Trying to NOT get frustrated. PLEASE HELP

(Amanda Jo Ross) #1

HELLO!!

I need your help.

I’m working with two different experienced Keto coaches, but I’m still not seeing the results I want.

Here’s my story…

I’ve been doing kept for 25 days. I’ve only lost 2-3 lbs.

Here are my stats:

5 10 38 years old weight is 166.6 (start weight was around 169) (will NOT budge, to the decimal every damn day)
25% body fat
Very athletic (I own a gym, I’m a personal trainer, etc)
VERY active - 5 hours of cardio a week (no, this can’t change, I teach classes). Yoga 4 times a week, Lifting 3-4 times a week.

I’m trying to lose 8 lbs for vacation. 8 damn lbs. I wanted to do it MY WAY (counting clean macros), but I took the suggestion of my nephew and did Keto.

Im not gonna lie, I love the food. But I’m not losing weight!!

I’m doing 100% perfection.

macros started 70f/20p/10c
calories range from 1500-19000
not one thing has crossed my lips that isn’t supposed to be there
IF every day. 2 days i fast 14 hours, 3 days 18 hours, 2 days 20 hours.

I had my coach recently tell me to change my macros to
60f/30p/10c because i workout so much. I’ve been doing this for several days.

I can see slight changes in my body, but I’d like to see more changes in my actual numbers.
I test with my blood test monitor and i haven’t been over .6 ketones yet. WWWHHYYYYY???

SOMEONE TALK ME DOWN OF THIS LEDGE. LMAO

HELP

#2

If your body is changing what do you care what the scale says? Also your body may be losing visceral or repairing damage and needs to heal before fat loss. You may be in for a whoosh at some point. Throw the damn scale away. Use other measures to guide you.

(Amanda Jo Ross) #3

Should I care that I can’t get my ketones past .6?

Thanks for encouragement!

(Adam Kirby) #4

Ketone measurements are utterly useless for judging fat loss. You could eat huge quantities of dietary fat, be in deep ketosis and be burning no body fat at all. Unfortunately, there are a large number of variables that could be at work here. One thing that can stop fat loss - stress. You are imposing a large amount of physical activity on your body all the time, and now you’re also stressed out about losing 8 lbs.

Also, it must be said that keto is not a magical weight loss diet for everyone. Some people do better on higher carb or protein.

(Amanda Jo Ross) #5

But i meditate. Doesn’t that count!? JK. I’m stressed that this isn’t working for me and I’m running out of time. I know that MY way def works, but i decided a different avenue. I need to see SOMETHING for the proof. I understand the health benefits for sure, but I want to make sure that I’m getting my science right with KETO. I’m assuming my numbers are fine… I had a dream that someone told me this way of eating isn’t for me because i workout too much. hahahaha.

(Nicole Sawchuk) #6

Amanda - 3 years ago I started my journey on keto. I was the same age and starting weight was 182 lbs. I lost 7 lbs (5 the first week) and nothing else. Eventually after a few months I just did lazy keto. Only because I started feeling better mentally and my mood improved so much! I also had better energy. No weight loss or inches (I at least was not gaining weight anymore). While I regret not sticking with it, I did play with food. I got good at recognizing what was low carb and cutting back processed foods during that time. I monitored my blood glucose levels and ketones and while I was easily in ketosis, my blood glucose was surprisingly high to me (not diabetic but enough for me to realize I was pre-diabetic). I have a family of Type 1 diabetics so this concerned me. Despite the lack of weight loss, the lazy keto seemed to be healing my body, so I didn’t fully give up. Last year, I decided to get serious about it, but I read the Obesity Code and the Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung. While most keto experts said not to force fasting, these books opened my eyes to the physiology of what was happening in my body. My insulin levels were high and plain keto eating just wasn’t enough for me to induce weight loss.

