I’ve been Keto since I began eating solid foods after my surgery four years ago. I don’t plan to ever eat any other way.

I'm doing a modified bariatric keto, the fat isn't quite as high as mainstream keto. I started it back in Nov. My weightloss has been slow, but consistent. I measure regularly and those are also consistently improving.

@kjs1228 When first starting Keto calories aren’t very important because the carb/sugar withdrawals can be tough and you just need to eat. So if you go over what that set calories are I wouldn’t worry about it too much. But the beauty of Keto (for most people) is that it makes you not hungry after a little while and then it becomes easy to stay within the set calorie amount.

So it’s not a real calorie count, but more of a carb, protein, and fat count. The carbs are a set maximum, protein is a minimum you want to get every day, and fat is a number that you find that will work for you. But fat is what makes you “unhungry”.

Once you get the learning curve behind you (doesn’t take long to get the Keto thinking down) you can decrease your fat intake and allow your body to burn the fat stores it has for energy, instead of what you eat. Because that’s what Keto is; it’s changing your body into a fat burner for its energy, instead of being a sugar burner. It’s truly what the body prefers.

If it’s vegetable fiber I subtract (mentally) the net carbs from the daily total. Otherwise I don’t. (Some people get into subtracting sugar alcohols because they’re considered to act like fiber, but I don’t trust that. Though I don’t consume them anyway)

But, my diet is mainly meat, eggs, cheese, heavy whipping cream, and a few green vegetables (Brussels sprouts, green beans, asparagus, and broccoli). Though I don’t eat the vegetables very often since they cause bloating and gas. I tend to be more carnivore (foods from the animal kingdom) in my ketogenic way of eating. It seems to make me feel best, and is the easiest to maintain weight loss too. Don’t really have to think about it!

My carbs are usually less than 10 a day. I don’t count calories, per say, but when I did log a day recently it was right at 1700.

And feel free to ask questions anytime. I’m always glad to help when I can!

@NicoleL874 I take magnesium citrate 400mg twice a day (you know us bariatric patients can’t get enough from just once a day!) along with all of my other vitamins. If I don’t get enough sodium in my meals I will take a sodium tablet too. And I know when I haven’t gotten enough if I begin having muscle cramps.

The high fat part of Keto is the part that controls hunger. It’s what increases satiety and makes us able to not be constantly thinking about what we get to eat next. That being said, once you’ve developed the habit of eating this way lowering the fat is fine. We all have enough fat on our bodies that we can allow it to burn that fat, instead of what we’re eating. So trying to hit a fat “goal” isn’t that important.

At a Mexican restaurant I would eat the meats, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. I would leave the beans, rice, and tortillas. Even the chips don’t tempt me. The main reason is that they’re cooked in vegetable oil, and it causes me inflammation (pain). Plus it’s man made, from chemicals,(it doesn’t come from vegetables!) and I choose not to consume man made (processed) junk as much as I possibly can. I don’t have a gallbladder either, but the high fat hasn’t been a problem for me. I know it can be for some people.

I believe these types of substances have led to the myriad of problems we’re seeing today, such as celiac disease, and other autoimmune disorders. I see it everyday where I work (an outpatient surgery facility)! I’m the nurse who wakes you up after your procedure! We do hundreds of Endoscopic procedures weekly and I would guess that nearly half of the people are having problems because if the processed foods they’re eating.

So, gut health is a true concern to have! But, imo, it’s a problem that stems from what we’re putting in it. Honestly, if something looks the same (doesn’t rot, like a McDonald’s French fry that fell under the seat and has been there for months) weeks from the day you purchased it? I don’t think those substances were meant to be put in our bodies. Our foods should go bad within a few days. It a hassle, but foods are not supposed to be “shelf stable” for years!

So, to answer your question, I don’t take a probiotic. I don’t think they’re necessary when we put the right things in. Case in point: I’ve had GERD since I was 24 years old (I’m 51 now). Every endoscopy I’ve had has shown gastritis, or an ulcer. The routine scope I had done in February showed I was gastritis, and ulcer free for the first time!! I truly believe that eliminating all of the processed, fake foods has helped me heal my gut too! This is confirmation, for me, that I’m doing the right thing.

Wow! I would think staying at that low of a calorie range would keep you in starvation mode. Your body can’t lose because you aren’t giving it enough calories to run vital functions, imo.

And yes, I understand having to eat to macros too. I would focus on getting the protein goal everyday, then setting the carbs, and fat, as a maximum daily. The protein is what we need for body functions anyway.

So sorry for your challenges! I hope you can find a happy medium that works for you soon. It has to be frustrating.

I’m 5’9” and maintain at 1700-2000 calories a day. If I want to lose I drop to 1500 or so and I will being to lose. I don’t think you’re eating enough.

Low carb is a great for everyone anyway! The carbs just aren’t good for the body, imo!

I don’t believe you have to be in ketosis for weight loss. I do it for the health benefits I’ve seen (decrease in migraines and also a decrease in fibromyalgia pain)!

ruqayyahsmum wrote: »

My preferred way of eating is vegetarian keto, intermittent fasting and calorie counting.......

All it means is I don't like eating before early afternoon, I weigh and measure what I eat and I avoid most carbs and all meat and fish

How many calories do you get in a day? I was doing intermittent fasting and was unable to surpass 1000 calories...