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What are your thoughts on Keto?
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ozonezoe
Posts: 9 Member
in Debate Club
Love hearing people’s opinions and experience with different life style changes! Let me know what you think of keto and if it was beneficial for your life!
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Replies
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So, being a Type II diabetic for more than 30 years now, I've been very happy with how KETO can keep my BGL in a normal range. Today for instance, since I got up at 7am, my BGL hasn't been higher than 120 with a couple of dips below 70. (Still trying to adjust my medication to fit how I respond to KETO... It's a good problem to have. )
I may be able to go down to one medication (or possibly NONE!!!) if I experience the weight loss others seen to experience.8 -
Just another way to have a calorie deficit. If it works for you, go for it. If it doesn't, that's a shame. Do what works for you.15
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I tried it out of curiosity (I was at maintenance), and didn't mind it, but I missed some perfectly healthy foods like fruit and beans/lentils and potatoes and occasional pasta and so on, and since I like to eat a lot of vegetables even eating just those plus a serving or two of nuts/seeds would cause me to exceed my goal often enough, so I decided for me it wasn't workable.
Apparently one of the main benefits is appetite control, and since I wasn't struggling with that there wasn't any major temptation to make it work.
I do think it can be a good option for some and can be done healthfully. If someone finds it an easier way for them to lose, I think that's great.9 -
I try as much as possible to think about keto as little as possible. My coworker decided to go keto last month. She will. Not. Stop. Talking. About. It. About the keto flu. About her bowl movements. About how hey husband complains about her keto breath. So much TMI.
Unfortunately my cubicle is within earshot of the break room and we're not allowed earbuds in the office. We are allowed earplugs, however, and I've invested in a year's supply.
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It is absolutely not for me. My food in tolerances are many, and carbs are my friend. Saying that's friend of mine was recommended keto to help her brain fog with her bipolar disorder and it's been good in that respect. She hasn't lost much weight however because calories on/calories out. But weight loss for her is a secondary factor.1
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I know myself well enough to know to not even bother trying. Carbs & protein are the two macros that satiate me best and keep me feeling full the longest - my natural inclination is to eat low fat higher carb. Plus, I struggle enough as it is with my body, cutting out a whole macro category is not going to win me any favors on that front.
I know it works well for some, and I'm glad they can find a eating method that fits their body, but its no magic recipe for weight loss, either, and its not for everyone.4 -
On a personal level it's utterly unappealing.
I would have to exclude or massively restrict a whole lot of foods that are both highly enjoyable and good for me, I eat a lot of starchy carbs, a wide variety of veg, fruit and grains.
It was also make my exercise harder and lower my performance.
For me it would make long term successful weight maintenance more difficult and less enjoyable, the least amount of restrictions possible and enjoyment of eating good tasty food are two key factors for me and keto would be an antagonist to that.
I have no medical conditions that might make keto advantageous to consider.
On a wider level as opposed to a personal level I believe that beyond people that actually enjoy a low carb eating style or do have medical problems with carbs I think it's become far more popular than it should be - a part of the dieting culture/mindset that decrees that dieting needs to be restrictive and unpleasant.
How about you OP? What are your views and experiences?
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I'm a moderation guy, so not for me. IMO too extreme, again for me. If it suits your preferences and or you have a medical reason to follow it I see no problem...5
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After being in the Fitness industry for over 35 years, keto is just another fad diet that people uptake to lose weight. Only about 10% who have used it to lose weight stay on the lifestyle. I've used keto ONLY when I used to compete back in the mid 80's. As for today, I've always been a moderation type, so I eat anything I want, but pay attention to the calories I consume daily. It still comes back to CICO.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I was definitely anti-keto for many of the reasons listed above. However, my OBGYN recommended I eat Keto for the positive effect it has on fertility. There are a few studies with good evidence it helps those with PCOS conceive. I dont have PCOS, but decided to try anyway.
I did it faithfully for 4 months, lost 5lbs each month and never felt deprived. I got really creative with flours, baking and cooking which I love doing anyway. I found it very freeing because I never felt hungry and could always reach for a yummy snack. I also did intermittent fasting along with keto and found I liked that process as well.
I actually have since become pregnant (woohoo)! And was planning to continue modified keto, but all day nausea has made that impossible. So I’m back to calorie counting to make sure I don’t go off the rails. I gained 65lbs last pregnancy after my doctor told me “you can’t diet while pregnant”. I don’t have a healthy food relationship and that wasn’t the best advice for me. So, trying to keep a handle on the reins this time and only gain a healthy amount of weight.
Bottom line, there are some decent research articles that show good health benefits for keto. Many don’t feel it’s a good lifestyle long term, but I think the research is lacking on long term effects.
Worked for me...I lost weight and got pregnant!17 -
I can't imagine ever doing it unless I had a health condition that required it. I love fruits, vegetables, and beans too much and it wouldn't really fit my lifestyle (long distance runner -- and I know there are some people doing keto and endurance sports, but it seems like more work).3
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janejellyroll wrote: »I can't imagine ever doing it unless I had a health condition that required it. I love fruits, vegetables, and beans too much and it wouldn't really fit my lifestyle (long distance runner -- and I know there are some people doing keto and endurance sports, but it seems like more work).
Same here to the bolded. I am not a runner but walk a lot and do resistance training. I tend to eat lower carb just as my preference. Like 100 to 150gr per day. But keto is a step too far for me. Too restrictive with no additional benefits. Fat loss is not better on keto than any other way of eating.
Over time, I have found the foods that are most satiating for me, mostly proteins and higher fiber vegetable, and I can be satiated and stay within calorie targets quite easily. There are some foods I avoid as I have trouble moderating them. (ice cream and kettle chips, I'm looking at you!) For the rest, I am satisfied, rarely hungry and eat a varied diet.