So I spent 4 weeks cleaning up my diet and than SLOWLY began fasting. First I cut out all snacks! Than I went 12 hours with no food. Than I cut out breakfast (which was surprisingly hard for me). My blood glucose levels kept going up and up but I trusted the process that my liver and body was finally releasing that stored fat and sugar. Since than I have lost 40 lbs and sooooo many inches and I am not at a lower weight than I have ever been. My blood glucose levels are stellar! I don’t crave sugar or carbs. I don’t stress about food and this way of eating is now intuitive.

Point is. Be patient. Keep learning about keto. Learn about how foods impact your body.Trust the process. Keep changing things up! You will get there!

(Adam Kirby) #7

If your way works than why aren’t you doing it? Keto might work great for your nephew but maybe is not the optimal solution here. Otherwise, you have to accept that it may take you longer and require tweaking for you to get into a fat-burning pattern on low carb.

If you absolutely must lose weight quickly maybe something like a protein-sparing modified fast is better (although not enjoyable).

(Amanda Jo Ross) #8

I didn’t do it because I wanted to try something new. I was assured by everyone Keto would work, so i gave it a go. Now I’m in so deep i’m not giving up.

Can you explain a protein sparing modified fast?

Ive been fasting a LOT

(Amanda Jo Ross) #9

I fast daily.
I don’t snack between meals
My food is all clean, meat, protein, veggies, coconut oil, butter, and MCT oil. Some cheese (not a ton).

thanks for you story!

#10

Maybe drop the cheese and do a 48 hour fast for autophagy and high hgh.

(Nicole Sawchuk) #11

You are very active. You didn’t say if you are losing inches or not. Fasting induces a lot of growth hormones and muscle building. Are your measurements changing? If so - does the scale really matter? Especially after 25 days?

(Amanda Jo Ross) #12

Okay, i’ll go no cheese. No problem. 48 hour fast probably can’t happen just because of my workout regimen. I can’t change it either (since I own the gym, and teach classes). But THANKS for some advice. You guys are awesome.

(Amanda Jo Ross) #13

On a positive note, I’ve had great energy levels!!

But I thought I was gonna die the first week.

(Amanda Jo Ross) #14

I didn’t do measurements. But my body fat actually went up a percent. Who knows???

(Trish) #15

I think you are starving yourself. Eating 60 fat 30 protein and 10 carbs is only 660 calories a day. Not sure how your coach calculated 1500-1900 (?). Since you are so active I think you need more food and definitely more protein.

(Adam Kirby) #16

PSMF is basically very low calorie eating that is mostly protein. What bodybuilders do to lean out right before a completion. It’s a hack and not a sustainable way of eating.

Given your bf% and activity level you are probably somewhat insulin sensitive. IS folks can usually get away with just dropping their cals to lose weight, unlike the insulin resistant ppl that fail at this approach.

(jilliangordona) #17

Would you consider upping calories? That is a very low calorie number for the amount of activity you’re doing. Having too low of calories will slow your metabolism and prevent you from losing.

I’m not that active and I’m eating more than that and losing

(Amanda Jo Ross) #18

Sorry to confuse you!! Those are my percentages. I’m eating 60% of my calories from Fat 30% from protein and 10 from carbs. I’m eating plenty. So much that i feel over full. I had 1700 calories last night.

(Amanda Jo Ross) #19

My only issue with that is the fasting. I already feel like i’m GORGING myself and i don’t like that over full feeling. So if I up my caloric intake, i’m gonna have to do less fasting. I’m up for anything thought. I just need advice.

(jilliangordona) #20

I had a similar issue with fasting! I found it was best for me to have two large meals spread out into an 8 hour eating window was best. Eventually I got it down to 6, although again I struggled with eating enough.

Think about what you’re eating too. If you’re filling up on low calorie foods such as leafy greens, it will be harder to eat enough calories. It’s habit for us to have salads around lunch, but think about eating more calories dense meats with butter first and then consider the leafy greens a dessert. Or skip them. You’ll get the nutrients you need from meat.