/r/ketogains
Ketogains is a protocol created by Luis Villasenor & Tyler Cartwright that helps you unleash the benefits of whole food, low carb dieting and strength training to achieve optimal body composition
What is Ketogains?
Ketogains is “a practical and evidence-based protocol with the goal of achieving optimal body composition and health. “
Our core philosophy is based on three pillars:
EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, ACHIEVEMENT.
Our Mission: To help people achieve their fitness & health goals. To Change lives through education and empowerment.
Our Vision: To become one of the most respected and trusted health sciences resources.
Ketosis is a side effect of our general macro and micro recommendations for many, but NOT THE GOAL in itself:
“Chase results, not Ketones” ®
At Ketogains, we will teach you how to get into the best shape of your life while improving your health by following a low carb diet of whole, nutrient dense foods.
We believe that through the process of becoming mentally and physically stronger we empower ourselves to become better in all areas of our lives.
So, whether you want to gain strength and health, improve endurance and speed, or achieve a lean body, it can all be done with our approach.
Welcome to KETOGAINS.
All advice here, comes mainly from respected scientific and sport / nutrition sources (Jeff Volek, Steven Phinney, Peter Attia, Lyle McDonald, Menno Henselmans, Ted Naiman, Robb Wolf, Mark Sisson, Bill Lagakos, - in no particular order-, et al.) and adapted toward our athletic endeavors.
Before asking a question, use the search function to see if the topic has already been discussed.
When asking for help, provide: Total Weight, BF%. Height, Sex, Age, sport and for how long have you been following a ketogenic diet.
All progress posts must be accompanied by information relevant to ketogains - e.g. macros, workouts.
The Ketogains protocol is a SET protocol with SET guidelines, we don’t follow a classic “therapeutic approach” to ketosis nor ketogenic ratios: we follow macros in grams in accordance to a personal context. Be willing to learn, and “empty your cup”.
Many posts will be anecdotal but we strive for a scientific foundation - please differentiate accordingly. It's fine to say "I did X and Y happened" but when you're stating something like it's a universal truth, you should have a source.
No shitposts/off-topic/circle jerk/rants/memes/food porn outside of the daily.
Keep it positive and friendly. No slurs or harassment. A post doesn't have to strictly violate a rule to be worthy of being removed. Sometimes people get creative.
What to post on the main board:
Detailed troubleshooting posts if you already have experience with the sport you're asking about
Detailed progress posts that include your program/routine and what you generally did to get there
Ressources like articles, studies, interviews, etc. that are relevant to exercising on a ketogenic diet or to exercise in general
Detailed Program Reviews
What to post in the daily:
Simpler questions that don't warrant their own thread
Troubleshooting for novices
Form checks (Don't give advice if you're not lifting at the very least in a similar ballpark! Linking resources is fine.)
Community conversations (introduce yourself to the community or talk about what you did today, what your goals are, etc.)
Sharing progress pics, PR's, SV's, NSV's, etc.
Asking about or sharing meals/recipes
/r/keto | /r/ketoscience |
/r/leangains | /r/gettingshredded |
/r/fitness | /r/AdvancedFitness |
/r/bodybuilding | /r/weightroom |
/r/bodyweightfitness | /r/bicycling |
/r/supplements | /r/c25k |
/r/paleo | /r/zerocarb |
n-RM | n rep max | SS | Starting Strength |
PHAT | Power Hypertrophy Adaptive Training | PPL | Push, Pull, Legs |
TM | Texas Method | BoB | Boring but Big |
BWF | Bodyweight Fitness | CC | Convict Conditioning |
IN | Insanity | HIIT | H. Intensity Intvl. Training |
HAES | Health at Every Size | BF% | Body Fat % |
IF | Intermittent Fasting | C25K | Couch->5km running prog. |
S/C/TKD | Std./Cyclic/Targeted Ketogenic Diet | LISS | Low Intensity Steady State |
/r/ketogains
age 56, weight 202, height 74”
macros p-156 c-20 f-107
i had success following KG macros years ago competing in jiujitsu. however i fell into bad health over the pandemic getting over 230lbs for a while.
i recently started working out again and returned to jiujitsu however chest pain and an angiogram lead me to emergency double bypass surgery.
for now i am following much of what they are telling me to do recovery wise. (eating fruit but no sugar though ) but long term i am paying attention to low carb cardiologists.
does anyone have post coronary bypass keto experience. how do you manage your doctors etc?
I lift weights five times a week and follow a 16-hour fasting regimen every day. I break my fast with either six eggs or four eggs with bacon, plus 280 grams of fatty beef. For dinner, I have another 280 grams of any meat. For my pre-workout, I have coffee with MCT oil and whey protein.
I can maintain this routine, but I'm starting to dislike the taste of meat and eggs. Today, I had lunch, and it was miserable. Does this taste aversion go away if I stick with the diet?
these are my macros : protein 153, fat 152, carbs <20
Edit: more info Age 34 Height 5/9 Body fat around 13% last time I checked Primary goal muscle gain
Edit: weight 180lbs
There was a yt video by a keto dr who recommended intermittently avoiding water as a sort of “cleanser” as part of the keto diet, which I found to be odd. Can someone explain how this would be beneficial? Hydration flushes out toxins, after-all
So I'm trying to bulk up with a slight caloric surplus (300cals). For me after trial and error that is 4000 calories. I cannot for the life of me eat 4000 calories of butter and beef. I get nausesous from high amounts of butter and beef is too filling.
Is there any way to fix this besides chugging heavy cream down? Cream gives me severe acne. Nuts give me many problems aswell.
How the hell do you bulk on keto? There must be some secret because right now im struggling to even hit my maintenance.
Stats: Age - 43, Weight - 246, Height - 70 inches, BF% - 34 (dexa scan)
Macros: Protein - 220g, Carbs: 10g, Fat - 99g (according to calculator, but only actually been consuming around 80g) Calories - 1621 / 1811 (normal vs lift days). (I'm always withing 10-20 calories of this range, and almost always on the below range)
I've been following this almost perfectly for a few months now. I use a food scale, I measure all my food raw and use the USDA nutritional info to track my calories. I eat the same 2 or 3 meals over and over (mostly eggs, lean ground beef, chicken breast)
For exercise I walk about 3.5-4 miles daily and 4x a week i do a heavy double kettlebell strength program that takes about and hour with minimal rest.
So far I've lost 1.4 lbs in 3 months. I seem to get in a perpetual cycle where my weight goes up and down almost 2 pounds every few days, but at the end of a month I weigh the same or maybe 0.2 pounds less.
Do I just need more time or should I make any adjustments? My clothes are fitting looser and my shoulders/chest/arms are getting more defined. But I've been working out and dieting for almost a year now (was just carnivore, switched to ketogains macros around Oct 2024, weight training the last year as well) so I don't think it's just beginner muscle gains making it seem im not losing weight.
Would gladly take any suggestions.
Somewhat new to a ketogains diet and while my workouts are similar to my carb consuming former workouts, I’ve been having a major issue feeling the pump…. I go through the motions and achieve reps like usual but I absolutely cannot feel any type of pump. What am I doing wrong or what do I need to consume pre workout?
I’m sorry if this is a common question or if people are sick of it, but i’m a noob to keto.
I weighed 125.2kg / 276lbs at the start of the year and currently I weigh 121.1kg / 267lbs. I really want to increase muscle mass/hypertrophy while cutting down my fat, I used the ketogains calculator and i am 37% body fat. I am 180cm/5’11 and a 21 year old male.
My current diet plan has the following macros: 1720 calories ~203g protein ~80g fat ~20g carbs
the macros vary by a couple grams just because I made 2 different recipes for lunch.
I want to follow the ketogains 5x5 plan, and my diet plan was influenced by the diet found in the PDF.
I’m just wondering should I incorporate more fat/less protein? are the calories too low for my weight? I appreciate any inputs and sorry again if this is a commonly asked question 🙏
Hi all, can see this question has been asked many times in this group but reading through has given me more questions than answers so thought I’d provide some context about my body weight and goals so someone who’s been in my position can guide me on the right course of action.
