To think the keto diet

[Tattooedmama]

Is maybe not healthy...

Ive researched into this diet (or lifestyle as others put it) alot as i have around 17lbs to lose, i did toy with the idea of trying it and gave it a go a couple months ago but i cant live completely without bread and potatoes i also found it expensive buying/cooking different meals to the rest of my family (fussy eaters)
But after seeing a post on a weight loss group of a lady who is going through tests on her heart, many people adamant that the keto diet is nothing to do with it and to carry on... surely that much high fat can eventually have a detrimental affect on your health?
Im no dietician or expert, so does anyone with more knowledge have any insight into how the benefits outweigh the negatives.
I also understand it can reverse diabetes, which is fantastic.
It seems like one of the most popular weight loss plans, but i would worry about the affects of so much bacon and high fat meat.

Percypig1 nobody on here can advise you on your diet, because no-one's got the medical expertise to do that safely. Even if someone did, they couldn't advise safely because they wouldn't have your medical history.

The best thing you can do is ask your consultant(s) to refer you to a dietician. I very much hope the NHS still has some that you can be referred to.

I have been doing a medical keto diet for nearly three years. I don’t like butter in coffee, so I don’t drink it. It’s not compulsory. Meanwhile, everything you read on Pinterest isn’t keto, either. It’s not all you can eat bacon, cream and butter, either... it’s balanced, weighed and measured and involves finding the right portions for YOU.
There is an even older version of the diet called Banting that is an easier start if you want to look that up. (But you often get diarrhea.)

is it by calories or whatever measurement of each , so fats, carbs and protein ? How do you work out how much you need of each ?

Yes and no, there is no calorie counting and I've never weighed or measured anything. Have a look at biwis boot camp it explains it well. Ultimately though calories count. Hence why you're not stuffing yourself and there is no cholesterol issues etc.

fat naturally satiates you, and when you remove sugar and reduce carbs, then insulin spikes drop and your natural appetite appears and you self regulate, basically your appetite drops, but you get more energy as your body starts to use your own fat to fuel itself instead of the energy it gets from carbs, then laying down the rest as fat stores.

It's actually very easy to do, but you need to stick to it, it takes about 3 or four days for your body to switch to fat burning, which is how I think we are optimally designed, so if you sneak a potato or eat too many carbs, you'll throw yourself out of keto, lack energy and basically have to start again. But your urges for those foods decline hugely.

Keto cured my anxiety. I also lost 2.5 stone and became pregnant! I can’t do keto now because morning sickness is too bad. I miss keto as my anxiety is back but I can’t face the food right now.

I've been eating keto for just over two years. I'm not at the moment because I'm 8 months pregnant and I felt uneasy about eating keto during pregnancy due to any restrictions.

I feel amazing when I'm following a keto 'diet'. I have tonnes more energy, no headaches that I used to constantly suffer with, my periods became manageable for the first time in my adult life and I became lean and energetic.

I don't know if it's down to the pregnancy or change in diet, or a combination of both, but these last months have been a real pain. I'm constantly tired and lethargic, I am getting flabby, I never have any energy all I want to do is sleep. I've had sickness, constipation, dirreoah. My three previous pregnancies were not like this, though that's years ago before I had even heard of keto. Maybe I'm just too old for this haha!

I'm very much looking forward to doing keto again when I've had the baby and have an established milk supply.

I've read also that there's a link between a keto diet and dementia (how it can reduce symptoms). I want to read more into this as I found when I was on keto, my mind was sharp and clear, my memory shocked me (in a good way). Now I'm eating normally, one of the first things I noticed was how clouded my brain feels (brain fog?), I just feel like I'm not all there at the moment!!

I was introduced to keto by a doctor who was doing my medical for my Australian visa. They had to weigh me and I was like Noooooo. The doctor told me how she had lost almost 8 stone doing keto, so that's what made me look into it (I wanted to lose about 10lbs).

Thanks Bluntness will take a look at those threads, my problem is my diet is probably 70% carbs, the vast majority of which are not nutritious carbs derived from plants ! I need to lose a lot of weight , certainly at least 5 stone, but to get to a MN size probably more like 9 stone

"I think generally cutting a major food group, unless for medical reasons such as above, isn’t a good idea and isn’t sustainable."

The bread around today and processed carbs, should never have been classed as a food group.

We are all aware of sugar, but the diabetic society and those working in obesity etc are doing their best to get the message out that we are being killed by carbs.

I'm not doing extreme keto. I'm in ketosis because I'm on a low calorie/carb diet. Like pps, it's turned my blood levels around, improved my energy levels and menopause symptoms. I look better and without feeling hungry I've lost nearly three stone. Odd things like my nails are better. My hair doesn't need washing as often.

When I'm eating high carbs, I'll grab toast, a sandwich, have, bigger than I should portions of rice/pasta/potatoes. Now I think about food, accept that I've got to cook and apply a reason budget for food. I'm in my 50's, I have no energy slumps during the day. I sleep better etc.

I can't do extreme keto because I won't give up carrot and swede and my monster portions of my favourite veg. Plus I need to lose weight.

But my version is sustainable and has no health risks. I got my strips from Ebay, we tell people that in the FB groups I'm in.

@frumpety, I first weaned myself off carbs using Exante milkshakes. Once I'd reset my hunger levels I'm only occasionally using the products.

