Friday I’ve been doing keto for 5 weeks. Yesterday I took some pictures and literally nothing looks different, and despite being down 6 pounds on Thursday, by yesterday I was back to where I started, which totally messed with my head because I’ve literally been to the letter with what I should be eating, nothing had changed from Thursday to Sunday, and no it’s not that time of the month. So I decided last night that I was just done. And today I’ve eaten a ton of fresh ground peanut butter and pop corn. According to MyFitnessPal I’ve had 111 net carbs. And now I’m kind of regretting it, or feeling like a failure, or something. On top of nothing looking different, I still feel like crap. I can’t exercise which feels wrong, and loading my body with fat and salt feels unhealthy. I have no idea what to do, could it be I’m just not meant to eat this way? It would be much easier to continue if I felt good, if I could run!!! What should I do? I’m thinking of just going back to limiting calories, maybe switching to paleo and running. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
Did I screw this up completely?
maybe just do a motified version of keto dont be so strict and yes cardio I’m new to it too and struggle because I dont have a thyroid
Listen if someone told you that eating a bunch of apples would make you diabetic for most of your adult life, how would you feel about eating an apple? The problem is that you have been told that it is wrong, and based on another form of eating which is by most accounts not a proper way to eat for the human body anyway. Which was based on some intern in congress in the mid 70’s ideals. I would really suggest that if you feel this way you really do research into what a SAD diet really is, and how insulin is killing most of us prematurely with horrible diseases. The information is at your finger tips on this forum just look for it. You had a preconceived notion of bacon being bad from junk studies done 40 years ago, yet everyone here eats it and we are all just fine. have you changed your mind on that yet? Changing the way you are eating also requires changing what you believe to be good and bad.
I don’t understand how you could think you have failed? Did you have some preconceived notion of how this WOE would effect you in the short term.
If you would like results or help with them post your macros,stats and diet, we can look and pick it apart and maybe you will feel better inside or we might make you feel worse.
If you want someone to feel sorry for you, maybe you will find it, but from my perspective you are winning despite yourself. There are plenty of people here that would only not kill for those results, would like to see anything in 5 weeks. Maybe I am being a little hard, but some times that is what is required. If someone in my life was trying and really trying that means more than any result.
Please just give it a try. I’m three weeks tomorrow and finally registered on the urine strip. Everyone is different. I know five weeks seems like an eternity. I was eating a diet that I thought was healthy yet my triglycerides shot up to 209. That’s what eight glasses of milk a day does to you. Three weeks and no body difference but I sense my body is sorting things out. Milk craving gone. And formerly my body was waking me up at four every morning for its usual milk and crackers. Now I sleep through it.
Thanks. I’ve posted my macros in the past. I pretty much eat the same. 20g net carbs, moderate protein, high fat. Etc. I guess what I wanted to hear it okay if it doesn’t work out. I did this in an effort to feel better, and hope to lose 10-15 pounds, but in 5 weeks I’ve lost everything I’ve worked hard for as a runner. I can’t run, I can barely walk up stairs without feeling it. I’ve added mag and k+ supplements, I’m constantly in the kitchen pouring salt in my hand and licking it, salting my already salty food, etc.
I really do appreciate the success that others have experienced with this WOE. If this was the ticket to a healthy lifestyle than that is a win win in my book.
I’ve overcomplicated something that wasn’t really a problem in my life. I wanted to lose a small amount of weight, and instead of just consuming less calories, which has always worked for me, I tried something new, that after 5 weeks I just can’t seem to get used to. I’ll just say it, I love fruit, I love vegetables, I love pooping more than twice per week. I guess I just need to make be okay with this not working for me. And believe me, it’s not from lack of advice and assistance from every awesome person on here. I really do appreciate you all.
I’ve been in Ketosis since about day 3. I just don’t think it’s for me. Thanks for the encouragement, I wish you well on your journey.
Never said I was fat adapted. I’m confident I’m not or that I ever was. But I’ve been in Ketosis since about day 3. Or at least the Ketostix indicates that by dark pink-purple maroon color daily.
People can go in and out of ketosis when they go to sleep at night or a short period where the skip a meal. Your body is still burning glucose to fuel itself and if your trying to loose weight that way then your simply doing a carb restrictive diet that is going to allow you to gain the weight that you managed to loose right back as soon as you consume the carbs again.
(Friday I’ve been doing keto for 5 weeks. )
Maybe I’m wrong but that’s not Keto to me.
I’m not really clear on what you’re trying to say. I have been eating strict keto for 5+ weeks. Today was the first day I’ve eaten anything that wasn’t. During that time I tested positive for ketones. Is that not Ketosis? I don’t think I am confusing the two.
