Tapping Out

#1

OK so i have been on this diet for 6 days. Lost 8 lbs and feel kind of OK. I just think that this diet isn’t for me. I am not sleeping good now, and having to worry about watching carbs, do i need this, do i need that, and such just makes me feel its more trouble than its worth. Maybe i just need to make a few adjustments to my diet rather than take a drastic approach and be on this. Thank You to those who helped with my initial questions. I wish you all the best and i hope you get to the place where you hope this diet will take you.

#2

Don’t quit! You can do it!!

#3

Its not that i found it hard. I am a worrier at heart, and i dont know about anyone else, but i just feel on edge all the time. Does that make sense to anyone? Its like i have lost some freedom since i have started on this diet, which i never expected would be the case. That may sound silly to some, but to me its become so much of an issue that im stopping.

(Becky Searls) #4

It might be the switch to being fat fueled! I definitely felt edgy/hyper-active when I was transitioning from burning glucose to fat. Soon though it becomes clear-headedness and sustained energy so I would encourage you to stick with it (and/or any dietary or fitness change) for at least a month or two to see if it has a longer term positive impact! Also make sure you’re having salt /magnesium / potsssium for electrolytes!

(KetoCowboy) #5

I think I felt something similar when I started because of all the macronutrient calculations. I thought I couldn’t put anything in my mouth unless I had entered it into a spreadsheet or fitness app. I didn’t really start to enjoy keto until I went down to 1 meal a day because it made tracking my nutrition so much easier. And then I said screw it and committed to carnivory. Now I don’t feel like every meal is a prison from which I would like to escape because I don’t have to sweat the details. I just have as much food as it takes to feel satisfied, and I don’t have to “avoid” carbs because I don’t keep them around. I hope you find something that works for you, and I think it’s great you gave keto a try. Best of luck.

#6

I definitely feel more alert all day. In fact so much so that its very hard to get any kind of sleep now. That in itself worries me because its common knowledge that lack of sleep isn’t good for your body right?. So me knowing that worries that im undoing all the good keto work you know?. I do supplement with Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium. If i dont reach my intake goals for the day does that affect things as well? I see so much conflicting info on Keto that i dont know whats good and whats bad for me.

#7

When you went to one meal a day how did you reach your nutritional requierments? I have read that if you dont reach those for fat, carbs, and protein, that it can get you out of ketosis. Pretty much setting you back. Is that really the case?

(KetoCowboy) #8

Like you, I read a lot of stuff about keto when I started. Like you, I was confused about much of what I read (especially the contradictory positions of various experts on caffeine, artificial sweeteners, industrial oils, etc.)

But I was way more interested in what my body did than in what I read–and my body responded beautifully to one meal a day on keto. I had no trouble meeting my nutritional requirements as I understood them, but I don’t claim to have understood them in any deep way.

All I know is if I didn’t eat during the day, I didn’t really get hungry–and if I didn’t eat carbs, I didn’t crave carbs. That gave my body a chance to lower insulin levels and start metabolizing its fat stores (as I’m sure you’ve read about). I was using a ketonix to track my ketones in my breath at the time, and I was in moderate or deep ketosis each time I measured.

I’m not sure what motivated you to try keto. I wasn’t motivated by my weight (even though I was overweight); I was motivated by my blood pressure.

If you’re not sleeping well on keto, then I guess it isn’t working for you. I don’t recommend that people do anything unless it gets the results they’re after. Sleeplessness isn’t a result anyone wants, so I totally understand your decision.

As for me, I eat one meal a day of animal products only, and I sleep better than I ever did when I was chowing down on processed food.

#9

Going to one meal a day does eliminate decision fatigue. It’s so hard to try to tell others to not worry, when I worry about everything. 8 pounds in one week though dude!?!? That’s awesome! When I started I told myself 2 weeks, I can do anything for 2 weeks. I lost 5 pounds a week for the first 2 months and was sooo high on that that I can’t tap out.
Doing this has made me sleep way better. I only have trouble on my third day of my fast, bc I get a crazy amount of energy then.
My mental clarity has improved also and I think that had me on edge at first bc I was annoyed by how much I missed being in a fog or from drinking 120 carbs from beers every night.