I started keto around 8 weeks ago (first 4 weeks wasn’t so strict) and yes, I’ve dropped plenty of body fat which is great (around 21 pounds). I go to the gym 4 times for strength training and, due to a sedentary job, I spend an hour on the treadmill doing an incline walk, daily (except Sundays, my day off (but still keto)).
I’m currently weighing around 145lb and look quite lean (not massively impressed with the physique at the moment but BF is looking good) but want to ensure I’m optimal from a protein intake perspective to ensure whilst my BF drops, my muscle mass increases.
My diet consists of, full fat organic yogurt (around 1.5kg a week), eggs (averaging 6 a day), cottage cheese (around 1kg a week), high fat percentage beef mince and sirloin steak (around 250g a day). For snacks, plenty of nuts and blueberries. From a ketosis perspective, I’m maintaining a moderate amount of keystones as per piss tests.
So, my question is, should I consider bumping up my protein with whey and, if so, which whey should I consider? I’m leaning towards isolate before my work out (or the course of the day for rest days).
Any guidance, experience or knowledge you can share would be greatly appreciated!
26 Y/O Male.
Edit: of course I’m looking for increased muscle mass and I’m only 5 foot 7 so I’m not “skinny” but definitely need more mass
So I started Keto the beginning of November. I was at 2750cals a day, and stayed there, simply reducing carb calories for extra fat calories. Then I lost 8-9lbs over the next month. Water weight maybe? I've read that for every gram of glucose in your system, you retain 3 grams of water. Anyway, I increased my calories to 3000/day, and am still not gaining. Every calculator has me being way over in daily TDEE at 3000. 52m. 6'1", 175. 16%bf(Dexa). Lift weight 4 times a week for 75 minutes/session. Am I doing the math wrong, because if I wasnt in Keto, and was still mashing down carbs, I'd be like 200lbs, lol.
I know there are tons of answers to this question but that's part of the frustration I have. Literally every article, fitness reel, or influencer will post conflicting opinions on this. My non science based guess is what matters is time under tension but that can be done both ways (low reps high weight and also vice versa with high reps/more sets but lower weight)
What is the ideal numbers of reps and set for muscle growth/hypertrophy? (mid 50s eating pretty much a keto diet, doing 18:6, 20:4 IF on some days OMAD, and lifting daily with a PPL split)
Restarting keto, and my current macros are:
P 140g Total carbs 30g F 75G
I'm female, 5"9 or 173cm And weigh approx 66kg or 145lbs
Weightlift or run on average 5 days a week and wanting to maintain my muscle but get absolutely shredded.
I know with keto and others have mentioned that my fat intake should be higher, however because I am wanting to maintain my current muscle mass, is it correct to have higher protein amount?
And do the macro ratios matter regarding maintaining ketosis or is it just the carbs that I need to keep low?
I fasted overnight. Woke up and only consumed the PWO coffee. I went for a workout, and when I got back from the gym, I measured my blood glucose/ketones & I was no longer in a state of ketosis.
Any ideas why this might've happened?
Here's what I put in it:
I am 56 and trying to gain 15lbs as well as increase my work capacity. I have been doing S&S 5-6 days a week for the metabolic benefit from 100 swings/day.
For Hypertrophy I have two workouts that I rotate on the days my Whoop shows adequate recovery.
Routine A has a Hinge, vertical pull, horizontal pull and some shrugs and curls.
Routine B has Barbell front squats, vertical press, horizontal press, and a little tricep work.
I love doing the S&S daily but am not getting 3 days of my AB routine per week because I am not recovered enough?
Should I give myself a recovery day in between where I just walk and do mobility/rehab training?
Hello, so I am new here and had a question about my macros. I have done keto before but my main focus was always just losing weight. I have recently just finished bulking and have put on more muscle than I ever have in my life (which is not a lot lol). But now I want to keep as much muscle as possible while I cut.
When I inputed my data into the macros calculator it suggested that I lose body fat instead of recomp. Here are my stats:
Weight: 200lbs Height: 6’0 BF %: 32 Age: 27
My suggested intake for protein is only 168g daily. Would this be enough to burn fat while I maintain my current muscle mass? Any tips on cutting while maintaining muscle? I usually get about 100g of protein from protein shakes daily.
