Is too much fat harmful if not in ketosis yet?

(Christopher Boerstler) #1

I’ve started on my ketogenic way of life just recently. I’ve got breakfast and lunch nailed down, but dinner is sometimes my struggle. I don’t really crave carbs and I am being very careful to keep my carb intake below 50grams per day…the goal i s 20grams per day. My concern is this: If I am eating a high fat diet, but still not entering into ketosis, is the high fat harmful to me?

(Damon Chance) #2

Its not ketosis that makes the fat ok, its the lower carbs. Eat more fat, its good for you.

(VLC.MD) #3

No.

Don’t fear fat. Except if it is on your body.

Let’s say it is harmful ? (which it isn’t)(and it definitely isnt provable)
On the Harm Meter … (up to 20)

Smoking 20
Obesity 15
Lifelong Excessive carbs 8
Alcohol 2-18 (depends on the dose).
Texting while driving 3
Fighting with your mother-in-law 2
A bit of fat before fat adaptation 1

and 1 is temporary.

If you want to Keto to lose weight … embrace the fat and get your carbs as low as you can.

(Jacob Wagner) #4

Speaking in general, no. In the short term it may cause a weight increase, depending on your insulin levels.

Ultimately anything is harmful if you get too much, but I have never heard of anyone who could eat enough fat to become dangerous.

But, that said, it should only take 2-3 days max to get into ketosis. Keep in mind that there is a difference between ketosis and keto adaption (aka. fat adaption). Adaption can take several weeks.

–Jacob

(VLC.MD) #5

even if it took him longer, it’s not like it’s risky :slight_smile:

(Doug) #6

Only one I ever heard of was Jack Sprat. :grin:

(Christopher Boerstler) #7

Thank you everyone for the awesome feedback! I’m trying to go with a 70% fat/20% protein/10% carb type of daily intake. Any thoughts on this?

(Damon Chance) #8

Those seem reasonable, I try to keep my carbs lower than that. It normally comes in around 5-10% total, net is usually lower. My fat is usually around 75-80 depending on my protein that day.

(Randy) #9

A hearty chortle from me on that one. :laughing:

(Mike W.) #10

The only time high fat is a concern is when it is combined with high carb.

#11

I would say that 10% carbs is over-the-counter keto. 5% is prescription strength. So if you’re spending the time, may as well go all out and get the best results, haha.

#12

Over double is a pretty wide range, if your not getting the results you want make sure that’s more near 20, 20 is always the goto because that’s usually the magic number for most people. Some can enter and stay in ketosis at that level but most can’t. In any case 50 is still low by any standard so even if you don’t hit ketosis at that level spread throughout the day I doubt the fat would he an issue.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #13

Fat is highly satiating, which is why we tell you to eat fat to satiety. Your body operates in two modes: when your insulin level is high, it stores fat; when insulin is low, it burns it. Your insulin level is largely determined by the amount of carbohydrate you eat, so the key to burning fat is to eat as little carbohydrate as you can manage.

But if your body isn’t getting enough energy, it will start shutting down functions rather than burning fat automatically, so you need to replace the calories you’re no longer getting from carbohydrate. Increasing protein is not wise; too much protein can raise your insulin level, and can even make you sick. So what that leaves is fat. Fat has very little effect on your insulin level, so if you eat enough fat to satisfy your hunger, you will be giving your body enough energy to stop needing to hoard fat and start burning it. It will burn both the fat you eat and the fat stored in your fat cells.

It is almost impossible to eat too much fat, since fat is extremely satisfying. If you eat fat until you are no longer hungry, you will notice that when you’ve had enough, you will suddenly stop being interested in food for a while, and you won’t be hungry for quite some time. If you listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs and when it has had enough for a while.

(Christopher Boerstler) #14

Paul, thank you so much for your insight…really good stuff there. I am type 2 diabetic and since keeping the carbs out of my diet and eating lots of healthy fats, my blood glucose levels have been then best in years. Last night my glucose was 92 before bed! I haven’t seen double digit readings in years!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #15

Wow, that’s impressive! Congratulations on a great non-scale victory, and keep on ketoing on! Here’s a virtual slice of bacon: :bacon: