I hate telling you this, because I know you have different ideas about it, but you are in strong ketosis.

And you're making a valiant effort at supplementing sodium, but that's the only thing I see where you're obviously short of goal.

This is going to conflict with your mental model, but here it is anyway: you were so successful at making ketones that it's causing you to feel bad, and it's because the more you make, the more sodium you need to feel good, and you're short in sodium.

So two possibilities: your idea that you're not making enough ketones, or mine that you're not getting enough sodium.

You've done the experiment for your idea by doing a fat fast. It's hard to get a better ketone boost than that.

Try a sodium experiment. Have some broth. See if makes a difference.

Of course, it's possible that we're both wrong, and it's something else completely. But I'd try to the sodium experiment as a first step.

I struggled with the sodium, too. Some people think it's the real key to feeling GREAT -- due both to the blood volume effects and maybe the neural conductivity effects.

But there is another possibility: the high-energy "buzz" from ketosis might be a temporary thing. It might be part of the adaptation process, and it goes away with time. Many people report that it diminishes with time. Possibly due to adrenal effects? I really don't know, but there's another theory for you.

I agree that once you are adapted the "buzz" diminishes, but you stay at a pretty high level of energy.
If you hate broth, try getting a water flavoring that is zero-carb-zero-cal. Squirt that in your water, then dump in a quarter tsp of salt and some dashes of potassium salt and mix. It's like an electrolyte drink on steroids, as far as effect as the ones you buy in the store have a minuscule amount of electrolytes in them, and you don't taste the salt. I get tired of broth myself, so I do that.

I don't love the pickles and I don't do a huge amount of broth (and I drink it for the gelatin more than the sodium). I love olives and will have them with an ounce of Brie cheese for breakfast. I also add salted butter to everything. Deli meats also have a lot of sodium if you care for them -- I particularly like prosciutto.

Just some thoughts and of course, ymmv!

ambergem1969 wrote: »

I don't love the pickles and I don't do a huge amount of broth (and I drink it for the gelatin more than the sodium). I love olives and will have them with an ounce of Brie cheese for breakfast. I also add salted butter to everything. Deli meats also have a lot of sodium if you care for them -- I particularly like prosciutto.

Just some thoughts and of course, ymmv!

Mmmmmm....olives and cheese. Haven't had that in awhile.

I don't salt a lot of my foods so I add a tsp of salt to a swallow or two of water each morning. It seems to help.

I had the energy burst after I became fat adapted and my electrolytes balanced out better. The first two weeks were pretty low in energy due to electrolyte imbalance though.

I also think I noticed an energy burst because I wasn't healthy before I started. I had insulin resistance, mild reactive hypogylcemia, and some arthritic pain. It's like regaining energy after a period of illness. Maybe you were starting from a healthier place?

I'm reading Alzheimer's Disease, What if There is a Cure? and in it they propose taking 6-12 Tbs of coconut oil per day to increase ketone production in individuals who are not even on a low carb diet. MCT would probably increase ketones for you. Just guessing in agreement with the others.

Don't always trust the ketostix either. After becoming adapted, which I believe you are (benefits you've reported). I agree with the sodium intake. It's hard to achieve the levels we need with this woe, but with determination you can do it. Broth isn't the only way though. You've gotten some great advice here! The only other option I would recommend is fried pork skins (if they are available where you are). They have helped me!