The FB forums are good for support. There's people on there that have lost up to 15 stone. I've got around three to go, which will make my total weight loss just on six stone.

I think generally cutting a major food group, unless for medical reasons such as above, isn’t a good idea and isn’t sustainable

This is said a lot. But it makes no sense when you actually know what keto is. You are never eating NO carbs, vegetables have carbs in them. All you are doing is taking out the shite, the processed carbs that are not and never have been essential. And make you fat and ill.

As for it being sustainable. I also don't understand this. I've been doing it for a few years and find it very easy. Granted if you are travelling, you have to search out things as 'fast food' places are literally crammed with high carb crap. But there is always something, even if it is some nuts, eggs or cheese.

I realise its not for everyone, but I am the healthiest I have ever been at 45. And the leanest.

Mushroom Omelette for breakfast
Tuna salad for lunch with a few baby tomatos and rings of red onion.
Chicken and greens with some sweet potato for dinner.

How is that not healthy?
All of that is Keto.

Any diet is unhealthy if you do it wrong or poorly.

Also Ketosis is the body's natural state. Fat burning. Not constantly sugar burning!

We eat an entire days work of carbs in one day. We're not supposed to. We're not supposed to live on bread and pasta and wheat and potato constantly. They are just cheap and easy fillers which is why they are a mainstay of the western diet.

I love how when I'm on keto I eat no processed rubbish. I can't understand why anyone would think it's unhealthy or unsustainable. I just miss fruit so much, but not half as much as I miss how I feel when I'm keto. I feel so good it's like I'm on drugs (not that I ever tried any!). I'm so productive and energetic it's unreal. Can't wait for baby to be out next month so I can get back on it. Having been keto for two years and having a break during pregnancy has hit home about how shite I used to feel when eating "a normal balanced healthy diet". Keto forever for me.

I love how when I'm on keto I eat no processed rubbish

Same. The only processed food I ever eat is bad cheap sausage that is sometimes served when you are out / in hotels etc.

It's weird how you are accused of being unhealthy when on keto....when the things you have cut out are universally known to be bad for you. Pizza - the essential food for life

You can eat carbs on keto - you’re meant to stay sub 20g carbs.
I eat more green veg now than I ever did so what’s not to like?

Typical day

Breakfast-nothing as not hungry
Lunch-salami, cheese and roasted kale (I roast it until crisp in the oven with cider vinegar and olive oil and I am addicted just ate a whole bag lol)
Dinner-prawn curry (homemade using full fat yogurt) with broccoli rice

I enjoy a bit of 85% dark chocolate and still stay within my goal weight (9st 5) and have no cravings, lots of energy, improved athletic ability and a better mental attitude.

@Andysbestadventure
Chicken and greens with some sweet potato for dinner
All of that is Keto

As much as I wish they were, sweet potatoes are not keto. Just one medium SP contains 23g carbs!

Don't do keto, do Blood Sugar Diet instead. It's still low carb but it's also low calorie, and doesn't encourage crazy amounts of fat. I not only put my type 2 diabetes into remission, but also reduced my cholesterol levels significantly, and my blood pressure which had been dangerously high, to the extent that I have been able to come off all my medication.

I'm on the Blood sugar diet and it does help with sugar cravings and appetite as well.

there are different types of more extreme keto for example I have heard of 'dirty keto' which doesn't sound very healthy, maybe as with anything it can be healthy as you make it. Like with vegans, you could be a vegan and live on chips, doesn't make it healthy

Don't do keto, do Blood Sugar Diet instead. It's still low carb but it's also low calorie, and doesn't encourage crazy amounts of fat

Keto doesn't encourage crazy amounts of fat. Why do folks post when they've no idea what they are talking about?

Breakfast, ham and cheese omelette, lunch tuna salad with mayo, avocado, dinner, chicken thighs with skin on, different green veg, mushrooms etc, dressed with some butter, a normal amount most folks have,

Tell me, where is the crazy amount of fat in there?

Well, it can also be known as HFLC (High fat low carb) so yes some keto diets do recommend a high amount of calories from fat. I guess it depends which type you follow

The diet doctors tie if good here it shows you different amounts of carbs and keto diets www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb

I did it for 4weeks. My breath smelt awful and i have excellent oral hygiene. It was expensive, too and i shop in lidl. I didnt lose more weight than on slimming world all you can eat carb (i know sw is third veg etc,)

It is interesting to read how opinions vary and how little some people know about it.
With keto you still eat carbs but you eat them from healthy stuff - I.e vegetables rather than processed crap. So you're not cutting out a food group completely.

I do keto after having had bowel cancer and it has made me feel 1000 times better. I don't eat red or processed meat - so no bacon or sausage for me- so my diet consists of white meat / fish / egg, vegetables and natural fats. My migraines have pretty much stopped and I've lost a stone in 6 weeks.

Agree it's not for everyone and it doesn't have to be expensive either. You can stick to basic healthy meat and veg and you'll do just fine

I have an underactive thyroid, and need a moderate calorie intake to support my thyroid function. Without the healthy carbs - whole grains, nuts, pulses - I’d have to make up the calories with more fat and protein. I also don’t like meat or fish that much, so I’d have to eat more cheese and eggs?

You eat fat until you are satiated, that’s it!

And fat certainly does satiate you when you don’t combine it with processed carbs.

The difficulty I have with very low carb diets is the lack of fibre. I find with slightly higher carb / more fibre this is better. Especially for bowels.