If someone prefers keto or has a medical condition that keto helps, great. What way to eating one chooses, aside from medical conditions, should be based on adherence and preference.2 -
20-50 grams of carbohydrates per day would be way too restrictive for me. I'm omnivorous, but my diet consists of lots of plants as well, including beans, lentils, oats and other whole grains, starchy root vegetables, etc. I would go insane on keto. Beyond that, I don't find 70+% of my diet coming in the form of dietary fat very appealing either. That's a lot of friggin' fat...7
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cwolfman13 wrote: »20-50 grams of carbohydrates per day would be way too restrictive for me. I'm omnivorous, but my diet consists of lots of plants as well, including beans, lentils, oats and other whole grains, starchy root vegetables, etc. I would go insane on keto. Beyond that, I don't find 70+% of my diet coming in the form of dietary fat very appealing either. That's a lot of friggin' fat...
*ugh* I'm in complete agreement here. I have enough time trying to get in enough protein in a day-and I actually like protein sources for the most part; having to try to get down that much fat would be too much for me. I like nuts and seeds, but only once in a while, and I still can't get myself to like avocado.0 -
I know folks who have lost on keto, but the real difference seems to be that they consume fewer calories b/c that type of diet satiates their hunger. I don't put any stock in all sorts of other things that are supposed to be happening--maybe they are, maybe they aren't, but without the deficit, folks would not lose, and their rate of loss appears the same as anyone counting calories. In other words, all the other stuff that may or may not be happening does not seem to affect their rate of loss--it's still all about the calorie deficit.
I don't argue with folks who are experiencing success--or with those who are not. I try to stick to good science, share it, and then live and let live. Would not work for me b/c I am not interested in many of the high fat foods recommended--they just don't appeal to me. I'm also not much of a meat-eater, and most of my keto friends are.1 -
I love it. I've been testing various aspects since I started on keto in 2018. I lost weight on keto, very noticeable reduction in body inflammation, slept 1-1.5 hours less per night (and awoke feeling like I'd had coffee already) and my cholesterol dropped almost 40%. Those were all measurable findings. I had other results, but they were my perceptions and not measurable. I didn't limit calories, but did track them in MFP. I found it was hard to over consume calories because you just don't feel hungry or snacky on keto. Intermittent fasting on keto is easy. I tried upping my carb count over 50g/day and lost all the benefits. I tried cheating on weekends and lost all the benefits. I went off it for a month but continued IF and calorie restriction. I found the benefits go away. I went off completely and tested my cholesterol after 3 months off. Went up to almost what I was before I started keto. Steady weight gain throughout. So, for me, keto is my way of life. When I was off and feeling the afternoon tiredness, feeling like I was deprived if I didn't feed my snack craving, and watching the old steady weight gain, I missed keto. And my Mom's primary care doc managing her diabetes and cholesterol telling her to go on keto along with my primary doc and ophthalmologist also saying keto will help with inflammation confirm it's more than just CICO.11
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that level of restriction would send my eating disorder back into overdrive. scratch that, it has -- i got on board the intermittent fasting train for about a month, which is so saturated with keto mindset that i couldn't help absorbing some of their fear mongering about carbs. by the end of that month i found myself on the floor of my kitchen sobbing because i was too scared to break my fasts with the wrong foods to eat anything. unless a major medical condition required me to do it, no thanks, i'll keep my sanity.8
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I love it. I've been testing various aspects since I started on keto in 2018. I lost weight on keto, very noticeable reduction in body inflammation, slept 1-1.5 hours less per night (and awoke feeling like I'd had coffee already) and my cholesterol dropped almost 40%. Those were all measurable findings. I had other results, but they were my perceptions and not measurable. I didn't limit calories, but did track them in MFP. I found it was hard to over consume calories because you just don't feel hungry or snacky on keto. Intermittent fasting on keto is easy. I tried upping my carb count over 50g/day and lost all the benefits. I tried cheating on weekends and lost all the benefits. I went off it for a month but continued IF and calorie restriction. I found the benefits go away. I went off completely and tested my cholesterol after 3 months off. Went up to almost what I was before I started keto. Steady weight gain throughout. So, for me, keto is my way of life. When I was off and feeling the afternoon tiredness, feeling like I was deprived if I didn't feed my snack craving, and watching the old steady weight gain, I missed keto. And my Mom's primary care doc managing her diabetes and cholesterol telling her to go on keto along with my primary doc and ophthalmologist also saying keto will help with inflammation confirm it's more than just CICO.
I don't think anybody has ever argued that managing diabetes, cholesterol, and chronic inflammation are "just CICO."
CICO is about weight loss, it's not an overall principle of disease management (although many people do find that their weight-related conditions are resolved or even eliminated when they are no longer overweight).10 -
I love keto for controlling my migraines.
I don't know how people lose weight on keto.
I can eat an obscene amount of bacon cheeseburgers on lettuce buns! I have to track very carefully because it does not suppress my appetite, and going over a little here and a little here adds up fast. For me it's pretty easy, most of the veggies I like are low carb anyway, and fruits are not really my thing except very rarely, plus I'm not much for breads or sweets.
Life is way better without migraines!11 -
@janejellyroll Actually, if you read many people who post against keto or offer their advice on keto, even in this thread alone, say it's just one of many options to get a calorie deficit. I'm saying it's more than just calorie deficit or weight loss related. My Mom is not overweight. Skinny and active. She does not overeat. Eats way more fruits and vegies than the average person. Yet she has diabetes and high cholesterol. My autoimmune disease has a terrible inflammatory component. Two weeks back on keto, without having lost enough weight for that to have an impact, and my inflammation is way down. The effect of very low carb on your liver health, etc are more than just secondary to weight loss.10
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