Teenager Keto

(Jacob Seager) #1

Hey there :slight_smile:
I have recently gone on a keto diet and been on it for approx. 10 days now eating 15g of carbs a day. I am a 16 year old and 5ft 10 and weigh 180lbs. Long story short, I want to get to 170lbs in at least 1 to 1 and a half months to compete in a rowing race. I’ve read that some people have lost 15lbs in a month, so I was wondering if, being a teen with a higher metabolism, I will lose it quicker? Also, on the 6th day I kinda went on a carb ‘feast’ and had nearly 60g of carbs :frowning: Will this basically restart the routine? So far I’ve managed to lose 5 lbs but I think that is probably water weight.

Thankyou :slight_smile:

(Keto in Katy) #2

I think there is a good chance you can reach your goal but you may have to be very strict with your diet and no carb feasting. That will just sabotage your progress.

My 16 year old son lost 60 pounds two years ago but he stayed strict and avoided carbs. Good luck.

(Jacob Seager) #3

Thanks :slight_smile:

(Jay AM) #4

Note that, with less to lose you may lose slower. Also, the body likes homeostasis, if it’s at the weight it wants to be or close, it will be difficult to put it to a specific number. Especially if you have extra muscle. Keep strict basic keto and good luck.

#5

Good for you! It’s really hard to modify your diet as a teen. I’m trying to get my 16 year old daughter to go keto to help with her lupus, but she can’t make it past a day or two. >_<

Just remember that consistency is the key to results. It’s not about how quickly you can get to your goal, it’s how steadily. Develop new habits, keep tracking your calories and carbs and staying physically active, and you WILL get there. You cannot fail if you are putting in the effort. It’s more of a mental game than a physical one. Good luck to you!

(Jacob Seager) #6

Yes, obviously I don’t want to lose weight too quickly and I’m not planning too either. It’s not that I’m self-conscious about my weight, but in the long run, I do want to be a ‘healthier’ weight.

(Jacob Seager) #7

Yes, I have read about that. For me, I have a considerable amount of muscle around my chest, being a rower, but a lot of fat around my stomach. Once I hit 170lbs, I’ll relax it a little.

(the cheater) #8

You’ll be fine. That’s hardly a carb “feast” lol. My cheat days are 7k calories, mostly carbs and I’ve still managed to drop 15lbs in a month. I’m 35 - so I’m sure you’ll drop it off very fast. Then again, you’re only 170 - and I was 215 so I had a lot more to lose. Who knows? With keto, you’re going to find that everyone is different - that’s why you see the term n=1 all the time: just because something is so for someone, doesn’t mean the same thing will be so for you. Good luck!

(Candy Lind) #9

Even if you DON’T get to that goal weight, you’ll have two legs up that will both help with the race - you should easily be running on fat by then (which means the “carbivores” will get gassed and you’ll still be going strong), and you will have less belly fat in the way. Just stick to strict keto and you’ll see the difference. Once you see how much better you feel with this way of life, I hope you’ll be convinced to keep going with it. You won’t regret it if you do! (NOTE: as you go through fat adaption, you may lose some strength/performance for a few days. It will pass, and you’ll have more energy than before.)

#10

I personally do not encourage my children to eat keto but they are still growing and I do not want to do anything in that context. I make a keto dinner, limit snacks but they are free to add a carb side dish if they choose. They are eating healthier. Are you still growing?

I think you should get to your goal. However if you go back to eating carbs you will regain over time. You may want to plan what you will do if and when you get to goal. Perhaps paleo? Perhaps stick to keto long term?

(Jay AM) #11

Do you discourage your children from doing keto? Have you found studies saying children need high carbs to grow? I’m not being sarcastic, I would love to read some studies in this.

#12

Here is an article based on a study.

https://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk/does-the-ketogenic-diet-affect-growth/

Note I am not that concerned since this is specific to epileptic children who are not a typical population. Under certain circumstances such as too little protein, growth will be restricted. It sounds like as long as certain precautions are taken the children are growing. However there is really no way to measure what their growth would have been without this diet so there is no way to prove that they are growing at the same rate as before. Even identical twins will end up different heights for random reasons (not related to keto). Meanwhile, the article is not saying that the keto diet stimulates growth.

Given that growth is an issue for my family as we have some short relatives, I want to do nothing to limit growth even to the smallest degree. Obviously if my kids had a condition that required limiting carbs I would encourage them but at present they do not. Interestingly, both of my college age children do not seem to do well on wheat and have started limiting it of their own choice. One of my younger children has Celiac but she eats plenty of carbs, not wheat though except by accident

Can a 15 year old to keto diets?
(Jacob Seager) #13

Thankyou for replying,
For me, 60g was a large feast lol. I had like 4 bags of chips and a fizzy drink.

Everything is going better than I expected now - the first week I did no training, but still lost 6 lbs. Now that I’ve started incorporating weights and cardio again, I lost ~ 2 lbs in a week but I feel better.

(Jacob Seager) #14

Everything you said has happened lol.

I’ve lost a lot of fat around my belly and upper body, and feel much better! :slight_smile:
Now to just increase my protein a bit.

Thanks for the help

(Candy Lind) #15

I love it when a plan comes together! :wink: