What is Keto?
Keto, otherwise known as a low-carb and high-fat diet. Keto is primarily consist of 5-10% carb and 70-80% fat as well as 10-20% coming from proteins. We generally get the most of our energy from carbohydrates; however when those are reduced our body has to get the energy from other sources. Including the liver, muscles, and stored fat(this is where ketones are found!). After using all of the stored up glucose, insulin is released which causes the body to switch to fat as the main source. The ketones help energize our body when glucose levels are insufficient. When the ketones build up in the blood, this is when the body reaches ketosis!
FAT > CARBS
General Symptoms
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My Symptoms
General: hunger, irritability, fatigue, constipation, headaches, brain fog, moodiness
Mine: headache, constipation, moodiness, hunger, brain fog
Keto
Symptoms
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Benefits
General Benefits
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My Benefits
General: improved blood sugar/cholesterol, weight-loss
Mine: weight loss
Keto Data
Day 1
-Weight: 141.6lbs
- Mood: Unenthusiastic
Day 15
-Weight: 135.6lbs
- Mood: Excited
Day 31
-Weight: 131.2lbs
- Mood: Grateful
My Keto Journey:
Was it worth it and would I recommend it?
Conclusion
What started as a dreaded diet ended as a journey that I am grateful I participated in. I will admit that it started off extremely difficult. However, after a few days it became a habit of not eating carbs, therefore it got easier. Since I am a picky eater it was a challenge to have variety in my pallet. I also found it challenging to find appealing food in campus dining. After a month of keto, I lost 10.4 pounds and am now at 16% body fat. While my energy did seem lower, I did not notice any serious weakness during my workouts. In fact, I felt myself getting stronger and being able to lift more weights than ever before. In the end, would I recommend the keto diet? Yes and no. If your overall goal is to lose a quick amount of weight keto is a good way to do that; however if you are looking for a diet that is sustainable, keto is not the diet for you. There are lots of foods that have carbohydrates in them that make it hard to stay under 20-50grams. For example fruits such as apples and bananas are very high in carbohydrates! All in all, I am glad I completed a month of keto.