The lockdowns, staying at home, and trying new cake recipes have just been too much. And as we all do when we have a problem we turn to the Internet. I knew about the keto diet before it became so popular. As being part of the food and beverage industry for quite some time I was familiar with all sorts of diets and the different ways we deal with nutrition. So why the keto diet specifically? Probably out of pure curiosity.

So we joined a couple of online groups, read posts, and read more articles on the diet. Took some time to make a decision and started on our personal keto journey. To make a long story short. We lost some weight. The results were fast and unexpected. But we didn’t finish it. It was hard. I’m not going to fool you. I have spent most of my time being hungry and tired. And I just think it wasn’t for me. Now that I took some time and can see things more objectively I’m ready to share what I have noticed. If you want to know more about implementing a healthy diet check my new article Processed Foods – A Necessary Evil?

You will definitely lose weight

There is no question about it. You will lose weight when you are on the keto diet. This is great for result-oriented people. Especially people who have been struggling for years to find solutions for their weight issues. The ketogenic diet really delivers what it promotes. It’s based on being high in fats, moderate in protein intake, and low on carbs. Once you spend a couple of days on a keto diet your body enters a metabolic state called ketosis. It starts turning fats into ketones (molecules that supply energy for the brain). Other benefits besides weight loss are reduction in appetite and food intake, also it lowers insulin levels, which are beneficial for improving insulin sensitivity and blood sugar management. So if you are looking for a way to lose weight fast this is your tool.

But I need to warn you that the diet is very strict. The list of restricted foods is enormous. My biggest problem was not being able to eat any fruit. No fruit at all. Nothing sweet. Other foods which are not allowed to consume would include pasta, bread, grains, potatoes, any kind of root plants such as carrots or turnips, beans, onions, sweet potatoes, lentils, juices, sweets, and many other things. You will basically going to be living on eggs, salad, meat, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and cabbage. This is at least what I did.

Things which don’t make sense to me

I have this idea in my mind that each diet should be based on healthy food intake. So we are trying to eat more healthily and restrict the foods which make us fat. My first objection of course was the fact that we couldn’t eat any fruits. But I was still only starting with this so I let it slip.

The next thing that didn’t make any sense to me was eating so many eggs. I would literally see people in the keto groups eating 3 eggs for breakfast and then eating some more for lunch and dinner. People would be basically ending up surviving on eggs and an occasional avocado. I think we all know that eggs are full of cholesterol but also full of hormones. Because not everyone is eating free-range, organic eggs. And if you add eggs with the chicken, beef, and pork, you are also motivated to eat each day. The number of hormones and chemicals that treat these products are overwhelming.

But my biggest issue with this diet was totally personal. I’m just not a meat person. I don’t like to eat meat or meat products every day. And when I do eat it the amount is very small. So I couldn’t make the recommended fat and protein intake daily. I ended up eating cabbage, zucchini, and eggplant most of the time because the eggs would kick up my gallstones. And I also ended up tired, thirsty, having to pee all the time, and barely having enough energy to stay on my feet. My family was begging me to stop so I did.

What you need to know before you begin

The keto diet is not sustainable in the long term. You will lose weight in the short term but the diet restrictions are not healthy enough to keep you for a long time. I would read in the groups all the time members write how they are starting the diet again. they would do the diet for a couple of months. Got on their wanted weight. And then just come back to normal food until they would get it all back.

It could lead to nutrient deficiency and a bad case of constipation. Since you’re not consuming any fruits and your diet is also low on fibers you are missing a lot of vitamins and nutrients. That’s why I noticed in keto groups they are always recommending people to drink vitamin supplements because they are not getting any from their food.

Since you are on a diet that is heavy on saturated fat this could potentially lead to heart disease. If you have any history of previous heart disease I seriously recommend discussing first with your doctor before starting on the keto diet. This is also something that no one will tell you about in the keto groups I joined. It’s the same with pre-existing liver and kidney conditions. This diet will put a lot of stress on these organs. Liver because of the increased fat that they have to deal with daily. Kidneys because of the recommended 2 liters of water you need to drink per day to get all the ketones from your body.

What are your alternatives?

I’m not here to burst your bubble. This was a personal experience that I decided to share. I am sure there will be hundreds or even thousands of people who were and still are very successful on a keto diet. It’s just not for me. I enjoy food. I love eating all types of food. When I need to lose weight I already know which food I need to give up to make it work. A healthy diet and losing weight is still about calorie deficiency. Eating less, eating healthy, and having more exercise.

You need to have a proper mindset. Think about how long it took you to gain weight. And then double that time and that is the period it will take you to lose it. Not a week, not a month. You didn’t gain that extra pound over a weekend. So why do you expect to lose it in one?

As a person who is interested in all kinds of different diets, not only the ones created for losing weight I can tell you very honestly. Eat everything without feeling guilty. If you crave chocolate, eat chocolate. Because if you don’t you won’t stop thinking about it. But after you have that chocolate, go back to eating healthy and be strict with yourself. Until you feel confident and happy with the slow result you are getting. And then you can have a little bit more chocolate. Don’t try to run away from food. Use food to your own advantage.