Recently tried getting out of a weight-loss plateau by doing a ketogenic diet, which has ALWAYS worked for me in the past, both before and after my gastric sleeve surgery.

I was, according to the urinalysis strips, in ketosis for 10 days, but my weight stayed within 1-2 pounds of where I started.

Could it be an issue related to my gallbladder?

About a year ago, I was having some pain after eating, and had some tests done—my family doc and my bariatric surgeon agreed that my gallbladder was no longer working properly (no stones, but apparently sludgy inside). They said it should be removed at some point before I develop stones.

In the lead-up to my wedding in the summer of 2016, I increased my workout regimen by working with a personal trainer, and kept to a limited calorie diet for 10 weeks—I was able to put on some muscle, and lose about 5 pounds, and both my trainer and I were pretty surprised I didn't lose more fat.

Now the ketosis not triggering any weight loss has me thinking it's the gallbladder problems messing with fat absorption, which is making my body not respond to ketosis.

Thoughts?

About me:

41-year-old male
6'3" 300lbs
Gastric sleeve surgery in Dec. 2013
Down from high of 435lbs in Fall 2013
Lowest post-surgery weight was 287, about 18 months after surgery.

When is the last time you had lab work done? If it hasn't been recently that might really help as a starting point.

What are your macros like daily for ketosis? What are your carbs at?

Get rid of your gallbladder! The sludgier it gets the more difficult the removal. Mine was so sludgy that the day after surgery I was under anesthesia again for a doctor to perform an ERCP, which is an endoscopic procedure, where they vacuum out the sludge and debris which may have entered your bile duct. No fun!

You should have some test done. It could also be stress as well. I mean some of us just cannot seem to get a break in the weight loss department, no matter how hard we try.

Thanks for the responses.

When I was doing the low-carb diet recently, I was doing less than 30g total carbs per day, and the urinalysis strips measuring ketosis were deep maroon.

I have an appt. with a new primary care doctor on April 4 to ask about getting blood work and to have her review the tests done by my last doctor (who left her practice for another gig).

I will update you all then.

In the meantime, am I right that the impaired processing of incoming fat could cause the body to hold on to stores of fat while I'm in ketosis?

I'm not really sure that is a pretty unique situation and honestly most people here don't strive to maintain ketosis or even know what it means.

You could ask some of the keto groups on Facebook or try /r/keto on reddit.

Also I would try a 3 day fat fast, Google it. Or an egg fast and see if that jump starts things.

I had success using the Lindora program in Southern California. They used the ketosis process to make adjustments. If you hit a plateau they would have you do a couple of days of protein only...meaning no veggies no fruit. (Only a squeeze of lemon in water allowed).
You might also want to do some food journals and strict measuring as I know I can get a bit lazy and try to just eyeball it.

On 3/16/2017 at 7:04 PM, OutsideMatchInside said:

When is the last time you had lab work done? If it hasn't been recently that might really help as a starting point.

What are your macros like daily for ketosis? What are your carbs at?

Anything in particular I should ask doc to include in lab work that she might not think of?