Gaining weight, water retention?

(Alex) #1

I’ve been going about 7 weeks now and lost about 22.5kg, had a cheat day on Wednesday (now Sunday morning) but have had minimal carbs per day since then, but I keep putting on weight up about 2kg this morning. I think I drink enough water but am not going to the toilet in any quantity, so don’t know if it’s water retention? Has anyone got any hints, tips, suggestions? It’s getting a little demoralising

(Janelle) #2

You lost an amazing amount of weight really quickly (seriously, doing everything right, I had lost 7 lbs in 7 weeks - you’ve lost nearly 50). People would ask if I was ill if that happened to me.

Anyway, your body may just be adjusting. I don’t think anyone can keep up that rate for long. Have you changed of added anything? Anything new in your life? You may just need to give it time for your body and metabolism to catch up.

(Robert C) #3

There are keto answers for why you might plateau or even go up a little after being keto for a couple of months but, I am not sure they would apply here.

This does not look right to me - are you sure about your numbers?
22.5 KG is 49 pounds - in 7 weeks would be a pound of weight loss per day.
That is not a normal keto scenario - that seems more like severe calorie restriction or fasting.
In that case, instead of being a fat burning keto machine, you may instead be in for a rebound - i.e. your body is revolting against this pace.
If it is severe calorie restriction - to continue the pace you’ll have to restrict more - which will lead to metabolic slowdown - a long term problem.

(Todd Allen) #4

During extended fasting most will experience short periods of time with weight gain despite certain on going fat loss. Weight loss/gain does not equal fat loss/gain. If non-fat based weight fluctuations bother you switch to less frequent measures of body fat instead of frequent measures of weight.

(Carl Keller) #5

When you eat a lot of carbs and exit ketosis, it can
lead to glycogen supercompensation where glycogen stores are filled beyond their normal non-ketogenic levels. You should expect to gain a couple kgs of wet weight.

Apparently bodybuilders use this ‘tactic’ to appear more massive during competitions.

(Alex) #6

I had a lot to lose lol, the only thing that changed was a big carb day on Wednesday apart from that I can’t think of anything dietary or lifestyle wise that he changed

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #7

Ingesting carbohydrate above a certain level causes the body to retain water and sodium. The extra 2 kg is probably just water weight and will come off again.

The moral? Don’t exceed your carbohydrate limit unless you are prepared to cope with the consequences. :bacon:

(Empress of the Unexpected) #8

Keep going with 20 carbs or under and you will lose that weight, and more, but maybe not right away, as you have lost so much weight so far. Water weight gain can happen a few days after the carb fact. I have tested this out on myself. The current scale weight rarely reflects what you ate yesterday or even the day before. I am guessing with a week of strict keto those pounds will be gone. KCKO. P.S. Seven weeks is a bit too early to attempt a cheat day - give yourself at least three months.

#9

Shit happens, and then it doesn’t. I’ve been in your place a few times while EF. Lose a bunch, gain some back, lose a bunch, gain some back — and then retain water like crazy and get constipated. Weight goes up some more even though I am strict Keto or fasting.

But just be patient, I know it’s difficult, for “this too shall pass” and get ready for the big whoosh.

A big, fatty ribeye and a lot of Brussel’s sprouts might get you moving. Lots of protein and fat. I also noticed that a dessert of 1 teaspoon of melted Swerve brown sugar in butter, salt and vanilla extract mixed with a handful of pecans will get me moving again.

Fear not, you will dump that weight soon.

(Alex) #10

I know I shouldn’t cheat so early but there was a big day out with dad that we only get twice a year
I guess I’m just a bit unrealistic at how quickly I’d recover from the cheat day

(Alex) #11

Thanks very much, I’ve flunked our of so many diets in the past and I’m trying to stay with this as I’m actually getting results, I just get easily demoralised

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #12

Ach, laddie, no need for that! Just keep calm and keto on, and ye’ll be richt as rain in no time!

(Donna Peterkin) #13

Nice Scottish vernacular, there:)

(Laura) #14

Glad to hear you had a nice day with your Dad. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: We don’t get that time back. You enjoyed yourself… KCKO

(mole person) #15

I find fully returning to my keto weight after a cheat day can take up to eight days. But, it’s just water and I know that so I don’t sweat it.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #16

Sometimes my inner Scotsman gets the better of me! :grin:

(Donna Peterkin) #17

Found it amusing as I’m originally from Scotland, Shetland Isles. Merry Christmas. Time for bacon!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #18

Bacon-wrapped deep-fried pizza—Fathead pizza, of course! D’ye ken that it was Glasgow that invented both chicken tikka masala and deep-fried pizza?

I’m half-English, half-Scottish on both sides of the family—make for some interesting dynamics . . . :grin::grin:

(Donna Peterkin) #19

I didna ken yon. Never heard of deep fried pizza, sounds delicious

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #20

Apparently, deep-fried pizza is one of Glasgow’s undiscovered treasures! Lost the link years ago, but I once found a great blog post by a Glaswegian on the merits of this culinary delight. :grin:

#DEEPFRIEDBACONWRAPPEDBACON