So here’s the story. I have suffered from PCOS for many years. My hormones are out of wack, my blood pressure is to high 160/ 100 without medication, and I am pre diabetic. I have a script for metphormin that I don’t take often. I have a statin (minimum dose). I hate pills and don’t want to be dependant on them. I have researched keto and intermittent fasting for awhile and after discussing with the hubby I jumped on board. I fast for 18 hrs and eat for 6. I maintain around 1200 calories a day, stay between 20 -30 carbs and hit ketosis easily. I’ve only lost about 3 lbs, in a week and a half, and went over by 40 carbs today. Still was at 1230 cals. Is this going to screw up my diet? If so how long? I am 5’5 175 lbs. Because I’m PCOS i carry my weight on my top half. Will the.metformin help me let go of the carbs faster?
Over by 40 carbs today and metformin questions
Eating more will probably help the most if you’re only getting 1200cal/day (unless you are absolutely tiny and completely sedentary). As will getting under 20g/carbs/day.
If you don’t eat enough your basil metabolic rate (BMR) drops and you burn less calories. Your body adjusts in a negative way to too low calories.
Did you gain that 3lbs in a week? It’s true that people do sometimes lose a lot in the first few weeks but it’s often water weight. Please don’t get discouraged. I’m doing keto at the request of my obesity/bariatric doctor. He’s pleased with my consistent 1lb per week loss even if I get frustrated when I hear about other people talk about 15lbs a month. We are who we are.
I’m following “Page 4” keto by the way. 20 grams of whole carbs (not net) per day, eggs, meats to satiety, 2 oz of cheese, 2 cups of leafy greens and 1 cup of above the ground veggies. Following this plan, it’s hard to “go over” on carbs.
One bad day on keto is probably better than 1000 good days on high carbs. I started with 50 total carbs and managed to get into ketosis within a few days. It’s possible your 40 had no ill effect on the process. It’s different with all people.
But like most here, I now stay under 20 net carbs, 95% of the time.
Personally I wouldn’t worry about fasting or small eating windows just yet. Keto is about re-training our hormones and the best way for them to learn is to feed them the right food when they tell us we are hungry. Later, when your cravings are under control and your body starts getting used to fat for fuel, then you can try reducing eating windows. For now, I encourage you to eat when you are hungry.
Thanks everyone! I tested my keto level this morning and it was .02 whatever that means. It’s little instument you breathe into for 10 seconds. Lol. I’m back on track today, with no breakfast. Tuna lettuce and a pickle for lunch and some scrambled eggs and some bacon for dinner.
Everyone’s carbohydrate threshold is different. Forty grams extra, and you might have gone over your threshold, or maybe not. Who knows? What we do know is that staying under 20 g/day is a guarantee of ketosis for 99.9999999% of us. You want to be in ketosis, because that means your insulin level is low enough for all kinds of healthy things to happen.
Keep your insulin low long enough (a few weeks, in my case), and your satiety signaling will start to register in your brain again; insulin was drowning it out, on your old way of eating, which is why you were always hungry. At some point your appetite will likely drop noticeably, but until it does, eat enough food to be reasonably satisfied. Once your signaling starts working, listen to your body. If you’re hungry, eat; if you’re not hungry don’t eat. Don’t pay attention to the clock, and don’t count calories.
Paradoxically, the key to losing fat is to keep insulin low and give your body enough calories to make it comfortable parting with some of its energy reserve. Under such conditions, most people can safely trust their body to tell them when to stop eating. Their appetite will be a reliable guide to eating enough food while permitting the body to shed excess fat.
Notice I haven’t mentioned losing weight. That is because fat and weight aren’t the same thing. Bone, muscle, and other lean tissues also have weight, and sometimes, once your food intake is sufficient, the body wants to put on muscle, heal organs, and increase bone density. This will all increase your weight, even as you shed weight in the form of fat. This body recomposition is a good thing, and whether you end up at a higher or lower weight on the scale is irrelevant. 
Thank you so much. I absolutely love how you put your response. My goal is to lose weight and improve my health. I have had a total of 7 grams of carbs today, and my appetite is disinegrating. My blood sugars and hormone imbalance makes it extra hard to shed the excess fat stores. So any excess fat loss is my wish. Coming of the medications is my long term goal.