If keto people are fasting so frequently, how is that any different from a starvation diet?

fasting
(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #21

First, there is no reason to intentionally limit calories.

Second, if the artificial sweeteners work for you, keep them. :slightly_smiling_face:

Third, it looks like you could use a lot more fat. Eating more fat should help you stay full longer.

(bulkbiker) #22

Is that it? no wonder you’re hungry!
Eat something…

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #23

I cook veggies in butter. :slightly_smiling_face:
Another way to up fat is to eat ½ an avacado with 2tbsp or so with a good Ranch or Caesar dressing.
You could also add in bacon or cheese.

Good luck :slightly_smiling_face:

(Patricia) #24

Normally I am diligent about tracking everything. I have been less so over the past couple of weeks. Guess I have been a little burned out.

What I was eating was something like this: breakfast - 2 links of sausage, coffee with 2 TBSP heavy cream or half n half and Splenda, a fish oil capsule and a triple omega fat capsule

Lunch would be some kind of sausage, bologna, etc. or egg salad I made myself on low carb bread, maybe some pork rinds or olives, today it was 2 sticks of celery, and some kind of diet drink - soda or PowerAde Zero. If I felt I had enough carbs left I might have some nuts.

Dinner varies more of course - last night was kind of a disaster with the meat I fixed, but usually it’s some kind of meat, maybe a veggie, maybe not (I’m not a huge veggie fan). I have had Two Good yogurts every once in a while (2 g carbs).

If I snack, it would be cheese or nuts or pork rinds

(Patricia) #25

Ha, ha, well, I probably eat enough at times, not so much other times.

(PSackmann) #26

Yes, a whoosh is a sudden weight loss, especially after a pause. And I will agree, don’t purposely restrict calories, that will happen on its own when your body is happy with your intake

(Susan) #27

@Tulip

You can watch this and see if it helps too =)

(Mary Beth Barr) #29

When I eat fatty meat like ribs or ribeye, I’m full for a long time.bI don’t fast long–8-12 hour periods. But the fattier the meat, the more weight I lose…it helps me beak plateaus.
Fasting is an option…not a requirement. But fatty meat may help u go longer between meals.
It sounds like you’re doing great, though with the weight youve lost! Congratulations

(Trish) #30

I’m seeing two possible issues for you, Tulip. First, based on what you’ve listed here, I don’t think you’re really eating enough. No wonder you’re hungry. Secondly, I wonder if those artificial sweeteners, (I use them in my coffee too) could be a problem for you. Even though there are not major carbs in them, the sweetness taste can cause an insulin reaction and as the insulin drives your existing blood sugar down you become hungry again rather quickly similar to the high blood sugar/low blood sugar roller coaster that non-ketoers have. I would try eating more…like a lot more and if possible maybe eliminate the soda saving the sweetener for your morning elixir of life (coffee).
Here’s a quick breakfast sandwich meal that I really like and I find quite filling. I make 90-second keto bread (recipe to follow), a fried egg, sausage patty, slice of cheese, mayo. It’s good, filling, and 5 minutes to make.
melt a tbsp of butter in a small 3-4 inch ramikinish bowl
add one egg and beat well
add one tbsp of coconut flour, a bit of salt a pinch or two of baking powder
mix well until smooth and microwave for 90 seconds. let cool. Makes an english muffin sized bread. Cut in half, add mayo or butter, add fried egg, add sausage patty and cheese. Easy peasey, lemon squeezy.
I think this would be a much more satisfying breakfast than a slim jim. :wink:

(Ellenor Bjornsdottir) #31

What exactly are you eating? Some people need to eat more protein to lose weight and gain healthier weight, some people need to eat less protein to lose weight and gain healthier weight. Some people need to switch web browsers because their Chromium instance keeps swapping characters they type. Some people find that fibre gives them all kinds of problems. Some people find that if they eat anything but meat they have a persistent allergic reaction.

(KetoQ) #32

Anorexia and extended fasting are much different.

