Considering a Ketogenic diet...pros and cons with HIV?

[redbull]

I am considering a ketogenic diet,  I have done it before and it has worked for me pretty well.  Not sure though now that I have hiv and my #'s are so bad and my immunse system is in such distress if going low on carbs and high on good fats is a good thing right now...or should it make a difference you think?

I do feel pretty lethargic at times and no energy as it is.  I am trying to get back in the gym and workout again to feel better.  What do you guys think?  Or should I wait until I start my meds soon and my #'s are better then try it?  I need to get some of this weight off.

[physicsguy]

I would check with your doctor before you do it, mostly because the numbers you've posted are low enough that I wouldn't want to risk it without checking first.

That said, my s.o. does it (helps with epilepsy) and it doesn't seem to have affected his numbers.

[sharkdiver]

Are you still on the prednisone? That will make you "balloon up" so to speak. It is not fat weight.

If I were you, I'd continue to focus on eating a balanced diet and getting enough protein and carbs to fight your infection. You are recovering from an OI and that certainly zaps your system.

But talk with your doctor and maybe get a referral to a medical based nutritionist that specializes in AIDS/HIV.

Good luck to you

[Miss Philicia]

I'm confused.  I thought in your other thread you said that you're trying to GAIN weight, not lose it.

But whatever, I agree with sharkie that you need to relax and just try and recuperate from the OI and low cd4/high vl before attempting this massive gym bunny routine and novel fad diets.  Your body is very busy fighting all of that so why demand more and more from every little cell in your pozbod?

[redbull]

I probably am confusing.  I am sorry.  when I had the thrush for a couple months I did lose weight but as we all know if your not eating correctly you lose muscle as well as fat.  I started on the fluconazole which cleared up the thrush and started eating everything in sight!!  I was so hungry.  Now I just finished prednisone and have been eating like a woman in her 3rd trimester!!! 

I can tell I have put some weight back on but it has not necessarily been muscle weight as it has fat which concerns me.  My legs and all seem to be staying the same and feel a little weak as I said in another post but I am gaining some mid section fat and its driving me crazy.

Before HIV I had done the ketogenic diet and it worked really well.  I just wasnt sure now that my immunse system is compromised if I tried switching to that again if it would make it harder for me to bounce back when I start meds soon.


I feel so weak alot of times,  excpet for when on the prednisone!  I felt great!!  I really need to work on building my strength but dont wanna gain a bunch of weight doing it ya know?