Discussions

I hope I'm not the only one out there that has tried Keto not once but twice and totally failed. I don't have a gallbladder and the first time I tried Keto I lost 20 lbs and bunch of inches but got some good ol' gall stones from the process( yes you can still get gall stones even though you don't have a gall bladder, I had no idea until this actually happened) I gained the 20lbs back plus 10 more. Then I tried it again because I'm not a quitter....Well this time I crashed and burned again. So I'm back where I started and I'm going to try low carb but with not so high fat. I would love to hear from the other Keto losers/gainers/quitters and where they are now.

I personally haven't tried it, but I've talked to a bunch of lab techs who also witnessed the phase of the Atkins diet (very similar to Keto) and they saw a lot of people have serious issues resulting from the whole thing. I've been a personal trainer for a number of years, and my best advice would be to forget the "fad diets", but change your lifestyle. Out with junk food, eat food that you cooked (no prepackaged garbage), and stay active (but get rid of the gym membership, and use that money on proper nutrition ). No eating after 7:00pm as your metabolism slows incredibly after that point. And spend less time on the screen....screen time makes us lethargic thus we don't stay active. A healthy lifestyle is all that is needed.

A good rule of thumb that I always think of when it comes to food is "would my great grandma eat this"... not my grandma, but my great grandma, if she wouldn't eat it, I shouldn't ether.

Did it for 3 or 4 months but saw no real weight loss (other than some water weight in the beginning) and then had to stop due to some health reasons, some that I am sure the keto diet brought on. I did feel good (after the hump) and it helped regulate my blood sugars BUT I also realized that it wasn’t a sustainable diet for me. I can’t go the rest of my life without carbs haha and anytime I did have a “cheat” meal, it was horribly painful on my stomach.  
 
The next time I’m ready and serious, I will stick to just a low carb diet.  
 
I think it can work for some but I do think for many, it’s not sustainable (or maybe I just think that because it made me realize that I have food addictions lol)

Our whole family is on a a loose form of Keto. I am not going to count anything. I did weight watchers once and while successful I cannot stand having to count points, calories, macros, carbs etc. That is not sustainable for me.  
 
So what we do is just keep carbs low, eat higher fat things like butter, cream, cream cheese, brick cheese, bacon etc. We are doing good. Down a total of 25 for me, 20 for hubby and our child is down 5.  
 
I am totally enjoying the food and do not miss the large amount of pasta, bread, rice etc that we used to eat.  
 
We are all at a standstill currently but that’s ok. I know once summer is here we will be more active with walking, biking and swimming. My blood sugars are no longer crashing and I feel good and my cravings are minimal. I read carbs on things before I buy them but that’s all the counting I do.  
 
We do find it very difficult to go out - we are definitely eating at home more and that’s ok because Keto is expensive lol.  
 
I honestly wish I had known about Keto years ago.  
 
Maybe you are expecting too much?

Because the Keto diet was never meant as a weight loss diet. Just because a way of eating has the word diet behind it doesn’t mean it is for weight loss. The world has gone crazy with that word. Losing weight is also not the same as being healthy. You can lose weight and be very unhealthy.  
 
The focus should be on lifestyle choices and watching the food choices you make every day including how much you are eating. Focus on your whole self not just the weight and you will be healthier than ever.

My husband and I have been doing Keto lifestyle for 16 months. I have lost 55 and he has lost 35. Off high blood pressure meds and feel great. I only counted macros for a few months and now just know how much I can have. I will eat this way forever.

Was never meant to be sustained long term, it can have some serious kidney side effects. I’m a big fan of diet phasing myself. Do keto for a month, do dairy/meat free for a month, focus on macros for a month, micros the next, etc. Keeps the body and metabolism guessing.

The Ketogenic Diet is supposed to be done under medical supervision and with the help of a dietician because it has the potential to do as much harm as good. It's considered a last-resort before surgery for kids with irretractable epilepsy.  
 
Eating less carbs is certainly a legitimate way to lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle. My own doctor told me that the "secret" to his patients who have successfully lost weight and kept it off was to stop eating breads (but still eating carbs, they will eat pasta, rice etc but not breads, buns, cakes, for example) and walking daily.

My doctor is all for this and Will keep doing this because I feel great. Better than the extra 55 lbs I was carrying. I will add a few more carbs when I get to goal.

All diets work as long as what you’re eating puts you in a calorie deficit, if your goal is weight loss. If it does not, it won’t work. You need to find the diet or tracking method that fits for your life and is easy to follow. That will look different for everyone. I suggest hiring someone who can help guide you to find the right diet. If the person you find only knows one way, they don’t know a lot about nutrition you should find someone else.

The time you eat doesn’t matter either. Or the amount of meals you eat in a day. As long as you’re in a calorie deficit overall, that’s what drives weight loss. How you set up your diet should be partial to your preferences. Bread doesn’t matter either. Eat it if you don’t have a gluten sensitivity or are celiac. Obviously there are foods you should eat more or less of.

'calories in, calories out' and 'eat less, move more' are drastic oversimplifications, and don't give the full picture.  
 
 
also, the timing of food does have an effect, as do certain food combinations.

