Am I in ketosis yet?

(Carrie) #1

Hi

I started Keto on 2nd Jan, I’ve done it before with good results but have lost willpower. But this time I mean business, I’m turning 50 this year, my brother died at 50 and Im determined to lose some weight and get healthy! Sorry that seemed blunt.
I’ve been tracking my food in My Fitness Pal, I’ve been keeping between 17-32 gms of carbs for the last 18 days, I lost 6lbs in the first week but nothing since.
I’m not sure whether I’m in Ketosis yet? I’ve tried the wee sticks before but read that they’re inaccurate so this time I thought I’d spare the expense.
Is it unusual to be 18 days in with no weight loss in the 2nd week? It’s a bit disheartening. Any advice?
Ps I’m tired, and mouth tastes metallic, so maybe it’s happening I just need more time.
I’m on HRT and Thyroxine

(Allie) #2

Sounds like you likely are. Make sure you manage your electrolytes properly and best to stay below 20g carbs until you’re adapted - well done on progress so far.

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto/supplements

(Eric - The patient needs to be patient!) #3

Sorry for your loss.

Sounds like you are in producing ketones. Metallic taste is one signal for me. I use the pee stixs because I am too cheap for a meter and the strips for the meters. I pay less attention to the level and just that I am producing ketones. Each to their own.

Tired may be electrolytes and or process of adapting from burning blood sugar to ketones. Hang in you are on your way.

(Carl Keller) #4

Welcome Carrie.

It takes time to undo the damage that eating poorly for decades has done to our hormones. Those hormones need time to sort themselves out before they are willing to let go of our body fat. So try to focus on the positives you have found since eating keto, be patient and try not to obsess with the scale. It takes some people a week to start losing, it takes others a month or longer. It all depends on how much healing our bodies require.

It’s not unusual at all.

The tired part of your response is a little concerning. Please don’t starve yourself since keto is not about depriving our bodies of the energy they need. You should eat plenty of protein and fat and limit your carbs. Plenty means enough to satisfy your hunger when you eat. Also, if you are snacking, try to cut that out and just eat larger meals. The time between meals is an opportunity to burn body fat.

(Carrie) #5

Hi, thank you, when you mean electrolytes do you mean salt and water?

I’ve found during the week I keep under 20g carbs, but the weekends are more difficult with all the family to cook for, I need more willpower!

(Allie) #6

Salt yes, but also magnesium and potassium.

As you get more experienced you will find things easier.

(Carrie) #7

Thank you for your advice, I shall keep going!

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #8

You’ve had a lot of years to make unhealthy choices so it’s going to take a bit of time for your body to repair itself. It’s not always reflected in weight loss. Sometimes you’ll see non scale victories instead (NSV) like less pain and inflammation, clearer skin, better sleep, better mood, ability to concentrate, etc. Be thankful for any positive changes. It’s not a fad weight loss diet, it’s a way to heal your whole body.

About having will power. I’m a highly visual person and love color. Somehow my brain has learned to see carb laden junk food with a dark filter on it. It’s almost like I see it in black and white v. the color of the rest of the world. It’s a way my brain differentiates it from the food that is good for my body. Figure out a way to look at it differently, and not like a thing you really want but can’t have. It may help.

(Carrie) #9

Thank you, that’s good to know, I’ve been taking magnesium every day for about 4 months, that’s because it helps with menopause symptoms, but it’s possible that my potassium is low, thank you for your help, I’ll keep going

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

Don’t get discouraged! You are definitely producing ketone bodies, from the sound of things, but you probably aren’t fully fat-adapted yet. Expect your energy levels will probably improve over the next four weeks. Adaptation can sometimes take longer, but if you haven’t seen an improvement by then, do let us know, because there may be something that can be tweaked.

The effects of a well-formulated ketogenic diet are long-term, and we think of it as more a way of life than as a quick-fix, short-term diet. So please try to be patient. Your body is going through some changes right now, and it may need to do some other kinds of metabolic sorting-out before letting go of its excess fat. Keep your carbohydrate low, don’t stint on the protein, and fill up on fat when hungry. There’s more, but this is enough to be going on with. Keep your salt intake up, and that will help your body regulate its potassium, magnesium, and calcium levels as well. The mechanisms that regulate them are all interlocked.

