Drawbacks to a Ketogenic Diet?
Replies
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sollyn23l2 wrote: »Not really, she's right. There are potential risks. Just like with any way of eating. And they shouldn't be denied or swept under the rug. To do so is disingenuous. Furthermore a straw man fallacy is refuting an argument different from the one actually under discussion. Which is not at all what she did. She answered the OP's initial question genuinely. You like your way of eating. That's great. Enjoy it. It's fine. But you don't need to pretend there are no risks to it. Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk. Let's move on, shall we?
Thank you. My intent was genuine. And for the record keto can be vegan. I have tried it. I will also say that yes there are risks with veganism. As well as carnivore or any diet that either restricts food or food groups. I work in the wellness field and have for decades. I have met people who got very seriously sick snd health problems with high fat keto diet. Cleaner keto would be a wiser choice if it's done. Same with veganism.
What is cleaner keto and what macronutrient breakdown would you suggest for a vegan keto diet. Curious minds would like to know.1 -
Let's remember to keep conversation generally pleasant folks - we're here to talk about drawbacks in order to help counteract them/help newbies to the keto world decide if it is right for their bodies or not! Not to put down people who do keto one way or a different way.
As I'm meal planning for next week, I'm definitely looking at ways to do a "clean" keto. I need motivation/better planning to get more protein again, especially with resuming my regular workouts. @VegjoyP I know you remarked you've tried both vegan and clean keto - do you have any good recipe resources you utilized?
Same for everyone here: Any good high protein recipes that are keto-friendly that you can recommend? (Please note I can't eat fish, mushrooms, or tofu due to sensory and flavor issues with those foods)4 -
I have been on my Keto eating routine for a while now. My joint paint was noticeably better on Keto.
Last night I didn't feel like cooking, so I warmed up some pizza. Well today my joints ache and I'm feeling really sluggish and yawning.
This is telling me to not deviate from my regular low carb diet again.5 -
I don’t practice low to no carb diet but my brother pretty much eliminated his Rheumatoid arthritis in his knuckles and fingers and his psoriasis has almost all cleared up since he switched to ketone diet start of January. Before that he had tried no dairy, mostly veg, no sweets all sorts of different diets as he didn’t want to resort to medication unless he absolutely had too. His life has changed. So there you go. Take that as it is0
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So carbs. Pizza has a LOT more than carbs. It's high saturated and fat, dairy, tomato, processes carbs) not complex) and salt. All od these can contribute. If you had said you had a baked sweet potato, old fashioned oatmeal, a hummus powder veggie sandwich on sprouted bread,, or lentils and felt bad then its more likely either carbs or rebound affect because you had not had carbs in a while.xbowhunter wrote: »I have been on my Keto eating routine for a while now. My joint paint was noticeably better on Keto.
Last night I didn't feel like cooking, so I warmed up some pizza. Well today my joints ache and I'm feeling really sluggish and yawning.
This is telling me to not deviate from my regular low carb diet again.
It's not " carbs" broccoli is a carbohydrate.
I'm saying this only as something to think about. Not being mean or pit down or dispute. Hugs.
Btw I have SLE Lupus and arthritis, Sojourn's, Reynauds, osteoperksis... sooo I kindss get the autoimmune thing.
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When I say clean Keto I'm thinking whiole foods like avocado, nuts. Tahini, olives, coconut meat. I'm thinking lots of water based vegetables like celery, baby lettuce, asparagus. If you are not vegan them mackerel, sardines or wild salmon. I do not believe in hurting amass but as someone in health field I accept other people where they are and just w as not to see people make best informed decisions. So if a meat water, bison. Deer or elk.
For me, vegan Keto was all plant fats. Lots of cruciferous veggies, tempeh, hemp protein.
There was a book I saw chat was called clean vegan Keto but it's been a long time.
Staying away from things like processed cheese, processed Keto foods, concentrated oils, carcinogens is hoe to keep it clean2 -
So carbs. Pizza has a LOT more than carbs. It's high saturated and fat, dairy, tomato, processes carbs) not complex) and salt. All od these can contribute. If you had said you had a baked sweet potato, old fashioned oatmeal, a hummus powder veggie sandwich on sprouted bread,, or lentils and felt bad then its more likely either carbs or rebound affect because you had not had carbs in a while.xbowhunter wrote: »I have been on my Keto eating routine for a while now. My joint paint was noticeably better on Keto.
