Loosing weight but blood ketone levels still low

(Paddy Cahill) #1

I’ve been on the keto diet for roughly 3 months, I began the diet more out of curiosity than anything. I didn’t necessarily need to loose weight, but did so quite rapidly once I started, I have also been working out a lot and am now at my lowest body fat ever, better shape than ever and feeling great most of the time… I am quite strict on the diet for 6 days a week and one day at the weekend not so strict, I don’t go mad but I’ll have some bread or chocolate or whatever but nothing ridiculous… here’s the issue, I recently started measuring my blood keto levels and I am really struggling to get into ketosis, my level always seems to be around 0.3 - 0.4, a few times I’ve hit 0.5-0.6 but not often, although still loosing weight and have lots of energy… is this normal? I am also doing a 14 - 16 hour intermittent fast every day… I was expecting my keto e levels to be much higher at this stage!? Does anyone have any advise? Like I said it’s not a major issue because I’m seeing results in most other aspects but it would still be nice to see higher ketone levels for my efforts! Is the one cheat day at the weekend setting me back? Thanks

(Allie) #2

When you’re adapted you can eat non keto foods and quickly get back into ketosis with no real harm done, but if you keep doing it before you’re adapted, you’ll never get adapted and never get the benefits. Keep in mind that many people need a good 5 or 6 days to get into ketosis properly. You’re likely just getting where you need to be when you put yourself back out of it.

(Paddy Cahill) #3

Yea kinda guessed as much! Thanks for the advise… how long do you reckon you would want to be straight keto before you are fully adapted? And what blood keto levels are for optimum ketosis? Thanks again

(Ken) #4

You’re already adapted. What you are doing is fine. Limited and periodic Carb intake is very possibly what is enabling your fat loss. If you want to continue losing fat, keep up what you’re doing. Your ketone levels are low because you’re burning them, and are fairly irrelevant as long as you’re in lipolysis.