My doctor wants me to lose 15-20 pounds and suggested I go on the keto diet. The end goal is to get me off some of my meds (blood pressure & statin drug). First, I would like to know from your personal experience if this is or isn’t a safe option & second why. I’m really wanting personal specifics not opinions. There’s a lot of articles for and against it. I don’t want to form my game plan on articles. I wanna hear from you folks who deal w/some of the daily challenges I do. I know I’m being a little on the analytical side w/this...so forgive me up front. I’m not a black n white kind a guy at all! I’m very gray in all I do.
Thank you all...you’re the ones I respect the most. God bless.
Written by
robster1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I would join a keto group on Facebook and watch YouTube videos from Thomas Delauer, Dr KenDBerry, Dr Jason Fung, read the art and science of low carbohydrate living, and test blood ketones and glucose so you know you are doing it correctly. When you are comfortable with all that, then go watch Ben Bikman interviews.
I didn’t do any of those things to start. I wanted to lose some baby weight. Two weeks later my MS issues were 75% better. I have tinkered a lot since and am dialed in to where I feel best.
You’re welcome!! There’s a keto for MS/autoimmune group on FB and I do not recommend it....just find a newbie one and when the posts start to annoy you, then you’ve graduated 🤣
I’m leaning in that direction myself. It’s ironic, but my wife is gluten intolerant and has been for years. Maybe I need to stick w/this keto thing and just tweak a bit as time goes on.
I also did the keto diet for 4 months. I lost 25 lbs. But in the long run I couldn't' sustain it long term. I'm currently doing Noom and I have lost 25 lbs after regaining it from before after the keto diet. I love Noom and I can eat mostly whatever I want in moderation. I haven't given up on Noom been on it since end of September. Slow and steady been dropping my weight for same reasons. Blood Pressure, Diabetic, feel better all over!! That's my two cents hope it helps.
Horses for courses. Some people find a Keto diet very effective for losing weight and others struggle with it and don't get any benefits. Others swear by going vegetarian or vegan for a while to lose weight. One of criticisms that often comes up in relation to Keto is that it is very had to get though the first few weeks of fatigue etc, and people find it hard to do long term.
Another option to consider is the Australia developed CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet. It is run as a paid program with a money back offer if you stick to it - because it is a Govt based organisation there are no profit motives involved - just a Govt attempt to improve public health. The website has plenty of info you can access without signing up to the program, and you can buy the books online - in fact I don't even know if people outside Aus can sign up for it or not. The CSIRO diet is based around the latest solid scientific evidence (unlike a lot of the so-called "MS Diets" which claim to "heal" or "overcome" your MS... )
I know you said you want personal experiences and not personal opinions, but I'll give my opinion anyway - there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to diets and weight loss, and you may find that you need to give a two or three different approaches a try (for a reasonable amount of time, of course) to find out which one suits YOUR body.
There is also a cholesterol forum and an intermittent fasting forum on this HealthUnlocked website and as your ultimate goal from losing weight is to either reduce or stop blood pressure and statin meds you might find some information of interest to you if you sign up for those forums.
I have not done keto but have done Atkins and it works. I like Atkins because it has you eat plenty of low carb vegetables and a normal amount of meat and fat. When people have described keto to me it seems they are trying to increase fat intake. They may not be following correctly though. I am definitely not on the low fat train I love butter 😁 and cook food in olive oil not just spray it with cooking spray. I love tossing green beans or brussel sprouts in olive oil with salt and pepper and roasting in the oven. Adding pancetta or bacon to the brussel sprouts is heaven and low carb!
Atkins has 2 different diet plans to follow based on what would work with your lifestyle. I have more energy on a low carb diet not more fatigue. Except for the day your body shifts from using stored glucose to burning fat and putting you into ketosis. That only lasts for a day or two and I don't find it that miserable. It has been called the "Atkins flu" but you just feel fatigued, no other flu symptoms.
I lost 15 pounds last year (I had gained 10 pounds after my hysterectomy) following low carb diet. I gained about 7 back with the holidays but am going to get back on track now.
I also use the my fitness pal app to track my food. It will give you the breakdown of how many carbs/protein/fat as well as other nutrients you have eaten.
Check out the Atkins website in addition to keto diet and see which one you think you would more easily be able to follow. It will only work if you can stick with it. I try to focus on all the things I like that I can eat and not sit around thinking about what I can't eat.
Thank you ahrogers. I too like veges. I am a meat love, but not in the habit of intentionally eating animal fat. I like choices and will check out Atkins.
I have been trying to find a diet as well. I saw this webinar from the Cando MS Society that talked about dieting and debunking myths. I highly suggest you watch it. One of the things about keto that caused me more problems is that it makes constipation worse if that’s an issue you have. Good luck.
I tried to follow the Wahls protocol diet but just can’t eat some of the stuff on it( organ meat for one) but I have notified it. I eat a smoothie of lots of green veggies, berries,, Carr and coconut milk then for dinner protein of some sort and veggies. I cut way down on carbs but splurge when we go out to dinner. I cut out pop and tea and drink a lot more water. I have lost 12 lbs in about 6 weeks. But more importantly I am eating better and have cut out lots of the junk food and sweets too
I've probably been on every diet out there & always gained it back. The Keto diet is based on the Atkins diet but less restrictive. Yes I would recommend it
I have lost 80lbs on a low-carb & high protein diet which included a lot of green veggies , unrefined starches such as sweet potatoes, Brown rice, quinoa . Also aloud 1 refined starch such as wheat bread or steel cut oats. Stay away from sugar,watch sodium consumption(I use Morton lite salt) DON'T EAT PROCESSED FOOD. No lunch meat or boxed food. Stay away fit. rom foods high in sodium such as ham or corned beef. This helped me .
Thank God I've kept it off ,except 15lbs, which I'm ok with that.
Just remember it's a lifestyle change.
But I still have to take statins& BP meds. I still feel better about myself & have increased energy,instead feeling like a bump on the log.
So far I've kept off the weight for 4yrs!! Just make sure you weigh yourself & keep trucking.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.