Last night I didn't feel like cooking, so I warmed up some pizza. Well today my joints ache and I'm feeling really sluggish and yawning.
This is telling me to not deviate from my regular low carb diet again.
It's not " carbs" broccoli is a carbohydrate.
I'm saying this only as something to think about. Not being mean or pit down or dispute. Hugs.
Btw I have SLE Lupus and arthritis, Sojourn's, Reynauds, osteoperksis... sooo I kindss get the autoimmune thing.
If xbowhunter is like more people who eat Keto, they eat lots of saturated fat, they eat cheese, tomato in limited amounts because of the carb amount, and huge amounts of salt because once one drops there blood sugar they uniate out lots of sodium. If I didn't liberally salt my food my blood pressure goes down a lot. So yes, the carbs are likely the culprit since he is likely eating all those things you point to already on a daily basis.1 -
Yes there are risks. High LDL, kidney failure, dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, constipation, lifestyle change usually temporary, no fiber, less enjoyment with food, less healthy foods on the basis of fat content, that eliminates whole foods. ( bacon but no apple) heart conditions, liver problems. Yes these ARE all.risks.
Weight loss in itself will yield better readings initially. It also can be affective in A CLINICAL SETTING, some people do better by the elimination of sugar, refined foods, simple carbs, however thefavr isnotallcarbohydrates are equally a Longshot.
High HDL is protective for heart health, kidney disease can be be lessened by a low sugar/low carb diet, you get dehydrated because you are not adding in electrolytes. When you lower carbs by eating whole foods, the amount of sodium you get in your diet is greatly reduced (look at the sodium in your processed foods), so you need to make up for it when eating single ingredient food. No nutrient deficiencies (adding in kidneys and other organ meats is a great option as well!), if you are constipated (pain and not being able to go), up your fat to help things move along. If you are calling constipation not going every day (without pain) that is just that your body is using all the nutrients in your food so that there is minimal waste. I've been keto/carnivore since 2016 and am on 0 prescriptions at 53 years old. I LOVE all the food I eat, animal fat is healthy, but seed oils, those are the bad things that you need to eliminate- they cause inflammation- and animal fat is actually an anti inflammatory food. I only eat whole foods, have a perfect heart, no liver problems (in fact, my fatty liver has been reversed), as well as my husband reversed his diabetes!
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Viridian1539 wrote: »Let's remember to keep conversation generally pleasant folks - we're here to talk about drawbacks in order to help counteract them/help newbies to the keto world decide if it is right for their bodies or not! Not to put down people who do keto one way or a different way.
As I'm meal planning for next week, I'm definitely looking at ways to do a "clean" keto. I need motivation/better planning to get more protein again, especially with resuming my regular workouts. @VegjoyP I know you remarked you've tried both vegan and clean keto - do you have any good recipe resources you utilized?
Same for everyone here: Any good high protein recipes that are keto-friendly that you can recommend? (Please note I can't eat fish, mushrooms, or tofu due to sensory and flavor issues with those foods)
HI! Glad to see you still at it! I think Keto for Lent is an AWESOME idea! Keep the updates coming! I just joined today, but have been keto/carnivore since 2016! There are TONS of recipes on youtube that are pretty simple (I even have a channel that has good meal recipes as well as protein bread, appetizers, etc). Here are some simple ideas:
1. Chicken Wings baked with your favorite spices
2. Chicken breast cooked with salsa and taco seasonings, shredded and served in romaine boats with cheese and sour cream on top for tacos
3. hamburgers are always a good thing, with lettuce wrap. You could also make a big mac salad with browned ground beef, cheese, thousand island dressing (home made is best, but do what you can), pickles, tomatoes, etc.
4. Meat and veggie omelet.
5. Pork chops with loaded broccoli on the side (like loaded potato, sub broccoli)
6. Pulled pork topped with over medium eggs and your favorite spices.1 -
There's some times I miss the "disagree" button....11
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There's some times I miss the "disagree" button....
