New here, not to keto

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #1

Hello, I am a 44y old male. I did a keto diet (Pronokal) years ago, and it worked pretty well: I lost about 25kg, 15kg of which the first month. I kept my weight for a few years, so no yo-yo on the short to medium term. I was cooking myself. But then my lifestyle changed, and I have regained the weight.

Now I am starting a keto diet with a doctor, with a different brand (Therascience; well, in fact Therascience and Pronokal are high protein diets, not really keto … I need to learn more about this issue), but quite similar to Pronokal. My doctor seems to know this kind of diets pretty well (she has recommended me magnesium, sodium, potassium … and a good blood test).

She said to me that the second time a person tries a keto diet, the results are not as good as the first one. For example, she tells me that instead of losing 15kg the first month, maybe I will lose 8 or 9kg.

Is this correct? I have never seen this lack of efficiency due to repeated use before, written anywhere. But it seems she knows a lot about the subject.

Looking forward to learn here, and especially to learn what to do after the diet finishes (exit strategy).

(Chas) #2

Hey Arbre

I’m new also and Welcome. I have also heard about the 2nd time around reduction but cannot find any source of it. Anyways, 9Kg is still good. my mantra is not to chase actual weight loos targets as you will be disappointed. as long as Im seeing a weekly reduction then I’m happy.

Regards

(Susan) #3

Welcome to the forum @Arbre

You will need to keep doing Keto after you lose the weight, or you will gain it back. It is more than just a diet, it is a lifestyle.

If you do 20 grams of carbs or less a day, NO sugar (some people cannot handle sweeteners either), enough proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of water, and enough Electrolytes/salt then you will lose weight, but it takes time. Keto is like the tortoise and the hare children’s fable, slow and steady wins the race. You will feel better, and get so much healthier being a Keto person though, so welcome to your new life =).

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #4

Thank you Susan!

A question, in relation to your comments: after a person reaches his/her ideal weight using a keto diet, what is recommended to do? How should the “stable diet” after that moment? It is say 40 grams of carbs per day? Or the “right metric” is a completely different one?

I assume that there is a lot of controversy about this issue, and probably very little scientific backup. At least when I read about it a few years ago, ketosis was not considered a diet to be kept forever. But I assume “keto science” is still a very new one, and things may change with new research results.

Is there a good source to read? Rigorous but simple to understand for the layman?

(Susan) #5

There are a lot of people on the forum that have been on Keto for years and are in maintenance, still doing Keto. They can probably answer those questions better then me, as I have been doing it since February. I have lost 43 pounds so far, and I have 130ish to go. I was 293 and now 250, and I am 54, and have had 5 kids, and have 2 grand children.

After I am mainenance (which will obviously take a long time still) I plan to stay doing the Keto lifestyle because there are so many awesome benefits and it is very healthy. Later on, in a few months when you are fat adapted and want to do IF and fasting, you will get benefits from Autophagy as well. For now, don’t worry about that though!

Many on here that are on maintenance still do the Fasts because it tightens your skin, makes you look younger, has health benefits for diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. There is so much to learn with Keto, but it is all exciting and positive.

For now; though just focus on the basics and enjoy the journey =) and any questions, ask!

(Ashley) #6

What are these brands you speak of? Are these medications? Typically if it was me, no medications, you do not need them. Do you need sodium, potassium and magnesium? Yes but you can get most of your daily stuff from food, I don’t supplement really at all and have been fine. If you feel sick it’s probably electrolytes. 20g or under of actual carbs or net carbs, depends on the person. Net is carbs minus the fiber. Actual carbs is whatever the nutrition says. As for after losing weight, stay on the diet. Unless you want to go back. I’ve lost 60lbs without any medication. It’s not needed in my opinion.

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #7

Thank you for all the comments!

These two products are, I think, mostly French, I believe. I live in Barcelona.

In fact, when I went to see the doctor, I wanted a keto diet without Pronokal, because I knew that a keto could be done without artificial products. However, the amount of doctors doing keto is not great (and this doctor is included in my health insurance). Then, when she told me to use artificial products, I said ok. Also, it seems the transition towards “normal food” is going to be faster than with Pronokal, so I do not complain.

And psychologically, I think it will be easier to stick to the diet with artificial products, at least on the short term. But after a month, I believe I will start adding natural products (in addition to the current 2 portions of vegetables of now).

I am taking sodium/potassium/magnesium through some product of the same brand of the food, as well as vitamins. On that side, my doctor is controlling me well. I have also taken a blood test, ordered by her. We will do further blood tests in the future. I am also adding salt to the food. On that side, I feel pretty safe and controlled by my doctor.

It is good to hear a keto diet can be kept “forever”. Is there some idea of what to do for special occasions, such as Christmas or Birthdays? Is “excess” allowed on these occasions? I ask this because I know the keto diet, at least in the “losing weight phase”, has to be done perfectly. If you eat something not allowed, you immediately get out of ketosis. I did it well the first time, without failing even once, but I know this is a critical issue.

But maybe in the “stable phase” some “excess” is allowed? In fact, during the “stable phase” is it really ketosis? Or glucose is used for energy, but simply with less sugars?

(Susan) #8

Many people do “cheat” on special occasions and then just get right back to proper Keto eating after. I would not suggest this for quite some time though; try to stick to the program for now =). Some people also follow with Fasting for a couple of days after a holiday, etc. but as long as you are following Keto and those days are just once a while =).

For now, stick to following it =). For sure in the future, for birthday’s, or holidays there will be times when you have foods that are not Keto, and then just get back on track afterwards.

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #9

Sure, for the next months I will try to do the keto diet 100% perfect. I know I can do it, since I did it in the past.

But my doctor told me to start thinking how I will organize my life after reaching my weight target. The reason is that when I changed my lifestyle to the current one (family etc) I failed. So I need to change what I do in a very significant way, in order to have a stable weight for the rest of my life.

(Susan) #10

For now, just do Keto =) and when you get to that stage, I am sure you will be so in love with it, and how it changes your body, and makes you feel, that you will want to just continue with it!

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #11

Yes, I am sure of that, because I already did it … the problem is that by then I was cooking for myself alone, and I knew exactly what I was buying, cooking and eating. But now, luckily, I have a wife, and then decisions become blurred … especially with somebody like my wife, who lives out of carbs and sugars (she eats very little proteins and fats), and she remains slim! (this is why I regained my weight again).

So, I have to think hard how to make compatible family life with my health.

(Susan) #12

I cook all the meals for my husband, three of our daughters still at home (well the 25 is temporarily as she was living in another city and is buying a house with her boyfriend and moving out soon again) but my 18 and 21 year old daughters, my 3 year old grand daughter, and my 23 year old son comes home on Sunday’s for a home cooked meal too.

I cook them food, and it is totally non-Keto, they all eat carbage .

I make their food, and my food, and I fast a lot, and still cook all their food while fasting. So if I can do that, and stay on track, with no cheating, then you can stay on track too =-).