Alarming weight gain

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #90

The inexorable weight gain continues inexorably…

image
image.png582×528 29.9 KB

(Adam Kirby) #91

Jimmy Moore put on weight on keto after being a lot lower years ago, and has never managed to get rid of it again. I wonder if it’s chronic stress for him. Are you stressed? I was talking to a doc on Twitter and he talked about a patient he had that was losing their hair from job stress, but their blood cortisol was normal. When they got a new job their hair grew back yet their bloodwork remained the same. So unfortunately blood metrics can’t tell the whole story.

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #92

This is interesting and extremely alarming. My cortisol was tested as normal last year; I’m not markedly more stressed recently imho. I think the principle differences that may be behind the weight gain were that I had sudden hearing loss in December and was briefly put on steroids (about a week); they then had me on a diuretic for a couple of months. And then for several months, until about April or May, which is when most of the weight gain took place, I didn’t exercise at all – no cardio, no resistance. I suspect these are at least part of the reason behind the weight gain.

I got used to the plateau on LCHF; I never expected any weight gain. If the Carbohydrate Insulin hypothesis is right, I just shouldn’t be stacking on the weight right now. And now just to remain weight stable I have to fast 1-2x per week. That’s insane.

I have a followup appointment with an endocrinologist next week to discuss this.

(German Ketonian) #93

As far as the weight goes, to be honest, I wouldn’t worry too much @gabe. I have weight fluctuations of 3-4 kg per day if I eat fiber and salt and don’t poop for a day or two. Your weight still seems very stable compared to my case.

Yet, I think something is off with your metabolism. IF you are struggling just to maintain, I agree something seems off. Could it be that your workouts prior to gaining weight have been too intense combined with caloric restriction? Another possibility is hormones, gut flora, auto immune diseases.

Also I would try the whole 30 reset program in your case. Perhaps there is some food intolerance?

(What The Fast?!) #94

Have you had your hormones tested? You know I’m having a similar issue (weight stall/gain except I’ve never actually lost any weight on LCHF) and just found out there’s a very good possibility it’s low testosterone.
Also - food intolerances are a real thing. You may look into AIP. I found out that I’m highly intolerant to avocados (among other things).

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #95

Thanks guys — yeah I mean I’ve definitely put on fat. Pants are very tight. Never thought this would happen on low carb.

Re hormones — I’m seeing an endocrinologist next week to discuss the blood tests he most recently ordered. A food intolerance test is a good idea too.

@Zimon — I also fluctuate 1-2kg. That’s why all my measurements are 7-day or 30-day averages. That most recent graph plots the 7-day average weight, so it’s definitely tracking a weight gain, and it’s for sure mostly fat.

For the record, I’m pretty sure there’s a hormonal issue that I may have to deal with. Sure, my activity has gone down a bit, and sure I still eat past satiety, but I always did. This is quite weird and unsettling.

(Adam Kirby) #96

I agree. I’m starting to think a lot of weight loss plateaus or mysterious gains people have are attributed to dietary reasons when in fact they are non-dietary.

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #97

So I was just reading the “New Atkins” book again today (the Phinney/Westman/Volek version) and they specifically say this:

There are many pharmaceuticals that can interfere with weight loss. They incluude … diuretics…

I was on a diuretic (for my sudden hearing loss) called acetazolamide, and that’s the only major variable that changed since December, though the weight gain did continue after I stopped taking the medication. There’s nothing online that suggests acetazolamide causes weight gain. So I can’t be sure that it’s the cause, but now it’s a suspect.

(Jocelyne Slattery) #98

I have been stalled for almost 8 months. Like you I lost 20lbs quickly and easily, in the past few weeks I have gained back almost 7lbs and my waist is up 1.5". I am so upset. I never make it lower than I have been and then start going up again (set weight???). I am not calorie restricting and no hidden carbs. sigh!!!

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #99

Yeah, I’m convinced this is an issue that afflicts a substantial number of people. I’m not sure what to say here; would love it if the Dudes would address this. Mentioning @carl here for that reason!

(Edith) #100

I have listened to many podcast with interviews by many different people. I’ve heard numerous people mention that if you eat too much fat then your body doesn’t need to use its own fat as fuel. I’ve also heard keto nutritionists mention that once insulin is lowered and fat adaptation has occurred to continue to lose weight, we still eventually need to cut calories. Too much food is too much food, even if it’s keto food.

