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Adapting the Keto Diet for Less Fat

When someone decides they want to eat healthier and lose weight, a quick internet search will land them with many different diet options. For some, having a diet plan with specific guidelines and lists of foods that they can and cannot eat can be easier to follow rather than trying to put it all together by themselves. 

One of the latest trendy diets with a handy list of rules is the ketogenic diet, called the keto diet for short. This way of eating encourages higher amounts of protein and fat but does away with carbs/sugar. If you’re interested in learning more detailed information about the keto diet, please check out our free resource on the eating plan.

All About The Fats
As mentioned above, the keto diet does prioritize eating healthy fats, which can make it a tricky diet to adopt for those limiting their fat intake for health or personal reasons. Taking medication, like CONTRAVE, can also make adopting this diet a little challenging.

We’ve talked before about why you should avoid taking CONTRAVE with high-fat foods. A high-fat meal is one that contains three grams of fat per 100 calories. So the keto-approved breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, and coffee with cream would not be recommended for those taking CONTRAVE. 

Ways to Adapt the Keto Diet
Just as we talked about with intermittent fasting, we can still find elements from established diets that we can work into our own personalized healthy eating plans—and the keto diet is no different. Below, we talk about some ways you can get inspired by the keto diet.

Remember, talk to your healthcare provider before starting any type of keto diet or similar eating plan. Work with them to develop a plan that considers your medication schedule. You should take CONTRAVE and other medications exactly as directed by your healthcare provider.

Eat your fats when you’re not taking CONTRAVE
Just as with intermittent fasting, the time-based CONTRAVE dosing schedule means what you eat at what time matters. Since the medication should be taken alongside a low-fat meal, consider eating more fat during meals you don’t take your medication—so for most people, lunch.

Reduce the right carbohydrates 
Eating fewer carbs while upping your protein and fat intake can help your meals feel more satiated so you’re less likely to snack. If you are still struggling to meet your calorie goals, consider further reducing your carbohydrates—especially ones like white bread and pasta—while introducing leaner sources of protein into the mix. This can help cut calories without making you feel deprived.

Ultra-processed foods aren’t accepted under the keto rules either, especially the carb-laden sugary snacks and treats so many of us crave. Swapping those calorie-dense, nutrition-poor items for nutritious whole foods can help you feel more satisfied in the long term—and may even help you avoid the afternoon snack attack.

Use fat wisely
You can’t (and shouldn’t) cut out fat entirely from your diet. However, fats are calorie-dense, so even though the keto diet encourages fats, they are not the shortcut to healthy eating for weight loss.  

Eating fewer fats can make it easier to meet your calorie goals. (Calculate your basal metabolic rate—how many calories your specific body needs to function each day—and customize your calorie goals with our free BMR calculator.) Consider staying away from extremely fat-dense foods, such as “keto bombs” or “fat bombs,” entirely. Instead, get your fat from a drizzle of olive oil on your salad or baking your sweet potatoes with coconut oil. 

Another idea is to cook vegetables in the leftover butter or olive oil from cooking meats—not only will it give your veggies a punch of flavor, but it will also cut down on the overall amount of fat used to cook your meal. Trust us—you don’t know how delicious vegetables can be once they’re cooked with a (sparing) amount of healthy fat!

Speaking of vegetables...

Incorporate more plant-based foods
While the high fat and protein aspects of the keto diet can lead you to believe it’s a meal plan for carnivores, eating too much animal-sourced fat is never a great idea. Plant-based fats, like those found in avocados and coconuts, are unsaturated—aka the good kind of fats. (Still, save those for when you aren’t taking your CONTRAVE pill.)

The sugar-limiting keto diet infamously has it out for fruit, but followers of the diet are allowed fruits with lower amounts of sugar, such as berries. Veggies, on the other hand, are on the table. Pass on the carb-dense vegetables (like potatoes), and instead focus on colorful vegetables and leafy greens. Keto-approved veggies include kale, Swiss chard, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, bell peppers, zucchini, celery, mushrooms, onions, and more. 

Keto not for you?
The keto diet is not for everyone—and that’s okay. Here are some other healthy eating ideas to get you started:

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is CONTRAVE?
See More

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
See More

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

What is CONTRAVE?
See More

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is CONTRAVE?
See Less

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

CONTRAVE may cause serious side effects, including:
  • Seizures. There is a risk of having a seizure when you take CONTRAVE. The risk of seizure is higher in people who take higher doses of CONTRAVE, have certain medical conditions, or take CONTRAVE with certain other medicines. Do not take any other medicines while you are taking CONTRAVE unless your healthcare provider has said it is okay to take them. If you have a seizure while taking CONTRAVE, stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider right away.
  • Risk of opioid overdose. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as heroin or prescription pain pills, to try to overcome the opioid-blocking effects of naltrexone. This can lead to serious injury, coma, or death.

    Get emergency medical help right away if you take opioids and you:

    • have trouble breathing
    • become very drowsy with slowed breathing
    • have slow, shallow breathing
    • feel faint, very dizzy, confused, or have unusual symptoms
  • Sudden opioid withdrawal. People who take CONTRAVE must not use any type of opioid including street drugs, prescription pain medicines, cough, cold, or diarrhea medicines that contain opioids, or opioid dependence treatments, for at least 7 to 10 days before starting CONTRAVE. Using opioids in the 7 to 10 days before you start taking CONTRAVE may cause you to suddenly have symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you take it. Sudden opioid withdrawal can be severe, and you may need to go to the hospital. Tell your healthcare provider you are taking CONTRAVE before a medical procedure or surgery.
  • Severe allergic reactions. Stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, chest pain, or trouble breathing.
  • Increases in blood pressure or heart rate. Some people may get high blood pressure or have a higher heart rate when taking CONTRAVE. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure and heart rate before you start taking, and while you take CONTRAVE.
  • Liver damage or hepatitis. Stop taking CONTRAVE and tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness. Your healthcare provider may need to stop treating you with CONTRAVE if you get signs or symptoms of a serious liver problem.
  • Manic episodes. Bupropion can cause some people who were manic or depressed in the past to become manic or depressed again.
  • Visual problems (angle-closure glaucoma). Signs and symptoms may include: eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out if you are at risk for angle‐closure glaucoma and to get treatment to prevent it if you are at risk.
  • Increased risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines to treat their diabetes (such as insulin or sulfonylureas). You should check your blood sugar before you start taking CONTRAVE and while you take CONTRAVE.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is CONTRAVE?

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.