F25 H 5'6 W 177
Since I've previously done keto in the past, about 2 years ago, I gained back basically all the weight and then some. As a new years resolution, I decided to hop on the horse again to finally stay skinny. I buckled down this week and started hitting my macros with 20 net carbs but I started to feel burning in my stomach. This has never happened to me on keto before and I'm kind of concerned I'm doing something wrong. It's been a week as well and I haven't noticed any weight loss. I also tested my levels and it showed I was in light ketosis but nothing has improved.
Any suggestions?
Hi.
I wonder if anyone can help please?
I have been on Keto after a hiatus of 3 years or so.
Now been very strict for 17 days, 20g Net carbs or less. Eating clean foods, no alcohol, intermittent fasting approx 16hrs not eating.
After my first meal (lunch) of salad, EVOO, lemon juice, fish and some cheese I have been getting serious light headedness and fatigue with some slight visual disturbance. This wears off after an hour or two.
Have struggled to find explanation, except perhaps a drop in blood pressure after eating. Has anyone else experienced this or have any thoughts please? I don't remember feeling like this the first time I did keto strictly around 3 years ago.
Many thanks
J
Vital stats:
|| || |Age:|36| |Weight:|80 kg (176 lb)| |Height:|177.5 cm (5'10")| |Body fat %:|16 % (estimated using measurements)| |Job:|Long commute ~2hrs of driving. But job involves walking / standing, so 'Lightly active'.| |Training goals*:|Rock climbing: progress in bouldering and outdoor climbing, which is upper body strength dominant. Running: want to do a sub-90min half marathon in May. Lifting: maintain my current lifts (BP: 80 / DL: 160 / S: 80). Calisthenics: work towards one arm pull-up.|
(*)I don't target all these goals -necessarily- at the same time. But typically cycle through goals like these.
I recently started a keto diet, after considering it for some time. I believe losing fat will help me in most of my training goals. Particularly in the sports where strength/weight ratio is a factor: running, climbing, calisthenics.
I'm still in the first week, so its all pretty new to me, but so far so good. I bought a Ketone/Glucose monitor and it has confirmed that my body is in a state of ketosis (Glucose: 4.2mmol/L, Ketones: 1.8mm/L, GKI: 2.3). I set my targets using Cronometer, at 'Moderate Keto' programme. This is basically 1.5 g of protein per kg of lean body mass, and 40g of non-fibre carbs per day, plus Athletic bonus (which I assume allows for more carbs for logged workouts). I don't bother with fasting, I just eat 3 meals per day. Macro targets for today from Cronometer are: 100g Protein / 55g Carbs (extra for a workout) / 252g Fat. They are a bit different to macro targets on the Ketogains website, should I manually adjust them?
I'm looking for strategies / protocols to maximise my performance and ensure I don't go backwards in any areas. Is there any pitfalls I should be aware of while starting out on this keto journey, from an athletic perspective?
On the wiki, I saw that those who are still new to Keto should probably stick to Standard Ketogenic Diet (SKD). When is it a good time to introduce Targeted Ketogenic Diet (TKD)? How do you know if TKD will be advantageous? What are some recommend carbs to consume when trying TKD?
UNDERSTANDING SET POINT AND SETTLING POINT THEORIES IN BODYWEIGHT REGULATION: INSIGHTS FOR ACHIEVING LASTING FAT LOSS
By Luis Villasenor, BS in Nutrition, Co-founder of Ketogains & DrinkLMNT
In the pursuit of optimal health and body composition, many of us face a perplexing challenge: maintaining a healthy weight in the long term. While calorie balance and macronutrient intake are key players, they are only pieces of the puzzle.
The body’s regulatory mechanisms—how it “defends” a certain weight or fat level—are also critical. Two predominant theories aim to explain this phenomenon: the set point theory and the settling point theory.
