Need to try something new and I think this may work for me.

I strongly recommend the subreddit r/keto. That's where I got started. TONS of helpful info on the sidebar of how to get started, setting your target macros, what you can and can't eat, how to deal with alcohol, going out to eat, etc.

I also recommend you ease into exercise when starting keto. We tend to want to do everything at once. But I personally had a hard time staying on keto while vigorously exercising.

I did keto for about a year. Then I got physically active enough that it didn't work for me anymore. But I'm down about 85 lbs right now, workout every day (I ran an easy 7 miler this morning) and feel better than I have in 30 years. I highly recommend it.

I second r/keto. Also lots of water and electrolytes, especially the first 4-5 days. KCKO.

Burn more cals than you consume now pay me!

Expect to get the "Keto flu" unless you really keep your electrolytes up. It knocked me on my butt. Chicken broth was an instant fix. I then started drinking a little broth every day and was fine.

Definitely start with the sidebar information on /r/keto. The keto macro calculator is a great place to start, and there are other subs like /r/ketorecipes and /r/ketogains if you want more information. /r/ketoscience and /r/zerocarb if you want to get technical/insane. I've been eating keto going on 3 years and it's been great.

At www.netrition.com, you can select "Low Carbohydrate/Keto" as a category of foods if you're looking for some replacements to non-keto foods, like pasta or bread.

How important are macros?

Junkhead said:

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How important are macros?

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Macros are the key to keto. Otherwise, you're just eating a high fat diet, which may or may not work. And you will not hit them unless you track them with something like MyFitnessPal.

In short - your net carbs are a hard "do not exceed " limit. Your proteins are a "should hit" target. Your fats are an upper limit - eat that which is required to satisfy yourself. You do not have to hit your fat target, but you should not go over it.

You'll hear a lot of people claiming "I have a hard time hitting my fat target" so they eat an 800 calorie fat bomb. That's backwards thinking.

Yeah, I'm not going crazy on the fats but I also don't want to freak out about not having enough. Keeping the carbs low doesn't seem like it will be too hard for me.

Did not work for me with my job. I travel for work. It didn't really agree with my training or body. That doesn't mean it won't work for you though. Everyone is different.

I was sick as a dog for 2 weeks with no energy. I know this is the carb flu, but I committed for about 2 months while training for Ironman. It was not for me. It is great for low and slow, but I had energy problems when I wanted to dig down and get my heart rate pumping.

I switch to a more Whole Foods and cut sugar and had great results. It is a lot easier to implement. I needed the sugar for my long training days though, but those came from my Infinit nutrition.

What aggie1819 is very true for many who are physically active - keto doesn't work for them. I trained for a half marathon while doing keto and just about died. There are some who can do it - I'm not one of them.

and the keto flu is a very real thing. You will feel miserable.

Many will tell you NOT to do any physical activity at first to help you control the hunger. But it varies for each individual.

I'm not doing a ton right now anyway but I am trying to do some regular pool work for exercise and plan on getting back into the gym for some cardio and light weights.

Exogenous ketones are a game changer for workouts.

MosesHallEnforcer said:

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Exogenous ketones are a game changer for workouts.

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What does this mean?

It's a ketone supplement taken before or during your workout that helps performance when your in ketosis.

I put some keto blitz in my water during a workout. D'om dagostino and Peter Attia talk about it pretty extensively. Their use by the Navy seals to increase under water breath time is really fascinating as well.

Dont do keto, and do a proper diet in n the first place. You can pay me later.