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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To try keto

151 replies

Gogogo1 · 12/04/2023 19:09

Does this help prevent hunger?
im completely carb addicted and it’s making me feel awful

OP posts:
CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 12/04/2023 22:31

FWIW a banana is not healthy food, it is equivalent to a mars bar, your body takes both in and converts both to sugar and nothing else

I believed this too when I was restricting food groups and it's thinking like this that you can unlearn when you follow proper nutritionists. A banana is not equivalent to a mars bar. That does not make sense. A naturally occuring, plant based food that has no additives, is not the equivalent of a factory produced high fat, high calorie chocolate bar. How can it be 🤷.

True all calories are not the same, but you need to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight. So a banana (about 70/80 calories) IS better for you than a mars bar, but a calorie burned from a chocolate bar, is the same as a calorie burned from a banana.

You definitely need to be hitting your protein targets though. This helps immensely with weight loss.

KeepYaHeadUp · 12/04/2023 22:35

CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 12/04/2023 19:39

Try calorie deficit before you cut out any one food group.

It's changed my life with regards to the way I look at food.

I started at the beginning of January and I've lost 40lb.

I restrict no food groups. I eat healthy in the main, but I also have treats when I want. I just account for them.

The app Nutracheck is so good and easy to use.

Not sure if you are on tiktok, but some of the calorie deficit content creators are amazing to follow. So knowledgeable.

All I can say, is it works so good for me, like a switch has gone off and everything has just clicked into place.

This. Keto works for weight loss because you're in a calorie deficit. Same as any other diet. I yo-yoed for years on keto. My weight fell off after I looked into calorie deficits - how to get into one, stay in one

Elfandwellbeing · 12/04/2023 22:43

Low low carbs … never felt better

tried keto first. A few months on keto some unpleasant side effects, ammonia is what makes your breath smell and it made my mouth sore. When protein breaks down it produces ammonia. Any diet that discourages fruit and veg can’t be good.

pooldual · 12/04/2023 23:10

Another keto advocate here. I have never managed to lost weight consistently and in a healthy way but I feel like this diet (Fast800) have flicked a switch in me. I'm in week 4 but I'm really in the swing of it now and intend this to be a long term way of eating. I was a total sugar addict, cakes and chocolate everyday and didn't think I'd ever be able to give them up, same with carbs!
The first few days on this diet were hard because it's such a change but I focused on the new meals I was eating and of course it's a novelty at first and you're motivated by weight loss.
I'm now eating roughly 800 calories and sticking strictly to high protein, low carb. It's really easy day-to-day, I eat omelettes, nice salads, veg, lots of cheese, protein yoghurts with berries and have found a few high protein treats like the Thai fishcakes in m&s!
The hard bits.., I have to be planned with good stuff in so I know I have good options and don't want to cheat. Temptation is hard, the diet is restrictive so it's not just anything you want in moderation and sometimes you just have to say no! I have the keto sticks to test if I'm in keto and I like that to hold me to account and motivate me not to cheat!
Hope that's a helpful ramble!

Tailfeather · 12/04/2023 23:33

@KeepYaHeadUp It's not a calorie deficit diet. I ate more calories than I ever have and lost weight. Lots of oil, cheese, avocado, cream, mayo etc.

These posts are motivating me to get back on keto.

Tailfeather · 12/04/2023 23:35

PS Obviously the Fast800 IS a calorie deficit diet, but true keto isn't.

Hercisback · 13/04/2023 07:32

Anyone that's done this, do you have to track everything? I've looked for meal plans but you have to pay for them all. Can I just eat the safe foods and not track. I can't be bothered to track.

Hercisback · 13/04/2023 07:34

800 calories a day? That seems very low. I really worry about working when eating so little.

TheEverdelightfulsamantha · 13/04/2023 07:36

It’s brilliant - I lost 16kgs - totally got the clean high which boost my ability to exercise - stopped because it takes effort to plan around a family, I started a new job and it was all too much. Considering starting again though. Important thing to remember is that when you are fat adapted - you can eat less fat - so double cream in your coffee is awesome for a couple of weeks - but then step it down a bit….

LikeEmeraldeyes · 13/04/2023 07:36

Please be very careful doing keto. This may have happened anyway but I did keto and ended up with awful issues. I ended up with months of bloating, acid reflux and stomach pain. And then my gallbladder became inflamed. I now have to strictly follow a low fat diet or I am in agony. The gp has sent me to a&e twice because they've been concerned symptoms have escalated.

Backinntheroom · 13/04/2023 07:40

Why would you even think this is an idea?
The keto diet could cause low blood pressure, kidney stones, constipation, nutrient deficiencies and an increased risk of heart disease. Strict diets like keto could also cause social isolation or disordered eating. Keto is not safe for those with any conditions involving their pancreas, liver, thyroid or gallbladder

Emigratingimmigrant · 13/04/2023 07:45

FWIW a banana is not healthy food, it is equivalent to a mars bar, your body takes both in and converts both to sugar and nothing else.
It's bullshit like this that makes people sit at home miserable in Muller lights fgs.

