Keto but not for weight loss

#1

I am a relatively healthy 32 year old male who does strengthening exercises 5 times per week and cardio 1-2 times per week.

For as long as I can remember I have had problems with major gas and bloating. It was so bad it started to affect my relationships. I tried keto once and found that my gas problem went away! I want to keep doing keto but I watched a video from Thomas delauer on YouTube which said that too much protein on a keto diet can actually make you lose muscle as the ketones actually help preserve muscles.

You might then ask why don’t I just consume more fat if I want to gain/retain muscle. I use an app to track calories/nutrients and found that if I want to do the healthy version of keto then I would need to consume more protein than what is recommended because I don’t want to just eat bacon and butter.

So my question is what happens if you eat too much protein on a keto diet? Will you lose muscle mass? I am already at a healthy BMI so my goal is not weight loss, although I wouldn’t mind losing fat in exchange for muscle gains

(Running from stupidity) #2

When you say “found” do you mean by tracking and learning, or just by looking at the guesses they use for macro numbers?

So my question is what happens if you eat too much protein on a keto diet? Will you lose muscle mass?

Not at all. There’s a reason bodybuilders smash protein down like there’s a shortage on the way.

(Robert C) #3

Try a few weeks (several) without non-natural protein sources.
No powders of any kind.
No supplements.

Women do not run for the back door because you are a few percent off of being ripped.
But, high protein shake blasts are going to help them flee (any women want to vote on this?)

#4

Tracking and learning.

Can you elaborate on your second response? I know bodybuilders on a regular diet consume a lot of protein but I’m speaking from a keto standpoint. This delauer guy is supposed to be quite knowledgeable… From what I understand, excessive protein gets converted to sugar and can bring you out of ketosis. More fat ensures this doesn’t happen by producing ketones, which is supposed to aid in muscle retention. Not suggesting you are wrong, just trying to understand the science.

#5

Protein powders definitely contribute to my gas issue but they’re not the sole cause. Weeks of attempting the process of elimination have led me to believe it is not a single food that causes my flatulence but rather a whole bunch of foods which seem to have a compounding effect when eaten together… carbs in general

#6

There are sources other than Delauer worth looking at. Are you familiar with Drs Ted Naiman & Ben Bikman? The protein issue is far from settled & it’s best to look at all viewpoints then find what works best for you. FWIW I eat at the higher end of protein & have gained muscle with weight training.

(Alex ) #7

If you’re using protein powders, or taking in other dairy products, you might find it’s these that are giving you gas and you have an intolerance to the lactose?

There are different protein powders formulas that can alleviate this, such as more isolate based but perhaps this could be a contributing factor.

Protein farts are renowned when whey protein powders are being used! They stink.

#8

Yikes! Could well have to do with how most whey protein is highly processed. I enjoy undenatured raw grassfed whey powder and have no stagnation or flatulence from it of any kind, else I might reconsider. I usually eat the whey along with some kind of dietary fat & spices, either in a porridge or smoothie - which can help digestion.

Whey is a huge source of leucine, which promotes muscle growth. I originally started using it when doing intense strength training for that reason - but even without strength training, the whey is handy for boosting protein so that I can use less eggs to get my 30 grams protein in - and thus have a more porridgey porridge rather than an eggy one. :rofl:

(Alex ) #9

Yeah, if you choose a higher quality protein powder like a 97% percent one, a lot of people do notice less intense internal carnage. Most base standard protein powder is typically only 80% pure.

(Sheri Knauer) #10

Check out Robert Sykes. He is a 100% keto pro natural body builder. http://ketosavage.com
He’s very knowledgable when it comes to muscle building, fat loss and keto.

(Jane) #11

Kindness scores waaaaay more points with me than being “ripped”. And it is sexy, too.