KnitOrMiss wrote: »

That is exactly right. Essentially, in addition to normal functioning, your body is converting it's "fuel" engine back to factory specs, and so it needs extra calories to do that. After your induction period, that leveling out should happen naturally.

Sounds like you're in the best place.

Excellent! Thank you. It's always good to hear if you are on the right track.

Thanks for the welcomes!

Thanks for the encouragement. It seems like a nice bunch around here!

carimiller7391 wrote: »

@nvsmimketo... question. I am just getting into the whole LCHFMP lifestyle and trying to eventually get into KETO. I started out by lowering net carbs to 75g a day and go on vacation next week. I've opted since 75g a day was so hard for me to achieve to work on that again this week. Did you jump head first into the whole keto lifestyle or make small changes and get there over time. Just interested in how people are getting there and what is and isn't working for everyone!!

Thanks in advance!

I started lowering my carbs, which meant cutting out junk food (pop), in early June. I was probably at 75 to 100g carbs because I was still making smoothies with canteloupe or mangos. This was before I joined MFP and I did not realize how many carbs I was getting. I was also eating small amounts of starches, like 1/4 c mashed potatos, at meals but then I was still very hungry as the day went on.

I then cut carbs hard, keeping it below 50g and trying for 20g, but the induction /withdrawal stage was hard on me. I had migraines for days, was tired and cranky, and then I would eat a comfort food (potato) and my headache would go for a day before it came raging back for another 3 days. Yuck. I'm pretty sure that by eating extra carbs here and there that I made my headache/induction phase last longer.

I am into ketosis again after my last slip, and am determined not to do that all to myself again. Too painful! LOL

I can stay in ketosis with carbs between 20 and 50 g. My daily calories range between 1400 and 2300 depending on hunger, and even on the days of over 2000 calories, I am still losing weight. In the last 10 days (which includes a couple of slips and was partially before I joined MFP) I have lost about 7 lbs. I'm really happy with that since I only want to lose another 35-40lbs. I know my weight loss will slow in the next few weeks but even if I lose just 1 lb a week, I'll be at my goal mid winter.

If you are going on vacation, you might want to avoid induction of early ketosis so you can better enjoy your holiday. I'm sure not everyone has a hard patch to get through, but for me, it would have put a bit of a damper vacation. 75g to 50g might be a good place for you to be while on vacation.

... But I'm new to this too, so I could be way off on this.

Best wishes.

I had really nice weight loss in my first few weeks too. I'm guessing some was water weight though. LOL

I don't think I am adapted yet either. I think I'm okay and then the headache comes back or I get insanely thirsty or hungry. I'm looking forward to getting through it too. I'm hoping it will just take a few more weeks... Months? Yikes!

I saw on another post that you are on Synthroid. I too have Hashi's. Is your free T3 and TSH at a good spot? If you are hypo that could slow your weight loss down too.

MelodySmith511 wrote: »

I am going to have new blood work done ASAP. I might need a combo of T3/T4. That might be a reason why I'm not losing.
Thanks

For me, Synthroid didn't do the trick. Once my doctor got my TSH down to just over a 2 he declared I was opyomally treated and that my hypo symptoms were coincidental and caused by something else... Uh huh.

From my own research it seems to me that the TSH should be near a 1, and the free T4 and free T3 should be in the 50-75% range of your lab's normal reference range (I find total T4 and T3 don't as accurately refect what hormones are available for use, but I could be wrong on that. Anyway, when I had a TSH in the teens my FT3 was in the bottom 10% of the normal range, and when I was on Synthroid with a 2.5 TSH, my FT3 was in the bottom 15-20% of the normal range... Not enough of a difference.

I found another doctor who was willing to let me try something with T3, so I started on natural desiccated thyroid and that seems to work for me. My FT3 is at about 60% of the normal range and my TSH is suppressed (because I have enough FT3 in my body so my hypothalamus in not telling my pituitary to make TSH) at about 0.1. My TSH looks wacky but when you take T3 it gets low, and I feel good here.

I would try to get free T3 and free T4, with that TSH. The total T4, total T3, T3 or T4 won't tll you as much (IMO - could be wrong). RT3 is a good one to have too, as toadqueen said. If that is high you may need T3 supplementation.

Good luck. I hope it is all fine.

toadqueen wrote: »

I find that eating keto really helps with the symptoms I have from inflammation. I tested negative for celiac but I know from experience that any grains cause me to swell and experience pain throughout my body especially around surgical scars. I do not eat any sugars except those in nut butters and I try to keep those to 1g or less. I too have autoimmune diseases and was recommended by doctors to cut gluten and dairy.

That is GREAT to hear! I don't swell but I have inflammation because I have joints that get sore and feel flu-ish for no good reason. I know my knees and hips are inflamed from arthritis too, so if I can lower that (and lose some weight) hopefully I can slow the joint deterioration down. I'm just 41 and feel too young to feel this old. LOL

I do eat some dairy but less than most people. Once I get used to this WOE I may try to cut it out again to see if it helps. I was dairy free for over a year when I discovered I had celiac but I reintroduced some cheese, tzatziki, and icecream about a year ago... and I know I feel better without ice cream. Darn it.

Thanks!