Delayed carbs cravings anyone?

(David) #1

Six weeks into my second go at the keto woe, I thought I understood myself. Last Tuesday I had a lovely Japanese meal (fairly high carb). I ate a sweet pudding, which, looking back, was mainly eaten because everyone was having a desert.

The next day I decided to fast to try and get back into ketosis. This went well.

Yesterday I ate as normal, but felt hungry all day. My eating window was 15 hours instead of the 11 hours I aim for. I ate a high fat day, then suddenly at about 9pm I got a huge carb craving wave, which led to me eating 3 small packets of potato chips (about 45g carbs total plus vegetable fats) in a fairly binge-like manner.

I wonder whether the Japanese meal, which I thought I had navigated successfully with a fast afterwards, in fact led to carb cravings two days later. Anyone else had this sort of delayed reaction?

(icky) #2

Hey David,

From what I’ve read on the forum, yup this seems to be really common.

I think the after-effect of eating carbs can last for 3 - 4 days, re cravings.

(Jay AM) #3

Yep. If you eat carbs, you’ll crave carbs for multiple days later. The key here is whether you will give in and choose the carbs or go for a high fat snack instead.

(icky) #4

This means you have another 3-4 days ahead of you now of having to be very careful re carb cravings, because of yesterday’s chips.

Be sure to get some good advice here, how to deal with the cravings if and when they hit in the next 3-4 days.

(Omar) #5

in my case if I tip over 50 % fat, I get carb cravings.

I know this kind of talk is not popular here but this is my observation.

if you want to avoid carbs craving experement with your optimum protein to fat ratio.

also as mentioned above more carbs will make you crave carbs which is obviously observed I think by everyone.

(David) #6

Well that’s good to know. It might be worth other newcomers to keto being aware of this before they decide a treat is worth having.

(David) #7

That is the question. Sat here today with the sugary dessert long since past, which wasn’t that nice either, I can’t say it was worth it at all. I hope future me remembers this!

(David) #8

3-4 days seems a harsh judgement by natural physiology. It’s there no right to appeal? Can I plea bargain down to 24 hours? There were extenuating circumstances and I suffered from diminished responsibility for those few minutes your Honour.

(David) #9

That is interesting. Its great that you know your tolerances. I am lucky that I love high fat and haven’t had carb cravings much at all over the last 6 weeks,except these self induced ones.

(David) #10

Oh, and by the way. For anyone with asthma, my breathing, which had been really good for the last few weeks, had definitely turned wheezy in the last couple of days. If I stay of the carbs and it returns to my new normal that will be another reason to avoid temptation in future.

(icky) #11

Shhhhhhhh! No! :shushing_face:

We don’t tell newcomers this, so they can find out the haaaaard way :joy:

Everyone has a slight sadistic streak that must be indulged in now and then… :grin::crazy_face:

(TJ Borden) #12

The longer you’re on keto, the less cravings you get after overdoing carbs, and the less effect it seems to have on your system overall.

As far as asthma, my wife was using her daily, plus her emergency inhaler multiple times a day pre-keto. 3 months in, she’s off ALL asthma meds.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #13

I cheated yesterday, went lazy keto and had some crackers and drip and overindulged on the beer.
I am certainly craving carbs today.
McDonalds have a free big mac day today and I am using all of my willpower to not order it. I have taco salad in the fridge but I really do not feel like it. I think I will get a bunless burger instead and hope it fixes me up.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #14

What is drip?

(Empress of the Unexpected) #15

Dip?

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #16

Lol woops. yes, dip! French onion. Nom NOM :slight_smile:

(TJ Borden) #17

I figured it was some crazy Aussie thing :rofl:

(Empress of the Unexpected) #18

McDonalds bunless is a staple. But with lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #19

And heck. Three delicious keto compliant meals today and guess where I am eating tomorrow?..

(Rob) #20

I don’t think it’s not popular, it’s just not very representative since the vast majority of keto people are eating 70%+ fat as their normal and successful diet with no cravings (due to that). It is counter-productive when people leap to that conclusion for their carb-craving rather than any number of more plausible reasons, thus it should always be caveated as a rare reaction.

That said, it is always good to see outlier experience since it is always useful to see the broad range of human reaction to specific inputs.

As an aside, if you get carb cravings above 50% fat then surely you are pretty abnormal keto e.g. 50/45/5? Is that working for you or are you more like paleo carb levels?