What Is a Lazy Keto Diet? Is It Better Than Keto? (2024)

Key Takeaways

  • A new report ranked keto as one of the worst diets for heart health due to an increased risk of nutrient deficiencies.
  • The traditional keto diet promotes strict adherence to eating high amounts of fat, moderate amounts of protein, and very low carbs.
  • An alternative "lazy keto" eating pattern may be a more sustainable option and only requires tracking carb intake.

Following the ketogenic diet, or “keto,” means tracking macronutrients and some people don’t want to worry about counting every single gram of fat, protein, and carbohydrate they eat. "Lazy keto" emerged as an easier way to maintain the keto lifestyle because it only requires carb counting.

The r/lazyketo subreddit, which has 5,500 members, says this is for people who want “subscribe to the Keto diet, but really don't want to put the work into it.” A quick scroll through #lazyketo on TikTok shows videos of creators sharing keto hacks, meal plans, and recipes that wouldn't fit in a traditional keto plan.

Keto was originally developed in 1920 as a way to help children with epilepsy when medications failed. The diet took off as a weight loss tool in the 1990s and it’s still very popular to date—just walk down the aisle of any health food store and you’ll see the keto buzzword plastered on everything from tortillas to ice cream.

But in the long run, it's hard to adhere to the keto diet, according to Shivam Joshi, MD, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at New York University Grossman School of Medicine.

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"There are high dropout rates in studies lasting longer than six months, which is due to how difficult it is to stay in ketosis and eat such a restrictive diet,” Joshi told Verywell.

Not only is the traditional keto diet challenging, but a recent report published by the American Heart Association ranked this restrictive diet as one of the worst for heart health. This is partially because keto limits the consumption of fruits, whole grains, and legumes while overemphasizing meats and animal-based foods.

A 2021 review that Joshi co-authored found that traditional keto can lower blood sugar and promote weight loss in the short term, but it may increase the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.

“The ketogenic diet may be a good option for some people, but I think it is too complicated and too risky for most,” Joshi said.

Is Keto Bad for Your Heart?

Can Lazy Keto Replace Traditional Keto?

Different versions of the traditional keto diet exist, but the general rule is to get 70-80% of your daily calories from fat, 10-20% from protein, and 5-10% from carbs, with the goal of reaching ketosis, a process that causes the body to use fat instead of glucose for energy.

Lazy keto, on the other hand, isn't as strict but still requires "significant carbohydrate restriction," according to Anna Beth Bradley, MD, an assistant professor in the division of diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

You'll still have to limit your carbs to less than 10% of your total calories without going over 50 grams of carbs per day, she said, although fat and protein are not scrutinized.

"Ketosis is the ultimate goal of a ketogenic diet, but with the 'lazy' approach, you cannot guarantee that you remain in ketosis," Bradley said.

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Even if lazy keto means you won't reach the coveted ketosis status, Bradley said this is a moderate version of a low-carb diet that's more sustainable. It can still help with weight loss, reduce cravings, and lower the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

"Eat foods that you feel good about putting in your body," Bradley said, "If gorging yourself with fat to achieve ketosis doesn't feel health-promoting, consider a moderate low-carb diet including lean meats, eggs, dairy, plant-based fats, and vegetables."

Traditional keto tends to be low in fiber and nutrients like vitamins K and B12. But lazy keto creators often say they're doing the diet "their own way," and this relaxed version seems to allow for more flexible grocery lists, including banana and peanut butter.

Kristen Smith, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian at Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta, GA, told Verywell that lazy keto could be easier for many people to follow than other low-carb diets.

"While the lazy keto diet doesn't require as much tracking, it's important to still ensure you are consuming adequate nutrients via a well-balanced diet," Smith said."Trying to consume a protein, fruit, or vegetable at every meal will help ensure you are consuming adequate nutrients."

How to Safely Try a Keto Diet With Diabetes

What This Means For You

Restrictive diets can be hard to follow, so lazy keto could be a more sustainable option if you want to try a low-carb diet. But you should speak to a nutritionist or dietitian to figure out your nutritional needs before starting any new diet plan.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Diet review: ketogenic diet for weight loss.

  2. Gardner CD, Vadiveloo MK, Petersen KS, et al. Popular dietary patterns: alignment with American Heart Association 2021 dietary guidance: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001146

  3. Crosby L, Davis B, Joshi S, et al. Ketogenic diets and chronic disease: weighing the benefits against the risks.Front Nutr. 2021;8. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.702802

What Is a Lazy Keto Diet? Is It Better Than Keto? (1)

By Stephanie Brown
Brown is a nutrition writer who received her Didactic Program in Dietetics certification from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Previously, she worked as a nutrition educator and culinary instructor in New York City.

