Been in Ketosis for a week -no weight loss? help?

newbies
(Lori Reynolds) #1

So, I’ve been only making Keto recipes / off sugar completely for 2 weeks. I eat less than 20 carbs a day. I feel great and look thinner but I am not losing weight. I test my pee and I’m in trace/ small / moderate ketosis all day long. I weigh 208 and have another 50 pounds to go. My weight is holding still. My scale measures fat percentage as well and I have lost almost 1% in fat and 1 inch on my waist and hip??? but no weight loss.
I was on a calorie reduced diet / lactose free/ gluten free for the last 3 months and lost 25 pounds but that weight loss has stopped now…???
What am I doing wrong?

(James storie) #2

You’ve lost an inch! Congratulations! The scale is a liar, you’ve done a lot of damage to your body and metabolism. Your body is in the process of healing. As long as you are loosing inches, don’t worry about it. The weight will come off when your body realizes you’ve decided to nourish it. This is a way of life and everybody’s life is different. KCKO!

(Candace) #3

I’ve actually read some people take months before they lose weight, so that’s what I’m holding on to. There are lots of things that can also factor into it, not eating enough fat, eating too many carbs, dairy…but as @jamestorie stated, your body is healing, you can play with the possible causes, but don’t give up!

(Mike Glasbrener) #4

Calorie reduced diet is a short term gain and then the weight plus some usually goes back on because your metabolism slows because it realizing it’s starving. Typically then the weight goes back on plus some for margin in case it ever starves again. A ketogenic diet is completely different. If your not putting weight on after converting from a calorie restricted diet to Keto your winning. Your metabolism is likely recovering while you’re body is adapting to your new diet. Don’t give up. You will succeed. Give it time.

The fat% on scales is notoriously inaccurate. I would not trust that number at all. If you want I’ll dig up an athletic site that reviewed them. They’re more a gimmic than a reliable indication of body fat.

Congratulation on the 1in lost. There’s more to come!:grinning: Stick with it!

(Siobhan) #5

It is perfectly normal. For many people there is a transition period in which insulin levels lower, inflammation lowers, hormones are regulated… etc
This can last 1-2 months generally (for dad is was 3, but he has heart problems and poor sleep), and then you start losing pounds.
You’re likely not doing anything wrong, as you said you’re watching your carbs. Just Keep Calm and Keto On and eventually the scale will reflect what the tape measure is telling you.
Keep your eye out for NSVs (Non-scale victories) like the inch of lost and thinner looking face - you’ll be a lot happier!

Scales, even ones that measure bodyfat percentage are notoriously wrong for a few reasons. 1) they don’t measure loss of inflammation, 2) the error rate can be up to 8%, 3) anything digital can get a bit wonky and give inconsistent readings 4) they don’t tend to reflect when fat is lost but cells are filled with water 5) they don’t tend to reflect muscle gain
For example we got one, and then it tried to tell me that I gained 1.5lbs in 12 hours… when I hadn’t eaten anything in that 12 hours. Yeah. Don’t think so.

Long story short… what you’re experiencing is completely normal, NSVs and tape measures will generally tell you a lot more than weight. You’re fine!

(Dany Bolduc) #6

I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong.

Depending on just ‘how low calorie’ was your diet prior to starting Keto, your metabolism may take some time to up-regulate enough to match your new intake.

That fact that you see fat loss not no weight loss if a good sign that your body is making new muscle (which in turn will burn more energy).

I would say that these are all very good signs after a measly 2 weeks. Would keep it up for another 5-6 weeks and reassess then.

(Deb) #7

Just my experience and my situation…I was eating too much fat so my body had no need to use body fat. Then I increased protein but went way over on that and it may as well have been carbs! As soon as I kept my diet at about 75% low GI veggies/ close to zero carb and moderate protein,my weight started dropping again.
I know everyone means well, and some of those things above may occasionally be true. But I think if you’re not losing regularly, then something needs to be tweaked.

(Lori Reynolds) #8

HI Everybody…
Thank you so much for your feed back and advice. I have downloaded My Keto app and the food tracker so I can measure just how much Calories, carbs and fat I am consuming. It gives you daily goals to lose weight based on your body. (height, weight, fat percentage, age, sex) I have also started back on my rowing machine workouts 3 - 4 times a week. I was too busy over the last few weeks to get regular workouts in. I think that kicked me into weight loss before. (on the calorie reduced diet).
I ordered some KETONES powder drinks to see if it might boost my ketones higher especially before workouts.
I am 49 years old and wonder if pre-menopause may be affecting all of this. I intend to see a doctor in the next few weeks to get a full blood work up… I want to make sure my thyroid is not low or some other physical issue is not at play.
Questions - That level of ketosis should I be in to lose weight. (strips). Is small amounts Ok or do I need to be higher like medium?
Also, I find constipation is a problem so I am trying to add veg to every meal. Should I consider a fibre supplement?
Thank you all so much. I will consider all of your posts…

(Dany Bolduc) #9

Taking exogenous Ketones will increase you blood ketone level. And will serve as a source of additional energy available to your body.

But, I think (my thoughts only), this is only true ‘after’ you have become fat adapted and while maintaining a ketogenic diet.

They (exogenous ketones) by themselves will not make you fat adapted. Carbs still need to be low enough so that they are not a significant source of energy.

Because, (again I think) in the presence of too much carbs, or in a not fat-adapted state, they would risk being evacuated (in urine, sweat ?) or worse stored as fat ?

I may be missing something important about these exogenous ketone… but to me they don’t seem like they could increase or fasten fat loss.

If anything, they would slow fat loss as they are ‘energy readily available’ in the blood stream.

Seeing a bigger number wen testing blood ketone, is not indicative you your fat burning state… it only indicates you have more ketones available in the blood at that time.

(Sorry for somewhat derailing your thread, I hope this is still useful…I’m sure others will correct me if need be)

As to your query about constipation. I would suggest (in order)

  •      Make sure you are well hydrated

  •      That you do not consume too much proteins (and enough fat)

These usually regulate well enough, but if not

  •      Maybe supplement with magnesium

  •      Add a little psyllium husk (keto friendly dietary fiber)
(Gill) #10

Been doing Keto for 3 months - No weight loss :persevere: ??? at all
Worked hard to keep going- even had a week’s holiday in Spain & still managed not to cheat
…not sure now whether to carry on …:thinking::thinking::thinking:

(Carpe salata!) #11

Any other non-scale victories or health benefits? Are you close to ideal weight? You might need to throw some intermittent fasting at it to get your body to burn up some fat, alternated with eating to satiety to keep up the metabolic rate.

(Gill) #12

Hi Peter, in answer to yr questions - I feel much better in myself, I have more energy & my mind feels clearer- which is excellent news…(weight to lose) about half a stone - so not a huge amount - I’m 8st.7llb so not doing to badly…intermittent fasting :thinking:

I’ve been reading about that - will give it a go…can you advise on a tracker app that might help ?..thanks for yr time !!Jill

(Carpe salata!) #13

Hi @Jilljack90 I never used a tracker app, but like you I’ve been thinking about it. I think 2or 3 of them get mentioned from time to time.

(Ron) #15

You might not get a response back as this thread is almost 1 year old.
FWIW.

(Dani) #17

I’ve been doing Keto and IF for 13 months and have tried various tweaks in my macros. I lost 50 lbs in 2017 and since that huge weight loss I had been stalling for months. Over time I have found that keeping under 20g carbs 65g protein and 100g of fat, that is the sweat spot for me. I was eating waaaayyy to much protein and I stalled for months because of it. As soon as I lowered my protein the weight started dropping off again.

Maybe something to consider…