Most people on this board who fast – feast once they come off the fast. I did a lot of two day fasts last year, and the day I came off the fast, often ate 2500-3000 calories the next two consecutive days, sometimes not so much. But I went back to regular low carb eating.

I’ve never had an eating disorder like anorexia or bulemia, but my sense is that someone who does, will likely practice additional calorie restriction once they break the fast, either through purging themselves or going right back on a fast.

Fast and then feast is what most responsible fasters do – which is much different than someone who has an eating disorder. Although I can see how some people might see fasting as a starvation diet, there are distinctions.

(Bob M) #33

I eat as much as I desire after coming off a fast.

Fasting really does something to me. After eating, sometimes I don’t want to eat dinner. I do, because my family is, but sometimes I could do without. I can eat “blunch” (don’t eat bfast), and not be hungry at all for 7+ hours

(Parker the crazy crone lady) #34

Even if it causes a bit of weight gain for a short while, I’d eat more at every meal. I’m used to taking in fewer calories (in the past) to lose weight, buy that doesn’t tend to lead to keeping the weight off long-term.
The meals you listed are not enough fat, possibly a bit too many carbs (leading to increased insulin, causing hunger) and likely not enough calories.
I know it’s hard to take in - eat more to lose weight! Please, please, read the links, watch the videos, and it will start to make sense.
As another older woman, post menopausal, my body wants to hang onto it’s fat stores. But, they are coming off slowly. Eating enough fatty food to keep me from being hungry soon after eating works for me. I eat a lot more than you. I’m still losing weight. I’m not hungry for hours, or even the rest of the day. I would feel starving on what you listed.
Glad you aren’t going to give up. You’re amount friends here.

(Monique Lee) #35

Hi Tulip,

My suggestion would be to have two substantial meals, rather than your 3 small meals. Your small meals look more like snacks to me. Add more fat! It will keep you full for longer.

What works well for me is 1200 calories per day, across two meals. My first meal is fat heavy to keep me satiated & works well to break my fast. My second meal I eat my carbs through vegetables.

Brunch 11am: 2 eggs, 2 rashers bacon, spinach, avocado & butter.
Dinner 6pm: A protein (steak or chicken), cauliflower, brocolli, asparagus & a source of fat eg: cheese, butter.

I see you said you feel hungry when you try to fast. At first, I felt the same way too. After two weeks of sticking to it, my hunger pains subsided & my ketone levels were higher than ever. Higher ketones = lower hunger, is my understanding.

Some days I can 20 hours without even realising now. And I no longer think or worry about food.

Hope this helps.

(Patricia) #36

Thanks. I am rather proud of myself, even if I do still have some to lose. Part of my problem now is clothing. Not only am I between sizes and don’t want to buy anything new just yet, but I have a combination of some sagging skin and still some midsection fat. I’m not looking so good.

(Patricia) #37

Thanks. I guess after all these decades of dieting, I’m still afraid to eat more. I do appreciate all the helpful advice I’ve gotten on this board.

(Patricia) #38

Ouch. It’s hard to give up everything we love, though, right?

(Patricia) #39

Thank you. I’m going to consider all the suggestions everyone has been so kind to offer, and try several. People have been really helpful. I assume you don’t eat then at all after 6 pm? I would have to adjust this schedule on Sunday, or people in my church would have to watch me eat a big ol’ meal during the sermon. :wink:

(Susan) #40

I know you hate the idea of Fasting, but autophagy helps remove all the baggy skin, etc without surgery. There are a lot of people on the forum that have lost tons of weight and can verify this happened to them.

This short video with Dr. Jason Fung discusses it. If you start eating more, you won’t feel hungry, and later you might be interested in this, I know not now, but you might find when you do eat more, it might work out for you =).

(Patricia) #41

Actually, I think I was anorexic in high school, but that was so long ago that it wasn’t a “thing” then. I have a hard time trusting my body and knowing when I am truly hungry or when I am full. Even at my age, I’m a work in progress.