What's your view on ketosis?

Caz

Repeat Offender
Just wondered what people's views on ketosis are. It's quite easy to keep yourself out of ketosis without actually damaging your losses, through zero calorie drinks that contain citric acid and things like that. Just wondered if anyone purposefully keeps themselves out of ketosis? I'm not sure whether I actually want to be in ketosis, I prefer not to be I think. But will probably see how I go with side effects.
 
I think today after spending my first appointment with my new CDC I actually understand about ketosis! My old lipotrim lady didnt explain in depth and I never gave it much thought just got on with it. Now i'm understanding that ketones are produced when the body is burning fat rather than glucose. But the side affect is a sense of wellbeing and less appetite. Thats what appeals to me, the fact I don't feel hungry once the ketosis kick in. I know (for me) I wouldnt last 2 mins if I was always hungry, in fact it would push to binge eat. So, I reckon the ketosis part is really important for the total SS :)

I havent got to the stage of trying the others as i'm only just beginning, so not sure how ketosis would work with those x
 
Now i'm understanding that ketones are produced when the body is burning fat rather than glucose.x

Yeah, that's the mechanics of it, but not directly why we lose weight. You still burn fat out of ketosis

But

Caroline: Though I prefer to stay out of ketosis for maintenance, I can't imagine doing a VLCD without some level of ketosis. I'm interested in why you feel this way
 
Just thought I would add my opinion - being in ketosis is the best part of this diet in my opinion as you get the well being factors that go with it. When I was in ketosis before I had a massive amount of energy and felt really well - I have to admit the going into ketosis bit is hard for me however its well worth it - just my opinion though.
 
i oddly seem to manage with hunger pains quite well so personally, ketosis isnt really relevent to how well i do on the diet....i actually find it harder being out of ketosis with food in the equation! lol

BUT....ketosis is a good thing! Its only a mild form and doesnt do any damage...

Also curious why you dont want to be in ketosis?
 
Well for a couple of reasons. Hopefully this won't turn into a long ramble, I'm not always good at explaining things!

Firstly, I don't find that I get hungry, not actually hungry, just head hunger. Like now end of day one, not slightest bit hungry. I know I was like this when I first started CD and after I took a couple of weeks off on holiday. So I don't feel like I really need ketosis to stay on the diet. But I do get what you guys mean about it, does make it a lot easier for some, just I don't find it makes much difference hunger wise for me.

Secondly, I don't really like the side effects of it. I find that I feel nauseous often, not really bad, but it's one thing that I just can't deal with. If I'm ill and feel sick I often wish I would just be sick so I could feel better, not that I could ever make myself sick. If that makes sense! I get a lot of the things which are side effects of ketosis anyway as it seems I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so get headaches, achiness, fatigue like you do in ketosis. I can't remember what other ones there are! Symptom wise with CFS I'm worse than I was last year when I started CD, so I'm thinking that with ketosis on top they could well get worse, which I don't want, especially not in my final year of uni.

Thirdly, it's always the thing which concerns my family the most, though this isn't the main reason for my feeling this way, it's mostly what I said above. But I do think if I turned around and went well I'm keeping myself out of ketosis they wouldn't be so worried about it, I don't know why but they have ketosis as some kind of buzz word, they hear it and they think bad.

I'm just not sure I like how ketosis makes me feel and am, like I said, wondering whether it'll make me feel worse this time round if I'm worse already.
 
Hunger pangs don't bother me at all - in fact I like them (deep-rooted issues with food here!), but I love being in Ketosis because I know I'm directly burning fat. Also, I rarely cheat BECAUSE it takes so long to get into Ketosis for me (about a week) so it's a good psychological sticking point that if I break Ketosis, it'll be another week (in my mind) until I'm losing weight and fat the most effective way.
 
Hmm interesting.

The first time I went on CD I wasn't hungry at all as I went into ketosis because I'd eaten just about everything but the kitchen sink and the thought of food revolted me. The second time I was hungrier but actually went into ketosis faster...

Do you think you could maintain that level without being in ketosis?

I can't advise on the nausea..

I had a few friends that were concerned about me going on CD. It wasn't about being in ketosis though - although they'd been told that is what lead to the fast weight loss, it was lack of calories that had them concerned.

Has your family picked up on the fact you had more nausea etc while you were on CD? If they've heard you mention ketosis at some point, I can imagine then if they'd then picked up that as the 'buzz' word.
 
I don't think that ketosis actually directly effects your losses though, just makes it easier to keep to it because you're not hungry if that makes sense.

I'm not sure where my family have got their big thing about ketosis from, it isn't from things I've mentioned. Two of my sisters have done a fair bit of dieting so know about Atkins, Lighter Life, CD and all the rest of it. And they just don't like VCLDs full stop, and just seem to think ketosis is a really bad thing. I don't think it's bad, I'm just not a fan of it personally, if that makes sense.
 
I don't think that ketosis actually directly effects your losses though, just makes it easier to keep to it because you're not hungry if that makes sense.
No, that's true and I agree. I've not ever tried to be on such a low calorie diet without being in ketosis but wouldnt' want to. The point I was trying to make, not very clearly, was whether you could really continue on 500 cals a day for a longer period of time ie 3 months and deal with the hunger pangs etc that would be involved in that?

