Type of fell of the horse! Help!

(Danielle ) #1

Hi!

I was platueing for many many months between September-December, probably because I was stressed during my Master’s degree. I did not eat more carbs or anything, if not even less, because I was fasting 24 hours every time I went to school, and even did a 5 day fast. Then I decided to eat keto three times per day, and I was still plateauing.

Anyways, in December it was my 30th birthday, and one or two carb objects went in at Disneypark, and I ate sweet potatoes once. Other than that, I haven’t eaten significantly more carbs and sugar, but I am definitively gaining weight in December.

How to get up on the horse again? And, will I even see any results during my last term of my master’s degree? I feel very discouraged.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #2

KCKO as people here say a lot. Don’t let a little down time keep you from getting back to what works best for you. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Running from stupidity) #3

Climb up, sit on it, do all the things you’re supposed to do while on the horse.

(Jessica) #4

I’m in a similar place. I was Rock solid from Aug to Thanksgiving. For Thanksgiving I had very controlled carb intake for the day only, and was back at it. Then I turned 40 in December and hubby took me to Universal Studios where I ate and drank as I pleased for 2 days. Then Christmas, and now here I am. I haven’t gained any but I keep bouncing these same 3.5lbs . I’m back on strict keto and even plan to log again for a little while.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #5

What are your macros looking like?
Have you re-calculated them along with any weight loss you have had?

#6

I think it’s generally well known that stress creates a series of symptoms toward enabling a flight or fight reaction, if only emotionally. This is very likely what is happening.

How to cope?
Meditation, or something that you can do daily which absorbs your mind, such as yoga, Qi-gong, or a variant of martial arts which combines controlled movements and concentration. Such practices can remove some of the stress while teaching your body to better utilize that stored energy and the mantra — Keep Calm; Keto On.

That’ll help you avoid inflammatory food consumption. All the best.

(Danielle ) #7

I did calculate macros during the summer, but I have not had any time to count during the term. I feel like I need to calculate for a few weeks again, to see what I am actually eating. There might be some carbohydrates that slip in through the dairy, and I might be very sensitive?

(Danielle ) #8

I might need to add that I was diagnosed post-traumatic stress syndrome 8 years ago? Which makes me super sensitive to stress. I am constantly in the fight and flight mode.

You are so right about the meditation! I know I need to meditate or do something that shut the mind off, but my kids wake me up at 6 every morning, and then I am already exhausted at 8-9 after I have dropped them off at school, and then it is time for my own university, and when I come home I am busy taking care of the kids again and do household chores, while I am squeezing in some studying before going to bed. :joy: There is no time for relaxing! :joy:

This is why I feel so discouraged to do keto, because it feel like the stress is sabotaging! :woman_facepalming:t3:

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #9

Cortisol, the so called stress hormone, which mediates the flight or fight response, a set of physiologcal responses to perceived threat.

Cortisol, part of the class of steroid hormones called glucocorticoids (glucose/cortex/steroid), is produced by the adrenal cortex.

Once released, cortisol substantially enhances glucose availablity, which provides energy for the muscles, very neccessary in order to help us run away from being eaten by something, lol.

All available energy is directed towards survivng the stressful event. Growth, digestion, and other long term metabolic activities are temporarily restricted. Proteins are boken down and converted to glucose (gluconeogenesis). Problems arise over long term. At first glance, cortisol and insulin appear to have opposite effects.

Insulin is a storage hormone. Under high insulin levels (mealtimes), the body stores energy in the form of glycogen and fat. Cortisol, however, prepares the body for action, moving energy out of stores and into readily available forms, such as glucose. That cortisol and insulin would have similiar weight-gain effects seems remarkable, but they do! With short term physical stress, insulin and coritsol play the opposite roles. Something quite different happens.

That can be a real hindrance to your progression.
I would definitely start tracking so you can keep an eye on those incidental carbs you may be consuming.

(Jennibc) #10

I read about a book three years ago that really changed my relationship with stress. I have been able to take off over 60 pounds since I read the book. I had been at a plateau
for YEARS (although I wasn’t on a keto way of eating at the time, so yes, how you manage stress makes a huge difference). The book is called “The Upside of Stress” and it’s by a stanford clinical psychologist name Kelly McGonigal. For a little taste, here’s her TED talk https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend?language=en

(Danielle ) #11

Yes yes yes! This is exactly what I am fearing!! I think I might have harmed my system because of the substantial amount of stress I have been experiencing.

Thanks for this grand information! I need to find ways to reduce the stress in my body :thinking: , and probably be very strict with what I am eating.

(Danielle ) #12

Haha! Just impossible to find anything keto at these places! Disneyland only offer the worst food. Next time I will bring my own lunch bag! :joy:

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #13

As my mother says, always follow the five P’s

Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance :joy:

(Danielle ) #14

This is awesome! Will look at this tomorrow!

It is just so much easier to fix a broken leg, than something like chronic stress. :joy:

(Danielle ) #15

:joy::joy::joy:

#16

Keep your carbs low, do what you gotta do, and then get serious again

(Jessica) #17

I’m not going to pretend it was a matter of not finding keto foods! I was turning 40. I was gonna drink butter beer in all it’s forms to my heart’s content! Lol!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #18

Do you know what your body composition is? Is it at all possible that your ketogenic diet has allowed your body to add muscle tissue or to increase bone density? Those would register as more weight on the scale, without being a bad outcome.

(Kristen Ann) #19

Hi Danielle,

I don’t have any suggestions for you as I’m only in my third month–I just wanted to reach out and say I feel your pain, at least in part. I’m working on my Master’s too and it is far more stressful than I imagined. While I don’t have kids I have a full time career that requires my attention. I too have trouble relaxing because I have extremely little free time! I wish you the best of luck and relaxation!

(Danielle ) #20

I wish! :joy:

I think unfortunately, I am very sensitive, and not even a low-carb diet is okay.

I think I need to go very low on my carbohydrates, perhaps less 10 gr per day for a while forward.