Keto/Low Carb Experience. Please share.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I am considering the pros and cons of these ways of eating. I am really starting to hate the way carbs seem to make me feel. I would like to hear from folks about their experiences. No judgement please. If you disagree with these approaches, that ‘s cool. I’m still interested in learning more. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

You beat me to it! I was just about to ask folks about their experiences with keto too!

[Anonymous]

I feel so much better on low carb / keto but it is hard with a busy life. And I get bored of the food.

The first couple weeks are awful - going off carbs makes you feel like you have the flu or a hangover.

If I had a keto / low carb chef, I would do it full time. instead I do 4-6 weeks of it then go back to regular eating until I feel fat and lethargic again and then I threepeat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel so much better on low carb / keto but it is hard with a busy life. And I get bored of the food.

The first couple weeks are awful - going off carbs makes you feel like you have the flu or a hangover.

If I had a keto / low carb chef, I would do it full time. instead I do 4-6 weeks of it then go back to regular eating until I feel fat and lethargic again and then I threepeat!

Interesting. This is what I have heard. Does the weight come back as quickly as some people say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so much better on low carb / keto but it is hard with a busy life. And I get bored of the food.

The first couple weeks are awful - going off carbs makes you feel like you have the flu or a hangover.

If I had a keto / low carb chef, I would do it full time. instead I do 4-6 weeks of it then go back to regular eating until I feel fat and lethargic again and then I threepeat!

Interesting. This is what I have heard. Does the weight come back as quickly as some people say?

I am 42. The weight comes off quickly and comes back on even quicker. I lose / gain 10 lbs by starting / stopping keto / low carb.

[Anonymous]

I started keto in August 2016 and have lost 65 lbs. After the first 6 months, the weight loss has been slow, but still a few pounds a month. After a lifetime of very low calories and clean eating without much success, keto feels like a miracle. Yes, you have to be organized and plan ahead, but I'm almost never hungry, have lots of energy, am energized by exercise instead of drained and find it relatively easy to find what I need on menus when I go out if creative and willing to ask. I no longer see it as a diet, but rather the way I've decided to eat for life. I was diagnosed with celiac about 30 years ago, so have been gluten free all of that time. Also allergic to dairy and eggs, but keto is still possible. There are a couple of closed Facebook groups with good information. One is Optimal ketogenic living. It recommends is a higher protein, slightly lower fat version. This is what I have followed. There is research being done on keto as a treatment for the fat disorder lipedema, so several groups for that as well. Lipedema and keto, I believe has links to coaches that you can work with to get started. In the beginning, I had to add salt to my diet to avoid being lightheaded, but then never got what is described as the "keto flu". Good luck if you decide to try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started keto in August 2016 and have lost 65 lbs. After the first 6 months, the weight loss has been slow, but still a few pounds a month. After a lifetime of very low calories and clean eating without much success, keto feels like a miracle. Yes, you have to be organized and plan ahead, but I'm almost never hungry, have lots of energy, am energized by exercise instead of drained and find it relatively easy to find what I need on menus when I go out if creative and willing to ask. I no longer see it as a diet, but rather the way I've decided to eat for life. I was diagnosed with celiac about 30 years ago, so have been gluten free all of that time. Also allergic to dairy and eggs, but keto is still possible. There are a couple of closed Facebook groups with good information. One is Optimal ketogenic living. It recommends is a higher protein, slightly lower fat version. This is what I have followed. There is research being done on keto as a treatment for the fat disorder lipedema, so several groups for that as well. Lipedema and keto, I believe has links to coaches that you can work with to get started. In the beginning, I had to add salt to my diet to avoid being lightheaded, but then never got what is described as the "keto flu". Good luck if you decide to try it.

Can you give us a sense of what you eat in a day?

[Anonymous]

I did strict keto from around May to August of this year. Lost a total of 10-12 pounds (went from 144ish to around 131/132).

For the first two weeks, I followed high-fat keto and didn't exercise. After that, I followed the Ketogains approach (higher in protein, slightly lower fat, <25grams net carbs, mostly whole foods except for protein powder), lifted weights, no cardio.

I felt good on keto because I have always been sensitive to too many carbs. Yes, just like any other diet, once you get off the diet, you tend to gain weight.

However, keto isn't magic - it's just another way of eating. Ultimately it comes down to calories and once you get closer to your goal weight, the weight loss slows down unless you meticulously count your calories and make sure you eat below maintenance. I still generally eat low carb, eat tons of vegetables, and once in a while eat something higher carb like tortillas, etc. I'm maintaining, but it's because I'm counting my calories.

[Anonymous]

^^I should add, I think this flexible approach works better for me long term, but keto can be used as a tool when want to lose a certain amount of weight in a set period of time.