Let’s explore these concepts, their implications for fat loss, and how to harness them for your personal health journey - read the complete article on the link HERE
I'm a 23 male loving the OMAD lifestyle, breaking my fast with a big feast every night. I don't care particulary about being in ketosis, but I'm wondering if I ever actually reach the state during the day. My meal is typically 150-200 g proteins, 150-200 grams os carbs and 50-75 g of fat. I lift weights 4-5 times a week, cardio/sprints 2-3 times and always hit 15k+ steps a day.
I have noticed I often pee a lot 18-20 hours into the fast and that my spit/saliva start fasting sweet. Is that related to ketosis? Or/and are there any way to tell for sure that the body is in ketosis?
I have been going to the gym consistently now for 3 months and I have gained a noticable amount of muscle mass but I haven't lost much fat.
I want to know if hopping on a carnivore (keto) diet will help me lose the fat I have been struggling to lose, but also will it help me maintain muscle mass, or maybe even help me become stronger than before and build muscle even faster.
I have been back on keto for about a month. I've done it before, but not for a couple of years. I need to lose weight. I am 51 years old and have NAFLD.
I have been lifting consistently for 3 years, most of the time using the GZCLP template.
I've restarted running again, as well, with a goal if improving vo2max and cardiovascular function.
I run 4 days a week (3 if I need more rest), 4 min run/1 min walk, repeated 7x, 10min warm up and 5 min cooldown. Roughly, I'm in zone 4 for 25min and zone 3 for 15 min.
I understand this isn't the best for burning fat. However, I enjoy how it makes me feel and its great for my heart and lungs.
I lift 3 days a week. I understand that at the intensity I'm running, I'm effectively getting an inefficient leg workout. They aren't getting worked enough to build significant muscle, but they are getting worked enough to require as much recovery as a heavy squat workout.
Basically, I'm hitting my legs everyday, and they're always sore. This likely won't be sustainable long term.
Currently, I alternate between RDLs and squats every workout. My RDLs are crap, I am using light weight compared to my deadlifts in order the focus on improving my form. I'm hesitant to cut out the squats. I love the movement, they are give me power, mobility, and good posture.
Any thoughts?
I am new to protein powder and before I buy I wanted to ask for some suggestions.
I have issues with gluten. I am allergic to eggs, I’m lactose intolerant and I have IBS. I also want to avoid aspartame or sucralose.
It seems so far the best protein powder from my research might be Naked brand Whey Isolate. Supposedly it’s unflavored so you can mix it in with other things.
Has anyone used this with similar issues to me and it worked OK for them? If it’s unflavored you probably wouldn’t just drink it straight so what kind of things would you mix with that? Any protein powder that fits my needs that does have flavor that might be better?
Thanks!
Hello everyone! This isn’t necessarily a new problem with me. My bench press has been plateaued for about 2 years now. However, I’ve noticed over the last few weeks that my bench strength is declining fairly rapidly. Does anyone have any tips on getting these muscle groups to grow? Thanks!
Soooo… I’ve been on and off keto for a few years. Typically I can drop weight relatively quickly. This time around I’m not sure what’s going on. I’ve been in the gym and on keto since for a little over 2 weeks. I’ve been going decently hard weight training. I’ve also been taking a keto friendly pre workout (which I’ve done in the past) and creatine also keto friendly. I’m constantly checking if I’m in ketosis with those little pee strips and I am without a doubt in ketosis, but I haven’t lost ANY weight yet. From what I understand creatine holds water, as water weight is the first to go on keto.. is it possible I’m losing fat, but still retaining water? Not too sure what’s going on. Thanks in advance
Hi guys,
I have been doing keto and training now for a few months and for the most part loving it! I’m enjoying my food way more and feeling fuller for longer.
However, I go on holiday in a week and I’m wondering whether I should do some form of carb loading so that my muscles look as big as possible on the beach (lol). I will be eating carbs on holiday but not sure that will make much difference if I’m not training.
Any help appreciated on whether you’d recommend this and any techniques would be hugely appreciated :)
Thanks all!
Used the macro calendar and plan on following that, but any additional tips?
My goal is to gain muscle…sitting at 120lbs (female and 63 inches), I don’t need to be losing anymore weight 😭
I am eating mainly animal-based currently, and am hoping to heal my Crohn’s. Anyone else with similar backgrounds who can give some tips?
