The Ketogenic Diet

A Complete Guide for The Dieter and Practitioner

By Lyle McDonald

About The Book

The Ketogenic DietVery low-carbohydrate (aka ketogenic) diets such as The Atkins Diet, Protein Power and The South Beach Diet have come and gone repeatedly over the years and there is currently great research and real-world interest in their effects. Unfortunately, altogether too much misinformation exists regarding them.

Folks who are pro-low-carbohydrate diets tend to present them as the quick and easy solution to everything including obesity. Easy weight loss without hunger or calorie counting is promised but never seems to pan out as well as we might hope.

At the other extreme are the anti-low-carbohydrate folks who tend to present low-carbohydrate diets as nothing short of a nutritional disaster being perpetrated by a bunch of con men.

Ketogenic Diet for BodybuildersThe truth, of course lies somewhere in the middle. While low-carbohydrate diets aren’t for everyone and have their pros and cons, the research is clear: they have major benefits under certain circumstances and can be as healthy (and sometimes healthier) than ’standard’ carbohydrate based dieting.

Satisfaction GuaranteedThe Ketogenic Diet is the first and only book to objectively examine in-depth the scientific evidence regarding low-carbohydrate/ketogenic diets. It is meant to be a reference manual for low-carbohydrate diets; it is unlike any other book on low-carbohydrate diets that you have ever read or seen.

What You’ll Learn

Covering every topic in extreme detail, The Ketogenic Diet addresses everything from the basic physiology of how the body adapts to a low-carbohydrate intake, the details of human fuel utilization, the impact of low-carbohydrate diets on body composition and much, much more.

Of course, none of the above is useful without practical application guidelines. Details on how to optimize low-carbohydrate diets for different goals (such as fat loss, bodybuilding and endurance performance) are discussed along with three distinct types of low-carbohydrate diets. In addition, the book includes a complete discussion of resistance, aerobic and anaerobic exercise physiology along with specific training programs for different goals and different levels of trainee.

At 325 pages and containing over 600 scientific references, this will be your complete reference for ketogenic diets.

Please note:
This book does not include information on the ketogenic diet for adolescent epilepsy (the topic is discussed briefly). I highly suggest The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Epilepsy, by Freeman, Freeman and Kelly (Amazon.com page).

What’s Inside

Excerpt From The Book

The following is from Chapter 11: The Targeted Ketogenic Diet (TKD)

Having examined glycogen levels and glycogen depletion in the last chapter, the details of the first ‘modified ketogenic diet’ can now be discussed. The targeted ketogenic diet (TKD) is nothing more than the standard ketogenic diet (SKD) with carbohydrates consumed at specific times around exercise. This means that the general guidelines for constructing a SKD in chapter 9 should be used with the exception that more carbohydrates are consumed on days when exercise is performed. If fat loss is the goal, the number of calories consumed as carbohydrates should be subtracted from total calories, meaning that less dietary fat is consumed on those days.

The TKD is based more on anecdotal experience than research. Invariably, individuals on a SKD are unable to maintain a high training intensity for reasons discussed in chapters 18 through 20. However, for a variety of reasons,some dieters choose not to do the full 1-2 day carb-up of the CKD (discussed in the next chapter). The TKD is a compromise approach between the SKD and the CKD. The TKD will allow individuals on a ketogenic diet to perform high intensity activity (or aerobic exercise for long periods of time) without having to interrupt ketosis for long periods of time.

Weight training is not generally limited by the availability of blood glucose. Studies giving carbs prior to resistance training have not found an increase in performance (1). However, almost without exception, individuals on a SKD who consume pre-workout carbs report improved strength and endurance and an ability to maintain a higher intensity of training during their workout. Anyone following a ketogenic diet who wishes to perform high intensity training can benefit from the TKD approach.