You’re welcome back with open arms if you so decide!
Good luck!

#10

Early on I found that tracking everything was just a pain in the ass. Consequently, I follow a lazy form of keto. It’s been working for me, so I’m not changing. This woe has become, meanwhile, ridiculously easy.

(Nancy ) #11

Sleeplessness can be a temporary issue when one is transitioning to keto and getting fat adapted. Give it a few more weeks!

#12

Im 6ft and 210 lbs. Not overly fat or chubby at all. I just wanted to see how i go on this as my wife has wanted me to eat healthier. I would eat candy and carbs like it was going out of fashion. When i say candy im talking whole bags of skittles at a time, and no, not the small ones either.

Im surprised i wasnt a lot fatter and unhealtier before trying this Ketogenic diet out. Now i actually eat vegetables which i have never done before. I will see how i go from now, but if my sleep doesn’t improve, then i may have to Tap out for real. That’s my main concern. To be honest i haven’t had candy cravings at all, and i actually haven’t been hungry since doing this.

Like i said i will see how i go, and if anyone wondered, no i didnt have a huge blowout, and yes im apparently still in moderate Ketosis.

(Alison) #13

Personal Experience re’ Sleeplessness: Hi K3, I had been experiencing insomnia for a few years prior to starting Keto - it was a major issue, I tossed and turned all night and had to use drugs to sleep. About a month into Keto (maybe right after I became fat adapted?) the insomnia resolved and I have had no trouble falling asleep for the past 6-7 months, and sleep soundly 8 hours a night with no meds, and wake fresh and ready to go… it’s been amazing for me! I totally understand if you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t think Keto is for you, but I wanted to share re’ the sleeplessness in case you might find it encouraging. Best Wishes for good health, non-anxious days, and restful nights!

(Randy) #14

I would never try to convince someone they should continue if it’s not working for them.

But 6 days is no where near long enough to find out if it works for you or not IMO.

It takes about a month to get fat adapted. Your body is still waiting for the carbs to come save the day, and hasn’t had time to convert to efficiently running on fat.

(Brian) #15

Hmmm… judging the keto way of eating after 6 days… that would be about like getting in a car, starting the car, moving it 1 foot, putting it back in park, shutting it off and saying, “nope, driving is just not for me.” And maybe it truly isn’t. It was an awfully short ride, though, and didn’t provide a whole lot of useful information on a personal experience level. Many here have gone a day or two or six without eating anything at all. And a number have commented that it can take several months for a person to come to a point where the body figures out how to deal with it’s new fuel source.

Hey, we’re all entitled to our opinions. Best of luck with whatever way of eating floats your boat.

#16

How would i know my body had reached that state of being fat adapted?

(Brian ) #17

For me and most of my patients, it is when the cravings stop and we stop “panic eating.” The first week is the hardest for most people especially when super carb dependent. It does get easier and becomes a lifestyle with time. I typically advise my patients not to worry about calorie restriction and eat Fat to satiety with eggs/butter/salmon/etc…trying to calorie restrict and cut carbs in the first week will generally make everyone feel terrible…High insulin levels drop after a few days of being fat adapted and life becomes beautiful again. Best of luck to you.

#18

That’s what i dont understand. I’ve been on this less than a week and i dont get cravings and feel energized and have had some weight loss. According to what i have read it seems to take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks or longer for fat adaption to happen, and yet my body has signs that it may be already. Surely this isn’t the case?

(Brian ) #19

True, Nancy, I had sleep problems initially…especially with fasting…but now I sleep better than ever.

(Holly Easterling) #20

You can be utilizing ketones (inefficiently) yet still be in ketosis. Generally when someone says “fat-adapted,” they mean your body can efficiently use ketones, as efficiently as you were using glucose before. This requires enzyme production as well as changes in mitochondria and all kinds of other stuff that doesn’t happen overnight, even if weight loss does.