Me too. Now, after a particularly disagreement fraught weekend for me in here, I go in and hit "ignore". Turns out to be a very satisfying feeling. Although I don't like blocking out certain people, it's been helping my mental health.6 -
We truly would benefit by each of us just being educated, aware and also have an open mind. There are literally endless ways of eating. Different cultures, countries and religions have vastly.fifferent ways they live. There are benefits to keto. No doubt. Its having the knowledge to do it the best way for youwith a long term, lifestyle change thought process is really the wisest and sustainable.
Our bodies can often change for so many reasons. Activity, age, enviornment, beliefs, health and more. I used to eat like a marathon runner when I ran marathons. I ate a bodybuilders diet when I was competing. Now I'm middle age and have chronic conditions that have drastically changed my.life. These discussions don't need to be abrupt, defensive, preachy or one sided if we all remember that our experiences are unique.7 -
Weekend Review
EXHAUSTING. For one of my jobs we're ramping up for our major fundraiser, so after helping with watching younger siblings all of Saturday, I spent the greater part of Sunday afternoon addressing envelopes. Only 100 or so left to go! Phew
One reflection I had about both Taekwondo and my evening runs is that while my energy has been stable throughout, it's a lower stable than usual. I don't get the adrenaline 1/3 of the way through to really get me going. I've read on a couple running blogs that I follow that is fairly typical when on a LCHF diet like Keto.
Day 13 Thoughts
Other than a slow start to the day (stayed up way too late last night working on those silly envelopes!) today is fairly standard. I have a busy evening ahead of me with work, chores, and Bible study, but this week the routine events are on their usual days, so it's less stressful even if it's busier. Job #1 is fairly chill today too, so that's nice.
As for actual keto diet changes updates, I don't really have any. That sweet taste came back this morning and I have a feeling it's related to having smaller breakfasts. The three days I had it were all days when I had a light or late breakfast. Could be correlation not causation, but we'll see. Otherwise just plugging along getting ready to plan the grocery list for next week.
Found a keto chicken cordon bleu casserole that I'm eager to try making, plus I'm going to get some of that fancy deli roast beef as a treat for getting half way through. Maybe some asparagus to cook up with the pork I have in the freezer. All those fun meal planning things.
Hoping you have a great day! Mercy & Peace!
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Lenten Diet - Day 13
Calorie total: 1,124/1,730
Carb Count: 10g
Water Intake: 55 oz.
Benefits Noticed:
- Steadier, better mood/mindset
- Clearer (but not totally clear) skin
Drawbacks Noticed:
- Energy levels steady, but lower than what I would call “usual”
- Acne popped up at corner of mouth that I think is partially bacon’s fault, or at least has been aggravated by the oily bacon. Been there since day 3 or 4 and only just now starting to disappear
- So many eggs…
- I feel sleepy during/after my lunch break walk. Generally I eat lunch while working about an hour before, then go on my half hour, 1.5ish mile stroll on my 30, but maybe I need to eat closer to the time when I’m going out? I resumed doing these last Thursday after not having done it since end of Jan, but I’ve done plenty of other
Changes:
- Find alternatives to eggs without sacrificing low carb, higher cal. Breakfasts
- Stick to larger breakfast, light lunch/snacks and midsized dinner as that seems to work best for energy and eliminates sweet taste
- Up water intake
Day 14 Thoughts
Well, I guess I'm intermittent fasting today because I missed my alarm and was running out the door to get to the dentist in time. No breakfast, no lunch.
Thankfully I don't work a very physical job at job 1, so I'll just need to keep an eye on my water intake and I should be fine.
Right after I said yesterday that my skin was seeming clearer, I've got a zit or cold sore or something trying to show up on my chin. Sigh. Aesthetically I couldn't care less, but it's very hard for me not to consistently mess with acne and/or wounds of any kind and I end up making the problem worse. Not really keto's fault though!
My run last night was tough though. I was out for about half and hour and I walked most of the time because I kept hitting a wall of exhaustion after about 2 minutes of (slow) running. I'm definitely not the world's best runner, but I could tell it was well below my baseline. I read a couple of runner's tips blogs and I can't say I wasn't warned, but it was slightly disheartening with race day only 5 weeks out.
For anyone looking at the weight loss side of Keto: The last three days I've been holding steady at around 184, which I'm not mad at. Good to be sub-185. First time in 2 years. I started off at 191.8 on day 2, so after 2 weeks that marks a 7.8 lb loss. To me that doesn't seem sustainable/healthy, but I've been advised by some of you as well as my weight loss group on discord that it's fairly typical to drop water weight really fast at the beginning, so I'm not as worried as I was.
