Trying to simplify "keto" in my mind

#1

. . . and not only in my mind but all the people I talk to about it. Over the next week I know I will have lots of people asking me/bashing me about it so I want to know exactly what I’m talking about when I talk about it.

I USED TO think that there was some magic science in eating low carb/high fat that caused people to lose significant weight. Now that I’m learning more about it, I’m thinking it’s not so much a “behind the scenes” chemistry going on, but instead more simply: it teaches your body to burn fat instead of carbs; when your body is burning fat, you’r not as hungry; when you’re not as hungry, you eat less. Less calories in = weight loss.

So, hypothetically, it’s simply the CALORIE REDUCTION that’s causing the losses and the same effect could be obtained by eating carbs as long as you keep your calories low. Of course that’s not easy to do and not usually sustainable because we’re hungry and white-knuckling it, but basically it is simply the CALORIE REDUCTION that makes this way of eating successful?
Sue

(Michael ) #2

Yes and no. If you were previously eating 5000 cal a day and keto made you only want to eat 2000, great. If your caloric needs are 2000 and you’re eating 1500, over time your metabolic rate will adjust to 1500 and you will stagnate. So, important to try to get the calories you need most days. In my opinion it’s the lack of constant elevated insulin trimming love handles. This is also why cutting out snacks and IF help so much. Even a diet devoid of carbs raises insulin when eating so the longer you go without eatong, the more fat burned. Insulin puts the body in fat storage mode. Absence of insulin puts it in fat burning mode. Look at a picture of a type 1 diabetic without insulin treatment. Feed them 10k calories a day, they’ll starve.

This is why my posts generally focus on insulin and not calorie in calorie out. But yes, create a calorie deficit and you will lose weight for awhile. This is why every eat less, move more diet is successful but not long term as the metabolic rate adapts and comes back tp make fools of us all

Sorry, of this over complicated it again for you. But i think it’s important to understand the role of insulin to avoid pitfalls and discourage under eating. Who wants to be hungry and cold all day?

#3

Thanks for the reminder that the insulin is a key factor… that’s something that was never really discussed when I did Atkins 20 years ago. You definitely didn’t over-complicate it, you just added another bullet-point that I can share with others who are genuinely interested.

And BINGO - people who lose weight by calorie-reduction alone reach a plateau they can’t break because their metabolism adapted to their lower calories!!! Been there, done that.
Sue

(Michael ) #4

Hopefully your hormones and general well being levels out and you will start seeing some progress. At the very leadt, you’re on track to be healthier

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #5

How’s this for simple: Insulin is the fat-storage hormone, and eating carbohydrate stimulates insulin production. So cutting carbs to the bone and replacing the calories with fat (which does not stimulate insulin production) lets our bodies burn fat rather than store it. And fat is very satisfying, so we don’t have to count calories; if we eat only when hungry, our bodies will tell us when to stop.

#6

Pretty basic, easy to understand, and logical. I really didn’t know (before a few weeks ago) that insulin was a fat-storing hormone. Actually, I didn’t know it was a hormone at all!

Thank you for this. I need to go do some reading and learning about insulin.
Sue

#7

It is absolutely the insulin rather than the caloric restriction. There are posts where people claim to eat 5000 calories a day on keto and not gain.

High insulin prevents the release of fat, low insulin encourages the body to burn fat. You do not adapt to the lower caloric input because if you are burning fat this continues to provide energy and your body does not feel deprived. The person who explains all of this best is Dr. Jason Fung. You should read his entire blog going back to 2013

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #8

Although this sort of thing has indeed been documented, we should probably mention that it’s not all that common. (More usually, when people in the early stages of fat loss eat fat to satiety, their bodies generally call a halt around 1500 calories a day, according to Dr. Phinney.)

But I often wonder what it is about those people whose bodies want so many more calories and yet are still capable of burning off stored fat. They must have a lot of healing to do, is all I can think of. I certainly lose all interest in food long before I’ve eaten 3000 calories, much less 5000! :bacon:

(Zoe ) #9

Sue, have you listened to any of the 2 Keto dudes podcast. They set up the forums. They have some great info about it, especially the first 5 or so episodes and there is also a for newbies more recently. That might be a good place to get your head around what we think is going on in keto. I listen straight from the page but you can also listen through a podcasting app.

#10

Thanks, Zoe. I have listened to a couple but would love to find the chance to listen to more. Can’t do it from the office (where I spend WAY too much time) and evenings are always jam-packed. I have downloaded them to my phone so I can listen to them while I walk, but now it’s always dark and cold by the time I find the time to walk. :frowning_woman:
Sue