5 Months In....No Weight Loss for past 4 months

(Michael) #1

I’ve been doing Keto since November and it’s changed everything in my life except for my weight. I have so much more energy. I feel happier and more content. I’m less irritable. 6 months ago I was defeated and couldn’t imagine a time when I wouldn’t feel addicted to food. Keto changed all that for me.

Except my weight.

I started at 281lbs. My goal weight is 150lbs. I’m currently 265.

All of my weight loss happened within that first month.

I have been bouncing around the 260’s for four months and it’s driving me insane. The lowest I’ve been is 261 and the highest within that four month period has been 268. I haven’t seen the 270’s since I started.

My macros are what they should be. I thought perhaps I was eating too much protein so I cut that with no effect. After a couple weeks of reduced protein I thought perhaps I was getting too much dairy so I cut that. I did intermittent fasting for a month and though I felt great it still didn’t make a difference. The first week I lost 4 pounds and got to 261 but then the second week I was right back to 265 and just continued between 261 and 265.

Two weeks ago I stopped using Orange Crush Singles-To-Go packets in my water. Though it says 0 carbs I thought that I might be getting like 1/2 carb without realizing it. My weight did go down, back to 262 after a week of no packets but then the next week it was right back up. I’ve decided not to go back to the packets. I’ll just drink my water plain from now on.

I measure my ketone levels with a blood monitor. Only once or twice have I been under 0.5. I’m usually at least 1.0 in the afternoon up to around 1.5 in the evening. Only twice have I been over 2.0. I haven’t checked my blood sugar recently. It’s usually around 110 when I wake up and then down to around 80 by dinner.

In the 5 months of Keto I’ve had four cheat meals. I don’t find it difficult to be on Keto because I feel great on it.

My exercise consists of walking. The weather has really cleared up over the past 3 weeks so I’ve been going on longer and more frequent walks. At least 1x daily. I had been expecting that to help but it hasn’t. In the past walking has always helped me lose or at least maintain my weight.

I don’t drink coffee and I usually have 1 sugar free Rockstar energy drink in the morning. I’m almost out so I’m going to abstain from that and see if it makes a difference.

Do you guys have any ideas what might be keeping me from losing weight? I just can’t seem to get under 260 and I don’t know why. I’ve gained and lost the same 8lbs for months.

Michael

(less is more, more or less) #2

It’s frustrating to have slow weight loss when you read of dramatic results elsewhere.

Yet… you’re down, I presume trending down, however slowly, and feel great. Don’t forget that. This is about better health. Weight management is an artifact of better eating.

Careful with “should.” We all find different balances. My protein intake is far higher than the standard guidance. That doesn’t mean you should increase yours.

The one change I recommend is count TOTAL carbs, not net. I don’t care if it’s the most popular here, or “its easier” or what have you. I did net with Atkins a decade ago, and it is like nailing jelly to the wall.

I wish you the best, you’re actually doing great so far.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #3

You mentioned two things you quit or plan on quitting (Orange crush singles and Rockstar energy drink) which makes me wonder if there’s more where that came from. Feel free to make a list of what you eat over the next few days or last three days and you might get more advice if something you’re consuming could cause problems.

(Ken) #4

Are you only eating when actually hungry? If not, you should start. Also, ketones are not magic, merely a secondary source of energy during lipolysis. You could also consider dropping your fat macro to 60% and eating less. However, if you only eat when hungry usually takes care of that.

#5

How are your clothes fitting? Anything getting looser? It’s entirely possible to be at the same total weight but lose fat. I’ve been hovering at the same five pounds for about five months, but during that time have gone down a pants size. Consider using a tape measure.

(Scott) #6

As long as hunger is not a problem I would dial back added fat a small amount. Then watch and wait. Sometimes people change so many things at once it becomes difficult to know what worked.

(mole person) #7

You say your macros are correct so you must be tracking your foods. You’ll get much better help if you can give us a list of what you’re eating and when. Also, can you share what macros you are using as well as you height and age?

However some basic advice is drop all snacks, have an extended period where you take in no calories from any source, and drop everything with any sweeteners in them.

Also, remember, you do not have to eat your entire fat macro. Only add as much fat as you need to achieve satiation at your meals. Allow your body to get any more that it wants from your fat stores. The fat macro is only meant to be adhered to at the start of the keto diet. Later it should be viewed more as a maximum.

(Herb Martin) #8

It is almost certain that you are eating some carbs OR too much protein (not enough fat.)

1.0-1.5 ketones will lose weight for some people, but not for others.

Tighten it up – A LOT. Take out everything with a carb (temporarily) and reduce protein in favor of fat if that’s not already a low ratio.

I did keto and lost a bunch of weight, then stalled.

Then did carnivore diet – NO CARBS for 7 months, lost more weight then stalled my weight loss after 3-4 months.

Went to extended fasting.

Point is: Do what you must to get the results you want.

Once you get to ZERO CARBS and lower protein and it works for a while, slowly and carefully add one food you really care about as long as it doesn’t stall you again.

One good thing: Fasting is EASY if you are already zero carb or carnivore.

#9

Do you eat dairy? If so, I recommend cutting it out at least for a bit and if you can then for good. I feel a lot better since I have and it may help if you’re allergic to it.

(Alec) #10

I think the key here is hunger signals. I think you may be eating too much because something is messing with your hormones that manage hunger.

  1. Are you still eating keto cheesecake for breakfast?
  2. As others have said, we need to see what you are eating to be able to help
  3. How often are you eating?
  4. How often do you get hungry?
  5. How do you feel mid-meal? Do you ever not finish what is on your plate?