6 months in and 80lbs down (325 to 250) but hunger has returned. (41yo M)

(Jason Bennett) #1

New to the forum. I started my KETO journey back in February. At the time I didn’t know this was even a thing, I just started desperately researching how I could get control of my health, and ended up starting to eat Keto and have been learning more every day. Incredibly I am 80lbs down and I feel great. However over the last 5-6 weeks I have severely slowed in the weight loss department gaining and losing the same 4-5 lbs, but the most distressing thing is that I find myself wanting food more and more. I worry about returning to overeating habits. Has anyone experienced this?

(Marta Loftfield) #2

Hi @JayB,

I did experience this. When I honestly looked at my eating I found that my carbs had creeped up and that I was eating many times a day. Though the food was keto I was snacking. When I cleaned up those bad habits everything was back on track. Had you asked me then I would have sworn all was as it should be but by actually writing down what I ate and when, my problem became obvious and I was able to KCKO. YMMV

Great work on your 80lbs!!!

Mountain girl

(Frank) #3

Depending on your stats and what your goals are you may want to consider tracking closely, if you’re not already, so you can develop a baseline. Then there’s are all the curve balls you can throw at it to get the ball rolling again. Point is, if you do the same thing for too long, your metabolism adapts and says oh I guess this is the new normal and where he’d like to be.

#4

Last time I got hungry in the morning it was almond consumption from the night before. Sneaky carbs are a silent filler.

(Thurston ) #5

I was just going to search this topic. I too lost about 60 lbs since a type 2 diagnosis in March. I’d been doing very well until about a week ago when I started getting hungry between meals. Now I seem to be hungry all the time… I do know at this time of year, late August early September my appetite does tend to increase. I’ve noticed over the years it’s right around the time tomato harvesting starts in the northeast. I’ve mentioned this to my doc in the past and he blamed it on my Eastern European roots. Packing it on for the winter, I think there may be something to his hypothesis as this does occur yearly.
Search your memory banks and see if you fall into this category.

I guess we’ll just have to be mindful of our eating, pay close attention to carbs and no cheating.

Good luck!

(Jason Bennett) #6

This is the path my mind has been taking. I’ve been on one meal per day since the beginning, and have used that at an excuse not to be too intense on tracking. My wife joined me on Keto a couple months ago and is doing great, but since she started there have been more Keto treats in the house, so that may be ramping up the appetite thing on me. Thanks for the reply.

(Jason Bennett) #7

I’ve been on one meal per day with no snacking since the beginning, but my wife joined me a couple months ago (not OMAD though) and she is doing fantastic, but she loves to bake so there have been Keto treats most days. Maybe the return of the sweet tooth has brought back the appetite? I’ll try cutting them out for a bit and see if it helps. Thanks

(Frank) #8

I have purposely avoided all of the Keto treats, especially baked goods, since the beginning. I know these are trigger foods for me. I believe that’s why many of the forum members have a real tough time transitioning.

(Todd Allen) #9

The pattern of quick loss followed by a plateau or reversal a few months in is very common and not just to keto but most diets. Long term sustained loss is rare but I believe more common with keto. I don’t think there is an easy answer.

I made it half way to my goal in 6 months, backslid a 3rd over 3 months and in the last 18 months have been taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back over and over. I expect the closer I get to goal the slower and more challenging it will become to make progress. But slow progress is so much better than slow or fast decline. For myself it has really helped to keep switching things up, and not just diet but change hobbies, work patterns and projects, adjust activities and exercise especially in the context of family and friends, such as long walks with my wife and spending more time with active health focused friends instead of socializing with eating and drinking or electronically, etc.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #10

It’s possible that the sweetener your wife is using is causing your insulin to spike. A different sweetener might not do that to you.

Something else you might try: increase your protein and continue eating fat to satiety. Dr. Naiman says there’s no such thing as “too much protein,” though Richard might disagree. But his logic seems sound. I am checking out the studies he uses to make his point, to see what the actual data look like. The idea is that our bodies want a constant level of protein, and the total quantity of food we need to eat depends on the percentage of protein available in our diet.

(Jason Bennett) #11

Could be. I’ve decided to cut out the treats for a bit. Haven’t had any since Saturday, and I think the appetite is getting a little better. And I intentionally use the word appetite because I don’t think I’m actually hungry. Just craving food. This plays out because after a while it does go away, and I’ve still been successful at staying on one meal per day. I’ll try upping the protein today and see if it has any effect tomorrow. Thanks for the feedback!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #12

Boy, do I hear that!

Be sure to let us know how it goes. :bacon:

(KetoQ) #13

Hi Jason –

I’ve been doing keto since May and am down about 50 ibs. I’ve also been very active, walking, bike riding and now have amped up the weight training.

At times I get very hungry as well. And at times hunger seems to be coming back strong with more frequency, so I hear you. It is a concern.

I just continue to eat more keto friendly foods, especially higher fat foods. On those days, I might eat 3000 to 3500 calories. The carbs are up a bit, yes, but I don’t do cheat foods, so I keep the carbs at a level (70-90g) where I don’t regret it.

I do a 60 hour fast beginning at the end of Wed dinner, into Saturday am. Sometimes I get really hungry during the weekend, and averaged 3000 calories per day for Sat and Sun, but am still down 2 pounds for the week. Again, as long as I keep the carbs manageable and mostly restricted to salads and a little seasonal fruit, I’m okay.

Eat as much keto friendly foods as you like, just stay away from the junk.

Cheers,
Q

#14

Try lupin flour and use as regular flour to make pastry for a pie, or pancakes. Very filling when the meat, or eggs are added in, but the bulk is fiber. https://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/lopino-lupin-flour-net-carbs-395471192

(Jason Bennett) #15

Never heard of it. I’ll check it out. Thanks

#16

I made a lovely pie tonight. Chicken and mushroom with just a top crust. Used cream and butter for the sauce, and plenty of back pepper. Very filling, and keeps you regular! Lupin flour holds together while nut flours are grainy and fall apart.

(Ashley) #17

If I have keto sweets even if within my limits of carbs I tend to get more of an appetite the next day, For this reason I limit the amount I’ll do it. I might have one keto snack or two a week. Mine also isn’t hunger it’s more cravings after something sweet.

(Ashley) #18

That is quite a lot over the carb count of 20-30g. Not that it would kick all people out of ketosis, but is a lot higher than most people would even consider trying.

#19

Lupin flour pastry. 1/4 cup lupin flour is 1g carbs lol Though in general I stay below 10g carbs per day

(Ashley) #20

Your link you put shows A lot more carbs than that