Dieting has long been a popular choice for people wanting to lose weight, whether that be just a little bit or a lot. But as long as there have been diets, there have also been critics about whether they actually work and it’s no different for a new diet that has taken the diet world by storm.
You might have heard the word ‘Keto’ being thrown around on social media recently but many people may not fully understand exactly what it means. The Everyday Health website explains the diet as being ‘based on the principle that by depleting the body of carbohydrates, which are its primary source of energy, you can force the body to burn fat for fuel, thereby maximising weight loss.’
Under this diet foods like potatoes, bread, pasta and anything that contains high amounts of sugar are not allowed, and while that seems like a lot there is actually lots you can still eat. Most vegetables are perfectly fine and the more the better on keto. And cheese lovers can go all out as the high fat content is perfect.
Read More: Doctor explains how to lose weight without dieting or doing more exercise
As with any diet, Keto dieting comes with its own health benefits but also health risks, which need to be thoroughly researched before starting any diet. Everyday Health provided a list of both risks and benefits this diet could have on individuals and they don’t just include rapid weight loss.
Benefits:
Athletes could see improvements in their performance, especially their endurance.
It could help Type 2 Diabetics control their blood glucose better.
People could really lose weight fast - but scientists cannot guarantee it's actually quicker than other diets.
Risks:
May suffer fatigue and other symptoms as a result of Keto flu.
Could get constipation - make sure to eat enough fruit and veg.
Could develop dangerous nutrient deficiencies if diet is not carefully planned.
The high fat and protein portion of the diet could negatively impact heart health, so not a diet for those who are at risk of developing any heart conditions.
Diabetics could experience low blood sugar levels - check with a health professional first.
Having seen people I know try Keto and lose quite a bit of weight, I decided to give the diet a go myself and see what results I could achieve. Unfortunately, due to other commitments elsewhere that would make this diet hard to follow, I only followed it for two weeks before having to take a break. But here is what I found and experienced during my attempt.
Overall, while I didn’t lose buckets of weight, again I had only been doing it for a round two weeks prior to stopping and I’m an average size, I could see some differences from when I started. The main one was, I felt I had maybe lost a slight bit of weight, a couple of pounds maybe, especially around my waist. Clothes that were more on tighter size before the diet were more comfortable, looser even.
Another thing this diet did was reduce how hungry I actually felt during the day. While not a requirement of the diet, I was managing to almost intermittently fast during the day meaning I would only need to eat around two meals a day with the first being around 12 or 1 o’clock - fasting alone is a great weight loss method.
The one thing that I didn’t like about the diet is how restrictive it feels at times, especially when you don’t have the time or the energy to spend time preparing a proper meal. I found it difficult to come up with meal ideas that didn’t involve a different kind of salad each night, which I normally love but it can get boring after a while.
On a typical day while following this diet, I would tend to eat my first meal of Keto Pancakes, which were absolutely gorgeous, at around half 12 to 1 in the afternoon. Then for dinner it could vary but most often it was either fried chicken coated in spices with a plate full of salad or another form of protein, most likely steak or salmon, with loads of healthy green vegetables.
Sure there are recipes online but some of them feel a bit like the same thing each time and I don’t always have an hour to spend preparing and cooking a meal in the evening.
I have mixed emotions over this diet. I liked the slight changes I was starting to see in terms of my body and I felt a little better in my skin. However, the downside was I lacked any joy in the food I was eating, I would be craving food I couldn’t have on some days and I often felt guilty if I had a “cheat” meal or snack.
While diets are great in helping people lose weight, they are not to be started lightly. We urge people looking to start a diet to properly research the diet they plan to adopt, looking at both the health benefits and risks before starting. I had spoken to friends and family who had been doing the diet for a long period of time prior to starting this diet.
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