2 weeks and discouraged but determined

[Artemis]

That is not enough calories to sustain you. Your body is in starvation mode and it’s holding onto it’s fat for dear life. In other words, you’re slowing down your metabolism, thus the minimal weight loss.
You should never be hungry on Keto. Up your fat intake at your meals to make sure you don’t get hungry between meals.

Annie I’ve suspected this. I’ve been following the macros mantra pushed by the majority of Keto media outlets because I needed some guidelines until I integrated the basics of Keto in my body and mind.
Not being a dairy eater high fat can be challenging. I use MCT oil and grass fed butter in cooking.
I’ll start increasing fats while keeping carbs under 20, and keeping protein moderate.
Thank you.

[Anniegirl9]

Do you like avacado?

[M_Graham_S]

Use lots of oil on that salad.
Cook that cabbage in a heaping scoop of bacon grease.
Add some nuts
Your food choices look really good, just not enough food.
If it fits in your carbs, nut butter on celery is a good snack. Or if you can tolerate cream cheese, that is good too.
Make a batch of deviled eggs. I mixed smashed avocado in with my yolk last time and crumbled bacon in too. Mercy they were delicious.

[Artemis]

Do you like avacado?

Yes, I eat a avocados occasionally. Since starting Keto I’ve been increasing my intake.
What type of nut butters are a good choice?

[Anniegirl9]

Most people will probably say almond. If you can find it, macadamia. I’ve heard it’s pretty easy to make your own.

But for me, I have a serious addiction to peanut butter (I know, not technically a nut). Unsweetened of course.

[Artemis]

Make a batch of deviled eggs. I mixed smashed avocado in with my yolk last time and crumbled bacon in too. Mercy they were delicious.

Deviled eggs are delicious. My fave way to eat avacados is doused with Olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and oregano.
I’m going to increase my fats and calories, but keep my carbs under 20. I think that will relieve my hunger and I’ll feel more relaxed. I’m an old gal that’s been binging on pasta, pizza and breads for over 60 years. I know I have to be patient with my poor, old body.

[PaulL]

Eleven hundred calories may not be enough. As Dr. Fung explains it, when confronted with reduced calories, the body thinks “Famine!” and cuts way back on energy expenditure (this is one of the reasons for hair loss when on a low-calorie diet; the body is giving priority to essentials during the famine). By contrast, when we fast, the body simply shifts into ketosis and fuels the metabolism at the same rate out of our excess fat store.

So the key is to keep insulin low and to give the body an abundance of calories. We do this, as you probably know, by keeping carbs under 20g/day, consuming a moderate amount of protein, and eating fat to satiety. It can take several weeks of what feels like overating to convince the body that it is in a state of abundance, but your satiety signaling should eventually kick in and dial back your food consumption.

Since you are a woman, you should probably keep a few things in mind: First, women’s hormones affect the pattern of weight loss, and it won’t be linear. Second, if you have restricted calories for some time, your body may put on some lean muscle, which will make the scale lie to you; better to go by what your dress size is doing. Third, the real goal is fat-adaptation, which can take two months, or even longer, so give your new way of eating time to kick in and really start to work.

ETA: I was surprised to see a comment to the effect that keto flu is psychosomatic. It actually is real, and is the result of a lack of sodium. The body excretes sodium faster when we don’t eat a lot of carbohydrate, so it is important to work to keep salt intake up and drink to thirst.

[Talia]

My guess is that the water weight loss already happened while you were slowly reducing your carbs which made the first 2 weeks less dramatic. A pound a week is about what I’ve been losing (aside from the initial water whoosh) and I’m eating 1400 calories and am 5’7" and lightly active.

But I agree with others that fasting is really powerful for helping the body adjust.

I’m new to this as well. A month. One thing I’ve noticed is that the scale doesn’t reflect what my body is doing. When I lost the initial 8, I was shocked because I didn’t look or feel differently. Since then, my pants have become progressively loose. Twice I had to safety pin them at work to keep them from falling off.

And the greatest thing is not having the cavernous hunger. I’m sometimes hungry in the afternoon but that’s it. My body doesn’t feel hollow or depleted.

Look for all the small, exciting improvements!

[Artemis]

Okay my Keto friends. This is what my day looks like. I skip breakfast and this my lunch.
Coffee with MCT oil, almond milk
Sausage
Eggs
MCT oil
Butter

Tell me if my interpretations are off. I’m think this looks good to start the day. I’ll eat some broccoli, romaine lettuce and meat for dinner. That should give me my protein, keep carbs low and with added MCT oil and butter I’ll get my fat up. I love fat and never have trouble meeting my fat goal.
I’ve been successfully meeting these macros for over 2 weeks. A couple days ago I increased my calories to 1,335 and I do feel better. My urine stix test negative for ketones and I’ve yet to lose much weight. But I am a woman in my mid 60’s who has been a HUGE carb eater all my life. I’m hungry. A lot.
I eased slowly into Keto, taking 2 months of slowing down carb intake. I really want this to work and live the remainder of my viable life healthy and fit.
I really appreciate all the responses I’ve received.
Thank you.
Artemis

[Anniegirl9]

I’m hungry. A lot.

I was thinking this wasn’t enough food, and then you said this and I know it’s not enough food. You should not be hungry on Keto. Also, fat is not a cap. Eat fat to satiety. Don’t worry if you go over some setting in some tracking app. It’s really important to feed the adaptation process. You will eventually start to feel hunger go down naturally.

Try to avoid snacks though. Make sure you’re eating enough at your meals to carry you to the next without hunger.

[Artemis]

Thanks Annie. After I increased my calories to the present macro, I do feel more relaxed. My hunger is more emotional and habitual. Because I can’t tolerate large amounts of dairy, I’m looking into nondairy fat bombs. I hope a fat bomb would stave off the hunger pangs I get in the late evening and literally, at times, just an hour after eating.
Thanks

[Anniegirl9]

My favorite “treat” is two squares extra dark chocolate with a tablespoon peanut butter (no sugar added) split between the two. I eat it at the end of my dinner as a dessert so I’m not snacking latter.

And if my carbs are low enough, I’ll take a second tablespoon of peanut butter right off the spoon..