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What Is a Lazy Keto Diet? Is It Better Than Keto? (2024)

FAQs

What Is a Lazy Keto Diet? Is It Better Than Keto? ›

The lazy keto diet only requires people to restrict their intake of carbohydrates. It is less restrictive in terms of carb intake than the original keto diet and does affect fat and protein consumption.

Is Lazy keto better than keto? ›

If you've tried the keto before and found it too tedious, lazy keto could be a good compromise. It's essentially an easier, more relaxed version of the ketogenic diet. Not having to track every aspect of your nutrition will save you time and energy.

What diet is healthier than keto? ›

Though both the keto diet and Mediterranean diet can both promote weight loss, evidence suggests that the Mediterranean diet is safer, more sustainable, and more effective long-term.

Why am I not losing weight on lazy keto? ›

Usually, when a person does not lose weight on the keto diet, it is because they have not achieved ketosis. One reason for not achieving ketosis is not cutting back enough on carbs. According to a 2023 overview of previous research.

What happens if you eat keto but not in ketosis? ›

Without getting into true ketosis, dieters risk ingesting an enormous amount of fat—and potentially a lot of saturated fat, if you're eating animal meat—without any of the fat-burning effects of ketosis. “The fat is the thing that's problematic for a lot of people on keto,” Fung says.

What foods to avoid on lazy keto? ›

What should you avoid on the lazy keto diet?
  • High-carb foods: Bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and sugary snacks.
  • Starchy vegetables: Potatoes, yams, corn (including corn based foods) and peas.
  • High-sugar fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, peaches and melons.
  • Processed foods: Pre-packaged snacks, fast food and sugary desserts.
Aug 6, 2023

Why is lazy keto not likely to be effective? ›

However, as the lazy keto diet does not always induce ketosis, it may not promote weight loss as effectively as the traditional keto diet. A person who is not tracking all of their macronutrients may also be less likely to create a calorie deficit, which is necessary for weight loss.

What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

What is the carb limit on lazy keto? ›

The lazy keto diet is essentially another low-carb eating plan that helps with weight loss. The cardinal rule to lazy keto is to eat no more than 20 grams of carbs per day. Unlike the original keto diet, you do not have to track your calories. You also do not have to count other macronutrients: fat and protein.

Is lazy keto healthy? ›

Even if lazy keto means you won't reach the coveted ketosis status, Bradley said this is a moderate version of a low-carb diet that's more sustainable. It can still help with weight loss, reduce cravings, and lower the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

What happens if you eat too much protein on keto? ›

#1: Eating too much protein.

The body can convert the amino acids from excess protein into glucose, potentially sabotaging your weight loss efforts and keeping your body out of ketosis. For a 2,000-calorie diet, this translates to about 75g of protein at about 10-20% protein.

What is dirty keto? ›

Dirty keto diet is a type of ketogenic diet that is high in ultra processed foods (fast foods), artificial ingredients, and pre-packaged foods. Unlike traditional keto diet or clean keto, it has no regard for the quality of food consumed, as long as it fits into the dieter's daily macros.

Can I eat all I want on keto? ›

While it's true that the keto diet involves eating lots of protein and fat with very limited carbohydrates, it doesn't mean you can eat in infinite quantities. Like any diet, its success depends on you achieving a calorie deficit.

How to speed up weight loss in ketosis? ›

To maximize weight loss on a ketogenic diet, get adequate sleep, reduce stress, be more active and consume whole, nutritious, low-carb foods whenever possible.

Why did I gain a pound overnight on keto? ›

Sudden weight gain on keto is often due to an overconsumption of fats like coconut oil, butter, olive oil, and other types of oils and fats. While these ingredients are perfectly acceptable on the keto diet, too much can lead to sudden weight gain.

How do I know I'm in ketosis? ›

Having ketones in the blood is probably the most definitive sign that someone is in ketosis. Doctors may also use urine and breath tests to check for ketone levels, but these are less reliable than blood samples. A special home testing kit allows people to measure their own blood ketone levels.

Is Lazy keto diet safe? ›

That carb intake can be restrictive since several weekly staples are significant sources of carbs. Talk to a healthcare provider before trying the lazy keto diet. The eating plan might increase your risk of heart disease, kidney stones, and nutritional deficiencies.

How many carbs a day on Dirty keto? ›

Dirty keto still follows the carb restrictions of the regular keto diet, which is 5-10% of daily macros. Depending on your calorie requirements, that's about 50 grams of net carbs per day.

Do you count carbs on lazy keto? ›

Lazy keto is a more comfortable approach to reaching nutritional ketosis that does not require counting calories or tedious macronutrient tracking. It does, however, require you to track carbohydrates since carbohydrate restriction is the most important component for achieving ketosis.

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