[Anonymous]

I lost 30 lbs over two years, strict keto for six months and then mostly keto lifestyle. Three years later, still lean, but losing muscle because I take in more fat than protein. I am reluctantly adding carbs and higher protein back into my life. It’s the only sustainable diet for me, because I like high fat foods: lamb, salmon, olive oil, nuts, avocado... good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so much better on low carb / keto but it is hard with a busy life. And I get bored of the food.

The first couple weeks are awful - going off carbs makes you feel like you have the flu or a hangover.

If I had a keto / low carb chef, I would do it full time. instead I do 4-6 weeks of it then go back to regular eating until I feel fat and lethargic again and then I threepeat!

Interesting. This is what I have heard. Does the weight come back as quickly as some people say?

I have been pretty much eating keto since July. I never experienced the keto flu. The keto flu does not always happen. I have had two cheat days while on keto where I ate pasta and sugar - both days I bloated up and felt noticeably larger, I guess. I wouldnt say fatter but I did feel gross and my clothes were tighter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started keto in August 2016 and have lost 65 lbs. After the first 6 months, the weight loss has been slow, but still a few pounds a month. After a lifetime of very low calories and clean eating without much success, keto feels like a miracle. Yes, you have to be organized and plan ahead, but I'm almost never hungry, have lots of energy, am energized by exercise instead of drained and find it relatively easy to find what I need on menus when I go out if creative and willing to ask. I no longer see it as a diet, but rather the way I've decided to eat for life. I was diagnosed with celiac about 30 years ago, so have been gluten free all of that time. Also allergic to dairy and eggs, but keto is still possible. There are a couple of closed Facebook groups with good information. One is Optimal ketogenic living. It recommends is a higher protein, slightly lower fat version. This is what I have followed. There is research being done on keto as a treatment for the fat disorder lipedema, so several groups for that as well. Lipedema and keto, I believe has links to coaches that you can work with to get started. In the beginning, I had to add salt to my diet to avoid being lightheaded, but then never got what is described as the "keto flu". Good luck if you decide to try it.

Can you give us a sense of what you eat in a day?

Not the pp you are asking but this is what my day looks like -

Breakfast is just coffee with heavy cream (zero carbs)

Snacks - pickles, cheese, lunch meat, sometimes berries, salad (like a wedge salad), hard boiled eggs, pork rind anytime I get a craving for something crunchy, avocado

Lunch - tuna salad or egg salad or a roll of lunchmeat/cheese (no bread)

Dinner - I eat zucchini, spaghetti squash, lots of cauliflower, lots of avocado, chicken breast, bacon, pot roast meat, salmon

I do make rolls with either coconut flour or almond meal.

I eat LOTS Of scrambled eggs and bacon.

I easily stay under 30 carbs a day. Maybe close to 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so much better on low carb / keto but it is hard with a busy life. And I get bored of the food.

The first couple weeks are awful - going off carbs makes you feel like you have the flu or a hangover.

If I had a keto / low carb chef, I would do it full time. instead I do 4-6 weeks of it then go back to regular eating until I feel fat and lethargic again and then I threepeat!

Interesting. This is what I have heard. Does the weight come back as quickly as some people say?

I am 42. The weight comes off quickly and comes back on even quicker. I lose / gain 10 lbs by starting / stopping keto / low carb.

How quickly does it come off and go back on?

[Anonymous]

When I want to lose weight I go on a ketogenic diet (Ideal Protein). It works very quickly. The first couple days are rough as you go through 'keto flu,' but then the weight pretty easily comes off through diet alone. Muscle increases while fat % decreases.

Like any diet, if it is not a lifestyle change then the weight will come back on. Sugar, starchy vegetables, grains, etc. can all contribute to weight gain if you don't continue the method. Personally, it is the really only tried and true way I can lose weight.

[Anonymous]

Responding to question about typical day’s food. Sorry for delay. My keto food list is more limited because I am sensitive to cow’s milk and eggs and have to avoid. Also don’t eat pork or lamb.

Breakfast: 4 oz chicken, turkey or a chicken or turkey bacon or sausage. 1/2 small avocado, small portion of leftover green vegetable. Coffee or tea with coconut milk and MCT oil

Lunch: spinach or other salad with salmon, turkey or chicken. Or coconut wrap with same general ingredients. Usually with some goat cheese. Small handful of pecans. Zucchini or radishes with goat chees for snack in afternoon, if needed.

Dinner: salmon, other fish, turkey, chicken or occasionally beef. Greens and other green vegetable or cauliflower with avacado oil. Eat more generous portion of vegetables at dinner. Occasionally raspberries or 1 square 85% dark chocolate

Occasionally eat flaxseed crackers, almonds or other nuts. Also sometimes have olives. Drink lots of water, including sparkling water, tea. Take supplements. Have avoided keto flu by using salt and potassium.

People who can eat eggs, depend on them for breakfast. Also many people make a keto “bread” with eggs.

Know this sounds boring, but has worked very well for me. Variety in the proteins and greens helps.