The most recent podcast I was listening to where this was mentioned was from the Biohackers Lab.

Unfortunately, I don’t remember where in the podcast that was discussed.

(Jocelyne Slattery) #101

Thank you, I will listen to this on my way home from work. I love being keto AND doing IF and EF. I have healed my fibromyalgia and feel great (no more meds). Now I want to reach my weight goal.

(Nasir) #102

Any update on your situation @gabe?

(Jocelyne Slattery) #103

Great podcast! Thank you. I am beginning to think that my extremely slow metabolism is the cause. I have to experiment with fat and protein.

(Edith) #104

Glad you found it useful. :grinning:

(matt) #105

I just read the whole thread and i have to say it shocks me that peolpe still eat without tracking their calories.

One fact that stays above all is that if your burn 3000 kcal a day and only eat 2500 kcla a day you will lose weight…doesen’t matter if keto or not.
First:
Gabe track exactly what you eat so that you are sure you are not above the 30gr Carbs a day.

Second: you need to find out how many Kcal you burn a day, here is an good calculator: https://mealpreponfleek.com/macro-calculator/
If you are still gaining than you need to go lower with your calories.

third:
What kind of protein you take? if you take whey protein…than there should be the first fault… whey spikes insulin therefore puts a hold ti fat burn. gaining a bit during weight training is normal but you should track it.

Remember guys and that counts for everybody doing keto…keto just switches to the source bodyfat…but if you take to much fat or just say eat to many calories, your body will use the fat from the daily calories and will not take the enrgy from the bodyfat. you should not get fat but you don’t lose either…in this case i can only guess that something spikes…therfore track what you eat.

Also very important…Protein from dairy products like whey etc can be transformed into carbs in the small intestine. Not everybody but some people have different bacterias in their intestine…it’s called gluconeogenesis.

(Adam Foard) #106

@gabe I know this thread has been quiet for a few years now, but I’m having some of the same issues. Was curious if you were ever able to pin down the problem.

(Gabe “No Dogma, Only Science Please!” ) #108

Yeah so about a year and a half ago, I went onto a fairly strict protocol as detailed in this thread: How I broke my 3.5 year stall

That helped me drop about 5-6kg (even more, at some points). However, recently I’ve found the weight creeping back up. Here’s the last 5 years or so of weight, tracked:

image
image.png945×504 37.3 KB

The recent weight gain has mainly resulted from a reversion away from the strict protocol. I’m still eating low carb, but I’ve allowed myself cream coffees, alcohol at night, and some fruit. The cream and the alcohol have been mostly to blame.

I intend to go back to the strict protocol shortly. Stay in touch, and check out that “stall broken” thread I linked above. Let me know if it helps.

#109

Unfortunately, all diets seem to be like that: with the years, you have to become more and more strict to keep losing, or at least maintain your weight. It’s like they’ve found out studying the folks from the biggest losers.

Some people add long fasts to try to deal with the problem. Some just settle for the weight their bodies can maintain without too many sacrifices, instead of the weight they first thought they’d get down to.

#110

Hi Gabe, I am wondering, if this isn’t more about the body becoming too used to your WOE and exercise level, and adapts to this, thereby causing a stall, that this is what happens when eventually one is introduced to the weight loss plateau or stall. Dr Fung tells you to keep your body guessing, to switch up your routine, perhaps it is because of this? My own weight fluctuates between 50-52 kg and I am only short, 5.2, my only IF consists of generally not eating after 17.00-18.00pm. And that’s more because I don’t believe in late night eating. Fasting, although it’s interesting to me, I generally don’t do, but always eat to satiety. Because I can’t eat a lot of protein without feeling over-stuffed, I tend to eat a lot of cream instead, as that is my go to fat source, other than fatty cuts of meat, pork belly and bacon being my favourites.

I am thinking in your case though, it is possible the steroids you were on might have affected your metabolic health/rate so that even when you went off them, the effect of that was still there? And that you’ll be able to heal from that in time. Medications are funny that way. They can mess with insulin, cortisol, cause water weight gain, etc. Then again stress can do the same. These were just my thoughts, I’m in no way an expert. Hope this settles for you.