I'm 15 and trying keto, is it healthy?

keto
newbies
(Jack) #1

I’m only 15 years old, almost 16. I have been cutting carbs to under 50g per day, for a week. I lost about 6lb, which I assume is water weight. I just wanted to know if it is healthy to try keto. My parents are not very supportive of me, they think it will stunt my growth. Thanks!

(Kevin M.) #2

Hey Jack,

Yes by all means the ketogenics diet is healthy and safe!!!

And it is NOT gonna stunt your growth at all :blush:

(Athena) #3

My 13yr old daughter eats Keto, keeping to under 50 carbs per day. She is very happy and doing well. Some days she’ll eat less carbs, but not right now, because Satsumas are in season! :tangerine:

(Keto in Katy) #4

Jack: last year my 15 year old son decided to go keto with me and his mom. He is a big kid, about 6-2, and weighed 233 lbs at the time. He dropped all the junk food, sweets, soft drinks, pizza, etc — in less than a year he was down over 60 lbs. Zero exercise, just a change of diet.

He doesn’t like veggies so he ate mostly fatty meat. He lost 8 lbs the first week (probably mostly water, as you mentioned), and the weight just kept dropping off. He feels MUCH better now with a lot more energy.

In my experience it seems very safe for young people. I hope your parents will take the time to learn about the ketogenic diet and really understand what is going on. In any case, good luck to you!

(Tim Adams) #5

Always be respectful to your parents, but “it’ll stunt your growth” is in the parent handbook for things to say when we aren’t quite sure about something. Lol It’s easier that way! :grin:
My whole family is living la keto loca currently, including my 14 and 16 yr old daughters. We are all loving the changes in our lives and weight. It is a little tough around the holidays with candy and Christmas cookies everywhere , but we all have done great.
I think you’ll do awesome too. And maybe your folks will “come around” when they notice the changes keto makes for you! Good luck and I think you’ve made a good choice.

(Tim Adams) #6

PS. Stay away from bullet proof coffee. It will stunt your growth. JUST KIDDING, it’s delicious! Lol

(Jennifer) #7

My 15 going on 16 year old is tall and skinny and doesn’t need to eat keto, per say. But, he eats what I make so he gets a lot of keto foods. He has started listening to his body and most days doesn’t eat breakfast. He will make a coffee with cream (no sweetener) to take to school and about half the time he ends up skipping lunch too.

I used to harp on him to eat something, I must admit I was wrong to force food on him. He eats when he is hungry.

Even if you just cut sugar, sweets, and the starchy carbs, you will do yourself a world of good. Eat when you are hungry and try to balance your protein with good healthy fats.

Best of luck to you!

(Jennifer) #8

I never did develop a taste for coffee - I find it kind of funny that both my kids both love it and even drink it black. Yuck!

(Chris) #9

Cutting out junk food is always a wise decision no matter the age. Real protein sources and above ground vegetables should be the basis of everyone’s daily woe

(Ken) #10

My son went lipolytic between his Sophomore and Junior years. He easily dropped 30lbs., going from size 34 pants to size 29. He went from being a fat kid to being #3 on his school’s Cross Country squad.

I suggest keeping protein moderate rather than low, and once you’ve done it a month or two you can eats carbs on the weekends. Since you’re still growing, EF is not necessary, but if you’re trying to lose body fat make sure you’re hungry by the time you eat. This often results in some degree of IF.

(Ryan) #11

You and parents may find it interesting to read through Tom Naughton’s book together which makes it really easy to understand a lot of the science. It is easy to read and you can pick up a few pages a time without too much time investment.

I’ve been enjoying the book since the dudes interviewed him on http://2ketodudes.com/show.aspx?episode=66
https://www.amazon.com/Fat-Head-Kids-Stuff-Health/dp/0998673404/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513550975&sr=8-1&keywords=fathead+kids

(Dan Dan) #12

Jack check out these guys:


“May the Force (fat adaption) be with you”

IF/EF Keto WOE is Self-Discovery :wink:

Good luck and much success in your journey in IF/EF Keto WOE :grin:

#13

I eat Keto and I have at least 3 kids that are still growing. I do not believe keto is the best option to optimize growth. If they were 6’2 by all means. Since one is a 5’2 boy I do not encourage him to eat keto. Instead I focus on whole foods, meats, lean or fatty and few added carbs. If he is not hungry I do not encourage him to eat. I think in this context paleo plus dairy may be more ideal. Getting some carbs, mostly from whole foods is ideal in my opinion. While it may turn out that I am wrong and he would be able to optimize nutrition on keto, if I am not there is no way to replace the lost growth

(Dan Dan) #14

“Instead I focus on whole foods, meats, lean or fatty and few added carbs.”

Execpt for the lean meats you just described “Keto”:thinking:

“May the Force (fat adaption) be with you”

IF/EF Keto WOE is Self-Discovery :wink:

Good luck and much success in your journey in IF/EF Keto WOE :grin:

(Jack) #15

Haha. My family thinks its crazy that I like it black as well

(Jack) #16

Thanks for the help! Good to know.

(Keto in Katy) #17

Not disagreeing with you, but what brings you to this conclusion?

(Ken) #18

Paleo IS the 60/35/5% fat based macro. Plus no grains, beans, or dairy.

(VLC.MD) #19

Nothing wrong with charting growth every 3 months for kids on Keto.
Childhood growth + Keto is unlikely something studied.

#20

Childhood growth + Keto is unlikely something studied

This!

There is no data showing it improves growth. There is limited data showing it delays growth in the atypical epileptic population through anecdotal reports of catch growth reported when kids are not on ketones. I am not saying it will delay growth simply that no one knows and the consequences if it does are too severe for my family.

Since my growing son is already a teenager, there will be no opportunity for catch up growth later. I can fix his insulin resistance (assuming he has any, his fasting BG is 84) later, I cannot make him grow later. Also, other than a weight problem he has no major issues that I am aware of, ok socially and academically, so the trade off socially at parties and school would not be worth it in his case. If he had epilepsy or was bi polar I might try it as an adjunct therapy. I did recommend it to a friend whose son is on medication for a mental health issue but her son’s height genetics are much better than my son’s (her H is almost a foot taller than mine!)