If I gain back weight quickly by eating whole organic, unprocessed food, no sugar, and limited grains as I was prior to keto, then I’m not sure I really lost anything to start with. So I’m not ahead or behind. I’m just frustrated to be so far behind now physically. Where 6 weeks ago I could run 6 miles in around 55 minutes, I can hardly jog two in 20. I want to feel strong again. And I just don’t when I am not eating a more rounded diet. Again nothing against those who this works well for. I’m a bit envious.
OK. If I misunderstood I apologize.
Endurance and output will be effected during keto adaption to fat adaption. You will start to recover slowly as you fat adapt, its not a light switch moment. I would suggest you limit trying to do any endurance training. Bring it back online after you fat adapt more. You may notice that your cardio will not be the same when you go back into training since your glycogen store are going to be much lower. The endurance and strength builds back up after the body is converted to using fat, usually beyond what people were as glucose burners. This is what you read about elevated strengths and endurances on keto. The body has to do a lot of changing during adaption and it takes time.
Some good info here about keto and performance,
Hi Kilfli. I have been posting a very similar experience as you. I’m just wrapping up the 5th week on Keto. Pre-Keto I was regularly running 4 miles 3-4 times a week. After Keto, every run got worse and worse until I could only speed walk 2 miles. I also only have about 10-15 pounds to lose.
I will say that at week 4 I started to feel a little better and was able to start running again. I’ve slowly added more distance and a little speed each time. On Sunday I ran a 5k. Going in I didn’t even think I’d be able to finish it. I did, though it was my worse 5k time ever.
But I’m okay with it because I am getting stronger each time now.
I understand you’re frustrated. I’ve decided to stay with it because I’ve read from long distance runners on Keto who believe ultimately Keto has helped their performance. If I’m getting stronger again now, I just want to know what it feels like running once I’m actually fat adapted. I’d like to start training for my first full marathon. From others who long distance and Keto, they can do it completely without fueling and have been able to better their times after they went Keto.
But it’s baby steps right now.
Ultimately it’s up to you. No judgment in stopping from me. I can’t say I haven’t had those thoughts myself. I just wanted you to know what you’re feeling is normal.
Your body can go into ketosis in the first 3 or 4 days of starting a keto diet. It can take upwards of 6-8 weeks to become fat adapted depending on how metabolically damaged you are. When you register ketones on the pee strips, that just indicates your body is producing ketones and you are peeing them out because your body has not adapted yet to using those ketones for energy. It takes time for your mitochondria to adapt to using those ketones as a fuel source. It can’t be rushed. While that process is going on at the cellular level, you will feel like you have no energy and you may not be able to exercise like you used to because you are no longer providing your body with glucose and you are not yet using fat efficiently as a fuel source. Once you are fat adapted meaning your mitochondria can now use fat for fuel efficiently, you will be amazed at the amounts of energy and mental clarity you have. You will quickly get back to your regular exercise routine and will find you are surpassing what you used to do.
At 5 weeks in, you are on the cusp on becoming at adapted. Stick with it a few more weeks and I wouldn’t be surprised if you start seeing results. Also sometimes your body has other ideas about what it wants to “fix” before dropping weight. Maybe it wants to regulate some hormones first (especially since the various different hormones us women have play such a big roll in fat storage and regulation). Maybe your insulin was still running higher than it should to promote fat loss so your body is working on that, etc. You can be running a higher than optimal insulin level without having an increase in blood glucose levels.
You say you are perfect in your macros. Whats more important is the actual foods you are eating. Ingredients can play a very important role and can make a difference in success or failure. Perhaps list a few days of the actual foods you are eating and we can take a look at it and make suggestions. There are some things that may seem to be keto or are called keto because of the macros but actually are not because of ingredients.
I agree that keto may not be for everyone but I don’t think 5 weeks is long enough to make that determination yet. As for the pictures, sometimes it takes other people to look at your before and current pictures to see if there is a difference. Most of us are so self critical we have a really hard time seeing those small changes that occur.
For most of us here, eating keto is a lifestyle we plan on doing for the rest of our lives for optimal health, energy and metabolic flexibility. Weight loss is only a secondary “perk”. Continuing to consume excess carbs will only lead to, in most cases, inevitable metabolic issues for most people as they get older.
This is exactly what I was thinking.
When someone gives up fruit and vegetables entirely, I think they’re a little overboard
Keto doesn’t have to be carnivore. It can be, but it’s not necessary. I eat veggies smothered in butter everyday. I love them. I make my own dressings to slather on them as well.
Try to find balance, not just eat the macros.
Food is fuel, but the right fuel is necessary for optimum performance. I’m not a long distance runner, I’ve never done more than two miles on the treadmill. However, I have noticed fluctuations in my physical performance at the gym. Some days I can do more, some days less. However, being fat adapted is such a wonderful feeling that I will never go back.
I’m 51 years old and have lost 30+ lbs in four and half months. It’s a process, not a pill. It does work for everyone but it needs to be customized for each one of us. It should be fun, not work.
I hope you find this helpful
Keep calm and keto on