VLCD packs >50g of carbs? Keto?

[BirdsAndBlips]

Hi,

Weight loss board noob here, looking for some guidance.

I've been reading a lot about keto and I'm looking into meal replacements for 12 weeks + therapy before reintroducing actual keto food.

Most keto ratio calculators tell me to eat 70% fat / 20-25% proteins / 5-10% carbs. I read it usually means less than 35g of (net) carbs.

I'm surprised though because if I sum up 3 packs worth of Exante (flapjack, spaghetti, chili) I get roughly:

• 60g of carbs (42g net)
• 50g of proteins
• 15g of fat

Which is not the ratio I was expecting.

So Exante VLCD pack are not keto? Would you go into ketosis with 42g of carbs a day? Am I looking at the wrong VLCD meals replacements? (I need it to be delivered to a EU country).

Thanks a lot

Going into ketosis is a combination of calories restriction and low carbs.

So, the higher your level of calories the lower your level of carbs needs to be.

On a VLCD you are eating no more than 800 calories per day and less than 50g carbs - this is suitable to send you into ketosis - at least to the extent that your appetite will be curbed.

Most people will fall into ketosis at fewer than 50g carbs in any case. However I would say that VCLD diets utilise the ketosis to keep your appetite low - but they are not strictly ketogenic as the fat levels are too low.

As you start to increase your calories again (after the diet) you need to lower your carbs to compensate.

Remember that most of us eat 200 to 400g carbs on a normal day - so 50gs is significantly lower than a normal diet.

BTW - VCLD diets really do work becuase your appetite drops off due to the ketosis. But you need to be quite strict.

I lost 4 Stone and the only way I kept it off was by being strictly ketogenic in my future diet. I had a high fat, low carb diet and it kept the weight off.

Until I started eating sugar and carbs again and here I am 5 Stone heavier! Starting a VCLD again...

Thank you and yes I read about VLCD boomerang effet before and was concerned. You answer my question, they're not ketogenic diets as such even if they use ketosis to keep you on track. I need to think a bit more.
Thanks :)

Although both VLCD and Keto diets are ones with low intake of carbs, they're still very different from the other and not to be confused as the same thing.

VLCD restrict calories. Keto does not. Additionally, your main source of enery/fuel on Keto is fat which makes up at least 70% of a Keto diet. You'll never achieve this on a meal replacement diet. or a VLCD as by its very nature, fat is calorific!

Maybe think about going full on Keto for a fortnight to and then moving onto VLCD meal replacements if you must. I don't think you'll feel sated a on VLCD, and that's the beauty of keto, fat keeps you full!

Fasting will also get you into ketosis within a few days.

Good luck OP!