Reader Feedback

“I have been looking for a diet book like this for years. Since I’ve been involved in weight lifting I have tried to read as much as possible about various diet methods. When low-carb diets became popular I was skeptical, but wanted to learn more. I read through the material I could find online and just finished “The Greenwich Diet”. In all cases I found myself totally unsatisfied with everything I read. Every book pitched it’s particular take on the low carb diet as a miracle cure and didn’t provide much information about what was really happening to your body. I decided to give The Ketogenic Diet a try and was stunned — it is the most complete diet book I have come across. I finally understand how many types of diets work (not just low carb diets).

McDonald begins with a history of ketogenic diets and then goes into a detailed explanation of how various nutrients (both macro and micro) affect your body. After this explanation he presents three versions of the ketogenic diet, with two of the diets aimed at athletic individuals who are looking to maintain their exercise performance while on one of these programs. Each diet is accompanied by detail information about how to implement the diet.

As I have said, the material in this book is incredibly detailed and completed, but what really makes this book worth 5 stars is that the information is presented in a non-biased way. According to the introduction, McDonald wrote this book to clear confusion about ketogenic diets, not to champion them. Much of the material is accompanied by research references and McDonald clearly states where research is lacking or where he is offering his own opinion.

Overall, “The Ketogenic Diet” will make an excellent addition to any dieter’s collection of reading. Also, if you are considering a ketogenic diet this will gives you an unbiased view of how they really work.”

Douglas – Seattle, WA

“The Ketogenic Diet is the ultimate resource on low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets. You will learn the physiology of ketosis, basic and effective nutrition and training concepts, and how to set up various ketogenic diets depending on your goals whether you are involved in sports, looking to lose fat without losing muscle, or even to achieve peak conditioning for bodybuilding/fitness competitions or photo shoots. Rather than glorifying the ketogenic diet, Lyle McDonald gives you the scientific foundation and practical guidelines allowing you to determine when and why to use this diet. By virtue of its 34 chapters and over 600 references, this is truly the only book you will ever need on the subject.” – Borge (aka Blade) – Norway – MyoRevolution

“The amount of misinformation circulating about ketogenic diets is dumbfounding. This book is the most thorough investigation of all medical research regarding ketogenic diets that has ever been assembled. The references are impressive, to say the least.

Although quite technical, I had no problems understanding any of it. Lyle presents a clear, no-nonsense/no-hype explanation of what a body goes through in ketosis. A must-read for anyone on a ketogenic diet or considering one. Everyone should bring an extra copy to their physician to stave off the “misinformed speech” problem.”

Denise – California

This is, without any doubt, the best researched and well written book that I have read since leaving University.

A bodybuilder for some years I have always struggled (as do most) with my bodyfat levels.

I started this diet at 20% body fat and have, over the last 12 weeks, reduced that level to 11.5%. A loss of 23lbs. I am thinking of competing in September and should reach my goal of 5/6% well before.

It’s been a while since my abdominals have been seen, but by this diet method they are back, and all without having to put myself through the usual hell that bodybuilders have to in order to drop bodyfat percentages.

I have found that I have lost next to no muscle just fat.

Thanks Lyle McDonald! Your book is the best thing since sliced bread. (Although I’ve forgotten what it tastes like.)

Graeme Beard – UK

Contains everything you might ever want to know about ketogenic dieting. Has a detailed discussion on the physiology of ketosis and debunks a lot of the BS out there claiming these diets are harmful.

Also contains a pretty good how-to section on the nuts and bolts of training while in ketosis.

David K. Studenick – Phoenix, AZ

FINALLY! A book that tells the unadulterated truth about low carbohydrate diets both pro & con with absolutely ZERO hype. You will know more about lowcarb dieting than Atkins, Eades and Sears combined after reading this book!!! If you can only afford one book on lowcarb then get this one.

Gregg Dickson – Atlanta, GA

Let’s Lose Some Fat!

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P.P.S This is a physical book. NOT an ebook! You new book will be printed on demand by company called Vervante. When they receive your order, it typically takes 2-3 days to print and ship the book. Within the US, books will typically arrive 2-3 days later.