Do I Count Calories On The Ketogenic Diet? Should you? My thoughts and experience of counting calories and macros on the low carb keto diet.
Do I Count Calories On The Ketogenic Diet?
I’m often asked about whether I count calories/macros on the Keto Diet, so I thought I should dedicate a whole blog post to discuss my thoughts and experience with this topic.
In The Beginning…
When I first started the Keto Diet I tracked every single morsel of food that entered my mouth. I wanted to ensure that I was achieving my macro and calorie targets. This helped reassure me that I was doing Keto correctly.
Over time I learned the macro content and rough calories of my favourite, go to Keto friendly foods. This made it easier to go some days without tracking, as my meals were often the same day to day. But, tracking was still a part of my routine.
What About Now?
I’m approaching 6 months of following the Keto Diet. Those days of not tracking turned into weeks and now I rarely track at all. I track if I’m having a prolonged plateau, just to make sure I’m still on track. I usually surprise myself by eating almost exactly “to plan”.
I’ve just learned what makes up a “typical” Keto meal (hint: add more fat!) and what foods are best avoided (carbs).
Overall I found that a solid foundation of tracking has helped me to understand the Keto ratios and be more relaxed as time has gone on.
Should You Count Calories/Macros?
Obviously that’s a very personal decision. This post is not meant as dietary advice. I’d say that you should find a way to follow the Keto Diet that is as sustainable as possible in the long term. (If that’s something that you want to do.)
For further inspiration, here’s a video of a typical day of Keto Diet eating – without counting calories, plus more of my thoughts on this topic:
I launched the Quick Start To Keto Diet recently to help those of you wanting to start the Keto Diet but not sure how to begin. It’s the helping hand I would have loved when I started and I put it together to help you. Click here to learn more.
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Disclaimer – this post is meant for informational post only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your health professional before making any dietary changes.
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