I find it a very natural way for me to eat. It is satisfying, and I have not had a problem sticking with it. I have been keto since late 2016, so that is not the track record of @Sunny_Bunny_ , but I am working on it.

Emmapatterson1729 wrote: »

Has it helped so far? If so, how long before you started seeing major improvements.

It definitely helps with my joint inflammation, migraines, and skin rash. I'd say on average it's 70 - 90 percent better depending on the day/week. The one thing that it hasn't helped is my pain levels and I'm in some pretty awful pain most of the time. Some is lifelong, some from injuries, and some is autoimmune related and combined it's a nightmare to deal with.

I saw improvements within the first month. Just on migraine meds I went from near daily migraines to migraines every few days and now I really only get them when exposed to something that triggers them and even then it's not usually as terrible as before.

Though my finger joints still hurt like hell my fingers aren't swollen up like they used to be. My skin rash, particularly on my face, isn't very noticeable most days unless I spend much time outside in the heat and then it'll flare back up. I do still have to cover up when I'm outside but I'm terribly sun sensitive, that'll never go away. I've also noticed a cognitive improvement - my short term memory is better than it was.

June 28th marks a year since I started and not only have I seen those improvements but I'm also a hundred pounds lighter than I was before.

I have varied my carb levels a few times and experimented with foods a bit to see what does and doesn't trigger symptoms. I can get up around 100 net carbs before things come back and I for sure have to avoid potatoes, breads, pastas, sugars, corn, starchy beans, grains of any sort, and I'm sure I'm leaving some things out. However, rice does not seem to affect me whatsoever. Also, low sugar fruits don't seem to have any effect either but I don't make it a habit. Nuts in moderation are fine. No issues with sugar substitutes either, I put a small amount of Splenda in my coffee on the regular.

It has definitely become a lifestyle for me. Started Jan 2017 and I have days (sometimes more like weeks) where I fall off and allow carbs to creep back into my life but the minute those pounds start packing back on, I am able to get back to the basics. And I NEVER eat the way I used to even when I have moments of weakness. Its like a mindset where I know what is good and bad for me now and I am super conscious of it. I think its hard(er) for me now because I am in a maintenance weight phase and since I don't see the scale move anymore, I get more relaxed with my eating sometimes. But I just started with some new fitness goals so I am back to strict Keto and tracking everything!!

@Emmapatterson1729 I stopped tracking calories and carbs and just ate low carb but I did it more intuitively trying to listen to my body and hunger/full cues. After tracking for so long, I have learned portion control and can very well estimate calorie/carb content. Although this makes it easy to overeat and put on the weight slowly. I find that for me to really lose or maintain a low body fat, I have to track my food.

i don't have the health benefits that others have mentioned, but other than the sugar cravings, i can't believe how easy this way is to eat. i still struggle with sugar cravings, but giving up all the other things was not hard for me. i felt when i started last year, and still now almost a year in, that i must be doing something wrong because i don't feel hungry all the time, i get to eat what i want, and i am not falling asleep at work or on the way home.
glad i am not the only one that has had that same initial response