8 weeks on keto gained weight and stalled with IF

#1

Hi All,

I’ve been Keto for 8 weeks now + 16/8 IF every day, with an occasional 2 day break from the IF every 2 weeks . I’ve hit ketosis 3x now. I had the migraines, smells, burst of energy, clear skin. Initially, I lost 5 pounds (water) but then I gained it back but lost inches, particularly around my waistline. At 8 weeks the scale hasn’t budged, and I feel like I hit a wall. I’m also challenged to eat enough food. I think due to the IF my stomach is so small I can hardly eat! My remedy for that has been to rely on macadamias, avocados, bacon, butter, coconut oil, coconut butter, and cheese, cauliflower rice, and cabbage brussel slaw.

For the most part, I haven’t cheated. Although I had a scoop of ice cream during the holiday and maybe a little more fruit than I should have but its 110 degrees in California! The 2 days shouldn’t really affect that much plus my stalled happened prior to the holiday and I was hoping my “cheat” might get it started.

Anyway, I’m considering quitting the IF (intermittent fasting). Maybe then my appetite will increase

My macros are 16 grams net
1350 calories (this is hard to do right now)

Height: 5’4
Current weight:142 pounds
Goal weight: 126

#2

Throw your scale away.

OK, maybe don’t throw it away, but if you’re getting smaller why do you care what the scale says? I’d say go ahead and try not IF-ing and see how it works for you, but base “works” on how you feel and what the tape measure says. Take some photos of yourself too. Weight doesn’t really tell you much about by itself.

(Deb) #3

From personal experience (see my thread om long stall broken), the last few lbs are stubborn and you have to really dial in, test all your foods for bg reaction, watch the (everything you listed! nuts,cheese,etc). I STOPPED fasting, strangely enough, because as you have LESS fat ON you for your body to use, you have to give it dietary fat, just not TOO much. It’s a balancing act now, not a fat party like it was when we were starting out at 200 lbs (if you were ever lucky enough to be there,LOL!).

(Omar) #4

I heard from Dr Fung that time before seeing results depends on how long the metabolism has been wrecked.

(Julie Harrington) #5

I’m in a similar position as you regarding whether I should stop IF or not for a period of time. I’m trying to really focus on my body, and eat when it tells me to and not eat when it says not to. In the past, I was pretty strict with an eating window. I 24hr IF everyday 7 days a week (never ate breakfast and would often not eat lunch 5-6 days a week) and fit extended fasts in monthly as well, but one day I realized I don’t feel as good as I think I should be feeling. I had developed strange tingling/burning sensations all over my body (that I had contributed to peripheral neuropathy and or fibromyalgia, which made me buckle down more aggressively in what I was doing) but yet I wasn’t getting better, worse if anything. I’m strict keto and have been for 19 months, and during that time I had lived the keto dream and in that time, I lived not so dreamy. I wondered why? My routine had worked for me for a long period, why did it stop? I truly felt awful, and in that moment I decided it was time to stop that day in day out routine, so I switched it up. Now I’m a lot less structured. I listen to my body signalling more. It could be argued that my body is talking to me more now or that I’m simply listening to it more, either way, when it tells me to eat, I eat. When it tells me I’m full, I stop eating. It’s that simple. I eat considerably more calories and macros in a day now these last six weeks. And you know what? That awful tingling/burning feeling is gone. Haven’t felt it for about a month now. There has to be a measure of body trust, and keto helps you heal and gain that trust, but then it’s your job to listen. This process can’t be rushed. Even as your brain is telling you to hurry up and get it over with, to push through the pain and discomfort, your body will often force you to take a step back and slow down. Just for the sake that it’s not ready to make those changes yet. It has been operating a certain way for a long time, and I’d guess that that way has caused a degree of damage. Your body needs to heal first, so it may not be ready to go full force in the direction you want it to go. You have to learn to trust it. :slight_smile:

#6

That’s what I keep reading! Initially with the inches lost I was certainly willing to trust the process. This stall and somewhat of a dip in my energy is certainly a challenge to my resolve, but I’m sticking with it! I’m a bit bloated the last few days so I kicked the macadamia for a moment. Perhaps I have a nut sensitivity. Playing around with some things right now. Thanks for the feedback!

#7

Thanks @skinnyjeans13! I’m stopping IF TODAY. Let’s see what happens. As of now its 10:27am and I’m not hungry yet but I don’t want to wait til 1pm to eat. That would put me on the same eating schedule as IF. But like you mentioned it’s a balancing act now.

#8

Thank you for the reminder to be patient with the process. I needed that!

(Deb) #9

Very, very well said.