Well personally I don't think ketosis is a bad thing but obviously people's mileage will vary and obviously I don't know what your family's experience was like when they went on the diet. I have a friend who maintains ketosis almost killed him. Really it didn't but I can't mention the word without him giving me a lecture. It's all his misunderstanding.
 
I don't know, I guess that's what I'm trying to work out. I'm at the end of day one of my restard so not in ketosis and don't feel hungry, but it's only day one. My biggest thing isn't that I feel physically hungry, it's just a head hunger. A, ooh I could really do with... x, y or z. So that's there regardless. So we'll see I guess. I haven't decided to keep myself out of ketosis, just is a thought as I'm not sure how my body will cope with side effects when I'm worse with those things without ketosis, if that makes any sense at all!

I'm not really sure what they're problem with it is either! I kept telling them last year but they never listened, silly people. My sister goes on about liver failure or something.
 
Im with Caroline here. The side effects are nasty for me but I put up with them for the positive side of no hunger. Are there any downsided to health being in Ketosis? I'm just curious now:confused:
 
I don't know, I guess that's what I'm trying to work out. I'm at the end of day one of my restard so not in ketosis and don't feel hungry, but it's only day one. My biggest thing isn't that I feel physically hungry, it's just a head hunger. A, ooh I could really do with... x, y or z. So that's there regardless.
Funnily enough that's exactly why I liked being in ketosis, esp on SS+. It really helped me to see how often I did feel that emotional or mental hunger and if I wasn't in physical ketosis, I couldn't have worked out the difference.

The other thing you need to think about is what are you going to do to stay out of ketosis and could that potentially effect your weight losses? For example, there's a thought that citric acid may slow down the losses, not confirmed. So having to deal with slow weight loss and hunger on a VLCD... ?

I'm not really sure what they're problem with it is either! I kept telling them last year but they never listened, silly people. My sister goes on about liver failure or something.
You need to do what is right for you. If your sister is claiming something, ask her to back it up with proper evidence. And if she still won't shut up, see if you can speak to someone in CD with a medical background.

It sounds like their opinions are really important to you but you need to do what is right for you, and think about how many people on here have done CD well and are fine...
 
Health wise I don't think there are any downsides no. Just in those side effects, which aren't long term, just while in ketosis. Doesn't actually do any damage.
 
The other thing you need to think about is what are you going to do to stay out of ketosis and could that potentially effect your weight losses? For example, there's a thought that citric acid may slow down the losses, not confirmed. So having to deal with slow weight loss and hunger on a VLCD... ?

That's what I'm not sure of. As I've said though, isn't something I've decided to do, just something I thought about. About 5 minutes before posting lol

And if she still won't shut up, see if you can speak to someone in CD with a medical background.

She has a medical background, is why she won't shut up! She's a nurse, I think a clinic nurse specialist or something. Whatever she is it's a bit high up.
 
That's what I'm not sure of. As I've said though, isn't something I've decided to do, just something I thought about. About 5 minutes before posting lol
:D

She has a medical background, is why she won't shut up! She's a nurse, I think a clinic nurse specialist or something. Whatever she is it's a bit high up.
But she is a CNS in what? One of my x-friends was a CNS in palliative care and she knew nothing about the medical side of a VLCD. Not part of her realm.
 
to be honest i cant see how you can keep out of ketosis by doing SS, if you dont really want to go in to ketosis have you not thought about maybe doing the 1000 plan or something, might be better for you
just my opinion
 
:D


But she is a CNS in what? One of my x-friends was a CNS in palliative care and she knew nothing about the medical side of a VLCD. Not part of her realm.

Oh I know that, not sure she does though!! She's palliative care I think also.

to be honest i cant see how you can keep out of ketosis by doing SS, if you dont really want to go in to ketosis have you not thought about maybe doing the 1000 plan or something, might be better for you
just my opinion

This is a very good point. I want the losses of SS though. So probably will just put up with ketosis for them, it's worth it after all. Was just wondering.
 
Secondly, I don't really like the side effects of it. I find that I feel nauseous often, not really bad, but it's one thing that I just can't deal with. If I'm ill and feel sick I often wish I would just be sick so I could feel better, not that I could ever make myself sick. If that makes sense! I get a lot of the things which are side effects of ketosis anyway as it seems I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so get headaches, achiness, fatigue like you do in ketosis. I can't remember what other ones there are! Symptom wise with CFS I'm worse than I was last year when I started CD, so I'm thinking that with ketosis on top they could well get worse, which I don't want, especially not in my final year of uni.

Im finding it hard being at uni full time and on CD also! Im fine when im at home not doing anything but i constantly feel reallly tired walking from class to class ( yes they are far apart) and i feel like i have no energy and just want to fall asleep in class! And when i get home from uni all i want to do is go to sleep, not do 3 hours of work ontop of it. My stomach also rumbles REALLY loudly constantly through class which some might not find a problem but i find it so embaressing, especialy when people start giving you funny looks! Also finding it really hard to manage my water days when im in 6 hours straight as i cant leave lectures every 5mins for a pee! So im hoping stuff is gona get better soon :(
 
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