Need some guidance & reassurance

(Ernest) #21

I’d suggest you give yourself a break from the self beating. There is much going on internally that a scale can’t tell. The journey is full of ups and downs. You just have to keep at it.
You are doing more harm with stressing over scale numbers (cortisol).
Keep calm, results will come.

#22

ditto

(Joe T. ) #23

Update:

Well, I’m mid-way into week 3 and I actually gained a pound from last week!! I’m now 206, after actually breaking 205 and getting down to 203, I’m back up to 206. So I’ve only lost a total of 6lbs in over 3 weeks now.

I’m not completely discouraged because I feel great, and look better, and I’ve almost lost a whole pant size… so I’m really confused. I have not cheated once, and I’m staying strictly under 20g carbs. I seriously need to throw out my scale because it makes no sense…

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #24

My scale likes to mess with my head. I also discovered that my weight depends on how I stand on the scale. It’s really fun to weigh myself four or five times in a row and get four or five different weights, lol!

That discovery actually did a lot to get me over worrying about the scale.

(Keto Travels) #25

Feeling great and losing a pant size is a fantastic result I would say!

(Allan L) #26

On the scales I lost nothing my first 6 weeks, probably put on 2-3kg’s whilst my body repaired itself. I lost 5cm around my belly though. I was prepared for this and kept the bigger picture in mind. stop making weight loss your primary focus is the key to success on the keto diet. Its long term weight loss not short term.

The keto diet is also a FAT loss diet, not a weight loss diet. You could be building back up lean body mass after years of carb abuse.

Focus on the long term, not short term. This helped me in the beginning.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #27

This is an important point. What does the number on the scale matter, if we’re getting leaner? Surely putting on lean muscle is a good thing in its own right, regardless of the effect on what the scale says?

(Doodler for @KetoKailey) #28

Thank you for this reminder, @PaulL! It’s the TALE OF THE TAPE!

I’m already kicking myself for not taking baseline measurements!

@Siciliano I am so happy to read that you are not completely discouraged anymore, and you feel better, plus almost down a pant size!

(Joe T. ) #29

How am I putting on lean muscle if I’m not working out? I think I missing something. :slightly_frowning_face:

It’s really odd, some days I feel great, and other days I feel bloated and just as fat as when I started. I know I haven’t been eating the obvious carbs (bread, etc), and I’ve been very strict to the 20g a day, so I’m very confused about the day to day variance in how I feel. Perhaps I need to start a food diary to see what’s going on!

I know one thing for sure that surprises me… I’m not craving the pizza, sweets, pasta, etc that I used to love! So that’s a start. Also today I’ve started on the elliptical, and I plan to do it every morning for 30 min.

What’s funny is, even though I’m not craving all those things anymore, my mind still gets frustrated that despite giving up all those things I still haven’t lost a lot in almost a month now. It’s strictly a mental thing that I have to get over I guess.

(Doodler for @KetoKailey) #30

Not craving is a HUGE thing. Congratulations! :smiley:

Please stop beating yourself up. If you feel frustrated, say to yourself I DIDN’T BECOME OVERWEIGHT OVERNIGHT!

From your earlier post, you mentioned 6 lbs in 3 weeks. In 6 months, even if you only lose 6 lbs/month, in 6 months you’re down 36 lbs! :+1:

You can do this!

(Joe T. ) #31

Thank you Kailey, I appreciate the support! You’re 100% correct - it took me 2 years to put on the roughly 35lbs… I was 175ish and climbed to 210/211. I guess that’s not terrible for 2 years of not much exercise and eating like sh*t lol.

So yes, as you also said, if I continue at 6lb/month, then I will be right about where I want to be in 6 months - back at 175 - as opposed to the 2 years it took me to gain it. Thank you for the insight, it motivates me. Not only that, next month I hope to greatly increase the weight loss since I’ll be doing the elliptical every morning (started today). :grinning:

How is your journey going so far?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #32

Joe, the other thing to remember is that weight loss goes in fits and starts. It happens with me that I’ll feel as though I’m not losing anything—or that my belly is expanding, not shrinking—and suddenly the scale will register 20 lbs. less than it did the day before. And it will be consistently in that new range from then on (my scale is not all that accurate, and you can manipulate the readings it gives, but it is consistent within ten pounds or so).

