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The Ketogenic diet has been the talk of the town for quite some time.Not many people know that it is majorly prescribed for children suffering from epilepsy. This low-carb diet has been quite effective for weight loss. But few know that it needs to be followed with great caution. It has its own set of pros and cons. While the set of pros are very visual and effective, the cons are less visible. If not done in a proper manner, this diet can turn out to be very unhealthy. Keto diet should only be practiced under clinical supervision and for a certain period of time. There are certain tests that are supposed to be done before observing this diet. Yatish Raju, a young fitness enthusiast recently had a very bad experience with this diet which he initially began with huge expectations of weight loss and bodybuilding.
Here's his story:
His love for staying fit After college, he decided to join the gym. Yatish says 'I just walked to a gym to enroll myself. I paid extra for a personal trainer. My routine was leaving home at 10AM for work, reaching home at 9:15PM and hitting the gym at 9:30PM. I joined a few health and workout groups on Facebook, started following some great fitness icons on Instagram which kept me motivated. I noticed a lot of changes in me. I felt like I was on the right path towards my goal.'
How he got to know the Keto diet: His love for gymming and leading a fit life increased. He says,'With time I realized that gym started to become an important part of my life. Fitness started to excite me, I would speak about workouts to almost everyone. I would spend hours and hours reading fitness articles, about different kinds of exercises and workout plans. I was happy with the change'. During his research, he came across this much talked about Keto diet or Ketogenic diet. He said, 'I was stunned at first, looking at the transformations of individuals within 2 months -- an obese person getting a ripped physique in such a short span of time. Out of curiosity, I started reading more about the Keto diet. It was a simple elimination of carbs from your body. Burning fats from the body and getting a ripped physique is all a fitness freak wants.
His Keto diet regime He monitored his body metabolic rate and calorie count. He said, 'I started preparing my Keto diet which consisted of 90% fats and proteins and extremely low carbohydrate 10%. I had a Keto diet which included minimal or almost no carbs'. (Read: Ketogenic diet for preventing epileptic attacks)
His first five days(Here's what he told us)
Day 1: Fared well. I was so excited to get a ripped body, I really did not mind being on a strict Keto diet.
Day 2: I was a little tired but I recollected that the cons did state that you would feel lethargic and have headaches.
Day 3 & 4: I discovered that I had already lost a kilo, I was enthralled, it was the best feeling.
Day 5: While coming back from work I was suddenly not able to see clearly with my left eye. I ignored it .I thought it was some withdrawal symptom. I somehow managed to reach my society. But by then my vision from the right eye had begun to blur too.While I walked a few steps towards my building, I collapsed. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital with saline tubes in my body. My head felt like there was a rock concert going on. He continues, 'I had learned my lesson the hard way. I realized that the sudden change in my eating habits had led to this. The almost total elimination of carbs from my diet didn't fare well with my body. I realized our body cannot adapt to such quick and drastic changes and also consulting a doctor before taking up such a diet is a must. It is like a 5th grader appearing for a 10th-grade exam. The argument is not about Keto being good or bad, it s about knowing your body before taking such steps. I hadn't consulted a doctor beforehand and that was a big mistake. Everybody is different and their body reacts to things differently, one needs to understand their body well.The bottom line being, always consult a doctor before starting any new diets'. (Read: 6 side effects of ketogenic or low-carb diet you should be aware of)
The diet he follows now He has now shifted to a healthy balance diet and works out dedicatedly. Of course, he did not lose weight as quickly as he would have following the Keto diet. But he is feeling healthier and fitter than before. In a nutshell, it is always advisable to visit a doctor before taking up(even if your trainer hasn't asked you to do so) any sort of diet especially if your diet urges you to eliminate a certain portion of nutrition.
Read this in Hindi.
IMAGE: Yatish Raju