Long post so I'll wrap it up there. Have a good one!
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Viridian1539 wrote: »Lenten Diet - Day 13
Calorie total: 1,124/1,730
Carb Count: 10g
Water Intake: 55 oz.
Benefits Noticed:
- Steadier, better mood/mindset
- Clearer (but not totally clear) skin
Drawbacks Noticed:
- Energy levels steady, but lower than what I would call “usual”
- Acne popped up at corner of mouth that I think is partially bacon’s fault, or at least has been aggravated by the oily bacon. Been there since day 3 or 4 and only just now starting to disappear
- So many eggs…
- I feel sleepy during/after my lunch break walk. Generally I eat lunch while working about an hour before, then go on my half hour, 1.5ish mile stroll on my 30, but maybe I need to eat closer to the time when I’m going out? I resumed doing these last Thursday after not having done it since end of Jan, but I’ve done plenty of other
Changes:
- Find alternatives to eggs without sacrificing low carb, higher cal. Breakfasts
- Stick to larger breakfast, light lunch/snacks and midsized dinner as that seems to work best for energy and eliminates sweet taste
- Up water intake
Day 14 Thoughts
Well, I guess I'm intermittent fasting today because I missed my alarm and was running out the door to get to the dentist in time. No breakfast, no lunch. Thankfully I don't work a very physical job at job 1, so I'll just need to keep an eye on my water intake and I should be fine.
Right after I said yesterday that my skin was seeming clearer, I've got a zit or cold sore or something trying to show up on my chin. Sigh. Aesthetically I couldn't care less, but it's very hard for me not to consistently mess with acne and/or wounds of any kind and I end up making the problem worse. Not really keto's fault though!
My run last night was tough though. I was out for about half and hour and I walked most of the time because I kept hitting a wall of exhaustion after about 2 minutes of (slow) running. I'm definitely not the world's best runner, but I could tell it was well below my baseline. I read a couple of runner's tips blogs and I can't say I wasn't warned, but it was slightly disheartening with race day only 5 weeks out.
For anyone looking at the weight loss side of Keto: The last three days I've been holding steady at around 184, which I'm not mad at. Good to be sub-185. First time in 2 years. I started off at 191.8 on day 2, so after 2 weeks that marks a 7.8 lb loss. To me that doesn't seem sustainable/healthy, but I've been advised by some of you as well as my weight loss group on discord that it's fairly typical to drop water weight really fast at the beginning, so I'm not as worried as I was.
Long post so I'll wrap it up there. Have a good one!
I think you have to keep in mind that to be fully metabolically adapted that it's quite individual but the majority of the research shows it take 4 to 8 weeks before fully fat adapted. Many long distant runners, people running 100k plus swear by ketosis and it actually protects against hitting the wall. I've been on a ketogenic diet for over a decade off and on with low carb and I play hockey and weight lift a few time a week and with hockey I have no problem being in ketosis, lots of energy and weight training I find sometimes I'm fine and I've also carb loaded before working out that was better as ell, but not every time, so it's kind of an individual thing I suspect. 2 weeks is pretty early and surprised you actually haven't encountered the "keto flue" symptoms more so, anyway thanks for posting your findings.
You may be interested in this article, a marathon runner.
https://runnersblueprint.com/keto-marathon-training/#The%20Case%20of%20Zach%20Bitter0 -
@Viridian1539, I'm really enjoying reading your thoughtful (and thought-provoking) posts. It's interesting to read the perspective of someone who seems not to be a "true believer" in a particular dietary style, but who is trying it with an open mind and reporting subjective perceptions of it. For clarity, keto is a style I would never personally try (unless it was medically important) because it's too far from my preferred eating style. I do (I hope!) have an open mind about how it may affect those who do it without a strong bias going into it.
.Viridian1539 wrote: »Lenten Diet - Day 13
Calorie total: 1,124/1,730
Carb Count: 10g
Water Intake: 55 oz.
Benefits Noticed:
- Steadier, better mood/mindset
- Clearer (but not totally clear) skin
Drawbacks Noticed:
- Energy levels steady, but lower than what I would call “usual”
- Acne popped up at corner of mouth that I think is partially bacon’s fault, or at least has been aggravated by the oily bacon. Been there since day 3 or 4 and only just now starting to disappear
- So many eggs…
- I feel sleepy during/after my lunch break walk. Generally I eat lunch while working about an hour before, then go on my half hour, 1.5ish mile stroll on my 30, but maybe I need to eat closer to the time when I’m going out? I resumed doing these last Thursday after not having done it since end of Jan, but I’ve done plenty of other
Changes:
- Find alternatives to eggs without sacrificing low carb, higher cal. Breakfasts
Have you taken a look at the MFP-famous protein thread for ideas? If not, it might be helpful:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10247171/carbs-and-fats-are-cheap-heres-a-guide-to-getting-your-proteins-worth-fiber-also
On the bright side, you could be setting yourself up for a really good carb re-load in the week before the race, if the timing works out right. I'm sure you realize that carb loading for an event is ideally a multi-day thing before race day, one that starts with carb depletion.
- Stick to larger breakfast, light lunch/snacks and midsized dinner as that seems to work best for energy and eliminates sweet taste
- Up water intake
Day 14 Thoughts
Well, I guess I'm intermittent fasting today because I missed my alarm and was running out the door to get to the dentist in time. No breakfast, no lunch. Thankfully I don't work a very physical job at job 1, so I'll just need to keep an eye on my water intake and I should be fine.
Right after I said yesterday that my skin was seeming clearer, I've got a zit or cold sore or something trying to show up on my chin. Sigh. Aesthetically I couldn't care less, but it's very hard for me not to consistently mess with acne and/or wounds of any kind and I end up making the problem worse. Not really keto's fault though!
My run last night was tough though. I was out for about half and hour and I walked most of the time because I kept hitting a wall of exhaustion after about 2 minutes of (slow) running. I'm definitely not the world's best runner, but I could tell it was well below my baseline. I read a couple of runner's tips blogs and I can't say I wasn't warned, but it was slightly disheartening with race day only 5 weeks out.For anyone looking at the weight loss side of Keto: The last three days I've been holding steady at around 184, which I'm not mad at. Good to be sub-185. First time in 2 years. I started off at 191.8 on day 2, so after 2 weeks that marks a 7.8 lb loss. To me that doesn't seem sustainable/healthy, but I've been advised by some of you as well as my weight loss group on discord that it's fairly typical to drop water weight really fast at the beginning, so I'm not as worried as I was.
Long post so I'll wrap it up there. Have a good one!
Again, thanks for the interesting thread!0 -
Viridian1539 wrote: »Let's remember to keep conversation generally pleasant folks - we're here to talk about drawbacks in order to help counteract them/help newbies to the keto world decide if it is right for their bodies or not! Not to put down people who do keto one way or a different way.
As I'm meal planning for next week, I'm definitely looking at ways to do a "clean" keto. I need motivation/better planning to get more protein again, especially with resuming my regular workouts. @VegjoyP I know you remarked you've tried both vegan and clean keto - do you have any good recipe resources you utilized?
Same for everyone here: Any good high protein recipes that are keto-friendly that you can recommend? (Please note I can't eat fish, mushrooms, or tofu due to sensory and flavor issues with those foods)
For recipes, try allrecipes.com and filter by keto or low carb. I find the reviews very helpful. There are often useful trends in the reviews like “too much salt,“ “cook time too long/short.“ Etc.
I really like the library for cookbooks. In my current state of Massachusetts, as well as New York and Florida, there are interlibrary loans, so there was a vast pool from which to get books.
Probably not helpful side-notes:
I like the taste of mushrooms very much, but not the texture. So I cook with them, pick them out, and give them to my boyfriend, who is not all that appreciative so I try to be surreptitious about this 😆
I also like salmon medium rare (slimy) but find it inedible if it is well done.1 -
Yes, well done salmon should be against the law.
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You don't mention exactly what you are eating, but I saw in an early post that you were missing fruit. Try to get some berries. Strawberries and blueberries are pretty easy to find and often on sale this time of year. I agree that most of the keto/low carb recipes for dessert are not very good or have you using overly processed fake ingredients. Some berries with plain yogurt or heavy cream (if you do dairy) would be a good choice.
