The ketogenic (keto) diet may seem like a relatively new concept in the world of weight loss, but this diet originated back in the 1920s. Back then, it wasn’t intended or designed for fat loss at all. The ketogenic diet was originally created as a nutritional guide for children with epilepsy. The diet was shown to have beneficial results for those suffering from seizures, and still does today. The popularity of the diet wore off as more modern medicines became available.
Flash-forward to current day and it’s gone from being a little-known method for weight loss, to something more wide-spread. It’s even been coined as “the next big weight loss trend.” But the diet can be confusing for many people because it requires you to eat more fat to lose fat. How does that work exactly?
Simply put, a classic diet of proteins, fats and carbs uses carbohydrates for energy. On the keto diet, the metabolic process changes when you intake low amounts of carbs and high amounts of fats. The body enters a state of “ketosis,” where it begins to use fat for energy. Once you begin eating a low-carb and high-fat diet, the liver begins using the body’s fatty acids (from all that fat intake) to make molecules called “ketones” which the body uses for fuel and has shown to be very powerful in reducing hunger, as well as increasing fat loss.
That’s the basics of the diet, but you’re about to also learn about some of the surprising benefits and challenges an individual may experience when starting this diet program, and here’s what you should expect while on the keto diet…
1. You Will Lose Weight, Fast
One of the most exciting parts of the keto diet is how rapid the weight loss results seem to be. While this is most certainly promising, keep in mind that at the beginning – this is merely a loss in water weight.
When eating high amounts of good fats, you should begin to feel less hungry and more full for longer periods of time. Overtime with the proper intake guided by the keto diet, your body will become more efficient in fat-burning which results in more long-term weight loss. It may seem like a dream come true to be eating all the fatty foods you typically avoid (yes, even some bacon and eggs), but you are still restricted to an intake that encourages weight loss. If done properly, you shouldn’t feel hungry, and you should see results very quickly.
