Getting there

(Terence Gregory) #1

Well I’m finally in Ketosis. After 3 weeks of trying at an average of 18 net carbs a day, I couldn’t work out why I wasn’t in Ketosis . Why so long. So I decided to go back on the internet and check.
First of all too much protein, I’m a great one for keeping track so I started to measure my fat and protein as well as my carbs. After a few days I realized it wasn’t too much protein (my diet doesn’t vary that much).
So back to the Internet again . Too much alcohol (and I am a heavy drinker), could that b the problem and then it hit me whilst I drink rum and diet coke in the evening before bed I drink a couple of large brandies or Sambuca.
It was the Sambuca (being a liqueur its high in sugar) that was causing the problem. So last Friday I started again (after a couple of days of spoiling myself with things like fish & chips) . No Sambuca only neat spirits.

28 net carbs in 3 days. This morning for the first time my ketostix showed Ketones.
While I think of the wasted weeks finally getting there has given me the encouragement to carry on. I’ll keep to the 20 carbs a day for a few weeks and then see f I can increase my carbs slightly and keep in Ketosis.

(MelissaH) #2

@terryP When you calculate your carbs do you include the alcohol into that equation?

(Terence Gregory) #3

Before I started I used to drink beer in the afternoon and wine whist cooking. Not forgetting my coffee and brandy or Sambuca last thing at night.
I gave up the beer and the wine and now just drink pure spirits which although high in calories (which I keep a note of) they don’t contain any carbs.
My note book looks like this
Breakfast Carbs Calories Fat Protein
Drinks Carbs Calories (the carbs here come from Almond milk)
Dinner Carbs Calories Fat Protein Total Carbs Calories Fat Protein

I’ve probably gone into too much detail but I hope this helps.

(MelissaH) #4

I’ve never heard of a zero carb spirts or liquor… maybe someone else can help me out here?? If what your doing is working for you keep it up.

(Terence Gregory) #5

All pure spirits (brandy,vodka,whisky and gin etc) have no fat, protein or carbs. Just calories,that’s why they are called empty calories. Just check on the internet.

#6

Hey, if you can drink ANY alcohol and still lose weight/get healthy…just carry on!!

(Terence Gregory) #7

Hi, I’ve been drinking the same amount of alcohol for years. The only difference now is no beer or wine. The calorific value hasn’t changed.

When I go to see my heart specialist (every 3 months) I have a blood test which includes my Liver and Kidneys. So far (and I’m 71) my readings are completely normal. Mind you if that were to change it would be a different kettle of fish.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #8

You cannot enter ketosis while your body is busy processing the alcohol. It will kick you out, every time.
Drinking daily and this diet doesn’t really go hand in hand.

(Terence Gregory) #9

Hi, I didn’t reply earlier as I wanted to see if I stayed in Ketosis after drinking my normal amount of spirits. So far so good. The last 2 days I’ve tested and I am still in Ketosis. I don’t seem to have a problem, Mind you I will keep checking every morning and if anything changes I’ll let you know.

(Terence Gregory) #10

I have a question that you can probably answer. At the moment I am keeping my net carbs at 20 or less per day would it be better to go to 10 a day or would that make very little difference.

(John) #11

I used to be a fairly frequent drinker. Straight liquor, so no extra carbs outside of the alcohol. Maybe 5 days a week in the evening before bedtime.

After starting keto I read about how alcohol is the first fuel your body will burn, and while it is doing that, it won’t use up glucose nor stored fat, and if you are in the fed state your liver will store any food calories as fat until it deals with the alcohol. So that sounded bad, if I am trying to lose body fat.

Then just based on calories, I was drinking about 225 calories worth, about 5 days a week. If you do the calorie math, that alone would cause a 16 pound weight gain per year if not offset by cutting back on other sources of food, and it is completely empty of any other nutrition.

So after tapering off a bit I just decided to quit completely. The money I save from not buying liquor offsets some of the cost of buying more quality meats, so that is another benefit.

I still reserve the right for an occasional drink :wink:, but I am thinking more like once every few months rather than 5x a week.

(Terence Gregory) #12

I drink between 400 and 600 calories a day. I’m still in Ketosis but only at the first level on a ketostix. But I have lost 4 kilo since I started (mind you I was at 121 kilo before I started) and I’m definitely eating less. I have been trying to cut the drinks down but I find that that part of a lifestyle change is difficult…