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I started trying fasting in the 1980's, and later keto. I've been watching people try it for a very long time. Almost everyone who tries keto successfully, says

I started trying fasting in the 1980's, and later keto. I've been watching people try it for a very long time. Almost everyone who tries keto successfully, says something akin to "I never realized how poorly my brain was working!" Definitely life changing for me (in combination with S-Acetyl Glutathione)

Paul-Craft 2y ago
Have you, or anyone you know, been able to stay on it successfully long term? I know a couple who have tried it, had good results, but later stopped, but none who have stayed on it long term.
- johnyzee 2y ago
  That is the general experience, I think. I did pretty strict keto for 2.5 years. Been off it for about a year now, while many of the habits stick (I eat next to zero added sugar, and generally low carb, less processed food, etc.). I got rid of a lot of weight and some skin conditions. It was generally very positive. It was weird to have such stable blood sugar that you never feel hungry, even when not eating at all. There were some adverse results too, like zero muscle strength. I also digest carbs worse now it seems like. There might well be ways to avoid those issues with a more carefully managed keto diet. I'm not sure if I will jump back on a strict keto regimen, it requires quite a bit of effort to plan meals, especially when other people in the household eat a regular diet. I have come to see keto as an intervention, very effective at fixing acute issues. Once you have done that reset, I think a lot of those wins can be maintained through generally healthy habits (which you now understand a lot better).
- QuantumGood 2y ago
  The only kind of diets I know of that people stay on long-term are less strict diets. The stricter the diet, the lower long-term adherence is, which seems logical. Keto is very strict, very measurable. My pediatrician brother goes off and on keto very successfully. Whenever they need doctors for a test of the keto diet, he goes back on it. Despite being low body fat, he tends to lose more body fat than others on the diet, because he's a home chef and marathoner and very much in control of his diet. I tend to not make enough effort to balance my diet on keto, which causes issues that take me off of it, for example, I don't respond well to having too much cheese.
pawelduda 2y ago
I have been on keto for some time and can't second that. The difference was that I had very steady energy levels through the day, but my brain worked the same as normal I'd say. I also became noticeably weaker when it came to lifting weights
- riku_iki 2y ago
  > I also became noticeably weaker when it came to lifting weights you may need up to 6 month for full keto adaptation according to some internet accounts.
- coldtea 2y ago
  "Very steady energy levels" is already a brain change - as opposed to the usual slumber and dismotivation after regular eating. You didn't expect something like "Limitless"-lite, did you?
  - pawelduda 2y ago
    In my case it wasn't impactful enough to justify such a lifestyle change. It limited where and what I could eat, and I struggled a lot with keeping up my daily caloric intake (fast metabolism), which was OK while cutting but not sustainable afterwards. That is, unless I ate very unhealthy things, which made it net negative.
coldtea 2y ago
Yeah, I have tried several diets, and keto does give a boost in brain, let's say clarity, even when not losing weight (because I often overeat meat and butter and cream and cheese and such allowed foods) than none of the others do.

Paul-Craft 2y ago

Have you, or anyone you know, been able to stay on it successfully long term? I know a couple who have tried it, had good results, but later stopped, but none who have stayed on it long term.

johnyzee 2y ago
That is the general experience, I think. I did pretty strict keto for 2.5 years. Been off it for about a year now, while many of the habits stick (I eat next to zero added sugar, and generally low carb, less processed food, etc.). I got rid of a lot of weight and some skin conditions. It was generally very positive. It was weird to have such stable blood sugar that you never feel hungry, even when not eating at all. There were some adverse results too, like zero muscle strength. I also digest carbs worse now it seems like. There might well be ways to avoid those issues with a more carefully managed keto diet. I'm not sure if I will jump back on a strict keto regimen, it requires quite a bit of effort to plan meals, especially when other people in the household eat a regular diet. I have come to see keto as an intervention, very effective at fixing acute issues. Once you have done that reset, I think a lot of those wins can be maintained through generally healthy habits (which you now understand a lot better).
QuantumGood 2y ago
The only kind of diets I know of that people stay on long-term are less strict diets. The stricter the diet, the lower long-term adherence is, which seems logical. Keto is very strict, very measurable. My pediatrician brother goes off and on keto very successfully. Whenever they need doctors for a test of the keto diet, he goes back on it. Despite being low body fat, he tends to lose more body fat than others on the diet, because he's a home chef and marathoner and very much in control of his diet. I tend to not make enough effort to balance my diet on keto, which causes issues that take me off of it, for example, I don't respond well to having too much cheese.

pawelduda 2y ago

I have been on keto for some time and can't second that. The difference was that I had very steady energy levels through the day, but my brain worked the same as normal I'd say. I also became noticeably weaker when it came to lifting weights

riku_iki 2y ago
> I also became noticeably weaker when it came to lifting weights you may need up to 6 month for full keto adaptation according to some internet accounts.
coldtea 2y ago
"Very steady energy levels" is already a brain change - as opposed to the usual slumber and dismotivation after regular eating. You didn't expect something like "Limitless"-lite, did you?
- pawelduda 2y ago
  In my case it wasn't impactful enough to justify such a lifestyle change. It limited where and what I could eat, and I struggled a lot with keeping up my daily caloric intake (fast metabolism), which was OK while cutting but not sustainable afterwards. That is, unless I ate very unhealthy things, which made it net negative.

coldtea 2y ago

Yeah, I have tried several diets, and keto does give a boost in brain, let's say clarity, even when not losing weight (because I often overeat meat and butter and cream and cheese and such allowed foods) than none of the others do.