Keto diet scaring me

(Mike) #1

Does your health get worse before it gets better?

So I am coming up on close to 2 months on keto and the results are mixed at best. I have lost about 10lbs but more importantly I don’t feel that great. When I started keto, I was alarmed to find out that I was pre-diabetic after having really good health indicators despite being overweight. I was never a carb or sugar heavy guy, but rather a classic over eater. Excessive protein.

So I am surprised when the weight wasnt falling off me. But something still seems off. I have constant keto breath but it doesn’t smell to others? Just a really metallic taste in my mouth that won’t go away.

Now the scary part. I went out last night to a Halloween party and drank what I would consider an average amount for me. 5 beers in 3 hours. Switched to a vodka drink as I was counting carbs…and then completely blacked out. My wife said I went from sober to totally obliterated in a matter of minutes. Woke up this morning with no memory of the evening whatsoever. And I feel fine. No hangover at all. Has anyone ever experienced something like this?

The obvious answer is to not drink, but I’m more concerned about what happened. I ate plenty yesterday but almost no carbs (saving them because I knew I’d be drinking that night) but I’m still in shock.

Not looking for sympathy here or excuses, but rather genuinely concerned. Thanks

#2

Ketosis makes you much much more sensitive to alcohol (so the good news is it will cost you a lot less to get the buzz you might be looking for!).

I can’t tell too much about your concerns by the rest of the post. Feeling “off” might just be some carb flu, but it should be resolving by now. Are you getting enough electrolytes? You can look up Keto-Ade on here and try drinking that for a few days to see if you feeling better. Generally it’s used for fasting, but it will likely help you determine if you just need to be addressing electrolytes in your daily eating.

(Hyperbole- best thing in the universe!) #3

Or even just salt. Salt mangages the balance of other electrolytes, so sodium is important to pay attention to.

Also, many people say their alcohol tolerance returns after a year or so (not sure, a good while) on keto. Lightweightsmanship is an extended temporary financial benefit.

My goal has never been to get drunk. I like the taste of alcohol be it wine, beer or liquor. So the inability to hold my liquor is not so great. But I’m tired of being fat and tired. So worth the sacrifice.

(Mike) #4

No I understand the reduced tolerance argument but my BAC based on time/ weight shows that I could be legally driving! 5 drinks in 3 hours for a 240lb man registers a .027. I have had similar amounts over the course of the last 2 months and was barely intoxicated.

Everyone from last night thinks that I was roofied but don’t think it’s possible, not to mention I feel fine this morning.

But today the metallic taste seems magnified. Excessive acetone?

(less is more, more or less) #5

Some people experience various discomforts the first few weeks. I didn’t, but our mileages will vary.

I hope you don’t mind a spirited challenge, but 5 beers? That would be my total carb consumption for one day, drinking a (gag) “lite” beer.

What do you consider to be the essential, non-flexible aspect to keeping to a keto diet?

(Mike) #6

Yes, it was my carb consumption for the day. I have been good about keeping my carbs under 17g/day and knew that I was def going over. I understand that last night was going off the rails but tried to mitigate the damage as best I could. But man it still doesn’t explain how I got that wasted.

(less is more, more or less) #7

As one might expect, alcohol brings a whole lot of its own baggage, so its hard to say where to begin. I don’t struggle with alcoholism, though, in fairness, those who don’t admit this have that problem. That’s for another thread.

Personally, I get drunk “faster and harder” on LCHF. I limit my intake as a result. Which is good, right? Needing less of anything is a good thing. Sorry, I cannnot explain the science behind this, but this website may be helpful.

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto/alcohol

#8

“Woke up this morning with no memory of the evening whatsoever.”
Mike, I hope you remember borrowing 100$ from me.:wink:

(Jenny) #9

if you search for keto and alcohol you will find a billion results. nothing to be “scared” about lol!

#10

For most of my 20s I didn’t bother drinking because it took so much alcohol to get buzzed that it didn’t feel worth the effort.

Now, after 3 months of keto, one shot is enough to get me tipsy and three puts me in the “that’s it for tonight” zone.

Take comfort in the fact that you’re now a cheap date. :grin: