Lower Carb vs Ketogenic Diets
AlabasterVerve
Posts: 3,171 Member
Hi all 
I just found this group today when someone mentioned it and it's been great reading older threads and getting information--and finding a friendly place here at MFP to ask questions about low carb. :laugh: I've only recently cut out all bread, pasta, rice and cut back dramatically on how much fruit I was eating in an effort to get my carbs under 100. My carbs are now around 50 - 75 a day total carbs. I feel great, I'm enjoying my food and my appetite is normal for the first time in years. I love it!
But then I read things like what's the point if you're not in ketosis and I wonder if I'm missing out the same way I have by not going low carb twenty years ago. Is the weight loss so much more? Do you feel that much better?
I've been toying around with the idea and set my carbs to a level that would put me in ketosis but I would have to cut out the berries, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers and stuff like that to get my carbs low enough for ketosis. Is it worth it?
I just found this group today when someone mentioned it and it's been great reading older threads and getting information--and finding a friendly place here at MFP to ask questions about low carb. :laugh: I've only recently cut out all bread, pasta, rice and cut back dramatically on how much fruit I was eating in an effort to get my carbs under 100. My carbs are now around 50 - 75 a day total carbs. I feel great, I'm enjoying my food and my appetite is normal for the first time in years. I love it!
But then I read things like what's the point if you're not in ketosis and I wonder if I'm missing out the same way I have by not going low carb twenty years ago. Is the weight loss so much more? Do you feel that much better?
I've been toying around with the idea and set my carbs to a level that would put me in ketosis but I would have to cut out the berries, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers and stuff like that to get my carbs low enough for ketosis. Is it worth it?
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you really only need to get into ketosis to see how amazing you feel. it's hard to describe.
that being said, i eat all the things you listed (within reason!)
cucumbers aren't that carby not sure why you'd give those up, okay onions can add up fast. fruit i wouldn't eat for a while. but once you know how your body responds to certain things (and check your pee after eating a new food) it's really pretty easy.
lots of portion control for the carbier thing like tomatoes.. but you do subtract fibre, so veggies are good! and the majority of your carbs should be from them anyway.0 -
Hi and welcome glad you found a place that is so helpful!
I am currently on my 3rd month of a ketogenic diet (lost 33 pounds so far!) I started off my low carb exp eating maybe 50-80 carbs a day and still lost weight maybe .5-1lb a week. I currently eat 20-30 carbs all from veggies (still in ketosis) I have just broken a "stall" for the last three weeks. I dont know if you can really call it that since I have lost inches but no weight!
The first month I did Keto I was very strict (took me about 4 days to get into ketosis) but over the last month or so I have relaxed my carb intake upwards of 35 max. I still consume mostly veggies eat as much as I want of those but as far as onions/tomatoes etc I never really cut them out.
I know some people who can go upwards of 50-70 carbs a day and still remain in ketosis. I havent really try to see my max number. I have once or twice gone way overboard on carbs and its only taken my body about 12 hours to get back into ketosis.
Hope this is helpful
dont be shy to ask questions! this groups got some good people/support! 0 -
Hi all
I just found this group today when someone mentioned it and it's been great reading older threads and getting information--and finding a friendly place here at MFP to ask questions about low carb. :laugh: I've only recently cut out all bread, pasta, rice and cut back dramatically on how much fruit I was eating in an effort to get my carbs under 100. My carbs are now around 50 - 75 a day total carbs. I feel great, I'm enjoying my food and my appetite is normal for the first time in years. I love it!
But then I read things like what's the point if you're not in ketosis and I wonder if I'm missing out the same way I have by not going low carb twenty years ago. Is the weight loss so much more? Do you feel that much better?
I've been toying around with the idea and set my carbs to a level that would put me in ketosis but I would have to cut out the berries, onions, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers and stuff like that to get my carbs low enough for ketosis. Is it worth it?
This ^^^^^
Not everyone feels great in Ketosis, there are many like me that will tell you it is brutal. I was in ketosis for 3 weeks and my mouth when I awoke was like it was stuffed with cotton so very dry. I suffered withdrawal of sugar, grains, and felt angry, grouchy, wanted to kick my poor hubby to the curb just because he could eat food I use to be able to eat.
I had brain fog, and the worse constipation, the leg cramps that would awaken me made me cry aloud in pain. Yes some people claim they fly so high and feel so good, I am not one of them. Atkins call it the ketosis flu so not everyone feels good, or low carb flu. I am at 50 highest 70 carbs now and do much better than when I was in Ketosis at 20 carbs or less. You feel good at the level of low carbing your doing and you will lose weight if you continue. Remember to deduct the fiber as well as sugar alcohols. I keep my carbs and fiber next to each other on my menu so I can automatically deduct it in my head.0 -
Hi and welcome glad you found a place that is so helpful!
I am currently on my 3rd month of a ketogenic diet (lost 33 pounds so far!) I started off my low carb exp eating maybe 50-80 carbs a day and still lost weight maybe .5-1lb a week. I currently eat 20-30 carbs all from veggies (still in ketosis) I have just broken a "stall" for the last three weeks. I dont know if you can really call it that since I have lost inches but no weight!
The first month I did Keto I was very strict (took me about 4 days to get into ketosis) but over the last month or so I have relaxed my carb intake upwards of 35 max. I still consume mostly veggies eat as much as I want of those but as far as onions/tomatoes etc I never really cut them out.
I know some people who can go upwards of 50-70 carbs a day and still remain in ketosis. I havent really try to see my max number. I have once or twice gone way overboard on carbs and its only taken my body about 12 hours to get back into ketosis.
Hope this is helpful dont be shy to ask questions! this groups got some good people/support!
This ^^^^^^
I am amazed people can be in Ketosis at 70 carbs, if only that would be me I could handle that so easy. I had to go 20 or under to get into Ketosis and never did see the dark purple on the ketostik mainly the closest was light pink.0 -
I just worry about people who cut down on carbs and at the same time eat a lot of fat. Like getting your carbs for the day from one muffin and a handful of raisins, then thinking "well on low carb I can eat whatever fats and calories I want so bring it on!"
I don't think you have to go in to ketosis to get benefit from lowering your carbs. I think it's a great way to get better calories and help yourself keep up a low calorie diet by replacing high carb foods with more calorie-dense proteins and fats.
One probably does lose more weight and loses it more easily while deep in ketosis, but for a lot of people (me included) it can be hard to stay low enough for a long time.
If you've cut out the worst of the offenders and you feel great, then great! Keep doing what works for you!
And a big myth people like to spread about low carbing is that we don't eat fruits, veggies or grains. Most of us eat a lot of flax meal, some whole grains, a ton of berries, a little melon on occasion, and more veggies than most people. We're not guzzling orange juice every morning or snacking on grapes but those things just aren't that healthy to begin with (well the OJ more than the grapes).0 -
I just worry about people who cut down on carbs and at the same time eat a lot of fat.
Increasing fat in a low carb and/or ketogenic intake is perfectly fine, in fact, you need to increase the fats for proper digestion. It has been medically proven through the original research done by Dr. Atkins that patients who were diabetic, pre-diabetic, hyperinsulinemic, metabolic x patients who went on a low-carb intake, increase of proteins and fats, concentrated on the more appropriate vegetables had a significant reduction in their A1C, their blood sugar, insulin readings, cholesterol showed favorable improvements. There was a BBC documentary also that validated Dr. Atkins' research... very educational and very well-informed.
For one calendar year, I have successfully maintained an A1C of 5.2, my HDL is 86 ("comparable to an athlete"), the remainder of my numbers are extremely low and within normal limits - and Ill be the first one to tell you: I have never consumed so much butter, olive oil before in my life. My Endocrinologist has direct access to my MFP account so she sees everything and has continued to praise what I have been doing....
Processed fats vs naturally-occuring fats: there is a significant difference.0 -
I just worry about people who cut down on carbs and at the same time eat a lot of fat. Like getting your carbs for the day from one muffin and a handful of raisins, then thinking "well on low carb I can eat whatever fats and calories I want so bring it on!"
I've been reading a great book called The Art and Science of Low Carb Performance by Jeff Volek, and fats are essential for low carbers. Most people get their energy from carbs, when you take them away you will have to replace them with something to get your energy, especially when exercising. This is when fats come in. Since going low carb (and increasing my fats), my cholesterol numbers and triglyceride numbers have dramatically improved.0 -
I just worry about people who cut down on carbs and at the same time eat a lot of fat. Like getting your carbs for the day from one muffin and a handful of raisins, then thinking "well on low carb I can eat whatever fats and calories I want so bring it on!"
But you need fat without carbs for energy? I think?0 -
Sorry all I meant "cut down on carbs" as in continue to eat 150-200g of carbs a day and/or continuing to eat high-glycemic foods but in moderation. As in, not going in to ketosis but using the idea that they eat fewer cookies per day that means they are eating low carb and now they can eat more fat.
Didn't mean to make it seem like I thought high fat was not a part of actual LOW carb living. I meant that I worry when people cut a couple of carbs out of their daily diets and also add fats.
Basically I worry about mis-information.0 -
I've been reading a great book called The Art and Science of Low Carb Performance by Jeff Volek, and fats are essential for low carbers. Most people get their energy from carbs, when you take them away you will have to replace them with something to get your energy, especially when exercising. This is when fats come in. Since going low carb (and increasing my fats), my cholesterol numbers and triglyceride numbers have dramatically improved.
Good book that.
I recently finished 'The Perfect Health Diet' which examines the 'optimum' quantites of both the macronutrients and micronutrients in a lot of detail. The details of possible supplementation are also interesting and not something I have read elsewhere.0 -
Thanks for the posts everyone. I might re-visit the idea later once I've been eating a low carb diet for longer but for right now I really don't want to give up the 10 - 30 carbs (depending on the day) in order to get into ketosis.
But that can change--for six months I've been eating a ton of vegetables in order to try and feel full and under my calories but I don't seem to having that problem anymore so my carb consumption might go even lower naturally as I continue. Thanks again.
ETA:
And thanks for the book recommendation!0 -
As far as ketosis goes, if you consume less than 30g of carbs you are probably in ketosis.
The ketostix only show excess ketones in the blood that your body hasn't used for fuel yet.. so essentially, a dark Ketostix COULD mean that you haven't tapped into your ketones yet! Or that you are consuming too many, and you may need to eat less food in general.0 -
If your appetite is normal (I assume meaning under control) for the first time in years it is possible that you are in ketosis even at 50-75 carbs a day. Is that 50-75 total carbs or net carbs?My carbs are now around 50 - 75 a day total carbs. I feel great, I'm enjoying my food and my appetite is normal for the first time in years. I love it!0