Actually it is that simple but I’m not saying it’s easy. Nor does it account for medical conditions or food timing based on performance sports etc. But for the general population it can be that simple. These fad diets work because it caused people to eat less calories compared to their previous diet. They didn’t worry about food timing, etc. And most don’t have to. That’s majoring in the minutia. There are far bigger things to worry about that will get you more results then when you eat your food or how many meals it’s broken down in to. Again , not saying it’s easy and I’d recommend hiring a coach that can guide your choices and make good suggestions but those people that make people fear eating after 7pm, sugar/gluten etc are misinformed and fear mongering. Not saying people should eat donuts at every meal but making people feel guilty for those choices once and a while is inappropriate if they have no condition affected by those things.

It’s not all about calories in/calories out. I did weight watchers- calories in were low, I was starving, cranky, and miserable. I lost 60lbs but it was a huge struggle.  
 
Keto for me is easy. I feel full, satisfied, no cravings. I am happy!! That piece of cake I ate at the birthday party makes me feel sick. Lol. My sugars don’t crash, my PCOS symptoms are better managed on Keto.  
 
Not all diets are the same

That’s really great you found a diet that works for you. That’s what everyone should do. But keto isn’t going to make everyone feel the way it makes you feel. People can feel sick, irritable and miserable on a low carb diet too. Different diets work for different people for different reasons is all I’m saying. But when people lose weight in any diet, it’s because they are eating less calories then they previously did. Not because it’s some magical cure. The best diet is something that someone can stick to long term. If it’s not going to be a lifestyle for you, it’s no good and you’ll likely gain the weight back.

What I have noticed on a lot of the Facebook groups I am on are people’s unrealistic expectations of Keto. They want instant extreme results. For me 25lbs in 3 months is way more than I ever lost through weight watchers but now I am at a standstill. Obviously I need to make an adjustment now to my eating to get loosing again. It’s not time to give up its time to make an adjustment.  
 
Maybe you need to try again with a different expectation? It’s got to be something you see yourself doing long term or like everything else - when you stop doing it the weight will return.

misconceptions about Keto. There is a big difference between Clean Keto and Dirty Keto. If you are eating bacon and cheese all day, you will not lose as much, nor feel as good as eating "clean" fats such as avocados, eggs, salmon, asparagus drenched in olive oil, coconut anything, etc. Intermittent fasting will also help burn fat faster. I have added MCT oil to my morning coffee and it helps give me the energy to power thru the day. Only eat when you are hungry. I eat once a day and haven't felt hunger pains in the month+ I've been doing Keto. Down 10lbs so far. Track your macros with Fitness Pal or a similar app until you get the idea. I stopped tracking after a couple of weeks. If weight loss is your goal, stay in a calorie deficit. I found Dr. Nicholas Sudano on YouTube has some good videos about living a Keto lifestyle and lots of good info to understand how it works with your specific body type. Lots of recipes too.  
 
Edited by thegirl, 2019-04-17 09:23:05

I feel that we should all eat more moderate portions of whatever we enjoy but we definitely need more exercise than we do get.  
When we were kids we walked to the shops even if it was a mile or so and we carried the shopping home. We got exercise at school, later in sports or just climbing trees, the Sunday walk around the park or to the river to feed the ducks.  
Today we live far to sedentary a life, too much time on the electronics or watching tv etc. Yes I'm as guilty as the next person, but with the nearest shop seven miles away it is too much to walk but I do park in a central spot and walk around from there.  
If the diet works for you great, but it will work better with more physical exercise.  
Just my two cents.

I lost 60 on weight watchers by starving myself lol. With Keto I am down 25.  
 
I had infertility issues and as soon as I went to the Heartland Clinic in Winnipeg the doctor told me I had PCOS. I had read a magazine article and had taken it to my family doctor. She brushed it off. I have a huge sweet tooth. I am doing well on Keto as I have no cravings but my willpower is nil. So I don’t have it in the house at all or I eat it, feeling sick or not. Lol

have lost 20lbs, feel awesome and no sugar craving! I lived on chocolate!

I’ve been living a keto lifestyle now since mid-January. The first two weeks I felt pretty lousy as I too was addicted to sweets. Once I got through this period I started to feel better. I do track my Macros with the app Carb Manager. I’m sure I get some looks at the grocery store when I use the scanner on food labels.  
I also make sure I’m drinking enough water and supplement to get my electrolytes as well.  
 
For me Keto hasn’t been about weight loss. It’s about eating better and feeling great. I was getting some physical signs of poor health other than weight gain. My skin looks better, my knees don’t ache and my Blood pressure is down quite a bit since January. Weight loss is a by- product being Keto. I no longer consume sugar or grains, rice or potatoes. This was tough but I feel better so this is what motivates me. I don’t miss the Easter gluttony of other years!!  
 
I would say I eat a bit more of a dirty keto but as time has done on my appetite has decreases significantly so I don’t naturally consume as many calories. Now that this has happened I will experience more weight loss. I haven’t tried fasting yet as I’m too miserable when I don’t eat!  
Living a keto lifestyle has been wonderful for me. My doctor has been supportive and so is my family cause they can see the difference in such a short timeframe!  
 
