Over the years, “diet” has become a four-letter word as many of them have arrived on the scene with a big bang only to skulk away, whimpering. Fad diets were just that: a fad. Nowadays, it seems like the latest buzz is the ketogenic diet where proteins are heavily favored over carbs. And guess what? It works! But it’s not a new diet by any means.
Dr. Atkins pioneered the high-protein, low-carb approach in the 70s, but fell out of favor when it was thought that fats caused cholesterol. Now the pendulum has swung the other way as keto diets help people get healthier, not sicker. But eating is just one part of the equation. Following are three tips to lose weight while following ketogenics.
How Ketosis Helps With Weight Loss
Carbohydrates are an excellent source of fuel for the body, but only if they’re going to be used the right away. Eating a carb-heavy diet on a day-to-day basis causes weight gain as the carbohydrates are turned into glycogen, which is then stored as fat when unused. Carbs pack another punch in the form of a lack of satiety. That is, you feel hungry a lot sooner than if you ate protein, fibers, and fats.
When the body is deprived of carbohydrates, there’s less glycogen available for energy. The body then responds by dissolving fat cells for stored energy, directly resulting in weight loss. This is a simplified version of the process, but the end result is the loss of fat. Also keep in mind that it’s important to use a keto supplement while on the diet since you’ll be cutting out most fruit due to sugar content.
Keep an Eye on Calorie Intake
Calorie intake while on a ketogenic diet is a controversial subject. Some say that calorie intake should be monitored while others feel it’s not necessary. The answer lies somewhere in between. It comes down to not going overboard with calorie restriction on a daily basis, and not beating yourself up if you go over the daily limit. There are a lot of variables that go into calorie intake, and they all need to be considered carefully when starting a ketogenic diet.
Don’t Discount the Benefits of Exercise
How much exercise do you need on a ketogenic diet? There is no right answer here, but you should exercise to help your body function. You may want to aim for 90 minutes a week, but if you can get more in, do it. What type of exercise you do is up to you. Cardio with a little bit of weights is a reasonable workout to achieve.
The ketogenic diet makes a lot of sense as it boosts immunity, provides more energy, and eliminates fat stores. Make sure to understand all the angles of the diet before undertaking it for the best possible results.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
