What is going on? Is keto not working for me?

24

Replies

  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    @saltysailors what worked for me was "low sugar" this steered me away from alcohol, processed foods, breads, sweets, fruit and startchy veg. I have not looked at your diary but wonder what your selection of carbs are and how you are balancing that with proteins and fat. For me protein makes me feel fuller for longer, for most folk fat does that. Lots of variety and plenty of options so check out recipes here to find things that appeal.

    BtW I am 5ft4 and also find at 1500 cal or more a safe bet is I will gain weight. Note there is a great article here somewhere where a woman gained weight for 6 months on a high fat diet until her body healed then it dropped off and she now can ignore calories as she naturally eats till she is full which maintains her weight. Your body may be "under construction" so all that may require a little patience, or a lot. Good luck


    I am eating no processed foods at all and only low carb veges when I eat them. The hard part is gaining the weight while being "under construction" and trusting that it will eventually heal......
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    camtosh wrote: »
    lithezebra wrote: »
    Since I can't see your diary: do you have a calorie goal, and if so, what is it?

    Some people can eat whatever they want on keto, because they don't eat for emotional reasons or out of boredom, and they don't feel hungry if they eat a lot of fat. I'm not like that. I need a limit.

    P.S. We're about the same height and my weight is close to your GW. 1500 calories a day is a good maintenance level for me, even with daily exercise, regular strength training, and a light activity level. If I were trying to lose weight, I would have to go down to about 1200 calories a day, which is no fun, but not unsafe.

    I am in the same boat as you both, age 59, 5 ft 7 in, female now 70-71 kg -- my weight loss was on about 1200 cals a day, 3 years ago. I am maintaining on 1400-1500 cals a day. @saltysailors, try going low on sugars, alcohol and dairy for a week and see if anything moves. Or try a fat fast or egg fast?

    Most days I am under 20 carbs. I am not eating any sugars, no processed foods, except mayonnaise....I am dropping the calories to 1300 this week and no alcohol. Right now The only dairy I eat is full fat cheese, sour cream and heavy cream. No cottage cheese, no yogurt, no milk.....
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    IwonaPalko wrote: »
    I didnt read the other answers, so maybe someone have said it before.
    I think it's alcohol fault that you're not losing weight. Out of my experience.
    And you should eat 15-20g of carbs in Phase 1.

    Yes. That's what someone else said....no alcohol
  • cedarsidefarm
    cedarsidefarm Posts: 163 Member
    You have been on this WOE for 21 days. It took me 44 days before I lost a single pound and then I had to gain 3 lbs first. I don't know why. But Just keep tightening up your calories while lowering your carbs and upping your fats. I did that day after day and finally after 44 days, I lost. But I went from 1000 carbs a day to 30 and about 1700 calories to 1200. I took me awhile to figure out what I could and couldn't eat.

    I'm about your age and I think that has something to do with the slowness in losing weight. I use to just think about losing weight and in a few months, I was down. Now I have to fight for every pound lost and exercise does NOT help in the loss at all.

    Last week, I worked in 90 degree (Fahrenheit for you Canadians :) temps planting 200 feet of squash, trimming all around the 15 acre farm (man it looked good) and moved equipment and unhappy sheep. I would say it was my most physically demanding week of the season and....I gained 3 pounds.

    So, I'm back on track and hope to lose another 10 pounds by tightening up my diet. Just keep at it. It will come off.
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    You have been on this WOE for 21 days. It took me 44 days before I lost a single pound and then I had to gain 3 lbs first. I don't know why. But Just keep tightening up your calories while lowering your carbs and upping your fats. I did that day after day and finally after 44 days, I lost. But I went from 1000 carbs a day to 30 and about 1700 calories to 1200. I took me awhile to figure out what I could and couldn't eat.

    I'm about your age and I think that has something to do with the slowness in losing weight. I use to just think about losing weight and in a few months, I was down. Now I have to fight for every pound lost and exercise does NOT help in the loss at all.

    Last week, I worked in 90 degree (Fahrenheit for you Canadians :) temps planting 200 feet of squash, trimming all around the 15 acre farm (man it looked good) and moved equipment and unhappy sheep. I would say it was my most physically demanding week of the season and....I gained 3 pounds.

