I started the keto diet in 2018, and within a year, I was able to lose over 120 pounds.
Although the diet clearly worked, it made me obsessed with tracking calories and carbs.
I ended up over-restricting and binge eating, and I was blind to any science that didn’t back keto.
I started following the keto diet in 2018, and I lost more than 120 pounds in just under a year.
But the diet totally destroyed my relationship with food.
I got obsessive about reading nutrition labels
When trying to lose weight, it’s important to stay in a caloric deficit — when the number of calories consumed is less than the calories the body burns to perform daily functions.
I still track my calories daily, but it’s easy to take it too far.
It got to the point where I’d get anxious if I ate a few too many calories, even if the food itself was relatively healthy.
If I went over my 20 grams of net carbs, it ruined my day
Most low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diets recommend not exceeding 20 grams of net carbohydrates (carbohydrates minus fiber) a day.
That leaves very little room for much of anything besides a few servings of low-carb vegetables. You certainly can’t have potatoes, rice, bread, or pasta.
Whenever I exceeded this number, I felt like a failure just because I’d eaten whole-wheat toast or a banana.
I had more binge-eating episodes than I did before keto
French fries.
The more I restricted, the more I ended up binge eating.Shutterstock
Because the keto diet is so restrictive, I would do really well for a while and then inevitably binge when I couldn’t handle it anymore.
Instead of indulging in a small baked potato, I’d have to have a large fry.
This might not be an issue for people who haven’t had problems with binge eating, but knowing I can’t have something only makes it more alluring.
I relied on the wrong kinds of foods for satiation
I found myself relying on low-carb and sugar-free protein bars, cookies, and sweets as well as high-fat foods like sausage and bacon to feel full on a daily basis.
I knew that protein was important for muscles, but without carbs, I had no choice but to load up on fats to try and stay satiated while enjoying my food.
I ended up with limited food choices and…