Keto is not a quick fix

(Brian) #41

It is also interesting to give thought to the idea that the keto WOE is not only about a person’s weight. That’s where most of the attention goes but it’s more than that. This way of eating is intended to help a person be healthy. Sometimes I kinda think that having such a heavy focus on weight and only weight may not be in our long term best interest anyway. Sure, weight is important. But when we feed our bodies with the fuel it needs to be healthy, weight issues will often resolve themselves over time.

My own keto journey started rather abruptly as I felt like I had the choice of radical change or die soon. I chose the radical change. Lots of stuff happened early on including a major weight loss. But as I am getting closer to where I think my weight should probably be, the rate of loss has slowed. I’m just fine with that. My body has gone through a bunch of changes. I’m much more physically active. I’m eating plenty of good quality food. I’ve left nearly all of the sugars and starches behind. I suspect there are even more changes my body has in store, and I’m fine with the idea that it may take even another year or so for me to see “one-derland”. Then again, it may not take that long. Don’t really care. I’m not really all that focused on a scale number anymore. Yeah, I’m interested. And yeah, I’d like it to go down some more. But the primary goal is good health, which entails a good bit more than weight and eating habits.

Just what came to mind…

:slight_smile:

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #42

It bears repeating that a ketogenic diet is not primarily about weight loss, even though many people embrace it in order to lose weight. Its primary benefit is the restoration of metabolic health by reducing insulin levels (and eventually insulin resistance). Weight loss is usually one of the benefits of a well-formulated ketogenic diet, because obesity is usually one of the symptoms of metabolic disease, and returning to normal weight is therefore one of the signs of increasing metabolic health.

The way I figure it, although I’d still like to lose another fifty pounds, I’d rather keep my belly if it means that I also get to keep my feet and toes. Though I do have to admit that amputating my legs at the knees would probably get my weight down quite nicely. Hmmm . . . ! :grin:

(Rob) #43

If you stay with it, it will in almost all cases… that’s why it’s a WoE not a diet. If you stop, you will revert - that’s just how the body works for the vast majority of people. There are always exceptions but you can’t be put off by the chance you are a MORE special snowflake. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Usually because they fall off the very restrictive and unappealing wagon that accompanies WLS. It is a painful road to hoe, far harder than keto.

As you get deeper into keto, most people can have a carby treat (as a treat) with little to no effect, but you go back to 200-400g carbs a day and you get what you pay for. Speed of loss means little metabolically so shouldn’t matter to success, though your point about making the most of the extra time to know yourself better can’t be a bad thing.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #44

Yes, roads are harder to hoe than dirt, and painfully so, I would imagine.

Forgive me, Cap. It’s actually a rather lovely image, despite being another example of AUTOCORRECT GONE MAD! :smiley:

(Rob) #45

True, it should be “row” BUT it’s not auto-carrot - “road” has been in fairly common usage since the 60’s (probably coming from a viral mistake). I’d heard “road” many times and hadn’t thought about how little sense it makes :grin:

(Ron D. Garrett) #46

Yes. KCKO ALSO!!! Thank you!

(Ron D. Garrett) #47

Same here! If I had stayed in the Carb course I believe I would have been dead I’m a year or two maybe a few more.

(Ron D. Garrett) #48

Amen!!! Thank you for those kind words!!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #49

Actually, these things do tend to mutate a little, and then nasty-minded folk like me point out the inconsistency. :smiley:

One of my favorites, by the way, is “It’s a doggy-dog world,” for “dog-eat-dog.” “Doggy-dog” sounds a lot sweeter, doesn’t it?

(Kelly) #50

Keto is not a quick fix, but it is discouraging when you are doing all the right things and its not melting off like it is others. I only had 45 lbs to lose from the start, i am down 15, im not giving up, because what i have gained is less pain, more mobility, less inflammation , I will be happy when the weight comes off. This forum as well as people like Amy Smith on facebook have given me great info, support and insight. There is so much info out there about keto, it can be very overwhelming

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #51

Be sure not to restrict calories, because that will cause your body to slow down your metabolism and hang on to your fat stores. If you’re feeling stuck, double check your food to make sure it doesn’t have any carbs you don’t know about, and eat more fat, to give your body enough energy to work with. And give your scale to your worst enemy. :blush:

(Ron D. Garrett) #52

One of the most valuable lessons that I taught the individuals that I’ve trained in powerlifting or bodybuilding is to learn to not compare themselves to others because it cheapens the value of your own journey.

As I’ve said before “WHAT IF” your body needs this time to heal itself? It’s worth the slower level of progress that wrongly is compared to others when we realize that since we cannot see inside the body that slower weight loss could simply be a result of the healing of the body which the body places more importance on than losing weight.

The health component of Keto is vastly more important than mere weight loss since the truth is that “fit” people die everyday that don’t need to lose any weight and
I’ve seen it happen.

So please continue to be patient as you are worth it my friend.

Changing that mindset of not being patient with your body is just important and IMHO of great value.

Black

(Alec) #53

Amen to that, and loud cheering :clap::clap::clap::clap:

I am also throwing away all my old fat guy clothes and I have few clothes left!!

My problem has always been not regaining. But this feels different. I am never starving, I love the food, I have lost twice as much as I ever have before (and so easily!), and I am convinced this is backed by science whereas the CW (CICO and low fat) are not. My previous failures and regaining have always been on CICO and low fat. This feels to me something that I can do forever; there is no struggle. I LOVE eating keto, simple as.

(Ron D. Garrett) #54

I’m with you!

#55

Amen to that!

(Kelly) #56

You are Absolutely right, i do feel so much better, more energy, less joint pain, no bloated heavy feeling in my gut. Thank you for your reply

(Ron D. Garrett) #57

Amen!!

(Dan Tam Keto) #58

I agree. Even though I lost weight by 10kg since I started the diet half year ago I still got the prediabetes reading on blood sugar level and very high on LDL cholesterol. And the HDL is not great either. But since the diet won’t spike insulin if carefully managed I intend to continue the diet long term.

(Ron D. Garrett) #59

Thank you. It’s a process and a great one

#60

Awesome post! Very important for everyone to hear, especially those new to keto. I still struggle with “scale-watching” but I’ve learned to incorporate blood-ketone checking when I see not so favorable results on the scale.