I lost over 100 pounds on the keto diet, but it totally destroyed my relationship with food

I started on the keto diet in 2018, and lost over 120 pounds in just under a year.

But the diet has totally destroyed my relationship with food.

Read on to find out some of the ways he did more damage than good.

I became obsessed with reading nutrition labels

When trying to lose weight, it is important to stay in a calorie deficit – when the number of calories consumed is less than the calories the body burns to perform daily functions.

I still watch my calories daily, but it’s easy to go overboard.

I got to the point where I would get anxious if I ate a little too many calories, even though the food itself was relatively healthy.

If I went over my 20 grams of net carbs it was ruining my day

Most low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diets recommend no more than 20 grams of net carbs (carbs minus fiber) per day.

That leaves very little room for much other than a few servings of low-carb veggies. You certainly can’t have potatoes, rice, bread, or pasta.

Anytime I went over that number, I felt like a failure just because I had eaten whole wheat toast or a banana.

I had more binge eating episodes than before keto

Because the keto diet is so restrictive, I would do just fine for a while and then inevitably binge when I couldn’t take it anymore.

Instead of indulging in a small baked potato, I should have a big fries.

This might not be a problem for people who haven’t had binge eating issues, but knowing that I can’t have something only makes it more alluring.

I relied on the wrong kinds of food to be full

I found myself relying on low-carb, sugar-free protein bars, cookies and candies, and high-fat foods like sausage and bacon to keep me feeling full on a daily basis.

The story continues

I knew protein was important for muscle, but without the carbs I had no choice but to top up on fat to try and stay full while enjoying my food.

I ended up with limited food choices and extremely high cholesterol levels.

I started to restrict a little too much

I was a little too encouraged by how quickly the keto diet helped me lose weight, so I started restricting even more. In addition to cutting back on carbs, I was also eating a lot less calories than I should have, especially given my weight and activity level.

I knew I was going too far, but part of me clung to success and wanted to keep making things harder for faster results.

I missed out on healthy, whole foods that weren’t keto-friendly

Eating less than 20 grams of carbohydrate per day severely limits your food choices.

I couldn’t eat sweet potatoes, butternut squash, brown rice, quinoa, bananas, oatmeal, beans, and many other delicious foods believed to have health benefits.

I was missing out on delicious meals and the vitamins, minerals and other macronutrients these ingredients provide.

I subscribed to the “beehive mind” keto which ignored a lot of science

Many of those on the keto diet insist that it’s the best (and only) way to eat. Some believe that carbs will kill you and insist that anyone who does not follow this way of eating is blind and ignorant of the divine truth that they have discovered.

I know this because I was one of them for a while.

But, in reality, keto has its downsides, risks, and downsides. And while this way of eating may be beneficial for people with certain conditions, many nutrition experts still consider it to be one of the worst diets.

Read the original article on Insider