Keto Battle

(Deb) #1

So I have been doing Keto since January 2019 and have lost 22lbs but now I’m like have a hard time all of a sudden with wanting to eat bad again?! It’s almost been three months since I have been on Keto and here lately it just seems really difficult to stay disciplined!! Why all of a sudden am I having such a tough time with it??

(Charlotte) #2

It’s going to be a struggle for a while. I’ve been at this since December and I still struggle, but its getting easier. It will keep getting easier over time. With all things, patience is needed.

(Deb) #3

Well it’s just weird because it literally hasn’t been bothering me at all but for some reason it has just started bothering me… and like BAD!!! I want to eat and drink bad!!! I’m lucky my family keeps pushing me, but at the same time it’s kind of annoying that they literally eat whatever they want while I eat Keto!

(Annie) #4

That’s happening to me too!! I’ve been on Keto since Dec18 and happy but now I’m starting to crave the wrong foods :grimacing:

(Deb) #5

It totally sucks doesn’t it!!! It’s so frustrating!!!

(Justin ) #6

What are you craving Deb?

(Deb) #7

Really anything not Keto lol!!!

(Justin ) #8

Hmmm thats quite difficult then. Usually, I have read that cravings come when you are not getting enough fats for satiety. I love pizza and miss it but I am going to make the cauliflower crust one by Dr. Berg. Don’t know if you have seen some of his and mostly his wifes recipes on YouTube but they are great and especially really good for desserts and little sweet bites to eat with your meal.

(Deb) #9

I may not be getting enough fat… I try really hard and I have done really well thus far… but there are days that I’m just tired of eating the same food all the time and I make like different things but seems like it is all the same and I just want something other than meat cheese and squash lol

(Justin ) #10

Yeah I hear ya. I havent done squash because so many other things to make. That seems like last resort for me. I miss tacos/wraps/burritos but there are some low carb ones that I found and reasonably priced. Mama Lupes Low carb tortillas. Chicken, avocado, lettuce sour cream and some hot sauce. So good. Well good luck and keep at it. You are very lucky to have support from your family. I am a one man crew and everyone I talk to tell me I am crazy for Keto and intermittant fasting. I will show them. I may have a glass of wine tonight though.

(Carl Keller) #11

After I lost about 25 pounds in three months, I noticed my hunger went from almost non-existant to politely tugging on my sleeve for most of the day. What helped me was feasting for a few days a week. I wasn’t necessarily stuffing myself but I was definitely eating more protein and fat than I was for past few months. Pressing my hunger reset button seemed to help me a lot.

(Alec) #12

Deb
It sounds to me like you may not be eating broadly enough. Have you looked through the “what did you keto today” threads to see what a massive variety of foods we can eat?

Also, what specifically are you craving? Almost every carb food has a keto equivalent and all you need to do is google keto xxxx to get loads of recipes. You want pizza? We can eat that! You want bread? We can eat that! You want pasta? I think I even saw keto pasta the other day.

I haven’t seen a keto potato yet, but maybe someone will reply with one!!

(Charlotte) #13

I do that. Its super helpful. I find that substitutes really help quench my cravings. Some people discourage substituting, but when your are really struggling with a craving it can really help.

(Bunny) #14

I see that quite often on the forum…

That may be your leptin signaling telling you to eat more food? (that does not mean eat junk food)

In other words Leptin is saying “…you no what? if you starve me, we are not going to burn any more body fat?..”

Listen to your body?

image
5A26A97F-FD4D-4FFD-8FAB-DB5887E6E37C.jpeg930×856 115 KB

You can slowly take your food intake back down (or up) and let your metabolism adjust, it just takes time to not feel ill (e.g. hypoglycemic) or hungry when you cut down the caloric intake[3]?

