Eat your carbs

coderdan82 wrote: »

The theory is that when you're in ketosis your body is in an optimal state for using body fat for energy.

This isn't really true. You can be fat adapted without doing keto, and beyond that, that's more of a consideration for athletic performance. When it comes to fat loss it's about calories, and everyone uses fat for energy over the course of a day (whether it's burning body fat, which happens in a deficit, or eating mostly fat so burning that fat).

This is kind of the reverse of what OP said back in January -- it's also not true that your body won't turn carbs into fat. If you overeat, of course it will (or more to the point it will store a higher amount of what you eat as fat, whether it's all from fat you eat or, if you eat low fat, from the carbs).

It doesn't avoid the requirement of a caloric deficit but it's supposed to make it easier to stay in that deficit because your body can get more calories from body fat instead of your plate.

I think the truth is it makes it easier for SOME to stay in a deficit because they eat a more satiating (for them) diet when doing low carb or keto. I would agree it's a good approach for some for that reason.

CICO will always be the bottom line, going low carb is just supposed to help control the "CI" part of it.

Yup, absolutely.

lemurcat2 wrote: »

coderdan82 wrote: »

The theory is that when you're in ketosis your body is in an optimal state for using body fat for energy.

This isn't really true....

You'll notice I chose my words carefully. I said "the theory is...". OP asked why people go low carb, well this is why most do I have no interest in debating the merits of low carb diets, I'm sure there are papers both in favor and against them. I do know it's consistent with my experience so I'm going with it.

lemurcat2 wrote: »

I think the truth is it makes it easier for SOME to stay in a deficit because they eat a more satiating (for them) diet when doing low carb or keto. I would agree it's a good approach for some for that reason.

Hmm, on one of my extreme days I had a double bacon cheeseburger without a bun for lunch and didn't eat the rest of the day. Was that burger really THAT satiating? I had that same burger when I was off keto and I did get hungry later on.

coderdan82 wrote: »

lemurcat2 wrote: »

coderdan82 wrote: »

The theory is that when you're in ketosis your body is in an optimal state for using body fat for energy.

This isn't really true....

You'll notice I chose my words carefully. I said "the theory is...". OP asked why people go low carb, well this is why most do I have no interest in debating the merits of low carb diets, I'm sure there are papers both in favor and against them. I do know it's consistent with my experience so I'm going with it.

Okay, so you aren't asserting it's actually true? I would agree some people see such claims and believe them. I suspect the real reason people who stay low carb or keto do it is because it's a pleasant way of eating for them, or they find it easier.

Bigger point is that how easily you use body fat for energy isn't relevant to weight loss. Being able to switch between sources of energy easily and use fat at a more intense activity level than average can be helpful for certain types of athletic activity, but the evidence doesn't support that that's really about being keto, vs. training in various ways that support it. And I highly doubt it's why most of keto (the vast majority of athletes are not, although a few are other than when racing).

Hmm, on one of my extreme days I had a double bacon cheeseburger without a bun for lunch and didn't eat the rest of the day. Was that burger really THAT satiating? I had that same burger when I was off keto and I did get hungry later on.

Some burgers have crazy calories, so it could have been. But more to the point, as I said before, low carb/high fat tends to be really satiating for some. It's just not for everyone, and it's just not true that the rest of us are not burning body fat for energy when we have a deficit.

I did not find I was less hungry doing keto than eating how I just naturally tend to gravitate (moderate to low-moderate carb). Others are MORE hungry doing low carb or keto. Some days I'm also just not all that hungry, no matter what I'm eating.

Not questioning that you might find it easier, and I know others also report that their appetites basically go away when doing keto. I just don't think that's some universal, as presented, or because you are using body fat better.

Biggster69 wrote: »

If I eat high carb food, I am hungry after 1 hour. If I eat high fat/protein, I am hungry after 5 hours. Helps me saving calories.

When I eat predominantly any one macro, I'm not satisfied. Balance FTW!