Is there a need to have a continuous period of 4-8 weeks of keto at the start of keto lifestyle?

#1

Maybe I try to phrase it in this way.

Let’s say A wanna start keto lifestyle, and his reason is to lose weight.

But, the problem is that after 1-2 weeks, he failed to keep his diet low-carb. As in, he accidentally ate something that is too sweet to be keto-compliant.

Does it mean that he needs to restart the count of the 4-6 weeks again to make sure that he can get keto-adapted and fat-adapted? (As in, one failure can cost a lot in the starting phase)

Or actually no need to restart the count, just need to eat as keto as possible for 2-3 weeks more? (As in, one failure doesn’t matter much.)

I mean only in the starting phase, because I knew there is something called cheat day, but I heard that it is also not too recommended to have a cheat day. If you want, it is better to have one only after you are kinda adapted?

(Karen) #2

N=1. Some people fat adapt quickly. Just move forward with <20 g carbs, mod. Protein, high fat.

K

#3

But normally how long does one take to be adapted? Averagely speaking, thanks.

(Ken) #4

No, no need to restart, at most only a temporary halt in lipolysis occurred. There was no danger of any dergee of lipogenic readaptation, which would have required going back to a chronic, Carb based pattern. Just continue on, if you had an uptick in weight it was merely water, glycogen, or a combination of both. It soon goes away.

(Sarah ) #5

One occasional “cheat” (a cheat meal, not a cheat weekend) doesn’t matter that much, as far as getting fat adapted and able to feel the magic of keto. But two matters more, and three matters even more… the problem with “cheats” is that they are a slippery slope, and are a flat out path to destruction for some people. Others seem to handle them just fine. It also seems like people are ,ich more vulnerable to letting one cheat turn into a catastrophe, and never getting into their keto groove, in the first few weeks… this is the time that “will power” really does matter.

For someone who is doing keto for medical reasons, and or already has more serious metabolic problems like uncontrolled diabetes, a cheat matter more than it would for someone who is trying to tune up their health.

(Allie) #6

There’s no set time for adaptation, some take weeks, some take months. The more you stay on track though, the more easily it will happen.

(Sarah ) #7

Most people report feeling steady energy levels around 4 weeks, in oher words they are fat adated enought that they dont feel any issues with theither energy level, because their body is generally huming right along. Biophysiology studies of the actual cellular components of fat adaptation, show that it probably takes at least 4-6 months to get things more fine tuned, but changes are still happening at a year out… your body is very dynamic, it is always changing.

#8

But if this cheat meal happened only as soon as after I started? Does it matter!

(Allie) #9

Potentially yes, but don’t stress it, just get back on track.

#10

… Then of course I am stressed already. I mean, I am so careful and paranoid in the food that I prepared to make myself start on the keto, but it is destroyed within few weeks by a mistake that I proudly thought that it was a good idea that time.(Starbucks, and I order what people suggested: espresso frappe, no sugar, heavy cream… In the end, I found that maybe I should act as if I was diabetes and told the staff that it is a must to have no sugar…

(Liz ) #11

Nothing is destroyed! Keto is a months long process, it’s not counted in days. Keep Calm and Keto On (KCKO)

(Allie) #12

Not destroyed, just set back. Use it as a motivation to keep you on track going forward.

#13

Month long, not day? It sounds to me exactly that you cannot break the combo…

Never mind.

Maybe let me ask this question to get the idea.

Let’s say there are two people, A and B.

A decided to start the keto on 2nd March, and ever since then, until the end of March (31 March), he doesn’t break.
B started the keto on 1st March, but he accidentally broke it at the middle of March, like 15 March, but he gets back immediately, and since then, until 31 March, he doesn’t break as well.

Both of them are in keto lifestyle for equally long period(equal number of day), but B failed halfway for once… Comparing A and B, who will have better effect by the time of 31 March?

I know it won’t have any significant effect in the long run if they keep at it. But how about short term?

(Sarah ) #14

Wha short stuff said. Just get back on track. If you have a rough start or a smooth start, realy doesnt matter. What matters is if you are solidly functioning with a lowcarb, moderate protein, high fat diet, in a month. And then in 3 months. And the only way to get there is to keep doing it till your body and brain start doing it without thinking.

(Allie) #15

@cloudy you can’t compare like that as everyone reacts differently

#16

Erm… Well, I just want to get some ideas, so I used that kind of example to ask.

(Allie) #17

Everyone reacts differently, you really can’t compare people in the way you’re trying to.

Honestly your best option is to put it behind you and carry on. It can’t be undone so stop stressing yourself out and get back on track.

(Liz ) #18

What I’m trying to tell you is that short term doesn’t matter because to get the effects of keto you should do it for months. So in that context a slip up of one day is not going to matter. Also I know it was hypothetical but you cannot compare two people’s keto experience because we all have different reactions. Your keto experience will be unique.

If your impatience is because you are excited about keto and eager to be fat adapted I sort of understand your concern. But if it’s because you are doing Keto for short term benefit and hope to go back to eating non keto as soon as possible, none of this is going to work for you. If you like Keto and get benefits from it and are in it for life, you can’t let an off day here and there worry you or the whole experience will drive you crazy…

#19

I admit that I kinda want to get the short term benefit to jump to non-keto: at least that comes to my mind when I am in this starting phase as the suitable food is not easy to find, yet there are lots of food that are not suitable out there attracting me(like you know, snack and sweet), but that is just half the story.

(Liz ) #20

I suspect this is why none of our answers are going to satisfy you.