    So, I'm back on track and hope to lose another 10 pounds by tightening up my diet. Just keep at it. It will come off.

    Thanks for responding! After reading from others, I figured something like that was happening! I was just getting so discourage because I have heard so many successes and I didn't even lose water weight! Yesterday, I examined my diary a lot closer and realized my carbs were closer to 35-40 where I thought they were around 20-25 ( maybe I was thinking net?) But I lowered (tightened) my calories and lowered my carbs. I am really struggling with what I can and cannot eat. I can't seem to increase my fat without going over my calories, and I'm hungry a lot of the times. Ugh!!!
    I stayed within budget today. So we'll see how tomorrow goes. One day at a time
  • Kelley0519
    Kelley0519 Posts: 254 Member
    It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one that's not losing weight. I've been doing the Low Carb for 4 weeks now and I lost 2 lbs in my first week. Nothing else since then. These answers are helpful for sure :smile:
  • icyheart1411
    icyheart1411 Posts: 7 Member
    When will you be weighing in again? I cant wait to hear about your progress.
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    edited June 2016
    I won't be weighing in until next week... My scale is broken and I haven't got a new one yet. But I will take measurements every week on Mondays (I think)
  • icyheart1411
    icyheart1411 Posts: 7 Member
    That is great! I am so glad you are seeing progress!
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    That's so encouraging, isn't it!!
  • dbhDeb
    dbhDeb Posts: 200 Member
    I am over 50 and have to do around 1200. I'm 5-4 and have about 20 more to lose. It will work. Make sure you aren't snacking or nibbling mindlessly. I tend to fall back into that if I don't pay attention! Good luck!!
  • dbhDeb
    dbhDeb Posts: 200 Member
    I agree too that the wine can cause the block too!
  • dasher602014
    dasher602014 Posts: 1,992 Member
    I have struggled too. 5ft 2inches and 62 years. It is slower when we are older.

    Good advice here. cannot wait to hear your success!

    I have to stay at 1200 to 1300 to lose. 1200 to lose consistently. Because I find, calories count. The basics. Weigh and measure everything you eat and then when you feel confident, do a check now and again.

    I lost inches but not weight and still do first when it is moving after a plateau.

    Hidden carbs are hard. You are making the best choice you can when eating out but they are always there. Crumbs in the meat patties, sugar in the meat or sometimes the veggies. And they seem to always want to add candied nuts not just plain nuts. But we have to eat out on occasions and often have to make the best of a bad deal. I check online if it is a chain so that I can choose the best. Some salads that I thought were OK, took up my whole days calories!

    Please post again. Would love to hear how it goes with the changes.
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    Phrick wrote: »
    That's so encouraging, isn't it!!
    Yes, it is encouraging!
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    I have struggled too. 5ft 2inches and 62 years. It is slower when we are older.

    Good advice here. cannot wait to hear your success!

    I have to stay at 1200 to 1300 to lose. 1200 to lose consistently. Because I find, calories count. The basics. Weigh and measure everything you eat and then when you feel confident, do a check now and again.

    I lost inches but not weight and still do first when it is moving after a plateau.

    Hidden carbs are hard. You are making the best choice you can when eating out but they are always there. Crumbs in the meat patties, sugar in the meat or sometimes the veggies. And they seem to always want to add candied nuts not just plain nuts. But we have to eat out on occasions and often have to make the best of a bad deal. I check online if it is a chain so that I can choose the best. Some salads that I thought were OK, took up my whole days calories!

    Please post again. Would love to hear how it goes with the changes.
    I will definitely post again! Although, I'm sure I kicked myself out and will have to start over again after this 4day weekend at my son and daughter-in-law's.....they are trying to keep me compliant, but things are sneaking in....ah well, I'll just do the best I can

  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    ZDeb16 wrote: »
    I am over 50 and have to do around 1200. I'm 5-4 and have about 20 more to lose. It will work. Make sure you aren't snacking or nibbling mindlessly. I tend to fall back into that if I don't pay attention! Good luck!!
    I have been doing some snacking and eating more often than I should....I need to pay more attention!
  • jumanajane
    jumanajane Posts: 438 Member
    why not pop in to the over 50's ladies LCHF group....we are all a mine of experience and different levels of success there......at the very least we all face the draeded post-menopausla slowness of weightloss! You will be very welcome!
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    edited July 2016
    jumanajane wrote: »
    why not pop in to the over 50's ladies LCHF group....we are all a mine of experience and different levels of success there......at the very least we all face the draeded post-menopausla slowness of weightloss! You will be very welcome!
    Can you tell me the name of the group? I looked up "over 50's ladies LCHF" and couldn't find the group.
    Thanks!!
  • KarlaYP
    KarlaYP Posts: 4,436 Member
    The group is "Low Carber Daily -Ladies Over 50" I'm part of this wonderful group of friends too! Will be great to see you over there @saltysailors! :smiley:
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    Thanks @Karlottap !
  • MyriiStorm
    MyriiStorm Posts: 609 Member
    Karlottap wrote: »
    The group is "Low Carber Daily -Ladies Over 50" I'm part of this wonderful group of friends too! Will be great to see you over there @saltysailors! :smiley:

    I just searched the Groups for Low Carber Daily -Ladies Over 50 and it didn't come up. Do you have a link?
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    RalfLott wrote: »
    I've been doing keto for 3 weeks. No change at all. No weight loss, no change in clothes/measurements. And I'm still tired (but functional)

    Honestly logged every day

    That's a puzzle, all right. Don't give up!

    Have you read the sticky, "START HERE The LCD Launch Pad"?
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10103966/start-here-the-lcd-launch-pad#latest

    Great tips there, including pointers about keeping your electrolytes in balance to avoid/reduce fatigue and using keto calculators. (Contrary to others' experiences, I have found it perfectly possible to overeat on a keto diet....)

    Good luck!

    I'm also perfectly capable of overeating on a keto diet. Yummmmmm.
  • bjwoodzy
    bjwoodzy Posts: 593 Member
    This is not in the Launch Pad (yet), but I just saw it bumped tonight, first post might prove helpful in understanding keto better

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/684525/why-the-rapid-weight-loss-on-low-carb-induction-stops/p1
  • kmn118
    kmn118 Posts: 313 Member
    Does anyone else choose their next meal according to what's left in macros from food logging? I was going to eat tuna but saw I needed carbs and fats to fill out my day, so ate an avocado.
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    kmn118 wrote: »
    Does anyone else choose their next meal according to what's left in macros from food logging? I was going to eat tuna but saw I needed carbs and fats to fill out my day, so ate an avocado.

    I don't really believe in needing carbs... I wouldn't purposely eat them to reach a goal.
    I had at one time tried to reach calorie and fat goals even when I wasn't hungry. I did learn there was no reason to reach any goal except for protein and just eat to satisfaction. But that thought process developed over time and with advice from others about allowing my body to use its excess stored calories and fat and it was like, "oh, duh, that makes so much sense". lol

    If I was hungry and had already maxed out carbs, I would definitely avoid eating any more and try to get something high fat with or without protein depending on if I needed it and what was available to eat and how hungry I was, which was mostly a non issue, especially the first 6 months. But, if I was hungry, I would eat. The only major macro I really watched to get the fewest carbs possible. I just always feel the best mentally that way.
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    Well, it's been nearly 2 months so nice I started this woe........and still only minimal changes....ah well...it's very disappointing and discouraging.....but I'm not giving up.....and this week I've been extra hungry, instead of having a decreased appetite, so that's a bummer :(
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    kmn118 wrote: »
    Does anyone else choose their next meal according to what's left in macros from food logging? I was going to eat tuna but saw I needed carbs and fats to fill out my day, so ate an avocado.

    I do this every day. If I haven't bothered to pre-log, I just start throwing together things, and modifying until it all maths out.
  • saltysailors
    saltysailors Posts: 101 Member
    kmn118 wrote: »
    Does anyone else choose their next meal according to what's left in macros from food logging? I was going to eat tuna but saw I needed carbs and fats to fill out my day, so ate an avocado.

    I do this every day. If I haven't bothered to pre-log, I just start throwing together things, and modifying until it all maths out.
    Well this is a super smart thing to do! I did this at dinner time and it worked out well....except all I could eat was a meapiece of fatty steak cooked in butter....everything else was already eaten...hahaha!
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