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LCHF vs KETO vs Paleo?

2K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  div2live 
#1 ·
I have been on the LCHF lifestyle since April of 2015. I have lost over 70lbs. and all of my health indicators have improved. I have been able to reduce much of the medications I take. Overall, this has saved my life, for now, as I am almost 70, and made my day to day living so much better...but...

I keep hearing a lot about the Keto diet and the Paleo diets! I searched a number of threads on this website and found a lot, but know one actually summarized the differences between the Keto, LCHF, and Paleo diets. Can any of you give me the brief differences or a place where I can find these information or both?

I need to lose another 50lbs (I am at 250). Staying on my LCHF eating with exercise is improving my health, but not doing much for my further weight loss. So I am exploring some further food models that may get things going again for me...
 
#2 ·
What I understand of it is that LCHF and keto are similar in that both limit carbohydrates. Keto limits carbs to about 5% of the calories you take in daily, though many keto Web sites and on-line support groups put a pretty hard line on carbs at no more than 20 a day. Some people (particularly active ones or those not eating to lose weight) can handle more grams of carbohydrates than that and stay in ketosis, but lots of people don't like to do math, so 20 is a convenient limit for them to observe. The vast majority of bodies will stay in ketosis at 20 grams or less per day of carbohydrates.

Supporters of the two diets differ in whether protein intake must be limited. Some supporters of the keto way of eating believe protein intake can be essentially unlimited (as long as you stay within your caloric daily limit) and dismiss the idea of gluconeogenesis (the conversion of protein into glucose which is then stored in the liver). That does not seem to be the prevailing sentiment here and my readings show that people who take into account diabetic metabolism tend to believe more strongly in gluconeogenesis as something to be avoided.

LCHF permits more grams of carbohydrates per day; since ketosis is not consistent (or even achieved), weight loss is slower and individuals who are less carb-tolerant may need (more) medication to manage the carb load. As a way of eating for most people, however, LCHF is easier to maintain simply because 20 grams of carbs is not very many at all.

Paleo is something rather different in its definition: a way of eating that limits foods to those which likely could have been eaten by Paleolithic Man (hence the name). So grains and legumes and sugar and dairy products and other processed foods (such as grain oils or coffee) are out but fruits and vegetables can be eaten pretty much as desired. It does not at all have to be a low-carb way of eating.

One element of eating for weight loss that some people miss is that, as they lose substantial amounts of weight, they should recalculate their "macros" -- intake of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. You need fewer calories to maintain a much lighter body weight, so eating the old amount of calories daily will slow down or stop weight loss unless activity levels increase substantially. Have you bumped up your activity or recalculated your "macros" since you plateaued?
 
#3 ·
Paleo, Keto, LCHF are somewhat similar, all eliminate processed food and grains and legumes. Paleo still allows carbs from fruits and vegetables qnd non processed sweeteners.

I see Keto as Diet LCHF, further carb reduction and increased healthy fats. I would look at tweaking up your fats and tweaking down your carbs - going more Keto.

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#4 ·
Thanks to both of you, this is spot on to what I was looking to learn...

It is as I feared, if I want to go that extra 50lbs. I need to drop my carb intake substantially, which I know I can do!

We are celebrating our 50th anniversary in November, so it will be more difficult to manage my lowered carbs during that time, but I will go for it now anyway...if I slip up a bit in November, I will go back on after we get back home....we will be on an Island in the Caribbean for a few days then fly to Vegas, where we spent our honeymoon so many years ago...

I am the first in my family to ever make it to a 50th (If I make it...)? No reason I won't as my health markers after LCHF are all outstanding...my last A1C was 5.9, BP this am was 128/80, Cholesterol markers are all below what my doctor wants for a diabetic, etc. etc.

Again, thanks to all the magic continues.....:vs_cool:
 
#6 ·
Thanks for the information. I have tried fasting, with little or no results. It does help some with my BS readings, but since my A1C's continue to be in the high 5's, I am not going to continue the fasting...

I think my best next step is to increase my activity and drop down my daily carb count...

Again, thanks to all for the replies!
 
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