To ask your experience of a keto diet?

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Just started this today. It's basically a very low carb diet. I have low carbed before, but not quite to the keto extreme.

Has anyone found it works well for them? And how long is it until results show? And what alcohol can I drink on it?

Being genuine here, not rude - but it all comes down to using less than you put in. Moving more and consuming less calories. Unless you need this sort of diet for health reasons (most don't) it's better to make changes that you can sustain long term for an overall better way of eating rather than following fad diets.

Very effective, but hard to maintain and quite antisocial unless you’re a big meat eater. Lost pounds quickly but that’s water weight at first. If you stop the first few lbs go back on dishearteningly quickly (water weight again). I’ve moved over to intermittent fasting and normal lowish carb now. More sustainable for me.

Oh also, it did rein my appetite in which was amazing. I used to forget to eat sometimes which is basically unheard of. In that way I think it is a bit different from calorie in/calorie out dieting which can be carb heavy and result in sugar crashes and binge eating for me.

I’m sure OP knows that @Neron, but just wants quick results.

OP I haven’t managed to keep keto up past the carb flu stage but it does work. It’s just hard

No alcohol really but I suspect something like vodka soda fresh lime isn’t terrible if you want something

It’s extremely effective—not because it’s the magic bullet some make it out to be but because it allows for very easy CICO because it seems to reset your hunger signals (I think it’s something to do with insulin production but it’s been a while since I was familiar with the science of it). I lost five stone in a short space of time on it and have maintained for almost a year. Maintenance is challenging but not impossible and it can be anti social but again, it’s not impossible and actually I found it really easy once it all became a habit.

You would find it really useful to go and look at the 'low carb bootcamp' on here.

A new 'bootcamp' has just started on there this month and it is led (for no personal gain!) by a sensible, knowledgeable person - BIWI.

There is much support and help available . Just look at the week 2 October bootcamp thread and you will find many low-carbers learning all about this way of eating.

DH did it to try and reduce migraines. It didn't work for him but it was very restrictive and made his breath stink.

Constipation is the big problem. Swallowing husks and water is bleurgh!

It's very easy to do after the first couple of weeks and is extremely effective. It is not remotely anti social, it's very easy to eat low carb when out, be it salad, meat, cheeses, eggs, fish, green veg etc. No issues.

You also loose your appetite as well and feel fuller for much longer.

On carbs I don't know when to say stop, I struggle with it, I don't feel full for long, and can eat way more than I should, low carb, and I find it easy to know when I'm full and eat healthily,

I'd thouroughly recommend it but as a general way of life.

Keto flu finished me off , wouldn’t dare try it again.
No amount of ‘bone broth’ stopped it
Also cloud bread was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever eaten

You can get quick results by eating less and moving more @Passthecherrycoke. You don't need to follow a particular diet, or cut out/lessen certain food groups

I couldn't stick with it. Did it for a few months but the lack of foods i could eat made it unsustainable for me. Gave me terrible constipation but stopped wine cravings.

And alcohol is fine after the first couple of weeks, just avoid things like sugary liquors and beers. Red wine, vodka etc is fine. The thing is your body burns booze first.

Any diet restricts booze.

fantastic way of eating. you do need to be organised and plan ahead so you have a variety of meals. food boredom is the enemy of low carb and can lead to "fuck it" moments.

vodka and soda is the drink of choice once you're a couple of weeks in. it won't damage your weight loss but will pause it.

I nearly punched a coworker when on keto 😂
Since then I just eat whatever, but in smaller amounts and upped workouts. No more super restrictive diets for me.

oh and dry champagne

It’s extremely effective. I started off on keto, now I would say I am low carb as a general lifestyle and not strictly keto anymore. I probably did keto for around 4-6m and now I stick with low carb high fat and my weight has stayed around 9.7 for ages now. I also do intermittent fasting.
If eg I was going to a wedding and wanted to eat normally/have a few drinks I’d be strict keto/fasting in the days before and after. I’ve found that I can get away with the odd day off if I do this.
It’s ok to stick to for eating out - I go for bun less burgers and kebabs a lot but Indian restaurants are pretty good for it too.

Keto kills carb/sugar cravings so it’s excellent. I like food but I’m not OBSESSED with food anymore and can easily go 16hrs without eating if circumstances lead that way (work)

Cor I want to try again. Can you do it whilst BReastfeeding?

Thanks everyone!

My main problem is the size of my waist. I'm not overweight according to BMI, but I do look about 7 months pregnant. I know I can't pinpoint specific areas for weight loss but I'm hoping cutting out carbs might reduce that. It's really getting me down because, for instance, trousers can be too tight around my waist, but I can't go up a size because they'd look ridiculously baggy on my bum and legs.

I'm going on holiday in a couple of weeks too and would like to try and reduce the size of my stomach before I go.

It’s great for stomachs! I’m a classic Apple shape. I put on weight only on my torso/stomach and often get compliments on my legs (even when I was 2st heavier I still had stick legs!)
Honestly clothes fit me really well now.

I did low carb when BFing cherrycoke. I went for under 100g carbs a day. I ate fruit tho, in small amounts. DD was 3m at the time. I found it effective and had no issues.

Brother and sister in law where on it before she got pregnant! She also has MS and says the diet helped out alot

Brill thanks siameasy!

Purely anecdotal but I did this in June and came down with appendicitis which I'm positive was linked! I'd gained weight from not being able to exercise owing to a herniated disc (awaiting surgery). So whilst taking so many painkillers (which cause constipation), in my wisdom I thought I'd do Keto to try and shift the weight quickly. I started on the Monday. By Friday I had proper keto flu, but it had started working. Ended up being admitted to hospital as an emergency in early hours of Saturday morning with agonising abdominal pain - turns out it was appendicitis and they operated on me on the Sunday.

So whilst I can't prove the two were linked, it didn't have quite the outcome I'd hoped!

I've done it and I'm not super keen. But, by jove, it does work a treat for speedy weight loss.

If you can stick to it, I'm told it does eventually make you less hungry generally too, so it doesn't have to be an animal product fest for long.

My dad has done it on and off for decades with success, but he then falls off the wagon and he regains what he has lost and then some, so I don't know about longterm. He has also had some problems with hypertension and he (doctor) did recently say that he might need to stop the yoyo dieting and just eat a healthy, balanced, plant based diet. He thinks the lack of eating, after a period of doing keto was affecting his blood pressure.

So, I think it maybe depends on the person, as people on here seem to have great, longterm results. You need to be able and willing to stick with it though.