Above all, try not to get discouraged. You’re still very new at this, so give it another month before even worrying that anything is wrong. Here’s some virtual bacon to encourage you: :bacon::bacon::bacon:

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #11

Why not make keto meals for them? If you are the one cooking you are in charge of the kitchen and the food. If they like things like biscuits, then make keto versions

(Carrie) #12

Wow thanks for the bacon :bacon:. Wise words of encouragement, I needed that on Monday morning, thank you.
I am 10st 10lb now, Im 5’3” so I think I’ve got about 2st to lose, but I also want to feel better, it’s been a tough few years and my body has suffered from not eating properly. I really want to improve my overall health as well as lose the weight.
We have a young lively Labrador, so I walk a lot! But I don’t do any formal excersise classes. I have found it tough cooking “normal” food for kids, like mash, toast and roast potatoes etc, but actually yesterday I really enjoyed the fact that I had a plate full of fatty roast pork and broccoli, it felt good :joy:. The only fruit I’ve eaten is frozen berries with Greek yoghurt. I eat a lot of roast chicken with skin, eggs and bacon, meaty sausages, prawns with mayo and if I need a snack I’ll eitger have a cube of cheddar or an espresso cup filled with double cream, that sounds awful, but it does the trick. Does that sound ok?
Thanks for your encouragement

(Full Metal KETO AF) #13

@Cd6569 I fear that eating keto food often while also consuming a lot of carbs might fall into the category of an extreme Standard American Diet. In my opinion it’s best to go keto but if you’re eating significant carbs too…health risk.

That being said you can cook pasta or rice for your kids and extra vegetables or a keto starch alternative like mashed, riced or roasted cauliflower for yourself, not too hard. Zucchini noodles, fried radishes for potatoes. There are many substitutes if you investigate. You can do it all with real fresh foods, no need for special products.

I’ve been dealing with gluten free cooking for my autistic adult son for years without having to always eat what he does. And now I’m eating keto so it got easier, I just bake a sweet potato, or rice or gluten free pasta for him to eat with what I am eating. I know it’s not good for me so I abstain from eating the carbs. He’s on a low lectin diet as well but I can find common ground between the two WOE and I make it work when he’s at my house.

It’s all you and what you want as a goal, and to make it a priority. You’re smart and strong enough to pull this off, it’s about what YOU want for yourself, a healthy strong and long life with your family. My best wishes to you on this journey towards a new lifestyle. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Connie Hobbs) #14

I’m 56 and totally understand. I was so disappointed that I had only lost four pounds until I read this article. I took my measurements and discovered that I had lost three inches off my waist. Woop woop !!!

You are possibly building muscle. That’s a very good thing.

(Carrie) #15

That’s useful to know thanks for this article! I will take measurements from now on, I hadn’t done that at the start. Thank you

(Carrie) #16

Thanks for your advice, I’m definitely not doing carbs and keto at the same time though…
I like the idea of cauliflower rice, I cook the boys a lot of rice, so that would be great for all of us. Thank you :blush:

(Full Metal KETO AF) #17

I was thinking of your kids when I said that. Foods rich in fat and carbs are destructive for their health. Someone else suggested feeding keto food to the family but if they’re not on a restricted carb diet then it might not be good in the long run but now and then it wouldn’t be an issue.

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #18

You probably can start transitioning them to low carb. It don’t have to be an extreme change, but it would ultimately be good for them. How old are the kids anyway?

(Carrie) #19

Hi, thank you, but I’m not considering changing my children’s diets, they both have healthy home cooked food, are both healthy weights, have lots of energy, happy energetic healthy boys. Thanks though, this idea was put by someone else.

#20

HRT will obviously be juggling hormones this can impact weight loss.

Thyroxine adjusts the thyroid’s function which definitely effects your metabolic rate.

I’m not saying quit either one of those - but you may need a knowledgable doctor. There is some info on youtube about this (anecdotal and proper doctors).

Meantime, it could just be a yeast build up (we all have yeast inside) but if there’s an overgrowth that can hinder weight loss as well. Keep on a keto diet, avoid sugar, that will starve it …

That said, the first few weeks were the rockiest for me, it seemed the scales would not move at times - but keto adaptation is not fat addition - many things are adapting, sometimes the fat has to wait a bit.

Keep at it. Sometimes there are bumps on the road but they can be overcome.