References:

[1] “…Leptin is a hormone that is produced by your body’s fat cells (3). It is often referred to as the “satiety hormone” or the “starvation hormone.” Leptin’s primary target is in the brain — particularly an area called the hypothalamus. Leptin is supposed to tell your brain that — when you have enough fat stored — you don’t need to eat and can burn calories at a normal rate (4). It also has many other functions related to fertility, immunity and brain function (5). However, leptin’s main role is long-term regulation of energy, including the number of calories you eat and expend, as well as how much fat you store in your body (6). The leptin system evolved to keep humans from starving or overeating, both of which would have made you less likely to survive in the natural environment. …” …More

[2] “…Ghrelin is produced by the salivary glands. The hormone was identified in saliva and glands by immunoblotting and by FPLC fractionation of saliva. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated ghrelin distribution in the salivary glands. …” …More

[3] “…Circulating ghrelin rapidly responds to food intake, being decreased by carbohydrates and fat1 and increased by proteins1 or amino acids.2 Leptin also affects energy expenditure. While ghrelin stimulates food intake,3 leptin induces satiety.4 It has therefore been postulated as an antagonist of ghrelin.4 …” …More

#15

Remember, this change in lifestyle is also a head-game…I equate keto to quitting smoking. I quit smoking three years ago and it was hard to kick the habit, I’m still “scared” of cigarettes. Youre changing habits, youre changing lifestyles, youre changing your life and this takes time to set in. I used to stand in front of the mirror, convincing myself that I made the choice to go keto to make my life better and that I shouldn’t be weak, I have to be a strong adult and have some self-control. Are those two seconds that that food will be in your mouth worth the “moral hangover” afterwards? I never want to go back to the way I was before and I use that memory to “just say NO!!!” It gets easier, just give your head time to catch up and be strong, youve made the decision to better your life, you have to fight for you. :slight_smile:

Change takes time :slight_smile:

(Elizabeth ) #16

Do you use Instagram? There’s some great new meal ideas there as well. All the pretty food pix keep me going!

(Deb) #17

To clarify I’m not “craving” things, I just want to eat something other than the same old same old… I have made several different Keto recipes but it’s just not the same as being able to go to the pantry and grab a zebra cake which I freaking love!! Or call dominos and have them deliver a delicious pizza!! Or have a margarita!!! I don’t eat bad even when I want to… it’s just the thoughts are creeping up on me saying just eat regular food… that’s my battle right now… I don’t REALLY want to mess up what I have going on the Keto… I have a goal… it’s just that sometimes those thoughts are there…

#18

And we’ve all felt the same, you’re not alone in this.

I remember cursing keto early on - i took the train to another city for some things I needed to take care of. I was hungry in the afternoon and I had no idea what to do-bakeries everywhere, sandwiches, pizza, etc…there is harldy any keto convenient options. I ended up going to a store, buying half a chicken, a small packet of butter, a packet of sliced cheese and ate that while waiting for the train.

Now I laugh, keto feels natural, I’m more confident ordering food in restaurants and standing behind my choices. Just be strong, mourn your previous life and look forward to the new life ahead. It’s just a moment of weakness, it’ll pass :slight_smile: You’ve made a tough decision, now just stick with it, you’re an adult! (A little pep talk from my mirror to yours;))

Edit: i’m histamine intolerant, my diet is very simple+limited and I do keto just fine. Sometimes i’m jealous of what others can eat, but win some, lose some.

(Laura) #19

Every 10 or 20 pounds that I lose prompts my body to make me really hungry. I think it as @atomicspacebunny says. M instinct is to deny myself the food, but I found if I eat a little more, the hunger abates and the scale starts moving down again.

If it is boredom, look for low carb substitutes. Every once in a while, I will get some low carb crackers made from cheese on Amazon. It seems to scratch the itch and then I am okay. I mostly miss the crunchy stuff.

It will eventually pass. It took me a year to be able to ignore hot rolls on the table in restaurants. I wanted one so badly, but was able to hold out. Now, I don’t care and am not tempted.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #20

I agree, eat more and sub keto friendly foods for your cravings, even if temporarily. Also, I got super lazy about my sodium intake and found myself tired and craving carbs big time. I reincorporated chick broth mid morning and whenever I had a craving and that totally shut it down. So now, if I even have that drive by carb thought, I have a big mug of warm, salty chicken bullion and I’m in the clear for days!