Good luck on your keto journey.

on when you do the fasting, you don't really even notice the hunger. I tried the fasting and started at 8pm - 12pm (the next day), so the majority of my time was asleep. I get up at 430am every morning for gym time and the first few mornings after starting were a little hungry till I got used to not eating after the gym, but made it through. I did it for 2wks and didn't notice anything really to justify doing it. I may try it again here shortly, as I have had a "reset" weekend this weekend where it's been carbs and crap (this is the 3rd one in the year I've been keto)  
I'm not really sure why people say being Keto is hard to eat out? I have been on the chicken and rice (protein) diets and that is 10 times harder to eat out and stick to as most places the chicken dishes are twice as expensive and flavorless. Most restaurants have a nice big juicy burger with bacon and cheese, wrap it up in lettuce and a nice big salad, done deal! Since being keto, I actually find it easier to eat out (at most) restaurants, especially in cities. Some smaller towns I still get a look of "are you mental, you want a bacon cheese burger without fries and bun". Heck, I've even had 1 place where the cook came out and laughed at me, after the waitress said "the cook isn't going to like this", but this was a northern restaurant and I was probably the only person to ever ask for such a strange request.  
While it's called a Keto Diet, it really becomes just eating carb/sugar free and a way of life. 1 year of being heavy into this "diet" and not a single medical issue. This is NOT for everyone, but I trust the people that are living this way and not someone that heard from someone that heard from another person that it's "bad"....I especially would never trust some of the comments on here about being a "personal trainer" telling people to cancel a gym membership and just be active. The key to anything, is research..research....research, and once you think you have made your mind up.......research some more! Don't take my word after 1 year and 50+ pounds lighter, no heart pains, cardio through the roof and best shape I have been in in over 20 years! I'm 42 and you can actually see muscle and I can take my shirt off at the beach this year and not be ashamed. But I researched this extensively and still after 1 year, continue to research it and make changes.

For me when I say we have trouble eating out it is more where we are eating out that is the issue- at the rink most of the winter- there are no lettuce bun alternatives or salad to order. Lots of pizza party get togethers etc. Going to visit family and not going hungry because everything is full of carbs. Lol.  
 
These are examples of “eating out”. We rarely get to go to sit down restaurants and if we do I look ahead

work they do lots of pizza, and I know it's not exactly "keto" legit, but I will peel the toppings off the dough and eat the toppings. I also do a lot of travelling and will stop at McD's and just have the 1/4lber burger and give the bun to the birds (or kid), just to hold me over till I get a little better options. You just have to be creative sometimes, my travelling for work will increase in the next few months for the summer and there will be lots of subway meals or fried chicken and it'll just mean pulling the good out of the sub and eat the meat/lettuce. And if I don't have the choice (which sometimes I don't) it just means eating to survive and only eat what I have to carb wise. But I can relate as I sometimes don't have an option.

We are done at the rink for the season! That was the worst. 8 plus hours every weekend spent at a place that is 100% carbs! Lol. Easier now that we are done for the season.  
 
Next up will be learning how to adjust to Keto camping. Definitely no more chips/pop/s’mores/potato salad etc. Will be a change for sure

Last week I found out my insurance apparently won’t cover me because I weigh 280lbs, so my bf and I are starting with a low carb diet/loose keto, and going to the doctors next week to see if we can do legit keto. Even just cutting out the carbs and sugar should be enough, and with it being warmer out, we’re getting out with the dog more and biking more often. My worry is his birthday coming up, as well as camping and our vacation to Calgary and Kelowna in August. I’m a foodie and last time I went to Calgary we hit up a few interesting local spots, mostly bakeries and cafes as I’m a baker. My worry is that I won’t be able to enjoy the things I want to enjoy if I go full keto, as cheating can make you very sick.

Think of it as a new adventure to trying new foods. Yes you will need to skip the bakeries but look for different meats to try etc.  
 
I make PB/chocolate chip fat bombs and that helps when I am wanting a sweet. I also eat berries with cream now for dessert

I have lost 50 pounds. It took 1 year and I'm trying to lose the last stubborn 10 pounds. I am in my late 50's, had my gall bladder removed many years ago and have gone through menopause. Before I started keto, I did lots of reading to see if this was something I thought I could stick with, Keto is not a diet, it has to be a way of life. It's not something you do for a few months to lose weight otherwise you won't stick with it and put all the weight back on and then some. There is alot of information out there - information that is conflicting, There are basic principles and after that what works for you may not work for someone else. I don't count macros - that is too much work for me. I just mentally envision portion sizes and read all food labels. You get to know what brands to stick with and what foods to stay away from. Maria Emmerich and Carolyn Ketchum are good sources of information and have excellent recipes.  
 
Edited by freedom 55, 2019-04-22 08:27:09

All diets fail. Eat high quality food and exercise for the rest of your life. Don't allow yourself to get hungry. Don't overeat.