemia
No more postural hypotension
Better skin and hair
Better sleep and no afternoon sleepiness
Fewer farts and better BMs - less constipation
No more migraines
Fewer autoimmune issues
Peri menopause has been kind so far
More regular and less painful periods
Reduced arthritis pain
Better cognition
Ease of weight management - less hunger and fewer cravings
Teeth stay cleaner (carbs give it a weird coating)
Better breath
Spend less time cooking7 -
Lol I agree with the fewer farts 😂3
-
I usually never see any difference when I diet... but this time, I'm noticing I'm sleeping better, and I don't snore as bad, and I'm definitely not as hungry all the time. I don't know about fewer farts...but I call Atkins cookies and cream bars, fart bars. I have to think about where I'll be before I eat one.2
-
butterfountain wrote: »I usually never see any difference when I diet... but this time, I'm noticing I'm sleeping better, and I don't snore as bad, and I'm definitely not as hungry all the time. I don't know about fewer farts...but I call Atkins cookies and cream bars, fart bars. I have to think about where I'll be before I eat one.
Do they have sugar alcohols in them (ingredient ends in "ol")? Sugar alcohols affect my gut a bit. Too much = planning to be around toilets the next day.
Plants definitely cause stink in my family. My oldest used to eat a bag of produce everyday when he was homeschooled - he wasn't concerned about stinking out his brothers. Now that he's in high school he skips the produce on school days. LOL
Now if only I could get my hubby to give up grains, beans and potatoes... Usually eaten before bed, darn it.
3 -
@Behxo for the past 4 years I have seen many positives on Keto. I am started to read about the Epigenetic factor that may be behind some of my positive side effects.
Just keep doing what you are doing before you head down any rabbit holes.
https://ketonutrition.org/blog/2018/6/29/can-keto-affect-your-genes1 -
Hi All,
New to this group! Hello!
Since being keto - 5 + months my skin is looking a lot better. I eat far more vegetables and my skin is clearer and more dewy. Bonus!3 -
I am low carb, not technically keto. My depression and anxiety is 1000x better when i cut the carbs, especially sugar and simple starches. If I have them i instantly feel agitated and so so sad. If I go on a full carb bender I can't even think properly. My body has less inflammation. I am less hungry and cravy. My nails are growing out so nicely. My allergies are less - not sure if it is related to diet, but it is a marked difference. No crashes. Good sleep.4
-
jogetsgains wrote: »I am low carb, not technically keto. My depression and anxiety is 1000x better when i cut the carbs, especially sugar and simple starches. If I have them i instantly feel agitated and so so sad. If I go on a full carb bender I can't even think properly. My body has less inflammation. I am less hungry and cravy. My nails are growing out so nicely. My allergies are less - not sure if it is related to diet, but it is a marked difference. No crashes. Good sleep.
Your experience made me think of the below article about what we eat may change our DNA.
https://drperlmutter.com/dietary-epigenetics-new-frontiers/
"However, the revolutionary new field of epigenetics has lead to the discovery that what we do actually changes the way our DNA is used, that the choices we make can forever transform our genetic code
This means that the way we interact with the world changes our DNA, not just the other way around."5 -
4
-
GaleHawkins wrote: »Your experience made me think of the below article about what we eat may change our DNA.
https://drperlmutter.com/dietary-epigenetics-new-frontiers/
"However, the revolutionary new field of epigenetics has lead to the discovery that what we do actually changes the way our DNA is used, that the choices we make can forever transform our genetic code
This means that the way we interact with the world changes our DNA, not just the other way around."
I believe it! Thanks for sharing.1 -
In addition to less hunger overall, I find I have better control over things that previously I would wolf down. For example, yesterday we were at a diner with amazing biscuits and gravy, and I had a lovely omelet, no toast or potato sides, and treated myself to one small spoonful of the gravy from my husband's breakfast. Later we were at a place with great fries (we're on vacation), and I had ONE of his fries. It was delicious, and then I was good turning back to my bun-less cheeseburger and roasted broccoli side.8
-
CarolynRSB wrote: »In addition to less hunger overall, I find I have better control over things that previously I would wolf down. For example, yesterday we were at a diner with amazing biscuits and gravy, and I had a lovely omelet, no toast or potato sides, and treated myself to one small spoonful of the gravy from my husband's breakfast. Later we were at a place with great fries (we're on vacation), and I had ONE of his fries. It was delicious, and then I was good turning back to my bun-less cheeseburger and roasted broccoli side.