Been also using a multivitamin and electrolyte drink!
I appreciate this community and the folks that give their advice. I am a long time lurker, and I think that this would be my 2nd post. Hopefully soon I'll be at a point where I can contribute vs just asking questions.
I was wondering if there are any adjustments that need to be made to the ketogains program to account for age. I'm a 49M, 6'4", 250 lbs (245 pre-holidays). Last dexa in October had me at 31.9% bf, so I still have a long way to go.
For added context, I took a previous dexa Nov 2023 and made the following progress (265 lbs then) by following a ketogenic diet and stronglifts 5x5:
I have started ketogains 5x5 last November and workout 2-3x per week.
I'm fortunate enough to have access to a power rack. I did have to get it shortened to fit into a room (~81"). Because if the ceiling height, I had to make a couple of adjustments:
Do I have to add anything to ensure that I haven't made things too easy (they don't feel easy)?
I also noticed the calculation on the ketogains calculator assumed an RMR of 2015. I had a test done ('astronaut' helmet and everything) and got a result slightly over 2,100. I was heavier but less muscular when I did the test. Should I modify any of the macros as a result?
I do notice strength increasing faster than when I did the stronglifts 5x5. So I am grateful for this program being made available publicly.
Thank you!
Don’t mind the silly hair - this is how I’m starting 2025.
78kg / 171.6lbs
~10-12% BF
47.3 years old
Aiming for 175-200g protein a day on average, 20g NET carbs and 70-130g fat depending on energy levels and recovery.
Plans for this year:
Maintain strength, muscle and BF% while prioritizing sleep and health.
What are your goals and plans for 2025?
I’m currently on the keto diet as it helps massively with a medical condition I currently have. I’ve always been into the gym and bulking up but I find it much more challenging during Keto.
I’m 5,8/9 and currently floating around 71kg/156.5lbs which is where I was essentially before starting.
When I started I dropped weight to like 66kg/145.5lbs as I was struggling to eat enough as wasn’t properly tracking calories, I soon figured that out and got back to my original weight but have completely stalled since and can’t break above.
I’m getting about 3600 kcal a day, is the answer simply to eat more? If so of what? I’m already having about 8 eggs, 400g ribeye, 300g ground beef a day with snacks like almonds 100g almonds.
Supplementing with creatine and electrolytes
Hi, excuse my grammar if it is not that good, I just want to share my experience with you, and this is my first post on this sub, Questions/Thoughts at the bottom
Some info about me 23M 64kg 17% slim I'm keto-adapted, it took 3 months for my body to adapt completely, i don't know why it took me that long even tho it was Carnivore-ish
1- Firstly, why I fasted for 5 days straight?
I planned to fast 3-5 days every 4 months or 6 months water fast with electrolytes and just one small salad tomato cucumber lettuce to make bowel movements total carb is nothing like 2 or 3gm
Mainly for autophagy to get rid of all junky cells, mitochondria, etc
And make my body use ketones more also Better Metabolic Flexibility (glucose to ketones and vice versa)
2-How much is my BHB?
Sadly I do not have a device to check my BHB but from seeing YouTube videos surely it's around 4-6
3- how do I feel?
Day 1 :
1- energy up and down
2- slight hunger
Day 2 :
1- easier compared to day 1
Day 3 :
1- Way Better Mental Clarity
2- Steady Energy
3- Urine Smell different
Day 4 :
1- Cold extremities
2- Zero Hunger
3- Mental Clarity same as Day 3
4- Steady Energy
Day 5 :
1- same as day 4
4- What I learned from this?
1- hunger is mostly a habit than real hunger sometimes it is just electrolyte imbalance
2- you will not lose any muscle during this period ، the last thing your body wants is to break your muscles for energy, and if you lose muscle it is bad tissue
5 My Questions/Thoughts :
1- Deep ketosis felt different than Regular Ketosis on the side of Mental Clarity i fear after breaking my fast I will lose that level of clarity
2- will my body produce more ketones after transitioning to regular ketosis not deep ketosis? Or because it's more efficient, it will produce less?
3- for some reason my Speech is smoother, I know it is weird to say but I talk more smoothly I don't know why