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Day 17 Thoughts
Only a couple minutes to post - it's been a crazy week with both jobs. With one we have a new ED so there's a lot of shifting in the organization happening, and the other is ramping up for the big summer events, so I'm busy busy.
Last couple of days it's been a real struggle to eat. I'm just not feeling hungry at all. In fact, beyond that, I'm feeling full after taking like two bites. Not sure if this is a keto thing or a stressed/coming down with something thing. I'll continue to monitor the situation.
A lot of people talk about your skin getting clearer with keto, but I have not seen that. In fact, two days ago I broke out in cystic acne all over my face. Real fun... Again though, this could be a stress response.
While cal consumption is a struggle, I'm back on track with my water at least. I'll continue to pay close attention to that because hydration is a big issue for me.
That's all I have. Potentially more tomorrow, but time is the one thing I have less of than money 1 -
I’m lurking on this thread, but have to say I’m thoroughly enjoying reading this. I’m diabetic and trying hard to keep my A1C low. Last reading was 5.5.
I’m very interested in keto diets. I know I eat a lower carb diet than I did 1year ago and all of my blood work has improved. I don’t count carbs yet.
I still eat all vegetables (love them), and a few, select fruits, but rarely bread or pasta. Funny, I really don’t miss them much.
I’ve expanded my recipe files to include many new low keto ones I found on Allrecipes and other
internet sites.
Lately, I’ve surprised myself by the amount of exercise I can do without getting winded, even hiking in the mountains.
I can’t put a name to the diet I’m eating. I naturally do IF as I rarely want to eat in the mornings, but I’m not living by rules of when to eat.
I guess I’d like to add that by cutting out most processed, crappy foods, I feel 100% better. Most of the junky processed foods I ate were high carb, fat and very little good nutrition. I just wish I’d done it years
ago.
I appreciate very much what people have said here. It’s very interesting to an old gal like me.6 -
@Melwillbehealthy It's funny you mention pasta - I was craving it all weekend! My family wasn't the richest growing up, and during the lean times we ate a lot of lasagna and chicken noodle soups because it was cheap and even the pickiest of us kids would eat it, so it's a bit of a comfort food for me. It's so great that you're finding what works for you and moving forward with it! No need to go full keto if you don't want/need to, and even if you can't name the specific diet, it's great to hear it's helping.
Weekend Review
Sister surprised me with tickets to Dune part 2 on Friday, so we went to a 9p showing. Theater got out at 1:30a, we weren't home until 2:45a... then was up around 7a to watch my youngest brother while the fam was at a BSA fundraiser. So sleep this weekend was rough.
But I'm still keeping with keto, though my water intake is an up hill battle again. Eating enough calories is hard too.
When I started, I could (and was) eating 2 strips of bacon, 3 eggs, 1 cup spinach, 1/3 cup cheese, and various bits of spices/cilantro/green onion for breakfast, sometimes with a couple sausage links as well. I usually clocked in about 600-700 cals, and then would have a light lunch and then a larger dinner of chicken or steak salad or something like that. I was occasionally a little hungry between meals, mostly my same old always hungry feeling that was easy enough to push aside.
Last couple of days when I've had breakfast (or any meal) I'm managing 1 strip of bacon, 2 eggs, maybe some spinach and boom, I'm full. 300-400 cals. And when I say full I don't mean "until lunch". It's just ongoing.
Yesterday in a moment of late sleeping followed by forgetfulness, I ate "breakfast" at 11a, and then nothing the rest of the day. Granted it wasn't a super active day, but I woke up not hungry even slightly this morning (and was late for work so haven't had breakfast yet). Poor choice, I'm sure, but I have no feeling of needing food. And I'm not feeling sluggish or much tired anymore.
I can certainly see why many people couple Keto with IF, assuming this is a normal trait of the keto diet.
That said, I know I need to get better at remembering to eat, even (and especially) if that means I have to start packing more snacks and such to eat throughout the day instead of larger 1-off meals. Today is grocery day, so I'll be getting the things I need to do meal prep for the week, and that should help tremendously.2 -
Nice to see your sticking to it despite it's inherent difficulty. Yeah, the satiating effect is pretty real and I have occasionally the same problem of remembering to eat, it seems to come more often where the less I eat the less hungry I am.
