Ketosis - getting desperate...

[Alpaca55 168]

Hi guys

I've now bought some ketone test strips and I'm definitely in ketosis... the reading is up around 8 ... but, I'm losing the plot... will this help with losing the right kind of fat? rather than eat away at the good stuff?

When I did Atkins 7 years ago (successfully) I didn't really worry about ketosis as I was down to about 5% carbs so it was a given...and it suited me very well. I was blissfully ignorant as it was so easy - I just ate meat, fish, eggs, bacon, ham, heavy cream and cheese. so simple.

Now, the more I read up on stuff the more I feel confused... and to be honest, I didn't think I'd need to go back to this kind of eating so soon after surgery. When I followed the nutritionist's plan in month 2 and 3 my weight loss reduced to 7lbs a month (which I know is great but at such an early stage after surgery the surgeon said I was too slow). So I removed most of the carbs and reduced from 800-900cals a day (as recommended by nutritionist) to my current calorie level of between 550-700. So for month 4 and 5 the weight loss has increased to 10lbs for month 4 and 13.2lbs for month 5.

I've started to freak out again as April has been a slow start... I'm seriously thinking about a fasting day just to see what that does (I need to chose the day carefully as sometimes I'm so starving that it would be the wrong day to try).

When I make one wrong change to my eating plan it can have disastrous and long term results - ie my pickle meal last month increased my weight by nearly 5lbs and took a week to come back down. And last weekend I introduced a few veg into my turkey mince and gained 1.5lbs which took a few days to get rid of.

So I'm freaking out... my head witch must think I'm a complete nutter. She would prefer me to be more relaxed about it and said that one of her other clients who got sleeved 2 months ago had been eating some chocolate...

Anyway... sorry to go on about this... the more YouTube I watch on insulin, hormones, autophagy, IF etc, keto... the more I'm confused ...

🤯

[catwoman7 10,846]

pickle meal may have been sodium - a lot of people are sodium sensitive, and it makes them retain Water like crazy As far as gaining weight from vegetables, the only possible explanation is that it takes a lot of water to metabolize carbohydrates. So your gain was almost certainly from the excess water.

[GradyCat 3,692]

That sounds like me. I'm driving myself crazy. I ate 5 crackers with cheese and gained 2 pounds and I don't understand why?!?!? I was still under 1000 calories. I was staying closer to 600, which I guess I'm going to have to really make an effort to stay at as I was losing weight then but at 850 calories I am not losing for two weeks. Ugh!

[GreenTealael 24,852]

Ask your Team prior to starting a fasting regime & consider focusing on one thing at a time. Let the plan you choose work before adding IF in. Also 1.5lbs gain was likely Water retention from sodium or glycogen build up from carbs not fat gain. And you dont just want to lose just any old weight you want to lose excess body fat.

[Alpaca55 168]

Thank you GT... I know you’re right but it’s so damn hard and frustrating... my body seems to have turned into a ridiculously sensitive hot mess ... you’ve done so well! I’ve been so impressed! 😊

[Stella S 612]

Patience is the hardest. Especially when
waiting for the body to adjust. Agree stick to th plan before adding. It takes a few days to flush the system.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

Patience grasshoppah! I agree with Tea. Go back to do one thing at a time.

Go back to your old way of eating LC or Keto or whatever you choose to call it. You are likely hungry with it cuz you're keeping fats pretty low. Maybe up your fats and see if it helps with satiety? But when I say "up" them, I'm not talking fat bombs or Desserts, or lots of added dietary fat. I'm talking about:

1. Switch from boneless skinless breasts to breasts with the skin. Or switch to thighs. Or eat beef pot roast. Or eat pork shoulder. These cuts naturally have more fat in the meat and so have more calories and are more satiating. Also if you are only eating 2oz per meal (by weight) of Protein, try eating 3oz. if you are eating 3oz per meal, try eating 4oz. until you hit your daily protein goal. If you hit your goal easily and go over on protein...then you may need to look at re-apportioning your protein/veggie serving size to fit your macros. I'd add a small salad with vinaigrette to each meal if that happened. I rarely eat more than 3oz per meal cuz I don't need the extra protein.

2. Eat 1-2oz by weight of al dente veggies. Add 1tsp of fat to them (avo oil, evoo, coconut oil, butter, ghee, animal fat) or add up to 1oz avocado, or 1/2oz by weight of nuts/seeds.

3. Eat 3 meals per day. Try not to snack. If you are hungry allow a snack composed of these (choose one):

a. String Cheese

b. Hard Boiled Egg

c. 1oz dense dry protein.

This will put you in ketosis big time by the end of about 4 days. You will lose 2-4lbs of Water from it as your liver dumps glycogen and the attached molecules of water it holds. Then do that for a month and don't worry about it. That's your new diet. As your pouch matures, you will need to revise it to add more fat/calories to your day, or continue to choose more fat dense meats/dishes.

If you are struggling with weight loss, I would stick to this and I would avoid calorie dense complex meals such as casseroles, stews, gooey, cheesy stuff. I'd stick to clean meats, healthy fats, al dente veggies.

Hope that helps!

Congrats on your losses!!!!! Don't stress, don't worry!

For me eating in maintenance is longer than 2months with no loss on the scale or by the tape measure.

For me a stall is 3 weeks without a change on the scale or by the tape measure.

Other people have different definitions.