I’ve been keto for almost 3 weeks- I am tracking my macros and whatnot but I literally am maintaining my weight and staggering at just the water weight i lost, haven’t lost anymore abut haven’t gained anymore. I lost 6lbs in the 3 weeks, but it was prob just water weight. I have also incorporated MCT oil into my diet now as well and take 2 tbsp daily. I heard that is supposed to help but it hasn’t. WHY HAVEN’T I LOST WEIGHT? At least I’m not gaining, but why aren’t I losing anymore? 
I miss my old foods and if I’m not losing, I am tempted to give up because I don’t see the point. 
Help!
Why am I maintaining my weight?
Kah2857
(Kristen)
#1
CatGirl
(Janelle)
#2
MCT oil will not help you lose weight. As you are starting, it can help to add fat to keep you full longer so you are not eating between meals. It can also make you “regular” if you’re having trouble with that. It’s great you’ve lost some weight - like you said - likely water weight. Now keep to 20 whole carbs per day. Eat fat only in moderation and give it some time.
It’s tempting to give up but how do you think that will work for you?
Glammy59
(Debbie)
#3
I was told after a weight loss to expect to be at a steady level weight loss wise (you can still lose inches I was told), then boom you will lose again! Don’t give up 
Regina
(Empress of the Unexpected)
#4
Do not give up! It took me several months to get to maintenance. During that time my weight fluctuated but eventually evened out.
PaulL
(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?)
#5
There’s your answer, right there. You haven’t been eating this way long enough even to achieve fat-adaptation, much less a realistic weight loss. Losing two pounds a week is very respectable.
It’s worth remembering that the ketogenic diet is not a quick weight-loss fix, it is a long-term change in eating that leads to hormonal control and metabolic health. The return to metabolic health usually involves shedding excess stored fat, true, but the amazing stories of large, rapid weight loss are by no means everyone’s story, and those people had large amounts of weight to lose. Even they, however, slowed down as they came closer to their goal, as we all do.
Weight loss is not a linear phenomenon, and women’s hormones make the situation more complicated. If you give your body a bit more time, you may find things changing in a favorable direction soon.
cw2001
(Cindy)
#6
You need to make this one of those posts that automatically load in when someone says they’re not losing. 
PaulL
(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?)
#7
Yeah, but we never know what people have heard about keto before finding their way here, and there is a lot of misinformation floating around. Myself, I was fortunate that I came across YouTube videos of lectures by Dr. Phinney even before going keto, so I sort of knew what I was doing. But all a lot of people have to go on is Dr. Oz, and a show like that isn’t equipped for getting into the real nitty-gritty.
@Kah2857 Kristen, I hope you will hang around long enough to discover what a ketogenic diet really can and can’t do for you. I suspect that you will eventually be pleased with the results, but probably not as quickly as you’ve been hoping.
Alex99
#8
Are you eating plenty of nice new food. Protein and fat is very satisfying. Your body well send “satiety” signals saying “ok, now I finally have what I want” …
As you do this more and more, your taste will change. You most probably will not miss your old food.
Yes keto shuts some doors but it opens many more.
Living off ketones is not about losing weight. The majority, yes now it is the majority, of people eating industrially produced sugar and wheat based carb food are suffering from metabolic syndrome (diabetes, dementia, blood pressure, obesity…).
Make sure you get properly into nutritional ketosis. This mean checking for hidden carbs. Triple check.
A bit of patience is required, especially for women, insulin isn’t the only hormone in town.
I don’t see the point
The point of keto is way more than weight loss.
I watched Dr Robert Lustig’s “The Bitter Truth About Sugar” - so one benefit of keto is staying away from toxin’s like fructose. If that was the one and only point then that’s enough for me.
I have more energy and it’s constant energy, more mental acuity, I avoid metabolic syndrome!, improved vision, lower inflammation, I can eat until satisfied, oh yeah, I lost some pounds …
You might need to check out a bunch of other videos or books. Not sure what you need or want but there is plenty of high quality information.
We all know 20g carbs is a key but I reckon information is also crucial. It keeps from wondering about in the wrong isle at the supermarket.
Hang in there, it is well worth it.
PetaMarie
(squirrel-kissing paper tamer)
#9
Like they said, it’s early days and folks eat a ketogenic diet for more than weight loss. Take stock of how you’re feeling, sleeping, thinking and doing. You might find that even though you still have carb cravings, many little improvements are happening. Let that be the thing that gets you through to the weight loss part.
Search the site for NSV or non scale victories to see how keto has benefited people.