Putting on lean muscle without working out is more common among women, especially those who have lived for a long time on a caloric deficit, but it can happen with men, too, as our bodies become accustomed to the abundance of energy that a well-formulated ketogenic diet provides. Just think of it as another aspect of healing provided by a healthy way of eating. And despite it all, do your best to keep calm and keto on (KCKO).

#33

Body composition will improve when you’re healthier, even without working out.

(Joe T. ) #34

Thanks Paul for the support, it’s very reassuring to know others have gone through the same nonsense I’m going through in regards to weight and overall feeling. I feel like a yo-yo right now…every other day feeling great, then bloated, then great again.

I’m remaining positive, and I’m sure soon I will ONLY feel great as I lose more weight and inches and get closer to my goal. I’m not a quitter and I plan to stick with this for the long haul until I get there!

(Doodler for @KetoKailey) #35

Man, you know when people seriously cheer you on, they throw in a little math, LOL :joy:. See, you made me do math on a Friday!

Day 19 on WOE, and Day 15 ketosis. I’m excited to weigh-in tomorrow. Thank you for asking!

(Joe T. ) #36

So I’m still 205 lol. I’m perfectly ok with losing 6lbs per month, but I continue to be worried because technically I didn’t lose 6lbs in a month… I lost it in 4 days, then didn’t lose anything the rest of the month!! lol That 6lbs could have just been water weight, so I’m struggling to stay positive on this diet when it doesn’t seem to be doing that much.

I’m gonna stick with it, and I suppose the second month will be the true test. If I continue to be stuck at 205 even for just a few more weeks, I’ll do a very long fast or something. I know the scale isn’t everything, but I know that it used to read 175 two years ago, and it’s the same exact scale, so that’s what I’m making my goal… I played tennis every day in the summer and did 50 laps after tennis back then, so if anything I had more lean muscle back then and even less fat than I thought, so I have a lot of work to do.

I see some ppl are really successful on this diet, but maybe for me it’ll have to be old fashioned hard exercise. I guess we’ll see in the next month!

(VLC.MD) #37

You should Keto for 12-18 months.
Time for you to breathe deep and get ready for the year.

KCKO

Exercise is great for you. It’s terrible for weight loss.

You already know how to exercise.
You need to refine your Keto skills.

Focus.

Learn about fasting if you want fast results.
Pun intended

#38

Hi Joe,

Ever listen to Dave Asprey’s (sp?) podcast bullet-proof radio? He frequently mentions how toxic mold is an ancient enemy of our mitochondria, and claims living in a moldy house contributed to his obesity/disease/“man-boobs”. Since stalling myself, I have wondered if I might be affected by mold. Any chance you could be breathing in any mold at home or work? Just a thought. I want to get my house tested, but not exactly sure how to go about doing that.

(VLC.MD) #39

Sounds interesting and more than a bit whacky at the same time.

Last time I heard the word mitochondria as much as I have on the KF forums … was high school biology ! Mitochondria… Golgi apparatus … nucleus. :+1:

(Ken) #40

You’re fine. Your initial, large weight loss was due to glycogen depletion, the necessary first step towards lipolysis. Your other later fluctuations were due to water, not fat. It is impossible to flux fat so rapidly, a pound of fat contains 3500 calories. Since during lipolysis your body carries much less water, salt intake can cause swings. Don’t worry about it, just be aware it may happen.

A realistic fat loss while in lipolysis is between one and two pounds per week. Fat is six pounds per gallon by volume, or 30 lbs. for a five gallon bucket. It is not a “Crash Diet” but a complete recalibration of hormonal secretion patterns and metabolic states.

VLC.MD, don’t forget about the Kreb’s Cycle, and it’s all important reaction to dehydration…