As on another thread, OP you will get lots of people with ED who now hide it behind more acceptable low carb/keto diets. Be vary, do your research and don't just trust randoms on random forum about VERY restrictive diets (not just about carbs)

Workawayxx · 13/04/2023 07:45

Yanbu. I love keto and even find if i fall off the wagon a bit it doesn’t matter too much - it’s like the effects stick around for a bit eg last year I was doing it properly, ate a few carbs over Christmas (around a 2 week period) and still lost 1 lb. Also much less hunger/cravings and really good for my mood. I’m back on track now and hoping to just stick with it (for the most part) forever. Also check out the glucose goddess book which is all about avoiding spikes in your blood sugar as an alternative.

HowcanIgetoutofthisalive · 13/04/2023 07:46

CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 12/04/2023 19:39

Try calorie deficit before you cut out any one food group.

It's changed my life with regards to the way I look at food.

I started at the beginning of January and I've lost 40lb.

I restrict no food groups. I eat healthy in the main, but I also have treats when I want. I just account for them.

The app Nutracheck is so good and easy to use.

Not sure if you are on tiktok, but some of the calorie deficit content creators are amazing to follow. So knowledgeable.

All I can say, is it works so good for me, like a switch has gone off and everything has just clicked into place.

I agree. I'm using nutracheck too. You pay monthly for it but it's worth it. It's just a data base of 000's of food and it's UK based.

Workawayxx · 13/04/2023 07:50

@Hercisback no tracking needed, or at least I don’t. I just don’t eat bread/pasta/rice etc, potatoes and sweet potatoes, fruit (except a few berries), beans/pulses (for the most part), anything with sugar. I do try to eat plenty of veg. I’ve never had the discipline to track food beyond a day or two. I also don’t beat myself up if I have the odd apple or satsuma.

SquashPenguin · 13/04/2023 07:58

Full ketosis is the extreme end and it’s very low carb. It’s amazing for weight loss and energy levels. I keep my carbs to around 60g a day (low but not quite low enough for ketosis), and I feel amazing. Your energy levels plummet the first few days and the headaches are real, but once your body adjusts you feel great. I don’t get any sugar cravings, my appetite is normal and I don’t eat out out of greed. I’m vegetarian so obviously I don’t fill up on bacon or steak, but I eat loads of avocado, cheese, Greek yoghurt, nuts, berries, asparagus, kale, spinach, eggs, quorn chicken, etc. I also have a degree of insulin resistance which is why my gp recommended it to me. I can’t lose weight calorie counting, that just doesn’t work for me.

doglover90 · 13/04/2023 08:03

I tried keto and found it a real faff. I think it only works if you are also counting calories, as I ended up having lots of heavy cream iced lattes and bacon and avocado and, unsurprisingly, not losing anything 😂 Eating out at restaurants was a nightmare. Plus completely cutting out carbs is not sustainable long term. That said, I know it does work for a lot of people.

For me, simply tracking my calories, exercising and making high protein dishes with wholegrains and lots of veggies was ultimately successful and sustainable.

ImSweetEnoughDarlin · 13/04/2023 08:13

Backinntheroom · 13/04/2023 07:40

Why would you even think this is an idea?
The keto diet could cause low blood pressure, kidney stones, constipation, nutrient deficiencies and an increased risk of heart disease. Strict diets like keto could also cause social isolation or disordered eating. Keto is not safe for those with any conditions involving their pancreas, liver, thyroid or gallbladder

Please don't post when you don't know what you are talking about.

Thanks!

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/04/2023 08:22

Have a look at Freshwell.

It was designed by a group of doctors to help their diabetic patients lose weight and reduce sugar.

It was so successful that the NHS are now looking at it.

There are loads of meal plans and recipes. They’re basic premise is only eat English fruit/veg that is grown above ground. That makes counting carbs easy. No sugar.

BIWI · 13/04/2023 08:27

Do you mean keto @Gogogo1 or low carb? There's a big difference.

Keto is - I think - unnecessarily strict, as you are only allowed 20g carbs per day. It's very hard to keep your carbs that low.

Backinntheroom · 13/04/2023 08:30

Also, @ImSweetEnoughDarlin , perhaps don't tell me I do not know what i am talking about when you do not kknow anything about me

rookiemere · 13/04/2023 08:37

Workawayxx · 13/04/2023 07:50

@Hercisback no tracking needed, or at least I don’t. I just don’t eat bread/pasta/rice etc, potatoes and sweet potatoes, fruit (except a few berries), beans/pulses (for the most part), anything with sugar. I do try to eat plenty of veg. I’ve never had the discipline to track food beyond a day or two. I also don’t beat myself up if I have the odd apple or satsuma.

This is exactly what I am doing and am losing weight slowly and steadily.

I've never been in keto - something to do with milk and sweetcorn I suspect- but as long as I'm losing and having stopped having sugar crashes, I'm happy with this way of living.

I don't find it a nightmare when out for meals- I just ask for extra veg to replace the chips or just leave them.

StuntNun · 13/04/2023 08:38

I've never done keto but I've been low carb for about ten years. Before I started I was eating every couple of hours and I would get so hungry I couldn't focus on anything until I got some food. Today I'm deciding whether to eat breakfast or whether to wait until lunchtime to eat. My hunger rises slowly and predictably rather than the "got to eat now" hangry feeling I used to get. I don't count or weigh anything. I eat meat, fish, eggs, full-fat dairy, berries, most vegetables that grow above ground but also a few that grow below ground such as swede and celeriac root. Nuts and dark chocolate are treats to be enjoyed in small quantities. The Diet Doctor website is a good place to start as they have pictorial food guides like this one: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/vegetables

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