I ditched calorie counting and started Keto and started losing inches and pounds.

My problem on regular, calorie-reduced diets is that I was always hungry! The more bread, pasta and rice I ate, the more I wanted. When I cut those out or way back, I felt deprived. I've been on Keto for 2 weeks now. I am down 3 pounds - which is huge for me - since losing any weight is a real struggle. The most important thing is that I am NOT hungry between meals and I'm not craving anything! I feel like this is doable for the long term. I feel great (no Keto flu). Slow and steady weight loss by seriously reducing carbs is going to do it for me. I feel the difference on this plan. I even have more energy to exercise more. I am losing bloat & inches around my waist. I also got an improved fasting glucose test result back yesterday. Yay! While this isn't for everyone, those of you who are struggling like I was may want to give it a try.

Replies

  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    Good luck. I'm glad you're enjoying it, and I hope it works for you.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Good luck.
  • Itmustbu
    Itmustbu Posts: 19 Member
    Everyone who loses weight initially loses water weight whether it’s low carb or not so don’t let anyone rain on your parade.

    Glad you found something that’s working for you and Good Luck!!!
  • Ostrich218
    Ostrich218 Posts: 14 Member
    edited October 2019
    What defines low carb vs keto eg how many gs of carb becomes one or the other ?
  • Yidrey
    Yidrey Posts: 20 Member
    Ostrich218 wrote: »
    What defines low carb vs keto eg how many gs of carb becomes one or the other ?

    My understanding is that low carb could have a higher protein intake. Keto is high fat, moderate protein and low carb. Like in a 75/20/5 (c/p/f) rule. High in protein and low in carbs kan result in your liver turning protein in carbohydrates, which is called gluconeogenesis. If I am wrong please correct me, but thats what iI think it is the difference.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,284 Member
    Welcome to Keto, I've been doing Keto for over two years. Keto is not a diet it's a life style. Congratulations on lousing weight wait until you are six months down the road, you will be amazed.

    Well by that token, any long term way of eating is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. ;)
    Nothing special about keto in that regard.

    keto is not for me but if it works for you, thats great.
  • KristaMac88
    KristaMac88 Posts: 163 Member
    Dont let people discourage you! It is hard. You still have to track. Carb Manager is a great alternative to here that focuses on carbs protein and fats and you can adjust it to if your truely trying to be in ketosis or just to very low carb. I did that for a few months to. It was hard, then you adjust, even the water weight you lose is motivation to keep going. I felt great! Lost 15lbs. The only time Ive ever actually lost weight! Then had a cheat night with hubs and it all went downhill. gained almost 10 back and I cant get my head back into it! So im here...trying to get out of focusing on carbs, and just count cals. Good luck though keep going! And if actual keto becomes to hard - up your carbs a little bit to even 50 so your not deprived! it doesnt HAVE to be all or nothing!
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    If a person is struggling it makes sense to try a variety of ideas until one seems to work.

    My only word of caution on ditching logging is that it has only been 2 weeks. Keto works by eliminating so many carbs that you end up in a deficit. However, calories have a bad habit of creeping up and if you eventually replace those carb calories you may need to log again.

    Good luck.

    All of this.

    Some people don't log on keto, but many do, and it's not like "keto" is one thing and "calorie counting" is another. Calorie counting is not a way of eating at all, and you can do keto, low to moderate carb, ignore all macros, ignore all macros but protein, vegan, high carb omnivore, paleo, so on -- any way of eating can be part of a calorie counting diet.

    Personally, I just cut back on added fat and starchy carbs like rice and pasta (basically I stuck to a serving or less), as that seemed to me the easiest way to cut cals without it being particularly apparent. (I don't tend to eat much bread anyway, but the same would go for that.) Then I decided not to eat outside of meal time, since mindless snacking (usually at work) was one of my main extra calorie sources, and ate my usual healthy diet with a decent amount of protein and lots of vegetables at meals.

    I was never hungry at all, but I totally recommend to those who are to try different meal patterns or change around the macros (often more protein and fiber helps, but for some going very low carb seems to be the key from what I've seen on MFP).

    I do think that significant diet changes tend to naturally cause deficits since it takes a while to find ways to overeat, but I think eventually most do. I've talked before about how I did a 100% plant-based way of eating one Lent and lost weight when I wasn't trying to, but now I can find ways to overeat eating that way no problem.