New here, hello!

#1

Hi everyone, I’ve been eating 10 it less net carbs for two and a half weeks so far and down 10 pounds. i keep it low because I am 5 foot 2 with ten pounds to lose and I suspect hidden carbs and inaccurate entries alot. My goals are weight loss, less migraines and digestive problems and mental clarity. So far so good!

It’s been tough, drinking lots of salt water with a dash of no salt and taking mag pills at night. Still quite tired. I’ve been on a small calorie deficit with it.

My question is about the deficit… does it help with staying in ketosis? I seem to go in and out of ketosis a lot according to the urine strips. Should I stay at maintenance until I am fat adapted? I have been hungry, lethargic, crabby…etc.

The benefits for me have really been extreme. I can even see clearer, but I am too tired to work out. will I really become energized around 6 weeks and begin losing body fat? i plan to get a blood meter soon on payday.

Thank you!

(Leslie) #2

Welcome to the forum.

It sounds to me like you are off to a good start. I did notice there are some gaps.
The first thing I want to address is your ketone levels. When a person first begins to eat a ketogenic diet the body has to make adjustments regarding the fuel used for energy. Prior to keto we used glucose for energy, now we are using ketones. However, our bodies are inefficient in this regard. As a result of this relatively poor burning of ketones for energy we eliminate them in our urine. As the body becomes used to using ketones for energy and gets better at it, the ketones we spill, or lose by elimination, are reduced. Again this is a relative proportion and varies by individual. This may explain the various levels you are seeing on the keto sticks. This is only a possibility, mind you. Also, ketone levels are an indicator but not the goal, try not to worry so much about urine ketone levels.
Calorie deficit is contraindicated because the best way to teach your body to burn fat as fuel for energy is if it thinks you are getting enough fuel to begin with. Eat fat, burn fat. That’s how it works. Calorie deficits only put your metabolism into starvation mode and cause you to hang onto fat stores. This phenomenon may explain most of your complaints.
My advice is to post a food diary for the forum to review, including your macros and your any actual food eaten, not just general categories of food. The keto friends here are excellent at identifying issues that might be holding you back.

I hope you find this helpful
Keep calm and keto on

(LeeAnn Brooks) #3

Agreed. Don’t do deficit.

(Jake ) #4

Glad you are here Leslie! I am in week 3 now so no info 2 give but just want to say, “Great Job” on you accomplishments so far! THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!

#5

Thank you everyone for your kind and informative replies. I am grateful to have found this community! I am stopping the deficit and will let that work itself out later down the road.