After keto

(Saleem) #1

I have a question about what to do after you hit your weight target and for some reason decide to stop doing keto.

I have a friend who is really intrigued and wants to do a keto diet. Unfortunately we live in Jordan (Middle East) and we definitely dont have a well informed doctor that could or would encourage a keto diet. He is on statin, has been for three years. He asked his doctor and she simply said “what would happen once you stop keto. You will die”.

Although I am a believer That if you triglycerides are low your HDL is high then you should be fine if your LDL is high. Or better LDL-P (or apoB) Better in predicting adverse cardiac events.

Still what would be the outcome when someone stops keto.

#2

I don’t have any idea what she means - starting keto is ok, but somehow if he does it and then stops, he’ll die? (what?!)

Some people find that they can re-introduce some carbs some of the time (especially around exercise) and do fine. Others are much happier just staying very low carb (maybe in the range of 40g/day) and others still thrive on 0-20g and see no reason to stop.

Mostly I think it depends on what “stopping keto” means: how would he eat?

(*Rusty* Instagram: @Rustyk61) #3

Can’t think of a good reason that I would want to stop. Why gamble with your health?

(*Rusty* Instagram: @Rustyk61) #4

you wont die, but you will start to undo all the good that you’ve done.

(Saleem) #5

For the sake of arguing let’s say he goes back to 60% carbs . 30% protein and 10 % of fat.

I would assume as his body has become efficient at releasing triglycerides and the increase of LDL ( large bounce LDL) it might convert them to the small dense and cause problems by oxidation. Causing serious health issues.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #6

Well, we know that eating a lot of carbohydrate causes the pancreas to secrete a lot of insulin, and that insulin stimulates the storeage of fat. So if you stop eating keto and go back to being a sugar-burner, then you will eventually gain back all the weight, become diabetic again, develop heart disease, etc.

When I get down to my ideal weight, I’ll just keep eating ketogenically. That way I can keep my body at that weight indefinitely and retain all the health gains I’ve received from keto.

(Allie) #7

I have no intention of ever stopping keto, why would anyone want to with all the benefits?

#8

Is that what he’s doing now? ten percent fat is really hard to do long term. There are lots of health reasons to not eat this way, but there is something about keeping fat extremely low that seems to mediate the carb/insulin response. I don’t quite understand how it works but many folks who are truly LF/HC have good sugar control (but fertility, cognitive health, overall vitality… those I wouldn’t count on). Also depends on genetics and on the quality of those carbs fat and protein.

But I agree with everyone else: especially if he does have success with keto, why would he go back?

(Allie) #9

No one here can answer what will happen, but surely it’s common sense to assume that returning to old habits will cause a return of old problems?

(KCKO, KCFO 🥥) #10

Lots of people have started Keto and did not continue eating that way after weight losses, they did not die from it. Not sure where the dr. is coming from with her statement.

Once he gets to the weight he wants, he should just gradually add back in some carbs. The New Atkins for You book explains how you can add back in carbs gradually until you reach the point where you start to gain again or just lose other benefits, like lack of painful joint.

I started Keto, lost some weight started adding some carbs back, stalled out around 50-75 gram per day, so I also added fasting to my plan. I lost the weight I needed to and a few extra lbs. I have been maintaining for over 6 months now. I eat up to 50 grams of carbs per day, but not every day because I don’t always want them, I just hit 20 to 30 grams most days. We are all different in our carb tolerance. Point is, I lost on keto, added in carbs, and did not die.