2 Questions about Cutting...

[Blondie_Bombshell]

I tried to search for these and read through stuff for 45 mins, so Im just going to ask.

Can running a keto diet for too long be bad for you? Im doing refeeds every 7-14 days. How long is too long?

Also, how long do you guys and gals usually run t3 for?

Thanks for any responses, I am trying to prep for my first contest and just trying to get everything lined up and in order.

 

[mexbeast]

i believe keto diets are not bad for you, remember the eskimos are on keto diets their whole life, my keto diet is modified though i keep it clean and low in fat, and lots of veges and salads.

 

[HawaiiMuscle]

Diets are just too individual. Some do well with keto, some do not. I personally cant do it, recovering after a weight training session seems impossible.

Maybe you could try a timed keto diet before you do all out keto diet to see how your body responds.


And t3 is again very individual. I cant go any higher then 50mcg without feeling weak and run down. Length of time on is up to you. I seen people only use it for 4-8 weeks and have seen others run it year around (definitely wouldn't suggest this) without any problems or shutdown. Just keep in mind your rolling the dice anytime you add any ergogenic aid which effects your endocrine system.

 

[ojs]

I've been doing some version of a keto diet for over 10 years. I've changed keto styles and they all produce similar but slightly different results. The magic in making or holding muscle while on keto is the timing and on the size of the carb-ups/refeeds. Everyone is different. And the same person even responds differently to the same spacing of the carb-ups depending on how much muscle they're holding.

In my opinion the more muscle you're holding the closer and smaller the carb-ups need to be. But it's very relative. And it takes some trial and error to get it wired.

The few times I've tried non-keto diets I just start putting fat on a lot faster than I want to ever have to deal with. So I'm keto for life.

 

[brojm]

i agree....i have a cheat once a week...as long as you have enough calories with protein and fats, you should have minimal muscle loss...I am a big fan because i can see my progress and be dryer, rather than be bloated with the water from carbs

 

[Blondie_Bombshell]

Thanks for the great responses guys. I have fooled around with keto for about 4 months. As long as I stay around 30g of carbs a day, I can loose fat and hold on to the muscle that I have. I am actually starting to see veins!

Im the same as Ojs, once I start eating too many carbs, I put on fat. Im pretty sure that everyone in my family is pretty carb sensitive.

I am getting really good results with the 7 day refeeds and I actually feel better on keto than I did on a more macro balanced diet.

I started to get nervous when someone told me that keto is hard on your organs, after it is ran too long??

 

[mexbeast]

Thanks for the great responses guys. I have fooled around with keto for about 4 months. As long as I stay around 30g of carbs a day, I can loose fat and hold on to the muscle that I have. I am actually starting to see veins!

Im the same as Ojs, once I start eating too many carbs, I put on fat. Im pretty sure that everyone in my family is pretty carb sensitive.

I am getting really good results with the 7 day refeeds and I actually feel better on keto than I did on a more macro balanced diet.

I started to get nervous when someone told me that keto is hard on your organs, after it is ran too long??

yes ketoacidosis is bad for you IF you are inactive, but its ok if you are active and healthy, again eskimos suffer no ill effects from eating nothing but fats and meats they are actually some of the most healthy people on the planet. again i suggest veges and salads maybe some low carb fruit such as strawberries, limes, and grapefruits, for their alkaline properties.

 

[ojs]

yes ketoacidosis is bad for you IF you are inactive, but its ok if you are active and healthy, again eskimos suffer no ill effects from eating nothing but fats and meats they are actually some of the most healthy people on the planet. again i suggest veges and salads maybe some low carb fruit such as strawberries, limes, and grapefruits, for their alkaline properties.

I think you are on point. Ketoacidosis or actually Chronic Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis is bad for you. I don't think too many would dispute that. And because everyone responds to keto differently, here's what I did at the beginning of my keto days because of this exact concern. I went out and got some pH paper to test my urine. It tells you everything you need to know if you are concerned about your health. The idea is to eat food combinations that keep your pH in the green on the strips -- 7.0-7.5. That is a perfect food balance for your genetics as far as ph goes.

On straight keto my pH stays between 7.1 and 7.3. That's a healthy pH range. So I will never have to get off of keto. My body loves it. On carbs, my ph drops down between 6.6 - 7.0. That is not healthy. The higher carb diet would put me in Chronic Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis if I stayed on it for an extended amount of time.

*note: it takes your body about 3 days to adjust it's pH to a particular food selection. So first pee on the morning of the 4th day on a consistent diet will tell you if you are in a healthy pH range or not.

 

[mexbeast]

man! i have to get me some of those strips, cause been in the right ph level is perfect for both fat loss/muscle gain. i should add that supposably citrate [as in calcium citrate] lower acidosis.

 

[bluestrm]

Keto dieting is the best thing since sliced bread! LOL.
But really, I am a big keto diet advocate. Let me just say that a keto diet can not be wrong. There is absolutely no such thing as an essential carb!
As far as losing muscle while on the diet, it should not be a concern at all if your healthy fats are in the right ballpark. If you are not taking in enough fats(healthy fats), you will appear flat, and eventually start to notice muscle loss...considering your are taking in plenty of protein.
The very first time I used the Palumbo Diet, I got leaner than ever. Easier than ever before. I felt GREAT the entire time. And I gained muscle while in the cut. The key for me wasn't more protein. It was messing with my fat intake until I got it up to where it needed to be.

And for T3, as said above, it is an individual thing. Mostly a decision! Those horror stories of messing up your thyroid are just that, stories. In this community where excess are abuse are so prevalent, you just simply don't see the issue of thyroid shutdown. There is a study showing long time use(years) with relatively high doses, and the patients stopping cold turkey and it only taking up to 2 weeks for the thyroid to rebound. The thyroid is very resilient.
However, there is absolutely no need to go much higher than 50mcg per day. 62.5mcg should be the absolute highest anyone should ever try. And that is on gear. It can be very catabolic in high doses. And for fatloss, high doses are not needed.

 

[brojm]

i don't recommend t3 unless you are very obess......it tears as much muscle off as it does fat...and thats with super high protein....t3 is not a bodybuilders friend

 

[ojs]

I like to combine 50mcg of T4 with 10mcg of T3