TO KETO OR NOT TO KETO?

 

You have most likely heard about “Keto” unless you’ve been living under a rock.

Or have you heard you need to be in a state of Ketosis in order to get into a state where significant ketone bodies are being produced and are actively traveling in your bloodstream. It’s how you  burn fat, right?

 

Basically, grab a fat piece of protein add butter or saturate it with a heavy dose of oil and “voila,” repeat all day and boom watch the magic happen.

I know we live in the cancel culture and for some I just got canceled. I know some people are actively making money on the keto phenomenon. And some people are just into their feelings about it. First, I don’t do good or bad, I work with the science and let you decide. I have no stake in the keto game

WHAT IS THE KETO DIET?

We live in a polarized society, on one side Trumper’s, on the other side Biden boys and girls.   Its no different in fitness ask one “expert” and he or she will tell you the best way to get lean, and ask another and it's polar opposites. I have always preferred individual approach because there can be truth on any side of an argument. The magic is making it work for your clients.

There is an amazing quote I would like to share before we have this discussion.

If we seek practical wisdom, we cannot limit our scope to the categories of “Good” and “Bad.”

If you want a simple answer, (which I am asked about weekly) there isn’t one. I am just trying to share the knowledge and apply it.  Let's be real.

•    Some diets are ideal for some people

•    Some diets are disastrous for some people.

•    Some meal plans have some short-term value, and some come with far greater risk than potential for reward.

 When figuring out what works for your body, the answers are not good or bad. Rather, what is your situation? What are your long- and short-term goals? And ultimately how far are you willing to sacrifice to achieve them?

Without the answers to those questions, nutrition becomes a nightmare of opinions and whose physique and social media presence inspires you? How many of you are willing to commit to get the education to come up with the answers to figure it out for yourself?

Here is my humble attempt to simplify Keto.

High fat and low carb diets aren’t new. And so, there is great information  on good fats, grass fed or wild caught proteins, simple sugars and processed foods. 

 But along with those benefits, I do believe you do not have to go Keto. (Uh oh! Here come the nasty comments and insults) you can reap the benefits of eating high fat/low carb without a meal plan loaded with high fat foods--and still reap the benefits.

Have you heard of “The “Association Flaw”? It is a great source of delusion.  If you believe something “works” because an element of it has benefit, you’re easily sucked in  by slick hustlers and “get ripped quick” schemes.

There are specific demographics that I believe keto would do well for. 

•    A very disciplined person or an athlete who is willing to follow a very strict regimen for a limited period of time

•    A child or adult who is guided through the diet via medical supervision

•    An individual suffering extreme compromise from chronic disease, inflammation, and metabolic degradation in a state of desperation who is again medically coached through a strong level of compliance and follow up

•    Someone battling a metabolic disease and who is using the  ketogenic approach as alternative to a conventional diet to shift metabolism

•    An obese individual with a qualified coach (medical or otherwise certified in a health or nutritional discipline), accountability, and a willingness to accept this as a vehicle and not a long-term solution.

Epilepsy and seizure disorders have been shown to respond favorably to diets with limited sugar and healthy fats

I am being specific here because I don’t believe one size or diet fits everybody, but that for keto, there may be specific goals that can be achieved most efficiently. Again, with clear goals, limits and in some cases, medical supervision, keto is a powerful option. 

Simply removing foods that stimulate high blood sugar is a strategy that has been used for centuries to cure certain ailments.

I will simplify how ketosis helps you lose weight. First, ketones are produced in the absence of glucose (sugar/carbohydrates) when you give your body a diet rich with meat, nuts, heavy creams and fat.  Ketosis is a metabolic process where ketone bodies, produced by the liver, are used to meet energy demands as an alternative to glycolysis where energy needs are predominantly met by glucose. The liver is able to convert fatty acids from ketones for energy and brain fuel. 

Ketosis is not a normal state. It’s what I would call an altered state of being. But, if you can maintain a very depleted carb status you can expect significant changes in body composition. SO ultimately if you can maintain a keto diet you will lose weight.

The question then becomes, can you sustain that lifestyle? I have found that most people cannot.

So, am I encouraging keto? Or just presenting the basic facts?

Those who have done well with it find themselves shifting back to fat storage once they go back to enjoying the regular foods they enjoy.

So, I have used elements of keto and have had great success with clients keeping their weight off by just implementing the basics as described above, eating healthy proteins, healthy fats and limited sugar and processed foods. The key is to teach the healthy habits and then show modifications for holidays and situations where one may want to indulge in the “finer things”

In all honesty, though, most people I know who have jumped on the keto bandwagon have fallen off and gain the weight they lost right back. Now, there are always outliers who can do just about anything. SO, we can't use them as examples. But I do believe for most people, long term, it's not a true solution to permanent health.

Have you canceled me yet? Thrown the phone out the window?

I hope you do not, and we can engage in civil discourse, again I am not here to pitch keto or throw it under the bus. Just a simple read for some thought-provoking banter.

What we have learned is you can create a ketosis state to manipulate your body to lose fat and use it for energy. And we can learn how to manage and sustain the weight loss we have created. This I feel is a better long-term strategy.

So here is my ten cents--the two cents are free--if you create a condition where glucose isn’t accessible or available (a glucose fast), you force the body to seek out fat as the only alternative material. That is that!

Athletes and competitors have manipulated macros (carbs, protein and fats) to achieve desired effects for years. The magic is making it sustainable and work for you. Thank you for spending a little time with me.

We can always discuss your situation individually, Happy Meal prepping.

Coach Clarence