Ketones are also a survival mechanism for times of starvation or carbohydrate restriction. One of the interesting effects with starvation and ketone production is it's effect on the brain, making us more alert and also elevating our metabolism temporarily or maintain better and longer, basically the opposite of being tired, which again was for survival to venture out longer in an effort to find food without feeling exhausted and tired which fits with you not feeling sluggish or tired. Thanks for posting this intervention. 2 -
That increased satiety is one of the reasons I eat a high percentage of my calories from fat in my ketovore way of eating. It allows me to get the calories in when I get full so easily.1
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There are lots of keto recipe sites on Facebook. You can save them by clicking on the 3… at the top right corner. You can then make collections like casseroles, appetizers… some of the sites are just for trying to sell the “diet”. To access your saved collection when you open FB at the bottom click on the 4 dot menu button.1
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Day 20 Review
Calorie total: 588/1,730
Carb Count: 18g
Water Intake: 82 oz.
Benefits Noticed:
- N/A
Drawbacks Noticed:
- Tiny appetite
Changes:
- EAT MORE FOOD
I know, I had just said I would try to eat more.... and then wasn't home until late and didn't want to eat right before bed (I can never sleep if I've eaten less than an hour or so before bed)
Day 21 Thoughts
Well I'm halfway through now and so far it's been a good exercise in intentionality. I'm still maintaining at around 184. (184.0 this morning in fact). I had been down to 181.8, but the last two days have gone back up. Perhaps because I was exercising more? Or maybe in protest to not eating enough
Long-term I could see myself doing shorter keto cycles, like mentioned in this article: https://marathonhandbook.com/keto-and-running/
But otherwise I'll probably only use it in the future as a tool for times of fasting/meditation such as Lent or personal times of reflection.
The biggest drawbacks are the heavy restrictions, making it more difficult to participate in family/friend/work group activities involving meals. It's awkward to bring a completely different meal during work potlucks. Next I'd say is the lack of fruits. It's hard to find ways to incorporate them in without exceeding the 20g carbs per day. Those who do a higher level keto (I've seen people do up to 50) might have more room for that.
I'm also generally wary of sugar substitutes, so other than using swerve for one specific dessert recipe that I made to share with coworkers, I've been avoiding those. I miss having honey in my tea!
Those who enjoy/need keto, more power to you! There seem to be quite a few benefits (more stable energy levels, less frequent mood swings, weight loss, etc per my observations) which definitely speak towards it's helpfulness. Personally however, I think I'd rather stick with CICO tracking and while perhaps sticking to lower added sugars, I don't want to be avoiding fruits and veggies and meals I love just because it might help my energy a bit. But I'm one who - under correct bedtime routines - has very little trouble with energy.
TL:DR - There's no "right" way to go about the nutrition/health journey (though there are definitely several wrong ways!) so if Keto works well for you, by all means, go for it! And if it doesn't, no shame here!
Hope this thread has been informative so far! I'll keep trying to post and then I'll do a long, in-depth review primarily of the drawbacks to close it out (May be the day after Easter rather than day-of due to family events/traditions to observe).
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Viridian1539 wrote: »Day 20 Review
Calorie total: 588/1,730
Carb Count: 18g
Water Intake: 82 oz.
Benefits Noticed:
- N/A
Drawbacks Noticed:
- Tiny appetite
Changes:
- EAT MORE FOOD
I know, I had just said I would try to eat more.... and then wasn't home until late and didn't want to eat right before bed (I can never sleep if I've eaten less than an hour or so before bed)
Day 21 Thoughts
Well I'm halfway through now and so far it's been a good exercise in intentionality. I'm still maintaining at around 184. (184.0 this morning in fact). I had been down to 181.8, but the last two days have gone back up. Perhaps because I was exercising more? Or maybe in protest to not eating enough
Long-term I could see myself doing shorter keto cycles, like mentioned in this article: https://marathonhandbook.com/keto-and-running/
But otherwise I'll probably only use it in the future as a tool for times of fasting/meditation such as Lent or personal times of reflection.
The biggest drawbacks are the heavy restrictions, making it more difficult to participate in family/friend/work group activities involving meals. It's awkward to bring a completely different meal during work potlucks. Next I'd say is the lack of fruits. It's hard to find ways to incorporate them in without exceeding the 20g carbs per day. Those who do a higher level keto (I've seen people do up to 50) might have more room for that.
