One of the most common debates concerning weight loss concerns calories vs carbs. After all, the adage of calories in/calories out for losing weight, or CICO, still mostly pertains. Still, limiting carbohydrates help many people stick to their diets and might even allow for somewhat faster weight loss. However, most people can’t lose substantial weight without also limiting their calorie intake.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Some links may be sponsored and help generate operating funds for this website.
Nothing on this site is intended as medical advice. Work with healthcare professionals for optimal health.
Calories vs Carbs: Does Limiting Carbohydrates Speed Weight Loss?
People post daily questions about calories vs carbs. Is a low-carb diet faster than a low-calorie diet? The question sounds simple, but people are complicated. At first, the answer appears easy to answer in the affirmative because of the laws of physics, observations, and intuition. Almost everybody who successfully loses more than water weight must consume fewer calories than they burn in order to burn fat to make up the deficit.
And yes, people with losing, gaining, or maintaining wait can use a simple tool like our free macro calculator to estimate their numbers. Keto offers many people benefits, but it’s powers to defy physical laws is limited.
See, lower insulin levels may inhibit fat storage. Optimistic keto supporters believe this makes it harder to gain wait on a surplus. But people who want to lose weight don’t want to get stuck in a stall. Exiting a weight-loss stall typically means restricting calories.
If it’s Just CICO, Why Bother With Keto?
The first benefit of keto might only appear obvious to folks who’ve navigated this weight-loss strategy awhile. Larger ratios of protein and fat satiate them better. Two slices of pizza make them want at least a couple more. However, a burger patty on top of a salad or inside of a low-carb wrap leaves the satisfied.
Most people find restricting calories hard, especially over the many months they will need to reach their goals. It doesn’t work for everybody and people usually have to stick with the diet a couple of weeks to transition in order to enjoy the full benefits.
Harvard Medical School’s blog said they’ve seen good evidence that keto speeds up weight loss over traditional diets and even The Mediterranean Diet, at least in the short term. To be fair, low-carb dieters tend to lose a lot of water weight during the first week or two. Once they start losing fat, the initial rate slows down. Even so, the first win can provide the encouragement these dieters need to stick with the plan.
How to Cope With Starting Keto
Good advice to cope with those first couple of weeks includes getting used to counting carbs but don’t worry about calories as much. As you learn the ratio of fat/protein that works for you. Eventually, you should notice you forgot your mid-morning snack or maybe even lunch or supper.
Also, lots of new keto dieters feel some physical effects, but most of the time, a proactive solution heads negative issues off. How to Cure Keto Flu talks about the diuretic nature of keto, especially during the initial phase. Plenty of liquids and a cheap electrolyte mix you can make at home should keep your body hydrated and relieve symptoms.
If adding electrolytes doesn’t help, you should probably work with a healthcare professional to ensure this diet is right for you. Also, the keto diet turns out to be surprisingly flexible, especially or people who aren’t managing a serious illness with it. Thus, a doctor or dietician may offer better suggestions of ways to tailor your plan for your unique body and preferences.
Does Keto Help Everybody Lose Weight Through Appetite Suppression?
Nobody can say if keto suppresses appetites for everybody. At the same time, it’s a pretty universal observation from people who have stuck with keto for at least 90 days, mostly because they enjoyed better results than with anything else.
Yes, you still need to watch your calories to lose weight with keto. You just might find it a lot easier to stick with restrictions.