5.5 weeks in and frustrated! Please help!

(Robert C) #23

Hi @Thinby32,

I am sorry to read that you are frustrated but, I wanted to bring this particular line of your OP back you your attention.

There is keto for:

  • Lifestyle and the sense of well being
  • Reversing type 2 diabetes
  • Bettering your blood lab numbers
  • Weight loss for people 10 or 20% overweight
  • Weight loss for people that need to lose a significant amount of weight
  • Combinations of some of these
  • Etc…

But it is not a “eat carrots for 21 days” prescriptive diet - it is a way of eating. So, when you run across advice that does not fit your goals:

  • Higher percentage of carbs is sometimes okay (but may hinder fat-adaptation in people with a lot to lose)
  • “Alcohol is okay” (potentially causing regular sleep issues or worsening sleep apnea)

You may want to toss those ideas.

Skip the alcohol (and cut back on the caffeine if the alcohol is just the brakes to the day’s caffeine speed up).
Go down to 20 grams or less of total carbs - this seems to be a gamechanger for some people. Label games on fake foods allow a lot of garbage into your system - only get your carbs from vegetables (green leafy).

These two might take care of your frustration nicely.

Nope - with enough metabolic syndrome type problems (and sleep and stress and alcohol and coffee) people can gain weight on very small amounts of calories (and hurt their metabolisms more in the long run).

#24

Hi @RobC. Thank you for taking the time to help me out! I feel like I’ve been doing just about everything right except the booze, so suspected that was the problemo. Just secretly hoped everyone would tell me it was juuust fine :slight_smile:

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #25

The hard stuff is pretty carb-free, from what I understand. Definitely stay away from beer or wine. But because of its toxicity, ethanol gets priority handling by the liver, which puts generating ketones on hold. So don’t overdo it. Also, people who’ve eaten this way for any length of time tend to find that they get drunk on far less alcohol than before, so if you do indulge occasionally, be very cautious.

#26

I swapped out wine for sleepytime extra tea. It has valerian which is very relaxing. I make a double-bag giant mug about a half hour before I go to bed. Really helps me fall asleep.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #27

I just love this stuff! It really does help me fall asleep.

#28

In the beginning fat is good for getting you into routine and on the straight and narrow, but once you get used to doing it, and are comfortable, lower the fat to burn your own fat

#29

Hey @Wishbone. I feel fat adapted, and can totally dial down my fat now, but then where do I make the adjustment? There are only fat, carb, and protein calories. Do I switch the fat calories to protein? Protein creates an insulin response, I have read, and I suspect I am highly insulin resistant, so I need to avoid too much protein. The other option is decreasing calories (below 1700), but then I won’t be eating enough!! This is all way confusing! But I am trying to learn!

(Alec) #30

Hi
I am somewhat surprised nobody has yet commented on your BG reading of 140 3hrs after a meal. I assume your meal was keto, and hence should not increase your BG too much. I think 140 is high, and suggests significant insulin resistance. My opinion is that this high BG level is part of your problem which is delaying your weight loss.

I don’t think there is anything specific you can do to lower your BG other than remain on keto, and focus on the other advice given above. What I am pointing out is that your BG seemed high, and I think it is worth testing regularly. Do a few fasted and 2-3hrs after meals and see where you normally fall. I would also recommend you get an HBa1c test done, which essentially measures your average BG level over the last 3 months. It is possible you are borderline diabetic, and if you are you need to know.

#31

I have been testing my fasting BG and it is between 97-100, which I know is on the very highest end of “ok”. I am going to start incorporating 2-3 day fasts and see if that helps.

(Alec) #32

Fasting 97-100 is fine. But a delayed reduction after a meal indicates IR, which I think you are clear you have?

#33

I mean, I’ve never been medically diagnosed with IR, but, yeah. There is SOMETHING [spoiler]fucky[/spoiler] because I’m doing everything right, technically, and weight isn’t budging. I’m cleaning up my diet even more, per others suggestions, weight still isn’t budging. Fasting is supposed to help reverse IR, right? What else can I do? I am desperate and 100% committed to doing whatever it takes.

(Nancy) #34

I think you need to excercise. Even if it means just walking a mile per day. Also you prob have leaky gut and need to repair it - google leaky gut treatment by dr axe

(Stickin' with mammoth) #35

This is evil genius, will [spoiler]emulate.[/spoiler]

#36

I walk 60 mins a day. Not strenuous walking, just 3.5MPH walking with varying incline.

(Nancy) #37

Good! Look into leaky gut, I had it and it was stalling my progress. Also take probiotics

(The amazing autoimmune 🦄) #38

I was in a very similar place as you except heavier. I have been doing Keto since October 1, but one of the lessons I learned along the way is that alcohol can really interfere. Don’t eat after 6 if you can help it and get 7-8 hours of sleep.

(Bunny) #39

Amazon reviews tell you a lot about the real world experience with PCOS (what works and what does not?)…

Thought this was interesting:

#40

@Iced the alcohol is cut as of today. How long did it take before you saw results? Anything particular you did to break through?

(The amazing autoimmune 🦄) #41

I think I am a bit of a unicorn, but for me I really became extreme about my food the first two to three months, no fake foods of any kind, all foods are Whole Foods or made at home as it is hard to understand what all those chemicals are doing to your metabolism.

I was a vegetarian before I started, at first I just introduced chicken but now I am whole hog into meat😉. I am not trying to convince you to change but I suspect all that soy is holding you up. If you eat enough soy it can screw with your hormones.

I would check out cottage cheese, for protein I am not sure of the carb count but it might be a good source.

No fake sugars of any kind for the first 3 months and even now I use them very sparingly.

#42

I did cut soy 100% … I was only eating soy stuff maybe 1-2 servings a week, but nixed it completely. And added chicken!