One Week Without Carbs: My Keto Experiment

I Tried the Keto Diet for 7 Days. Here's What Happened

Let me start by saying that my degree is in Exercise Science. Although it's been a few years since I graduated, one thing I remember clearly is that high-fat diets were rarely presented as the ideal way to eat. Most nutrition courses focused on balanced meals, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and moderation.

That's why I never expected to try the ketogenic diet.

I've never been a huge believer in diets. Most seem difficult to maintain, and many people eventually regain the weight they lose. Still, I became curious after listening to a podcast featuring Andrew Huberman and Dr. Chris Palmer. Dr. Palmer discussed some of the potential mental health and cognitive benefits that people report while following a ketogenic diet.

The conversation left me wondering what the experience would be like firsthand.

Instead of committing to a month or longer, I decided to try keto for just seven days. A week felt manageable. If I hated it, I could always return to my normal eating habits.

Day One: Cravings Hit Hard

The first day wasn't terrible, but it was definitely challenging.

I quickly realized how many of my usual foods contained carbohydrates. Bread, pasta, cereal, fruit, snacks, and sweets were suddenly off-limits. Even after dinner, I still felt hungry and found myself craving sugar.

Fortunately, my roommate agreed to try the experiment with me, which made the process a little easier.

The next day, we went grocery shopping and stocked up on foods that fit the diet. Eggs, vegetables, cheese, meat, and various high-fat foods quickly became staples in our kitchen.

Chasing Ketosis

One thing that fascinated me was the concept of ketosis.

I purchased keto test strips from Walgreens to see whether my body was actually making the switch. By the evening of day two, the test strip suggested I had entered ketosis much sooner than I expected.

My roommate wasn't as lucky. Throughout the week, he struggled to achieve the same result.

The biggest difference between us was exercise. I run every day, and I've often wondered whether that played a role in helping me enter ketosis more quickly. Of course, that's just my personal observation and not a scientific conclusion.

Even after reaching ketosis, I noticed that staying there was more difficult than getting there in the first place.

The Good and the Bad

As the week continued, some things improved.

My appetite decreased significantly. I wasn't constantly thinking about food, and I found myself eating more vegetables than usual. I also noticed an increase in evening energy and saw the number on the scale drop slightly.

However, there were downsides too.

My mood was noticeably worse. I felt irritable for most of the week, and my roommate experienced something similar. While my thinking felt a bit clearer at times, the improvement wasn't dramatic enough to outweigh the negatives for me.

Running on Keto

The biggest challenge was running.

Because I run daily, I pay close attention to how my body feels during exercise. During the week, my runs felt harder than normal. My energy levels seemed lower, and I often felt sluggish.

At the time, I had a half marathon approaching, which made me question whether keto was a realistic long-term option for my lifestyle.

Perhaps my body would have adapted if I had continued for several more weeks. However, after seven days, I simply missed feeling energetic and strong during my workouts.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I'm glad I tried the ketogenic diet.

The experience forced me to pay closer attention to what I was eating and made me realize how much sugar and processed carbohydrates can sneak into everyday foods. It also challenged me to step outside of my normal habits and learn more about nutrition from a different perspective.

That said, keto wasn't a sustainable long-term lifestyle for me. While I appreciated some of the benefits, I missed having more flexibility with food and felt that my running performance suffered.

Would I do it again? Maybe for a short reset. But for now, I'll stick with a more balanced approach that allows me to enjoy carbohydrates and still feel my best.