Need to eat?

(Phil Gilbert) #1

Newbie, only 3 weeks. I eat a good breakfast, because I have to. However, I find that I don’t get hungry. As I read, that seems to be because my body is fueling itself from fat stores and therefore isn’t screaming for more food. So my question is, if I’m doing fine living off of stored fat, do I still need to eat regularly?

(Sjur Gjøstein Karevoll) #2

When you’re hungry you should eat, when you’re not hungry you shouldn’t. It’s not rocket surgery :slight_smile:

(Athena) #3

Why do you have to eat breakfast?

I eat only when I’m hungry. These days, for me, that means one meal a day, usually dinner. I’m not at all hungry at the beginning of my day.

(Phil Gilbert) #4

I’m aware that I tend to over analyze everything. Many on here are repeatedly talking about the need to get in enough fats. Concerned that not eating fats regularly will keep my blood ketone levels from getting high enough.

(Phil Gilbert) #5

Breakfast has been 4 eggs scrambled 3 tablespoons of butter. With two tablespoons of mayonnaise.

(Sjur Gjøstein Karevoll) #6

You don’t need to eat fat too get into ketosis. You only need to not eat carbs and not overdo protein. The only reason you need to eat a lot of fat is because that is all that’s left to get your energy from. The most idiot proof way of getting into ketosis is to not eat anything at all, but that’s not sustainable in the long term.

(Phil Gilbert) #7

I suppose I’m still eating breakfast every morning out of habit. Also, all the reading about the need to continually eat so many fats. I assumed if I were not doing so, my body wouldn’t stay in keto.

(Allie) #8

Only eat when hungry, don’t force it.

(Phil Gilbert) #9

Thank y’all very much!

(Duncan Kerridge) #10

If you’re not eating fats then you’ll still be burning fat - body fat. It’s usually advised to eat lots of fats at the start as your body will not be as used using its body fat for fuel. But if you’re not hungry then don’t think you have to eat.

(VLC.MD) #11

Spacing out food is a great way to feel good and lose weight.
Eating every 12 / 18 / 24 / 36 / XX hours is fine. A bit of hydration between meals is a good idea as well.

#12

I don’t think you’re over analyzing.
What are you trying by being in ketosis? If you’re concerned about ketones, measure them.

(Phil Gilbert) #13

Just looking to be healthy and shed body fat. Haven’t had anything but black coffee and water for the past 30 hours. Not physically hungry but having to distract myself from the emotional hunger

#14

Carbs (from veggies especially) and protein are more nutrient dense than fat. I calculate (guesstimate) the amount of protein my body needs to maintain LBM, then titrate as many carbs as my body can tolerate while still maintaining a state of ketosis. I don’t track my fat macros right now because I’m still in weight loss mode. Others in my family arrive at the amount of fat as the remainder (after protein and carbs) to ensure they consume sufficient calories so they don’t lose weight.

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

Yeah, that’s my issue, too. I want something in my mouth (no jokes, you smartasses! I know you folks :grin:) but I don’t need or really want to eat.

The point of eating fat in a well-formulated ketogenic diet is that you want to keep insulin secretion to a minimum, which means eating as little carbohydrate as you can manage, a reasonable amount of protein (too much or too little causes problems—although there is a fair amount of leeway), and you have to get your energy from something. Of the three macronutrients, fat stimulates insulin production the least, so it is the best source of energy. Also, it is highly satiating.

Therefore, eat your protein and load up on fat until you’re not hungry, then stop eating. And don’t eat again until you’re hungry again. When you’ve got stored fat to burn, your body will tell you to stop eating sooner and will use some of the fat stores; later, when you are closer to the weight your body wants to be at, it will take more dietary fat to satisfy you (because there won’t be much left in your body to be burned). But if you listen to your body, there will be no need to calculate calories; your body will handle all that.

And by the way, if you can, eat organ meats rich in fat, because that’s where all the good micronutrients are. People will tell you that you will get vitamin deficiencies from not eating carbohydrate, but it is indeed possible to get all your vitamins from organ meats and bone marrow.