Keto/Low carb or GLP-1?

My wife and I both shifted toward fewer carbs once we began using reta and it has suited us well.

From my experience it seems that way. About four years back I began keto while quite heavy at 177 cm and 120 kg. Over sixteen months I dropped 42 kg down to 78 kg, which matched my high school weight at age 49. After the initial keto phase I moved to low carb combined with two meals a day. My only exercise then was long daily walks around 25k steps plus occasional swimming. Later a job change cut my steps to just a few thousand and the weight crept back up by 17 kg to 95 kg by the start of this year. I returned to the gym five days a week doing cardio and lifting but progress stalled until I looked into GLP-1 options.

I followed keto until starting reta. These days I do not feel low carb is required but I still pay attention to how much sugar I take in.

I tried carnivore for a while and noticed less joint pain and inflammation even though the scale barely moved. The diet proved too difficult to keep up long term for me. With tirz I have ended up eating lower carb anyway because I prioritize protein. I do not track everything closely but carbs stay limited and I have dropped 70 lbs with only 10 left to go.

At first on reta I only tracked total calories and did not worry about the breakdown of carbs fat or protein. Now I have reduced carbs while increasing protein and still watch calories overall. That adjustment has noticeably improved my rate of weight loss.

I have followed keto for years and like it but do not see it as essential anymore. Since starting reta I have stepped away from strict keto because staying in a calorie deficit feels simpler without it. I focus on protein then add vegetables along with rice or potatoes and skip added sugars. This keeps me lower carb than a typical American diet without the full keto rules. I also appreciate being able to eat out with friends without the hassle of cycling in and out of ketosis.

I lean toward fewer carbs because they can leave me overly full on top of the medication's effects. I still include carbs daily but not at every meal and mostly from vegetables and fruit since that feels best to me. Everyone responds differently though.

If someone can maintain keto I would recommend it and even consider carnivore. Those approaches are tough though and for people carrying a lot of extra weight or visceral fat a GLP-1 is the safer choice over doing nothing.

I stayed on keto nearly ten years because it was the only approach that kept me from overeating to the point of discomfort. I went from 240 to 180 lbs and felt the benefits outweighed the restrictions at the time. Once my activity level dropped the weight started returning and sticking to the plan grew harder. The medications have let me eat more like a regular person again while regaining control without needing an extreme diet. I still choose food thoughtfully but can enjoy a single scoop of ice cream without wanting more.

My daily targets are calories and protein which change depending on whether I am maintaining or cutting. Any remaining calories after hitting protein can go toward carbs if I want them. During a cut the carbs stay fairly low.

My quick take is that hitting an overall calorie target is what matters most as another person mentioned. Eating carbs that match your activity on a lower carb plan can work well for fat loss. Keto itself can be effective but often backfires unless followed precisely because converting protein to carbs or drifting in and out of ketosis feels rough. For most people a simple sustainable approach beats trying to perfect keto.

The goal with reta is improving how you eat overall. I am not entirely sure what keto involves but some extreme versions like carnivore seem unnecessary. The medication tends to steer people toward lower calorie nutrient dense meals with lean proteins vegetables fruit and fewer starchy items like rice. That naturally means lower carbs for many compared with before starting the drug.

I am 62 and used to be active until Hashimoto's and thyroid issues caused rapid weight gain from 182 to 239 lbs in six months despite no diet changes. I managed to lose it with an extremely low calorie salad and fish plan but could not sustain the energy for normal life or exercise. Later attempts with OMAD carnivore got me to 220 lbs but still left me under fueled. Starting reta last December at 262 lbs has been different.

One YouTube doctor named Jones strongly advocates combining keto with GLP-1 medications.

It depends on the situation. For modest excess weight many strategies can work. For severe obesity the medications appear primary and diet becomes secondary. Even with reported keto successes a 2013 analysis found only about 0.9 kg extra loss over a year on very low carb ketogenic eating. GLP drugs create a calorie deficit through appetite reduction so pairing them with a balanced approach like Mediterranean eating plus extra protein makes sense to me. If keto helps control hunger for someone then it is fine to keep using it.