I’m on Day #3. First day I ate 68 net, 2nd day 40 net and today I’m under 25. I’m assuming I’m not in ketosis yet?
Does one have to eat under 20g NET carbs to be in ketosis?
What are some of the foods everyone enjoys? I want to be successful and make the ultimate lifestyle change. Any ideas would be great!
Thank you!
No. But to assure that you become fat adapted as quick and easily as possible then it is the safest way to accomplish this goal.
How much carbs a person can eat and stay in ketosis is a very individual thing. We know that staying under 20g will be sufficient to put the vast majority of people in ketosis, so that’s why it’s recommended. Once one becomes fat adapted (typically 6-8 week but again can vary by person), then you can play around a little with your carb numbers to see what works best for you individually, but it’s not recommended to go above that level during the adaptation phase because you can prolong it if you are going in and out of ketosis.
Welcome, Amanda! By day 3 you are probably in ketosis, yes. What you are not, yet, is fat-adapted, which takes as long as 8-ish weeks in some people. You can avoid feeling ill while your body adapts by making sure to drink to thirst and by increasing your salt intake (the kidneys excrete more water and sodium when your insulin level drops).
As people mentioned already 20g of carbohydrate a day is guaranteed to get practically everyone into ketosis. Many people have a higher limit, but save that issue for later, once you’re fat-adapted. For now, just play it safe.
As for foods, I love beef (steak, roasts, you name it), pork (especially a picnic, which comes with a cap of fat), chicken (thighs with the skin on, yum!), duck, goose, salmon, cauliflower (especially smothered in cheese sauce, yum!), brocolli (ditto!), salad greens (with lots of blue cheese dressing, yum!)—and God’s greatest gift to the human race (right after coffee, I mean), bacon & eggs.
I love to cook with bacon grease, butter, lard, tallow, and coconut oil. I save the olive oil for salad dressing (too low a smoke point to really cook with) and avoid all seed oils. Sometimes I drink the bacon juice instead of saving it to cook with. Yum! 