I've noticed this too! I bought a dark chocolate bar (lily's sweetened with Stevia) it is SO good, normally I would have the entire bar in one night but I am able to take one bite and put it away. Chocolate bars never last me 1-2 weeks lol5 -
Weight loss
KEEPING the weight off over time
Shrinking in size even in months I'm not losing weight
My knees don't hurt
No cravings
Less hunger overall
Easier to get back on track after I choose to have a non-keto meal
I'm still wishing for:
better sleep
more energy
but after 9 months, I still sleep terribly and I'm tired all day most days. However, I've never been a great sleeper, so oh well... the rest of the positives are worth it!7 -
amandammmq wrote: »Weight loss
KEEPING the weight off over time
Shrinking in size even in months I'm not losing weight
My knees don't hurt
No cravings
Less hunger overall
Easier to get back on track after I choose to have a non-keto meal
I'm still wishing for:
better sleep
more energy
but after 9 months, I still sleep terribly and I'm tired all day most days. However, I've never been a great sleeper, so oh well... the rest of the positives are worth it!
@amandammmq I just wanted to state I felt like death warmed over for the first year of Keto but I felt that way BEFORE Keto as well. I was 63 and rushing towards an ugly death before keto after knowing about it for 20 years as a way to lower cancer risks from my readings. I was finally ready to give up carbs to see if there was anything to all this talk about Keto.
Because I saw no other solution I jumped in with both feet and after four years I just wish I had known about and been motivated to let Keto become my WOE 40 years ago.
Keep up your successful way of eating. Sleep has never be a major issue in my case.5 -
I feel great in a aspects but one. I still feel lethargic when running.2
-
- Brain fog lifted/gone. There are weeks and months of things that happened I do not remember very clearly before I was keto
- Taking better care of myself is easy. Wish I'd found this WOL 16 years ago.
- Mood, mood, mood. I was always irritable and/or negative about most everything. Now I'm only grumpy about some things (lol).
- Diabetes was in remission after 9 months (my BG is higher again, I suspect that somehow my insulin is acting up)
- No more high blood pressure
which also brings me to...
_ No more shortness of breath just doing ordinary chores, no more huffing and puffing/getting red in the face walking distances (which I always enjoyed, even when heavier and with pain)
- No more joint pain (at least, not where it WAS--shoulders & knees-am feeling arthritis setting in to my hands, though, but it's pretty severe on my mother's side of the family going back several generations)
- I have energy from the moment I wake up until its time for bed (weirdly enough, I thought I was always energetic, never one of those people who always complained of being tired...now I ZOOM)
- Deeper sleep is a double-edged sword for me... it's nice to have 5-6 hours of uninterrupted sleep (should be more, but my bladder wakes me, I'm still struggling with stopping liquids 3 hours before bed), but the ketone-induced vivid dreams are often disturbing and I hate them
2 -
A1C went from 5.7 to 5.1 in 3 months. Off pills completely after 6 years of taking them. This is the best A1C I've had. Pretty much all other blood work markers went normal.
Energy/Stamina went up significantly both for day to day needs and exercising.
Lost weight but more importantly I replaced A LOT of fat mass with lean mass quickly.
Sleep is easier and I don't need as much of it to feel rested.
Burning in my left leg went away. Back pain went away. Think about it: Just about all my aches and pains went away.
My clothing bill went through the roof. Nothing fits any more. Good thing but expensive!
Stopped having to pee as much as I did before when my sugars were higher.
No carb cravings. Eat when hungry vs thinking about food. A lot of the time I have to force myself to so I hit my daily calories needs.
I don't feel like I've given up anything but have gained a lot of positive in my life at this point.
9 -
I've dropped 19 pounds in 10 weeks and my blood sugar has gone from 300 to 95. Been following low carb and trying Keto. Can't wait until my next Doctor's appointment to get an A1C test. Should see a good result.4
-
I feel great in a aspects but one. I still feel lethargic when running.
This is something that can take several months to normalize. It is also one where if you are in that borderline keto area - low carb, but possibly not consistently in ketosis - it can really drag on possibly indefinitely.
Once you are fully fat adapted, you shouldn't have a problem being low carb but not keto. This is something Zach Bitter does. He has periods of both keto and non-keto low carb. Given he holds the record for the 100 mile at an average pace of 7 minutes a mile, I think it is working for him.5
