The 3 Ketogenic diet types all offer different benefits and help alleviate some of the concerns associated with the general, always low carb ketogenic diet.
One of the main criticisms of a ketogenic diet plan is that it’s difficult to workout with intensity because of a lack of energy (due to cutting carb intake).
There are different types of ketogenic diets which tweak keto so that the dieter can still workout with intensity and even eat carbs every week.
Yes…there’s even a ketogenic diet that allows you to eat carbs every week!
In this article we take a look at the different types of ketogenic diets and help you decide which is right for you.
Ketogenic Diet Types
Ketogenic diets are generally thought of as low carb, high fat diets such as Atkins but there are other variations which can make the diet better for you depending on your circumstances.
This chapter seeks to inform you of the different types of ketogenic diets and help you to decide which is right for you.
There are three types of ketogenic diets:
- Standard Ketogenic Diet Plan (SKD)
- Targeted Ketogenic Diet Plan (TKD)
- Cyclical Ketogenic Diet Plan (CKD)
Whilst all of them use periods of low carbohydrate eating in order to establish ketosis, they are very different in that the TKD and CKD allow you to eat carbs regularly.
With these versions of a ketogenic diet you can get all the benefits of ketogenic dieting whilst still eating carbs. This is a huge attraction for many people.
Overview of Ketogenic Diet Types
Standard Ketogenic Diet (SKD)
The SKD is a full time ketogenic diet where the dieter eats a high fat, low carb, moderate protein every day.
Targeted Ketogenic Diet
The TKD is the same as an SKD in that a ketogenic diet is followed every day but a small amount of carbohydrate is permitted around workouts.
The intention of this approach is the help the dieter perform a workout without struggling for energy.
The key to the success of this type of keto diet is that the amount of carbs consumed isn’t so high that it impacts on ketosis. It’s just enough to sustain performance during the workout after which ketosis resumes.
Cyclical Ketogenic Diet
The CKD diet sees the dieter follow a standard ketogenic diet for 5 days (typically during the working week), followed by a carb load on the weekend.
Carb intake is restricted for 5 days and then the weekend sees the dieter eat a tonne of carbs. The idea is that it helps maintain lean mass and it also makes the diet far easier to live with.
Which Ketogenic Diet Type is Right For You?
By now you’ll understand the differences between the various ketogenic diets as well as an idea of the type of ketogenic diet which will suit you.
My personal preference has always been the CKD and that’s what I used to drop 28 pounds in 16 short weeks.
I preferred this type of diet because I could cope with 5 days of keto eating as I knew on the weekend I could eat carbs, go to dinner with friends, have a beer and generally relax a little.
I recommend you don’t make your decision based on the above summary alone, but that you read through each of the different diet types, this will ensure you understand what each diet entails and ultimately which diet is right for you.
Standard Ketogenic Diet Plan (SKD)
Targeted Ketogenic Diet Plan (TKD)
Cyclical Ketogenic Diet Plan (CKD)