I'm also generally wary of sugar substitutes, so other than using swerve for one specific dessert recipe that I made to share with coworkers, I've been avoiding those. I miss having honey in my tea!
Those who enjoy/need keto, more power to you! There seem to be quite a few benefits (more stable energy levels, less frequent mood swings, weight loss, etc per my observations) which definitely speak towards it's helpfulness. Personally however, I think I'd rather stick with CICO tracking and while perhaps sticking to lower added sugars, I don't want to be avoiding fruits and veggies and meals I love just because it might help my energy a bit. But I'm one who - under correct bedtime routines - has very little trouble with energy.
TL:DR - There's no "right" way to go about the nutrition/health journey (though there are definitely several wrong ways!) so if Keto works well for you, by all means, go for it! And if it doesn't, no shame here!
Hope this thread has been informative so far! I'll keep trying to post and then I'll do a long, in-depth review primarily of the drawbacks to close it out (May be the day after Easter rather than day-of due to family events/traditions to observe).
Well said!1 -
Viridian1539 wrote: »Day 20 Review
Calorie total: 588/1,730
Carb Count: 18g
Water Intake: 82 oz.
Benefits Noticed:
- N/A
Drawbacks Noticed:
- Tiny appetite
Changes:
- EAT MORE FOOD
I know, I had just said I would try to eat more.... and then wasn't home until late and didn't want to eat right before bed (I can never sleep if I've eaten less than an hour or so before bed)
Day 21 Thoughts
Well I'm halfway through now and so far it's been a good exercise in intentionality. I'm still maintaining at around 184. (184.0 this morning in fact). I had been down to 181.8, but the last two days have gone back up. Perhaps because I was exercising more? Or maybe in protest to not eating enough
Long-term I could see myself doing shorter keto cycles, like mentioned in this article: https://marathonhandbook.com/keto-and-running/
But otherwise I'll probably only use it in the future as a tool for times of fasting/meditation such as Lent or personal times of reflection.
The biggest drawbacks are the heavy restrictions, making it more difficult to participate in family/friend/work group activities involving meals. It's awkward to bring a completely different meal during work potlucks. Next I'd say is the lack of fruits. It's hard to find ways to incorporate them in without exceeding the 20g carbs per day. Those who do a higher level keto (I've seen people do up to 50) might have more room for that.
I'm also generally wary of sugar substitutes, so other than using swerve for one specific dessert recipe that I made to share with coworkers, I've been avoiding those. I miss having honey in my tea!
Those who enjoy/need keto, more power to you! There seem to be quite a few benefits (more stable energy levels, less frequent mood swings, weight loss, etc per my observations) which definitely speak towards it's helpfulness. Personally however, I think I'd rather stick with CICO tracking and while perhaps sticking to lower added sugars, I don't want to be avoiding fruits and veggies and meals I love just because it might help my energy a bit. But I'm one who - under correct bedtime routines - has very little trouble with energy.
TL:DR - There's no "right" way to go about the nutrition/health journey (though there are definitely several wrong ways!) so if Keto works well for you, by all means, go for it! And if it doesn't, no shame here!
Hope this thread has been informative so far! I'll keep trying to post and then I'll do a long, in-depth review primarily of the drawbacks to close it out (May be the day after Easter rather than day-of due to family events/traditions to observe).
This has been a really interesting thread, IMO. Thank you for doing it.
Sometimes eating-style threads here devolve into a debate between passionate true believers and haters (exaggerating a little
).
It's very informative to see someone try on a new eating style and report on it in a way that feels nonpartisan but still personal and specific. I appreciate the time you've put into the thread!1 -
Yes, thanks for taking the time and informing everyone with your personal experience. Although this was about sacrifice during lent, and I get that, it was still informative. Thanks again. 1
-
I also appreciate your feedback. I do find it interesting that one of the things you consider a drawback, is one of the things I consider a strength, namely the reduced appetite. Early on, when I had 80 pounds to lose and a seemingly uncontrollable appetite, going keto was an excellent remedy. As time went on, that effect moderated, and while I don't usually have overwhelming hunger, I no longer have days where I eat one meal and am full for the whole day.3
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