[rconti]

Anything that requires me to radically change my diet to experiment with myself "just to see", that takes a minimum of 2-3 months, is a hard pass. It's just not that interesting to most of us for a vaguely hand-wavey possibly useful experiment.

[ryanSrich]

Full-on keto may not be worth it, but I would highly suggest removing most carbs from your diet (<= 30g per meal). You'll feel completely different within 5 days. This is especially noticeable after the age of 30. I have no scientific backing or research for this, but I've had a number of friends and family make this small change and every single one has not gone back. It's not even that difficult if you already have a somewhat healthy diet.

[rconti]

Yeah; I haven't gone low-carb but i track what i eat, and carbs are ~40% of my diet. So, not low, but lower than many. I've definitely played around quite a bit with making sure i up my protein and fat consumption, and it is pretty remarkable how different fuels work differently in your body.

[dnhz]

Yes you will feel like you have no energy during workouts. The primary fuel for muscles is glycogen. Cells use glucose by default. And fats are 9 cal/g, so they’re so easy to overeat. I don’t understand why limiting carbs makes any sense.

[sph]

Fats are easy to overeat? I can easily eat 4000 kcal in carbs in one sitting, I’d be nauseous reaching the same amount with either proteins or fats or a combination of both.

In fact, since going low carb I have a new mental awareness when I’ve eaten enough: I eat until a switch flicks in my head mid chew and says “that is enough”. It’s mental, not that physical feeling of the stomach being full.

This is completely new to me.

[dnhz]

Anything calorie dense (and therefore hyperpalatable) is easy to over eat. Fat is twice as energy dense as carbs or protein, so it adds a lot of calories. Put a tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet, and you're adding an empty 120 calories.

Typical foods you could eat 4000 calories of combine fat and carbs into a delicious combination: french fries, pizza, cookies, milkshakes. I don't look at those foods and think individually carbs or fat is at fault. But on the other hand, carbs are what the body uses for energy, so to avoid them doesn't make sense to me. I'd rather skip out on fat.

[1_player]

Carbs is not the only fuel. Fats can be used as well. Proteins too, in case of emergency.

The rule of thumb is proteins and fats are essential, carbs are not. How much of each is still up for debate.

[dnhz]

I'd just say that what's essential to eat (>50-60 g protein/day and a few grams of omega-3s) is different from what's optimal (what ratio of fat/carbs/protein).

[uberduper]

> I don’t understand why limiting carbs makes any sense.

Then why go around saying things like:

> Yes you will feel like you have no energy during workouts. The primary fuel for muscles is glycogen. Cells use glucose by default. And fats are 9 cal/g, so they’re so easy to overeat.

[dnhz]

What I wrote makes perfect sense. Carbs fuel the body. Going low carb is miserable.

[wtetzner]

> Carbs fuel the body. Going low carb is miserable.

Having been on keto for a few months now, I disagree. I feel way better than when I'm eating carbs, and have so much more energy.

[wpietri]

I think that's fine; not everybody has to be an early adopter of everything. If what you're doing is working for you, keep doing it!

But for people who feel vaguely but persistently like things aren't working anymore, I really recommend experimenting with diet. I've tried a variety of things over the years, and have ended up with a combination that has made my life hugely better: better mood, more even-tempered, much more energetic, and physical exercise has gotten a lot more fun. I recently went back to my old diet for a week and felt like warmed-over garbage.

But yes, expect it will take 1-3 months for your body and habits to really adapt. E.g., when I quit refined carbs, I experience 1-3 weeks of withdrawal symptoms. Headaches, low energy, enormously cranky. And it's even longer for the habits to really get established, so I stop feeling like I'm missing out on the old things.